At that time Horam king of Gezer went to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him down along with his people, leaving no survivors.
A good general knows how to follow up a victory, and Joshua seized his moment: he took six cities in swift succession, destroyed the armies sent to relieve them, and brought the whole southern country under Israel's hand. His failure to take Jerusalem and Jarmuth at once was a missed opportunity they would pay dearly to recover later.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 10:28-43
And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon,.... Which, according to Bunting (f), was eight miles from Lachish, and twelve from Jerusalem southward, of which see Jos 10:5, and all Israel with him, and they encamped against it, and fought against it; it not surrendering at once, but attempted to hold out a siege. (f) Ut supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 96.)
The Lord God of Israel fought for Israel, and the victories came in rapid succession: Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, and the army of Gezer all fell in a single sweep. The whole southern country passed into Joshua's hands because the Lord Himself was the true conqueror.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 10:28-42