Bible Commentaries
Joshua 11

Verses 1-15

The Northern Campaign - Joshua 11:1-15 describes the northern campaign of Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land. We have read of their campaign into the central region of this land with the battles of Jericho and Ai (Joshua 6-8). Joshua then led Israel into the southern region where he fought five kings in response to Gibeon’s plea for help (Joshua 10:0). This battle contains the famous story of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still. Yet, the greatest test of Israel’s faith in God lay ahead as the city-states of northern Canaan gathered together into a huge army. This time Israel’s adversaries numbered “as the sand on the seashore in multitude.” (Joshua 11:4)

Joshua 11:13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

Joshua 11:13 “save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn” - Comments - Archaeologists now testifies that this city experienced a great fire during the time of the conquest led by Joshua. [27]

[27] Amnon Ben-Tor and Maria Teresa Rubiato , “Excavating Hazor, Part Two: Did the Israelites Destroy the Canaanite City?,” in Biblical Archaeology Review, May/Jun 1999. [on-line]; accessed 17 March 2009; available http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/article.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=25&Issue=3&ArticleID=1&ParentArticleID=12; Internet.

Verses 16-23

Summary of the Conquest of Canaan Comments - Joshua 11:16-23 provides a summary of Israel’s conquest of Canaan.

Joshua 11:18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

Joshua 11:18 “a long time” - Comments - Caleb was eighty-five years old at the end of the conquest, testifying to the length of the conquest at about five years (Joshua 14:7; Joshua 14:10).

Joshua 14:7, “ Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.”

Joshua 14:10, “And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years , even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.”

Joshua 11:21 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.

Joshua 11:21 Word Study on “Anakims” PTW says the word “Anak” means, “giant, long necked.”