Joshua 11:4-14

4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.
5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
6 The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”
7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them,
8 and the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left.
9 Joshua did to them as the LORD had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.
10 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.)
11 Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed[a] them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.
12 Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.
13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned.
14 The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed.

Joshua 11:4-14 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 14

  • 1. S Genesis 12:2; Judges 7:12; 1 Samuel 13:5
  • 2. Judges 5:19
  • 3. ver 7
  • 4. S Joshua 2:24; Joshua 10:8
  • 5. S Genesis 49:6; 2 Samuel 8:4
  • 6. ver 9
  • 7. S Genesis 10:15; S Judges 18:7
  • 8. Joshua 13:6
  • 9. Isaiah 3:25; Jeremiah 41:2; Jeremiah 44:18
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 7:2
  • 11. Deuteronomy 20:16-17
  • 12. S Numbers 31:10
  • 13. Numbers 33:50-52; Deuteronomy 7:2
  • 14. S Deuteronomy 20:16; Numbers 31:11-12

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 12, 20 and 21.
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