Joshua 11:12-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 11:10-14

We have here the same improvement made of this victory as was made of that in the foregoing chapter. 1. The destruction of Hazor is particularly recorded, because in it, and by the king thereof, this daring design against Israel was laid, Josh. 11:10, 11. The king of Hazor, it seems, escaped with his life out of the battle, and thought himself safe when he had got back into his own city, and Joshua had gone in pursuit of the scattered troops another way. But it proved that that which he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 11:15-23

We have here the conclusion of this whole matter. I. A short account is here given of what was done in four things:?1. The obstinacy of the Canaanites in their opposition to the Israelites. It was strange that though it appeared so manifestly that God fought for Israel, and in every engagement the Canaanites had the worst of it, yet they stood it out to the last; not one city made peace with Israel, but the Gibeonites only, who understood the things that belonged to their peace better than... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:12

And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them did Joshua take ,.... As particularly Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph, with others which he marched unto, after he had burnt Hazor; in which he took their kings, whither they had fled, or else he had taken them before in the pursuit: and smote them with the edge of the sword ; both the kings and the inhabitants of those cities: and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded ; so that, in doing what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 על תלם "super tumulum eorum", Montanus; "quae erant in collibus et in tamulis sitae", V. L. ; 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:14

And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves ,.... The gold, silver, household goods, corn, wine, oil, or any mercantile goods, together with cattle of every sort, all were taken by them for a prey, for their own use and benefit, which was allowed them: but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe ; for which they had warrant so to do from the Lord, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:15

As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua ,.... Which was to destroy the people of the land, Deuteronomy 7:1 , so did Joshua, he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses ; both with respect to the destruction of the people, and of all their images, pictures, altars, groves, and high places; see Exodus 34:11 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:16

So Joshua took all that land ,.... The whole land of Canaan, described as follows, both as to the southern and northern parts of it: the hills ; the hill country of Judea, of which see Luke 1:39 , and all the south country ; where lived the five kings; and those of other places, the account of the taking of which we have in the preceding chapter, Joshua 10:40 , and all the land of Goshen ; see Joshua 10:41 , and the valley, and the plain ; the low places and campaign... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:17

Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up unto Seir ,.... Or the "smooth" and "bald" mountain, which had no trees on it, as some interpret it, observed by Kimchi; it was a mount on the borders of Edom, to which the land of Canaan reached on that side: even unto Baalgad, in the valley of Lebanon, under Mount Hermon ; and so describes the northern part of the land conquered by Joshua: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them ; both in the southern and northern parts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:18

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. For, though the account of the conquest of them is put together, and lies in a small compass, yet those victories were not obtained at once, or in a few days, as were those of the five kings, and others, related in the preceding chapter, Joshua 10:10 ; but were the work of some years; Josephus F2 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 19. says five years, but the common notion of the Jews is, that Joshua was seven years in subduing the land of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:19

There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel ,.... Though, according to the Jews, Joshua, upon his first landing in Canaan, sent letters and messages to all the inhabitants of the land, offering them peace on certain terms; particularly that he sent three messages, or proposed three things to them; that those who had a mind to flee might flee; that those who were desirous of making peace might make it; and they that were for war, let them fight; all were for the last, and... read more

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