Joshua 10:38-39 Meaning: The Complete Victory at Debir
38Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it.
39He took it, with its king and all its cities. They struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining. As he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to its king; as he had done also to Libnah, and to its king.
38And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
39And 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.
38And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it:
39and 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 the king thereof.
38And Joshua turneth back, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fighteth against it,
39and captureth it, and its king, and all its cities, and they smite them by the mouth of the sword, and devote every person who is in it--he hath not left a remnant; as he did to Hebron so he did to Debir, and to its king, and as he did to Libnah, and to its king.
38And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it.
39And 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 let none remain: as he had done to Hebron, and as he had done to Libnah, and to the king thereof, so he did to Debir and to the king thereof.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Joshua 'return' to Debir after Hebron? Discover the meaning of Debir, the 'city of books', and the significance of total obedience to God's command.
Context
Joshua is in the middle of a southern campaign. After a day when the sun stood still and the Lord threw the enemy into panic, Joshua and his army moved from city to city. They had just taken Hebron. Now they turn south-west toward Debir. The word ‘returned’ does not mean they had been there before. It marks a change of direction. Debir was an old Canaanite city, once called Kiriath Sepher, “city of the book.” It may have been a center of learning or a pagan oracle. Its capture and complete destruction show that the conquest was thorough. Nothing was left to chance. Joshua did exactly what the Lord commanded, city after city, until the whole region was subdued.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words carry the weight of this passage. First, the verb behind ‘returned’ (shuv). It often means to turn aside or change course. Joshua did not go back to a place he had already fought. He turned his army in a new direction toward Debir. It was a deliberate move, not a retreat.
Second, the phrase ‘utterly destroyed’ (charam) means to devote something to the Lord by placing it under a ban. It was not reckless violence. The Canaanites’ wickedness had reached a point where God commanded their removal. The same word is used of the city of Jericho. Every ‘soul’ (nephesh), every person, was devoted to judgment. The repetition of ‘he left no one remaining’ underscores the completeness of this act. Obedience was not partial.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read these verses in different ways. Older commentators like Matthew Henry saw the destruction as God’s just judgment on the Canaanites’ long history of sin. Adam Clarke wondered whether only those who fought were killed, and others taken as slaves. Some today read the ‘herem’ command as a unique moment in salvation history, not a pattern for later believers. There is also debate on how much of the language is literal. Across traditions, Christians agree that God is just and that Joshua’s obedience was faithful. The passage raises hard questions about judgment, but all can affirm that God’s ways are right, even when we struggle to understand them.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think ‘returned’ means Joshua had already attacked Debir and came back to finish the job. In fact, the Hebrew verb shuv here indicates a turn in the march, not a return to a previous battle. The story makes sense only as a first attack on Debir. Mistaking the word’s force can confuse the whole campaign. The point is not that Joshua revisited a city; it is that he faithfully turned toward every enemy God put before him.
Living This Out
This week, think about the places in your life where you stop short. Maybe it is a habit you half‑address, a relationship you patch without healing, or a truth you know but haven’t let change you. Joshua did not leave one survivor in Debir. For us, that thoroughness might mean letting God’s word shape what we read, how we think, and what we value. Debir was the city of books. Let Scripture have the final say over every other influence. One step at a time, keep turning toward the next thing God asks.
Main takeaway: God calls His people to complete obedience, trusting that His commands, even the hardest, are grounded in His justice and His love.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told Joshua to take the city of Debir. Joshua did exactly what God said. Sometimes it is hard to obey, but God helps us when we trust Him.
For ages 9, 12
Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher, which means “city of books.” It was probably a place where people kept lots of writings and learning. God wanted His people to learn from Him, not from the people who did not follow Him. Joshua’s complete victory shows that God’s truth is more powerful than all human knowledge. When you study and read, remember that the Bible is the most important book you can open.
Questions People Ask
Why does the Bible say Joshua ‘returned’ to Debir if he had never been there before?
The Hebrew word shuv often means to turn aside or change direction. Joshua was marching southwest from Hebron toward Debir. The translation ‘returned’ can be misleading; it simply marks a change in the course of the army. This is not a second visit.
What does ‘utterly destroyed’ mean in this passage?
The Hebrew word charam means to devote something to the Lord by placing it under a ban. In the conquest, it meant total destruction of people and property. Christians understand this as God’s judgment on the Canaanites for their long history of sin, not as a general command for all time.
Was Debir a special city? Why does it have two names?
Debir was also called Kiriath Sepher, meaning ‘city of the book’ or ‘city of books.’ It may have been a center of Canaanite learning, writing, or pagan religion. Some scholars think it held a library or an oracle. Its capture showed that no Canaanite stronghold, even one of knowledge, could stand against God.
How can a Christian today apply a war passage like this?
Most Christians do not take these verses as a model for warfare. They see them as a historical record of God’s judgment on sin and a picture of how completely God deals with evil. The application is often spiritual: let God remove every competing loyalty from your life, and obey Him without holding back.
Does this passage mean God commanded genocide?
The word ‘genocide’ is a modern term. The Old Testament describes the herem (devotion to destruction) as a judgment on specific Canaanite nations whose culture had become deeply corrupt (see Leviticus 18:24-25). Christians interpret this differently: some see it as a literal judgment, others as a foreshadowing of final judgment. All agree that God is just and that the command was unique to that time and place.
For pastors & researchers
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