Joshua 11:18-20 NIV

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 11:18

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:20

It was of the Lord to harden their hearts - They had sinned against all the light they had received, and God left them justly to the hardness, obstinacy, and pride of their own hearts; for as they chose to retain their idolatry, God was determined that they should be cut off. For as no city made peace with the Israelites but Gibeon and some others of the Hivites, Joshua 11:19 , it became therefore necessary to destroy them; for their refusal to make peace was the proof that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:18

Verse 18 18.Joshua made war a long time, etc Before, he had, in a short time, and, as it were, with the swiftness of running, seized possession of five kingdoms; in the others the case was different, not from hesitation, or weariness, or sloth, but because the Lord exercised his people variously, that he might give a brighter display of his manifold grace, which usually loses its value in our eyes, if it is exhibited only in one and the same way. Therefore, as the divine power had formerly been... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:19

Verse 19 19.There was not a city that made peace, etc This sentence appears, at first sight, contradictory to what is everywhere said in the books of Moses, that the Israelites were not to enter into any league with those nations, or make any terms of peace with them, but, on the contrary, to destroy them utterly, and wipe out their race and name. (Exodus 23:32; Deuteronomy 7:2) (117) Seeing the nations were thus excluded from the means of making any paction, and would in vain have made any... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 11:1-23

The continuation of the struggle. The same class of thoughts is suggested by this chapter as by the former. We have, as before But the course of the narrative gives a somewhat different form to our reflections. I. JOSHUA NEEDED SPECIAL ENCOURAGEMENT ONCE MORE , in spite of his previous signal victory. This was because he had a new class of enemies to contend against. These kings, with the king Hazor at their head, seem to have possessed a higher civilisation than the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 11:18

A long time. Hebrew, many days. The campaign in southern Israel lasted for weeks, perhaps even months. But the campaign in northern Palestine must have lasted longer. The vast host which gathered at the waters of Merom was destroyed, but the task of capturing the innumerable cities which dotted that region must have been a protracted one. We may, with Josephus, infer from Joshua 14:10 that it occupied five years, or perhaps, with other of the ancient Rabbis, seven years, since the... read more

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 11:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 11:18

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