In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah. Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-four of the book of Joshua, we learn, “from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon” where we read,
And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him;
and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
The verse reads, “And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and from Lachish” which means “and separate and apart from Lachish whose name means ‘invincible’ and was a city lying south of Jerusalem on the borders of Simeon which belonged to the Amorites until conquered by Joshua and allotted to Judah” “Joshua passed unto Eglon” or “Joshua whose name means ‘Jehovah is salvation’ toward Eglon whose name means ‘calf-like’ and was a royal city in Canaan that opposed the conquest; located in the low lands of Judah”, “and all Israel with him” which means “and each, every and the whole people of Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” continued to travel through the promise land as he separated from the defeated city of “Lachish” toward “Eglon” which was the next city to destroy.
The verse continues, “and they encamped against it, and fought against it:” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and they encamped against it” which means “and they, Joshua and the people of Israel, pitched their tents to lay siege in opposition to it, Eglon”, “and fought against it” or “and did battle and warred in opposition to it, Eglon”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” set up yet another “camp” outside of the city of “Eglon” as they went to battle in opposition to the people there.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover the next city in line to be defeated by “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” as they possessed God’s promise land. “Eglon” was to be destroyed, and “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” erected an encampment for the purpose of going to battle with them. We shall see their victory in our next verse, but for now let us consider that Jehovah God wanted all of these cities to be removed. The were sinful, pagan nations that were being judged by God for their pernicious ways and idolatry, and He was removing them. Paul the apostle wrote, “For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (See 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10) Jesus said, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (See John 3:16-18) God wants to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus, and when we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to cleanse us from all sins and enemies to our souls who desire to destroy us and our witness of His saving grace. (See John 16:13; Ephesians 2:8-9)
Next time we learn how, “they took it on that day”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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