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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 11:17

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:20

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts ,.... As he hardened the hearts of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, that his power might be displayed in their destruction: that they should come against Israel battle ; and so fall in it: that he might destroy them utterly ; for their abominable wickedness, idolatry, incest, &c.; they had been guilty of: and that they might have no favour ; which they would have had, had they made peace as the Gibeonites did; or that they might not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:21

And at that time came Joshua ,.... After he had made a conquest of the land, or at the time he made it, as before related: and cut off the Anakims from the mountains ; whither, upon the conquest of the land, they had betaken themselves, and lived in dens and caves: these were giants, so called from Anak the father of them; though these are not to be restrained to his posterity, but include all other giants in the land; and the Targum renders the word by "mighty men"; and as some of them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:22

There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel ,.... For those that escaped the sword fled elsewhere, particularly to the following places: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod there remained ; that is, some of the Anakims or giants; these were three of the five principalities of the Philistines, and were never conquered and possessed by Israel, see Joshua 13:3 ; of the city of Gaza; see Gill on Amos 1:7 ; See Gill on Amos 1:8 ; and See Gill on Zephaniah... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:23

So Joshua took the whole land ,.... Of Canaan, the far greater and better part of it, all before described; all that he went against, he failed not in any of his attempts; no place stood out against him that he besieged or summoned, all yielded to him: according to all that the Lord said unto Moses : in Deuteronomy 11:23 , and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel, according to their divisions by their tribes ; as is after related in this book: and the land rested from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:17

From the mount Halak - All the mountainous country that extends from the south of the land of Canaan towards Seir unto Baal-gad, which lies at the foot of Mount Libanus or Hermon, called by some the mountains of Separation, which serve as a limit between the land of Canaan and that of Seir; see Joshua 12:7 . The valley of Lebanon - The whole extent of the plain which is on the south, and probably north, of Mount Libanus. Calmet conjectures that Coelesyria is here meant. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:18

Joshua made war a long time - The whole of these conquests were not effected in one campaign: they probably required six or seven years. There are some chronological notices in this book, and in Deuteronomy, by which the exact time may be nearly ascertained. Caleb was forty years old when he was sent from Kadesh-barnea by Moses to search out the land, about A.M. 2514; and at the end of this war he was eighty-five years old; (compare Joshua 14:10 ; with Numbers 13, and Deuteronomy... read more

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