Joshua 11 documents the final major military phase as a vast coalition of northern kings, led by Jabin of Hazor, gathers with horses and chariots to oppose Israel. Joshua’s decisive victory and the burning of Hazor mark the end of organized resistance, allowing the land to finally rest from war.
v1-9: The Northern Coalition Gathers at Merom
v10-15: The Destruction of Hazor and Other Cities
v16-20: Summary of the Land Conquered by Joshua
v21-23: The Defeat of the Anakim and the Land’s Rest
And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,
And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.
And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.
And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.
And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
Witness the hamstringing of horses and the burning of chariots, a move designed to keep Israel’s trust in God rather than military tech. Begin your study with joshua 11 summary.
Hazor was the only city in the north burned with fire, as it was the 'Head' of the Canaanite kingdoms and needed to be completely delegitimized. The Word Secret is Anakim, the giants who had terrified the previous generation, now systematically removed by Joshua’s army. Discover the riches with joshua 11 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Unlock the hidden joshua 11 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.
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