every breathing being

Joshua 10:40-43 (JDV)

Joshua 10:40 So Joshua conquered the whole region – the hill country, the Negev, the Judean foothills, and the slopes – with all their kings, leaving no survivors. He completely destroyed every breathing being, as Yahveh, the God of Israel, had commanded.
Joshua 10:41 Joshua conquered everyone from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen as far as Gibeon.
Joshua 10:42 Joshua captured all these kings and their land in one campaign, because Yahveh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
Joshua 10:43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

every breathing being

The image of the Israelite captains with their feet on the necks of the Amorite kings (10:24) is fulfilled in the words of verse 40 “leaving no survivors. He completely destroyed every breathing being.” The word for “breathing” is neshemah, the same “breath of life” that God breathed into Adam, causing him to be alive (Genesis 2:7). In the flood, everyone not protected by the ark (in whose nostrils was the neshemah) died (Genesis 7:22). Moses had commanded the Israelites to not leave anyone in these cities alive who has the neshemah (Deuteronomy 20:16).

It was important that the Israelites carry out this policy for many reasons. One is that God was to create a new nation in that land, and the former nations would only sidetrack and distract the Israelites from that task.

Also, from the prophetic standpoint, this new nation was to be a symbol of God’s ultimate plan for a new creation at the end of the age, where the former things are all passed away.

Lord, help us to rid our lives of all the former things which are not to be our permanent destiny.