Taking the Southlands

Following Israel’s smashing victory at Gibeon, Joshua moves to seize control of southern Canaan. Israel essentially makes a great counterclockwise loop through the south, attacking and destroying the cities of three of the five defeated kings, along with three other cities, presumably smaller ones, as well as the army of Horam king of Gezer, who tries to assist Lachish. Nothing stands in Israel’s way.

This campaign is carried out in lightning-war style. Matthew Henry notes that the speed of the Israelites’ victories is communicated by the somewhat staccato style of the account. It seems that most of the cities Israel attacks fall almost immediately; Lachish is unique in that it is taken “on the second day” of Israel’s siege. Here is another indication of how devastatingly thorough was Israel’s victory over the five kings at Gibeon and how demoralizing it must have been to the cities that did not join the coalition. With ruthless efficiency, the Israelites faithfully carry out their role as instruments of God’s judgment. They strike each city and its king “with the edge of the sword” and utterly destroy all the people within, “as the LORD God of Israel had commanded.”

It does appear that the campaign could be more thorough, for Joshua does not attack the cities of Jerusalem and Jarmuth, both of which were part of the coalition. This omission is not explained, but Henry points out that by skipping these cities Israel “let slip the fairest opportunity they could ever expect of reducing them with ease, which afterwards was not done without difficulty (Judg. 1:8; 2 Sam. 5:6).” Also, Israel concludes the campaign by returning to Gilgal, leaving the southern lands unoccupied until the remainder of Canaan is taken. That gives the Canaanites who were outside Israel’s path of destruction an opportunity to rebuild the cities Israel has leveled, and they apparently do so in several cases, as Judges 1 indicates.

Yet, the Israelite campaign is remarkably successful, so successful that the author of Joshua can say that “Joshua conquered all the land” and “utterly destroyed all that breathed.” And the author leaves no doubt as to the reason for that success. Again and again in this passage it is said that God delivers a city into Israel’s hands. Joshua and his armies succeed because “the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.”