Conquest of Canaan (Southern Campaign)
The southern campaign of the Conquest of Canaan involved Joshua leading the Israelite forces in a swift series of victories against a coalition of southern Canaanite city-states, prompted by the Gibeonite alliance and following the miraculous event where the sun stood still. After defeating the Amorite kings at Gibeon, Joshua pursued and captured key cities including Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Hebron, and Debir, utterly destroying their inhabitants as commanded by God. This campaign was crucial in securing the southern portion of the Promised Land for the Israelites, fulfilling God's covenant promises to Abraham and demonstrating His power through supernatural interventions in battle. In Scripture, it underscores themes of obedience, divine warfare, and the establishment of Israel in Canaan as recorded in the Book of Joshua.
Details
- Era
- Exodus & Conquest
- Category
- Conquest
- Participants
- Israel vs. Southern Canaanite Coalition
- Outcome
- Five southern kings defeated in one day
- Divine Intervention
- Yes
Key Passages
The Campaign
Joshua 10:28-43
28nd 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.
Did You Know?
The entire conquest of Canaan took approximately 7 years.
31 kings were defeated during the conquest. Showing how fragmented Canaan was politically.
Archaeological evidence shows many Canaanite cities were destroyed in a short period around 1400-1200 BC.