Joshua 11:20

20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to come against Yisra'el in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moshe.

Joshua 11:20 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 11:20

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts
As he hardened the hearts of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, that his power might be displayed in their destruction:

that they should come against Israel battle;
and so fall in it:

that he might destroy them utterly;
for their abominable wickedness, idolatry, incest they had been guilty of:

[and] that they might have no favour;
which they would have had, had they made peace as the Gibeonites did; or that they might not pray and make supplication, the Lord not giving them a spirit of supplication, but an hard heart, as Gussetius ^F6 observes the words may be interpreted, though he seems to prefer the former, sense:

but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses;
( Deuteronomy 7:1 Deuteronomy 7:2 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Comment. Ebr. p. 272.

Joshua 11:20 In-Context

18 Yehoshua made war a long time with all those kings.

19 There was not a city that made shalom with the children of Yisra'el, save the Hivvi the inhabitants of Giv`on: they took all in battle.

20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to come against Yisra'el in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moshe.

21 Yehoshua came at that time, and cut off the `Anakim from the hill-country, from Hevron, from Devir, from `Anav, and from all the hill-country of Yehudah, and from all the hill-country of Yisra'el: Yehoshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.

22 There was none of the `Anakim left in the land of the children of Yisra'el: only in `Aza, in Gat, and in Ashdod, did some remain.