יהושע, פרק י׳, פסוק מ״ב

The southern military campaign concludes with a swift and overwhelming victory. This sweeping success details the capture of the local rulers, their cities, and their populations, expanding on conquests that were previously only mentioned in a general way [אברבנאל]. The captured leaders specifically refer to those who controlled the southern region of the land of Israel [מלבי״ם].

The most striking feature of this campaign is its unbroken speed. From a military standpoint, Joshua did not have to lay prolonged sieges or fight a drawn-out war. Instead, he took the cities one after another in a continuous, relentless sequence [רד״ק]. This immediate triumph stands in sharp contrast to earlier battles, such as the attack on Ai, which did not succeed on the first attempt [מצודת דוד]. Furthermore, this rapid pace was unique to the southern kings. When fighting rulers in other parts of the land, the conquests required much more time and could not be finished in a single push [מלבי״ם].

Ultimately, this unprecedented military success was not merely a result of human strategy. It was achieved entirely because God fought directly on behalf of the Israelites.