1. Joshua 10:29–43 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How long did it take to conquer southern Canaan?

Joshua 10:29–43 (ESV)

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.

Given the logistics involved in the movement of armies around southern Canaan, the conquests probably take several weeks if not several months.1 Joshua 10:28–42 focuses on the broad picture, presenting the conquest as having taken place in one swoop because the Lord was fighting for Israel (Joshua 10:42). However, Joshua 11:18 suggests a long-lasting campaign, similar to that promised in Exodus 23:29–30 and Deuteronomy 7:22.2 The individual tribes of Israel still had work to do after the main battles had been won (Joshua 11:22; Joshua 13:2–6; Joshua 14:12; Joshua 15:63; Joshua 16:10; Joshua 17:12–13; Joshua 18:2–3; Joshua 19:47; Joshua 23:4–5; Joshua 23:7; Joshua 23:12–13).