Verses 28-39
Seven other victories followed the battle at Gibeon. In the record of these encounters the writer highlighted two important facts. Israel was obedient to God’s command to exterminate the Canaanites in these cities. Second, it was Yahweh who gave Israel’s enemies into her hands (Joshua 10:30; Joshua 10:32).
". . . Yahweh has shown himself to be a God who accepts a people who follow him despite their past mistakes." [Note: Ibid., p. 119.]
The purpose of Joshua’s raids was to destroy the military capability of these city-states and to instill fear and confusion in the remaining Canaanites. Archaeology has confirmed that many of these cities did not suffer violent destruction at this time.
"Joshua, at this stage of the campaign, did not seem to be interested in completely destroying each one of the sites, or in occupying them." [Note: Davis and Whitcomb, p. 70.]
"But beyond inflicting immediate loss, this campaign achieved little else by itself-it was a sweep, not an occupation: ’Joshua returned and all Israel with him, to the camp, to Gilgal’ (Joshua 10:15; Joshua 10:43). Occupation of the land, to live in it, keep livestock and cultivate crops in it, etc., was a far slower process, visible in part later in Joshua and in Judges." [Note: Kitchen, p. 89.]
According to Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831), a philosopher of war, there are three principle military objectives in any war. First, the aggressor must destroy the military power of the enemy so he cannot continue or resume war. Second, he must conquer the land of the enemy so a new military force cannot arise from it. Third, he must subdue the will of the enemy. [Note: Carl von Clausewitz, On War, p. 101, cited by Craigie, The Problem of War . . ., p. 46.] Joshua accomplished all three of these basic objectives. [Note: See David Ussishkin, "Lachish-Key to the Israelite Conquest of Canaan?" Biblical Archaeology Review 13:1 (January-February 1987):18-39.]
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