Joshua 11:13

13 Israel did not burn cities built on mounds. However, Joshua made an exception and burned Hazor.

Joshua 11:13 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 11:13

But as for the cities that stood still in their strength
Whose walls were not demolished when taken, as Kimchi and Jarchi interpret it, or that "stood upon their heaps" ^F25; upon an eminence, being built on hills and mountains:

Israel burned none of them;
but reserved them for their own habitations, being well fortified, and having no need of new walls being built to them, or being in a very agreeable situation:

save Hazor only, [that] did Joshua burn;
because it was the chief city where the scheme was formed, and the combination against Israel was made, and was the rendezvous of the confederate forces against them: the Jews have a tradition ^F26, that God said to Moses, and Moses said to Joshua, that he should burn it, and that only.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F25 (Mlt le) "super tumulum eorum", Montanus; "quae erant in collibus et in tamulis sitae", V. L.
F26 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 81. fol. 71. 1.

Joshua 11:13 In-Context

11 They claimed everyone for the LORD by destroying them with swords. Not one person survived. Joshua also burned Hazor.

12 So Joshua captured all these cities and their kings. He claimed them for the LORD by destroying them, as the LORD's servant Moses had commanded him.

13 Israel did not burn cities built on mounds. However, Joshua made an exception and burned Hazor.

14 The people of Israel took all the loot and livestock from these cities. But they put everyone to death until they were all destroyed. Not one person survived.

15 So Joshua carried out what the LORD had commanded his servant Moses and what Moses had commanded him. He did not leave out anything the LORD had commanded Moses.