What's easily missed is how this verse functions as a summary, a powerful concluding statement that reinforces that every part of the land mentioned—hills, south, valley, and slopes—was completely subjected, leaving nothing alive, precisely because God commanded it. This wasn't just a military campaign; it was the execution of divine judgment across the entire conquered territory, leaving no doubt about the completeness of Israel's obedience and God's power.
So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel commanded.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse concludes a sweeping military campaign in southern Canaan, following Joshua's miraculous victory over an alliance of Amorite kings. After the astonishing events at Gibeon and the prolonged day, Joshua systematically moved from city to city, utterly destroying each one and its inhabitants. This extensive conquest, described in the verses immediately preceding, culminated in the subjugation of an entire region and all its rulers, fulfilling God's command.
Joshua's campaign wasn't just a military takeover; it was the execution of God's judgment. But what made this land and its people so deserving of utter destruction?
This verse summarizes the sweeping conquest of southern Canaan. Joshua didn't just defeat armies; he "devoted to destruction" everything that lived.
A Command from God
This wasn't Joshua's personal vendetta or a brutal land grab. The text is clear: this was done "as the LORD God of Israel commanded."
The Reason for Judgment
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 explains the deep-seated corruption of the Canaanites: their detestable practices included child sacrifice, sorcery, and extreme idolatry. God's judgment was a response to their pervasive wickedness, a way to cleanse the land before Israel fully settled.
This total destruction was a divine act, designed to remove a morally bankrupt culture and protect Israel from its corrupting influences. It stands as a stark reminder of God's absolute holiness and His intolerance for sin.
Imagine the scene: utter annihilation. How could Joshua lead his people in such a devastating task? This wasn't about personal desire, but absolute obedience.
Verse 40 concludes a series of devastating victories. Joshua's action was comprehensive, covering the diverse geography of the land – hills, south (Negeb), lowlands (Shephelah), and slopes (Ashdoth or springs).
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The King's Part
Joshua, as Israel's leader, was the instrument of God's will. He wasn't driven by cruelty or a lust for power. The text stresses his compliance: "he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded."
Divine Authority vs. Human Morality
From a human perspective, this is horrific. Yet, Scripture calls us to see it through God's lens. Calvin notes that human clemency is often about moderating wrath, but here, God's wrath was just. Joshua, acting under divine authority, was not guilty of cruelty; he was executing God's righteous sentence. The command to utterly destroy was not arbitrary but a necessary part of purifying the land and establishing His people.
Understand the original words
YHWH Elohei Yisrael · Hebrew Proper Noun
YHWH, the personal, covenantal name of the God of Israel, who revealed Himself as the I AM, the Creator and Redeemer of His people.
This verse describes the culmination of a swift, divinely-aided military campaign in southern Canaan. The comprehensive destruction, including all living beings, was a direct, divinely commanded act of judgment against the inhabitants for their extreme wickedness, not merely an act of human warfare.
c. 1446 BC
Israel enters Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, cross the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the Promised Land. This marks the start of a lengthy military campaign to dispossess the existing inhabitants.
c. 1445 BC
Battle of Jericho and Ai
The initial victories at Jericho and Ai demonstrate God's power and set the stage for further conquest. These events establish Israel's presence and intent within Canaan.
c. 1445 BC
Gibeonite Deception
The Gibeonites cleverly secure a treaty with Israel, leading to a complex situation. This deception also triggers a major military response from a coalition of Canaanite kings.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Battle of Gibeon
A coalition of five southern Canaanite kings attacks Gibeon. Joshua and the Israelites, with divine intervention including a miraculous hailstorm and extended daylight, defeat this formidable alliance.
c. 1445 BC
Conquest of Southern Canaan
Following the victory at Gibeon, Joshua systematically pursues and conquers the allied kings and their cities throughout the southern regions of Canaan, including Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, and others mentioned in the text.
c. 1444 BC
Consolidation and Division of Land
After the major military campaigns, the land is gradually divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, though pockets of resistance remain and further campaigns are necessary over time.
This passage directly states the command from God that Joshua was following, outlining the principle of utterly destroying certain peoples in the promised land to prevent them from leading Israel astray.
1 Samuel 15:3This passage shows a similar divine command for total destruction, but Saul's disobedience in sparing the best of the livestock and people highlights the importance and severity of God's instructions in Joshua's campaign.
Genesis 15:16This verse reveals God's foreknowledge and stated reason for the delay in Israel's inheritance of the land, explaining that the sin of the Amorites had not yet reached its full measure, which justifies the later judgment executed by Joshua.
Romans 9:22This passage speaks to God's sovereignty and right to show wrath, drawing a parallel to the potter and clay, which helps frame the difficult concept of divine judgment and destruction of people groups.
calvinJoshua 10:29-43: "Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:"
And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
Tradiditque Jehova illam etiam in manum Israel, et regem ejus, et percussit eam acie gladii, omnemque animam quae erat i…
bensonJoshua 10:40: "So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded."
Joshua 10:40 . All that breathed — That is, all mankind; they reserved the cattle for their own uses. As God had commanded — This is added for the vindication of the Israelites, whom God would not have to suffer in their reputation for executing his commands;…
What's easily missed is how this verse functions as a summary, a powerful concluding statement that reinforces that every part of the land mentioned—hills, south, valley, and slopes—was completely subjected, leaving nothing alive, precisely because God commanded it. This wasn't just a military campaign; it was the execution of divine judgment across the entire conquered territory, leaving no doubt about the completeness of Israel's obedience and God's power.
This verse concludes a sweeping military campaign in southern Canaan, following Joshua's miraculous victory over an alliance of Amorite kings. After the astonishing events at Gibeon and the prolonged day, Joshua systematically moved from city to city, utterly destroying each one and its inhabitants. This extensive conquest, described in the verses immediately preceding, culminated in the subjugation of an entire region and all its rulers, fulfilling God's command.
This verse concludes a sweeping military campaign in southern Canaan, following Joshua's miraculous victory over an alliance of Amorite kings. After the astonishing events at Gibeon and the prolonged day, Joshua systematically moved from city to city, utterly destroying each one and its inhabitants. This extensive conquest, described in the verses immediately preceding, culminated in the subjugation of an entire region and all its rulers, fulfilling God's command.
"So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel commanded." — What's easily missed is how this verse functions as a summary, a powerful concluding statement that reinforces that every part of the land mentioned—hills, south, valley, and slopes—was completely…
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Last reviewed October 2026
