Bible Commentaries
Joshua 11

Verses 1-23

Chapter 11

So in chapter eleven, the other kings when they had heard what happened to these kings that had come out against them, they also went out with their host. These are now the kings that are in the area of the Galilee, and upper Galilee region in the first three verses, clear up to Mount Hermon.

And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, many people, even as the sand is on the sea shore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. And these kings met together and they came to the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. And the Lord said to Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for tomorrow at about this time I will deliver them all slain before Israel: and thou shalt hock their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So again Joshua came with all of his men suddenly upon these people. And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them even unto Zidon... [Clear on over to the upper part, or the lower part of Lebanon there, the upper part of Israel.] And Joshua took Hazor, [Which of course is up in the upper Galilee and one of the major cities at that time in that area.] and he smote all of those with the edge of the sword: [and utterly wiped out the cattle, and the horses and the chariots, burned the chariots, and did all that the Lord had commanded Moses to do when they took the land. So verse twenty-three,] Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war ( Joshua 11:4-11 , Joshua 11:23 ).

Now he took the whole land, and yet there were pockets of resistance that they did not take. There was a failure on their part to inhabit the whole territory that God had given to them. Now God has said, "Every place you put your foot, I have given it to you." One of the tragedies was the complete conquest of the land. For instance, the Jebusite city of Jerusalem was not taken by Joshua. In fact, it was not taken until the time of David. David took the city of Jerusalem, and hence it was called after that "The city of David." But we will read of other areas Gaza and Ashdod, so forth, that they did not take at that time. Yet they conquered not all the land. "