Joshua 10:21

21 all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah; no one dared to speak against any of the Israelites.

Joshua 10:21 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 10:21

And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah
in peace
Sound and well, as not one killed or missing, so not one wounded, as the Vulgate Latin version,

``sound and in full number:''

none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel;
as to curse them, reproach them, and speak ill of them, for invading them, and using them in the manner they did, such was the terror that was upon them. It may be supplied, "not a dog moved" his tongue, as in ( Exodus 11:7 ) ; as it was with them when they came out of Egypt, so it was when they entered the land of Canaan. It seems to be a proverbial expression, as Ben Gersom observes, signifying that no harm was done to them by word or deed.

Joshua 10:21 In-Context

19 but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies, and attack them from the rear. Do not let them enter their towns, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand."
20 When Joshua and the Israelites had finished inflicting a very great slaughter on them, until they were wiped out, and when the survivors had entered into the fortified towns,
21 all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah; no one dared to speak against any of the Israelites.
22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me from the cave."
23 They did so, and brought the five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

Footnotes 1

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.