“And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.”
Context:Joshua 10 records the account of the conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. In this particular verse, Joshua is instructing his men to pursue and defeat the enemies they had been fighting against.
Immediate historical context:Joshua and the Israelites were engaged in a military campaign against five Amorite kings who had gathered together to fight against Gibeon, a city that had made a covenant of peace with Israel. The Israelites came to the aid of Gibeon and were victorious in battle.
Divine intervention:The verse begins with a reminder that the Lord had delivered the enemies into the hands of the Israelites. The victory was not solely attributed to human strength or military strategy but was ultimately a result of God’s intervention. This highlights the importance of recognising and acknowledging God’s role in our victories and achievements.
Pursue and strike:Joshua’s instruction to pursue the enemies and strike them down emphasises the importance of decisiveness and determination in carrying out God’s commands. The Israelites were not to show any mercy or allow the enemy to escape, but to relentlessly pursue and defeat them. This reflects the seriousness of the battle against evil and the need to be proactive in resisting and overcoming it.
Preventing entry into their cities:The instruction to prevent the enemies from entering their cities serves two purposes. Firstly, it ensures that the defeated enemy cannot regroup or seek refuge in fortified cities. Secondly, it symbolises the complete destruction and subjugation of the enemy. By not allowing them to enter their cities, Joshua ensures the Israelites’ full victory and establishes their dominance over the conquered territories.
Application:While the context of Joshua 10:19 is a specific military campaign, there are valuable principles that can be applied to our lives as well. We should recognise that our victories and successes are ultimately from God and give Him the glory. We should also be proactive and decisive in pursuing what is right and defeating evil in our lives, not allowing it to take root or find refuge. Additionally, we should be diligent in fully conquering the strongholds of sin and not allowing them to regain control over us.
In conclusion, Joshua 10:19 reminds us of the importance of recognising God’s intervention in our victories, the need for decisiveness in pursuing righteousness, and the importance of fully overcoming the enemy’s strongholds in our lives.
