Joshua 11:13

13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

Joshua 11:13 in Other Translations

13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

13 But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor alone; that Joshua burned.

13 But the Israelites did not burn any of the towns built on mounds except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

13 But Israel didn't burn the cities that were built on mounds, except for Hazor - Joshua did burn down Hazor.

13 But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

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

13 However, Israel did not burn any of the cities that stood on their mounds except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

13 Many cities were built on top of earlier cities that had been destroyed. Israel didn't burn up any of those except Hazor. Joshua burned it up.

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.

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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 Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed 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.

15 As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.