Joshua Chapter 10: The Southern Conquest Continued
Joshua 10:34
Verse: And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon and all Israel with him and they encamped against it and fought against it English Explanation: After the victory at Lachish, Joshua moved the army to Eglon. This shows the rapid momentum of the campaign; they did not rest on previous victories but continued to secure the region. Urdu Explanation: لاخیس کی فتح کے بعد یشوع اور تمام اسرائیل عجلون کی طرف بڑھے۔ انہوں نے وہاں پڑاؤ ڈالا اور اس شہر کے خلاف جنگ شروع کی۔ یہ ظاہر کرتا ہے کہ یشوع نے دشمن کو سنبھلنے کا موقع نہیں دیا اور اپنی فتوحات کا سلسلہ جاری رکھا۔
Joshua 10:35
Verse: And they took it on that day and smote it with the edge of the sword and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day according to all that he had done to Lachish English Explanation: Eglon fell swiftly. The execution of the judgment was total, following the same pattern of complete destruction seen in Lachish, emphasizing obedience to divine instructions regarding the Canaanite nations. Urdu Explanation: انہوں نے اسی دن عجلون کو فتح کر لیا۔ یشوع نے تلوار کے زور سے وہاں کے تمام جانداروں کو ہلاک کر دیا۔ یہ بالکل ویسا ہی تھا جیسا انہوں نے لاخیس کے ساتھ کیا تھا یعنی مکمل صفایا۔
Joshua 10:36
Verse: And Joshua went up from Eglon and all Israel with him unto Hebron and they fought against it English Explanation: The military focus shifted toward the mountainous region of Hebron. Hebron was a significant, ancient city, and its conquest was vital for controlling the highlands. Urdu Explanation: پھر یشوع اور تمام اسرائیلی عجلون سے اوپر حبرون کی طرف گئے۔ حبرون ایک پہاڑی اور اہم شہر تھا جس پر قبضہ کرنا پورے علاقے پر کنٹرول حاصل کرنے کے لیے ضروری تھا۔
Joshua 10:37
Verse: And they took it and smote it with the edge of the sword and the king thereof and all the cities thereof and all the souls that were therein he left none remaining according to all that he had done to Eglon but destroyed it utterly and all the souls that were therein English Explanation: Hebron and its surrounding villages were captured. The “king” mentioned here likely refers to the successor of the king killed earlier at Makkedah. No survivors were left, signifying total victory. Urdu Explanation: انہوں نے حبرون کو فتح کیا اور وہاں کے بادشاہ اور گرد و نواح کی بستیوں کا مکمل خاتمہ کر دیا۔ یشوع نے کسی کو زندہ نہ چھوڑا اور عجلون کی طرح یہاں بھی مکمل تباہی کا حکم دیا۔
Joshua 10:38-39
Verse: And Joshua returned and all Israel with him to Debir and fought against it And he took it and the king thereof and all the cities thereof and they smote them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein he left none remaining as he had done to Hebron so he did to Debir and to the king thereof as he had done also to Libnah and to her king English Explanation: Joshua turned back to target Debir. This completed the sweep of the southern hills. The repetitive nature of these verses emphasizes the consistency of Israel’s military success and their adherence to God’s command. Urdu Explanation: یشوع اور اسرائیلی لشکر نے مڑ کر دبیر پر حملہ کیا۔ انہوں نے اس شہر اور اس کے بادشاہ کو مغلوب کیا۔ جس طرح حبرون اور لبناہ کو تباہ کیا گیا تھا اسی طرح دبیر کا بھی نام و نشان مٹا دیا گیا۔
Joshua 10:40-41
Verse: So Joshua smote all the country of the hills and of the south and of the vale and of the springs and all their kings he left none remaining but utterly destroyed all that breathed as the LORD God of Israel commanded And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza and all the country of Goshen even unto Gibeon English Explanation: These verses summarize the southern campaign. Joshua conquered the hills, the Negev (south), and the lowlands. The text attributes this success to obeying the LORD’s command. Urdu Explanation: یشوع نے پہاڑی علاقوں، جنوبی حصوں اور میدانوں کے تمام بادشاہوں کو شکست دی۔ انہوں نے کسی سانس لینے والے کو باقی نہ چھوڑا کیونکہ یہ خداوند کا حکم تھا۔ ان کی فتوحات قادش برنیع سے لے کر غزہ اور جُشن سے جبعون تک پھیل گئیں۔
Joshua 10:42-43
Verse: And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel And Joshua returned and all Israel with him unto the camp to Gilgal English Explanation: The key to this swift victory was divine intervention: “The LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.” After the successful campaign, the army returned to their base camp at Gilgal. Urdu Explanation: یشوع نے ان تمام بادشاہوں اور ان کے علاقوں کو ایک ہی مہم میں فتح کر لیا کیونکہ اسرائیل کا خدا ان کی طرف سے لڑ رہا تھا۔ اس کے بعد تمام اسرائیلی واپس جلجال کے کیمپ میں آ گئے۔
Joshua Chapter 11: The Northern Campaign
Joshua 11:1-3
Verse: And it came to pass when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things that he sent to Jobab king of Madon and to the king of Shimron and to the king of Achshaph… [and to various other tribes] English Explanation: News of Joshua’s southern success reached Jabin, King of Hazor. Hazor was the “head” of the northern kingdoms. Jabin formed a massive northern confederacy to stop the Israelite advance. Urdu Explanation: جب حصور کے بادشاہ یابین نے ان فتوحات کے بارے میں سنا تو وہ خوفزدہ ہو گیا۔ اس نے شمالی علاقوں کے دیگر بادشاہوں کو پیغام بھیجا تاکہ وہ متحد ہو کر اسرائیل کا مقابلہ کر سکیں۔
Joshua 11:4-5
Verse: And they went out they and all their hosts with them much people even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude with horses and chariots very many And when all these kings were met together they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel English Explanation: This was the largest army Israel had faced yet, equipped with advanced weaponry (chariots and horses). They gathered at the Waters of Merom to present a united front. Urdu Explanation: دشمن کا لشکر سمندر کی ریت کی طرح بے شمار تھا اور ان کے پاس بہت سے گھوڑے اور رتھ تھے۔ یہ تمام بادشاہ اسرائیل سے لڑنے کے لیے “میروم” کے چشموں پر جمع ہوئے۔
Joshua 11:6
Verse: And the LORD said unto Joshua Be not afraid because of them for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel thou shalt hough their horses and burn their chariots with fire English Explanation: God encourages Joshua not to fear the superior military technology (chariots). He promises victory within 24 hours and instructs them to disable the horses and burn the chariots to ensure Israel relies on God, not captured weapons. Urdu Explanation: خداوند نے یشوع سے کہا کہ ان سے مت ڈرو۔ کل اسی وقت میں انہیں تمہارے حوالے کر دوں گا۔ تمہیں ان کے گھوڑوں کی کونچیں کاٹنی ہوں گی اور ان کے رتھوں کو آگ لگا دینی ہوگی تاکہ تم اپنی طاقت پر نہیں بلکہ خدا پر بھروسہ رکھو۔
Joshua 11:7-9
Verse: So Joshua came and all the people of war with him against them by the waters of Merom suddenly… And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel… And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him he houghed their horses and burnt their chariots with fire English Explanation: Joshua launched a surprise attack. Despite the enemy’s numbers, God gave Israel the victory. Joshua strictly followed the instructions regarding the horses and chariots. Urdu Explanation: یشوع نے اچانک حملہ کر کے دشمن کو حیران کر دیا۔ خداوند نے دشمن کو اسرائیل کے قبضے میں دے دیا۔ یشوع نے بالکل ویسا ہی کیا جیسا خدا نے حکم دیا تھا یعنی رتھوں کو جلا دیا اور گھوڑوں کو ناکارہ کر دیا۔
Joshua 11:10-11
Verse: And Joshua at that time turned back and took Hazor and smote the king thereof with the sword for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword utterly destroying them there was not any left to breathe and he burnt Hazor with fire English Explanation: Joshua captured Hazor, the leader of the northern coalition. Unlike other cities, Hazor was burned to the ground to symbolize the total downfall of the northern power structure. Urdu Explanation: یشوع نے حصور پر قبضہ کر لیا جو تمام شمالی ریاستوں کا مرکز تھا۔ انہوں نے وہاں کے بادشاہ کو قتل کیا اور شہر کو آگ لگا دی۔ یہ شہر کی مکمل تباہی کا نشان تھا۔
Joshua 11:12-14
Verse: And all the cities of those kings and all the kings of them did Joshua take… But as for the cities that stood still in their strength Israel burned none of them save Hazor only… And all the spoil of these cities… the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves but every man they smote with the edge of the sword English Explanation: Israel captured the remaining northern cities but did not burn those built on mounds (hills), preserving them for their own future use. They took the livestock and goods as plunder but executed the inhabitants as commanded. Urdu Explanation: یشوع نے دیگر تمام شہروں کو بھی فتح کر لیا لیکن صرف حصور کو جلایا۔ باقی شہروں کو انہوں نے اپنے استعمال کے لیے رہنے دیا۔ انہوں نے مالِ غنیمت اور مویشی تو لے لیے لیکن وہاں کے لوگوں کا مکمل خاتمہ کر دیا۔