Joshua 10:29

"Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with its king. He utterly destroyed it and all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining. He did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho."

Key Reflection

Joshua 10:29 describes the total destruction of Makkedah, mirroring a pattern seen earlier in the conquest narrative with Jericho. For the original Israelite audience, this act underscored God’s power and covenant faithfulness, demonstrating his commitment to driving out the Canaanites as promised (Deuteronomy 7:1-2). The complete annihilation of Makkedah, including its king and every resident, served both as a military strategy to secure victory and a religious mandate to eliminate any potential worship centers or alliances with pagan deities.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Libnah -The word means “white” or “distinct,” and undoubtedly points to some natural feature of the spot, perhaps the “Garde Blanche” of the Crusaders, a castle which stood on or near the white cliffs which bound the plain of Philistia to the east opposite to Ascalon. It was in the southern part of the hill-country of JudahJoshua 15:42, and was one of the cities afterward assigned to the priestsJoshua 21:13.

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