Joshua 11:18-23

18 Joshua made war 1a long time with all those kings.
19 There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel except 2the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took them all in battle.
20 For it was the LORD's doing 3to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, 4just as the LORD commanded Moses.
21 And Joshua came at that time and cut off 5the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities.
22 There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel. Only in Gaza, 6in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain.
23 So Joshua took the whole land, 7according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. 8And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel 9according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

Joshua 11:18-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 11

This chapter relates how that the kings of the northern parts of Canaan combine together against Joshua, Jos 11:1-5; and that the Lord encouraged him to fight with them, and did deliver them into his hands, who, with all their people, were smitten by him, Jos 11:6-11; and how that he took their cities, and destroyed the inhabitants of them, and took the spoil of them for a prey, Jos 11:12-15; and so became master of the whole country, both southern and northern, which is described Jos 11:16-20; and the chapter is concluded with an account of his cutting off the Anakim from various parts, which finished the conquest of the whole land, Jos 10:21-23.

Cross References 9

  • 1. [Joshua 14:7, 10]
  • 2. Joshua 9:3, 7
  • 3. See Exodus 4:21
  • 4. Deuteronomy 20:16, 17
  • 5. Joshua 15:13, 14; Numbers 13:22, 23; Deuteronomy 1:28
  • 6. [1 Samuel 17:4]
  • 7. See Numbers 34:2-12
  • 8. See Joshua 14 - 19; Numbers 26:52-56
  • 9. Joshua 12:7; Joshua 18:10
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.