29 Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Then Joshua. passed, etc We have now a description of the taking of the cities, out of which the army of the enemy had been raised; and herein God displayed his power no less wonderfully than in the open field, especially when the rapidity is considered. For although those who had fled hither in trepidation might have produced some degree of panic, still, when the fear was allayed, they might be useful for defense. [1] The garrison had been increased by their numbers. When, therefore, in a short period of time, Joshua takes all the cities, and gains possession of the smaller towns, the presence of God was conspicuously manifested in a success no less incredible than unexpected. For had they, when attacked, only shut their gates, as Joshua had not brought either ladders by which he might scale the walls, or engines by which he might throw them down, each siege might have been attended with considerable fatigue and delay. Therefore, when he takes one the following day, and another the very day after attacking it, these continued, easy, and rapid victories, are evidently beyond human agency. Not without cause, then, in the end of the chapter, is the goodness of God expressly celebrated, as it had been made manifest that he was fighting for Israel, when Joshua at once took and vanquished so many kings, with their territories. Indeed, he could never, even in a course of inspection, have passed so quickly from city to city, had not a passage been divinely opened by the removal of obstacles. The miracle was increased when the king of Geser, who had come to the help of others, doubtless with full confidence in the result, was suddenly put to rout, almost without an effort, and did not even delay the advance of the Israelites. Those who were slain in the cities represent, as in a mirror, those whose punishment the Almighty holds suspended, while he actually takes vengeance on others. For though they plume themselves on the reprieve thus afforded them, their condition is worse than if they were immediately dragged to death. [2] It looks as if it would have been a dire calamity to fall in the field of battle; and making their escape, they seek safety within their walls. But what awaited them there was much more dreadful. Their wives and their children are butchered in their sight, and their own death is more ignominious than if they had perished sword in hand. Hence there is no reason to envy the reprobate the short time which the Lord sometimes grants them, because when they have begun to promise themselves safety, sudden destruction will come upon them. (1-Thessalonians 5:3.) [3] Meanwhile, let us learn not to abuse the patience of God when he defers to execute his judgment, and, instead of indulging in self-complacency when we seem to have been delivered from any danger, or when means of escape from it present themselves, let us reflect on the words of Jeremiah, (Jeremiah 24:2) that while the basket of early figs [4] had at least some savor, the other was so sour that they could not be eaten.
1 - French, "Ils pourroyentt servir de defense pour garder les villes;" "They might serve for defense to guard the towns." -- Ed.
2 - Latin, "Quam si mox ad mortem traherentur." French, "Que s'ils estoyent depeschez soudainement sur le champ;" "Than if they were dispatched suddenly on the spot." -- Ed.
3 - The original text had the reference to 2-Thessalonians 5:3, an obvious typesetting error. --fj.
4 - Latin, "Ficus praecoces." French, "Les figues hastives;" "Precocious figs, or figs too hastily ripened." -- Ed.
Libnah - The word means "white" or "distinct," and undoubtedly points to some natural feature of the spot, perhaps the "Garde Blanche" of the Crusaders, a castle which stood on or near the white cliffs which bound the plain of Philistia to the east opposite to Ascalon. It was in the southern part of the hill-country of Judah Joshua 15:42, and was one of the cities afterward assigned to the priests Joshua 21:13.
Fought against Libnah - This city was near Makkedah, see Joshua 15:42, and fell to the tribe of Judah, Joshua 10:20, Joshua 10:42, and was given to the priests, Joshua 21:13. Sennacherib besieged it, after he had been obliged to raise the siege of Lachish. See 2-Kings 19:8; Isaiah 37:8.
And Joshua passed from Makkedah,.... After he had taken it, and destroyed its inhabitants, and its king:
and all Israel with him; that is, all the men of war he took with him from the camp at Gilgal, from whence he went to the relief of Gibeon:
unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah; a city that fell to the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:42. Jerom (r) says, in his time it was a village, in the region of Eleutheropolis, and was called Libnah; according to Bunting (s) it was but two miles from Makkedah.
(r) De loc. Hebrews. fol. 92. M. (s) Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 96.
All Israel - Namely, who were with him in this expedition.
*More commentary available at chapter level.