In the book of Joshua, we learned about Israel fighting the five kings of the Amorites who fled from the army of Israel and hid in a cave, and Joshua told his men to bring the kings to him. He killed them and hung them on trees, “and it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day. And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-nine of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “Joshua passed from Makkedah … unto Libnah” where we read,
Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah,
and fought against Libnah:
The verse reads, “Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “then Joshua” which means “at that time Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation” “passed from Makkedah” or “traversed and went forth separate and apart from Makkedah whose name means ‘place of shepherds’ and was the location of a cave in Judah where Joshua captured and executed five Canaanite kings during the conquest; located near Bethhoron and Libnah”, “and all Israel with him” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone within Israel, whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob, alongside and accompanying him, Joshua”, “unto Libnah” or “to Libnah whose name means ‘pavement’ and was a royal city of the Canaanites in the southwest captured by Joshua; allocated to Judah and made a Levitical city; site unknown”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” departed from “Makkadah” to the royal city of “Libnah”.
The verse goes on to say, “… and fought against Libnah:” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and fought” which means “and battled and warred” “against Libnah” or “in opposition to Libnah whose name means ‘pavement’ and was a royal city of the Canaanites in the southwest captured by Joshua; allocated to Judah and made a Levitical city; site unknown”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” and the army of “Israel” went to battle in opposition to the people located within the city of “Libnah”.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn of another city, “Libnah”, that was to be destroyed by “Israel” within the promise land. God told the people of “Israel” that they would be given this territory, and one by one each city was being granted to them. God loves the people of “Israel”, and He provides for and protects them because they are His “chosen people”. He chose them as the nation through whom the entire world was to be blessed, (See Genesis 12:3) and He has sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone. (See John 3:16) God raised Him from the dead after three days so when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and be given His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to defeat all the enemies of our souls who are determined to defeat us and keep us from bearing witness of Him in this world.
Next time we learn how, “the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel”, 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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