Joshua 11

1 It happened, when Yavin king of Hatzor heard of it, that he sent to Yovav king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Akhshaf,

2 and to the kings who were on the north, in the hill-country, and in the `Aravah south of Kinnarot, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,

3 to the Kana`ani on the east and on the west, and the Amori, and the Hittite, and the Perizzi, and the Yevusi in the hill-country, and the Hivvi under Hermon in the land of Mitzpah.

4 They went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.

5 All these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Yisra'el.

6 The LORD said to Yehoshua, Don't be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Yisra'el: you shall hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

7 So Yehoshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and fell on them.

8 The LORD delivered them into the hand of Yisra'el, and they struck them, and chased them to great Tzidon, and to Misrefot-Mayim, and to the valley of Mitzpeh eastward; and they struck them, until they left them none remaining.

9 Yehoshua did to them as the LORD bade him: he hamstrung their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

10 Yehoshua turned back at that time, and took Hatzor, and struck the king of it with the sword: for Hatzor before was the head of all those kingdoms.

11 They struck all the souls who were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left who breathed: and he burnt Hatzor with fire.

12 All the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Yehoshua take, and he struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; as Moshe the servant of the LORD commanded.

13 But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Yisra'el burned none of them, save Hatzor only; that did Yehoshua burn.

14 All the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Yisra'el took for a prey to themselves; but every man they struck with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any who breathed.

15 As the LORD commanded Moshe his servant, so did Moshe command Yehoshua: and so did Yehoshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moshe.

16 So Yehoshua took all that land, the hill-country, and all the South, and all the land of Goshen, and the lowland, and the `Aravah, and the hill-country of Yisra'el, and the lowland of the same;

17 from Mount Halak, that goes up to Se`ir, even to Ba`al-Gad in the valley of Levanon under Mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and struck them, and put them to death.

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.

23 So Yehoshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD spoke to Moshe; and Yehoshua gave it for an inheritance to Yisra'el according to their divisions by their tribes. The land had rest from war.

Joshua 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Divers kings overcome at the waters of Merom. (1-9) Hazor is taken and burned. (10-14) All that country subdued, The Anakims cut off. (15-23)

Verses 1-9 The wonders God wrought for the Israelites were to encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the war against Satan's kingdom, carried on by preaching the gospel, was at first forwarded by miracles; but being fully proved to be of God, we are now left to the Divine grace in the usual course, in the use of the sword of the Spirit. God encouraged Joshua. Fresh dangers and difficulties make it necessary to seek fresh supports from the word of God, which we have nigh unto us for use in every time of need. God proportions our trials to our strength, and our strength to our trials. Joshua's obedience in destroying the horses and chariots, shows his self-denial in compliance with God's command. The possession of things on which the carnal heart is prone to depend, is hurtful to the life of faith, and the walk with God; therefore it is better to be without worldly advantages, than to have the soul endangered by them.

Verses 10-14 The Canaanites filled up the measure of their iniquity, and were, as a judgment, left to the pride, obstinacy, and enmity of their hearts, and to the power of Satan; all restraints being withdrawn, while the dispensations of Providence tended to drive them to despair. They brought on themselves the vengeance they justly merited, of which the Israelites were to be executioners, by the command the Lord gave to Moses.

Verses 15-23 Never let the sons of Anak be a terror to the Israel of God, for their day to fall will come. The land rested from war. It ended not in a peace with the Canaanites, that was forbidden, but in a peace from them. There is a rest, a rest from war, remaining for the people of God, into which they shall enter, when their warfare is accomplished. That which was now done, is compared with what had been said to Moses. God's word and his works, if viewed together, will be found mutually to set each other forth. If we make conscience of our duty, we need not question the performance of the promise. But the believer must never put off his armour, or expect lasting peace, till he closes his eyes in death; nay, as his strength and usefulness increase, he may expect more heavy trials; yet the Lord will not permit any enemies to assault the believer till he has prepared him for the battle. Christ Jesus ever lives to plead for his people, and their faith shall not fail, however Satan may be permitted to assault them. And however tedious, sharp, and difficult the believer's warfare, his patience in tribulation may be encouraged by the joyfulness of hope; for he will, ere long, rest from sin and from sorrow in the Canaan above.

Chapter Summary

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.