Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 11:1-9

We are here entering upon the story of another campaign that Joshua made, and it was a glorious one, no less illustrious than the former in the success of it, though in respect of miracles it was inferior to it in glory. The wonders God then wrought for them were to animate and encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the war carried on by the preaching of the gospel against Satan's kingdom was at first forwarded by miracles; but, the war being by them sufficiently proved to be of... read more

Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:9

And Joshua did unto them as the Lord bade him ,.... Namely, in the following instances: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire ; not consulting his own worldly interest or that of the people of Israel, but the command of God, which he carefully obeyed, and reserved none for himself or them, as David in another case afterwards did; see 2 Samuel 8:4 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:10

And Joshua at that time turned back and took Hazor ,.... After he had chased the Canaanites to the places mentioned, he returned to Hazor, near to which Joshua first fell upon them, but through the pursuit he was led on many miles beyond it: Bunting says F23 Travels, p. 96. , it was thirty two miles from Sidon: and smote the king thereof with the sword ; who, very probably, upon the surprise at the waters of Merom, fled to his capital for safety; but that being taken by Joshua, he... read more

John Gill

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

And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them ,.... Men, women, and children: there was not any left to breathe ; any human creature; for as for the cattle they were taken for a prey: and he burnt Hazor with fire ; as he did Jericho and Ai, though no other cities he had taken; but it seems that this city, though burnt, was built again and inhabited by Canaanites, who had a king over them of the same name with this in the times... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:9

He houghed their horses - The Hebrew word עקר akar , which we render to hough or hamstring, signifies to wound, cut, or lop off. It is very likely that it means here, not only an act by which they were rendered useless, but by which they were destroyed; as God had purposed that his people should not possess any cattle of this kind, that a warlike and enterprising spirit might not be cultivated among them; and that, when obliged to defend themselves and their country, they might be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 11:13

The cities that stood still in their strength - The word תלם tillam , which we translate their strength , and the margin, their heap , has been understood two ways. As signifying those cities which had made peace with the Israelites, when conditions of peace were offered according to the command of the law; and consequently were not destroyed. Such as the cities of the Hivites; see Joshua 11:19 . 2. The cities which were situated upon hills and mountains, which,... read more

Group of Brands