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Confederacy Against Israel. (b. c. 1450.)
CONFEDERACY AGAINST ISRAEL. (B. C. 1450.) 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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:1-5
Many adversaries. Another league is here. One in the south destroyed; another in the north is formed. A formidable one scattered; one more so gathers. Four kings are mentioned, and probably a dozen others of those menti…
The Pulpit Commentary on 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. JOSHU…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:1-23
EXPOSITION THE PROSECUTION OF THE WAR.—
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:1
And it came to pass. The political constitution of Palestine was, humanly speaking, the cause of its overthrow. The division of the country into a host of petty states, and the consequent want of cohesion and concert, m…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:2
On the north of the mountains. Rather, to the northward, in the mountain district. Not necessarily the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon range, but the mountains of Galilee, which lay within the boundaries of Naphtali. The LXX.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:3
To the Canaanite (see note on Joshua 3:10). This confederacy was yet more formidable than the other (Joshua 11:5), but was as signally defeated by Joshua's promptitude (see verse 7). We are reminded of the swift march o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:4
And they went out. Dean Stanley (Lectures, 1:259) compares this "last struggle" of the Canaanites with the conflict between the Saxons and the British chiefs "driven to the Land's End." The comparison is more picturesqu…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:5
The waters of Merom. Robinson and the later travellers generally identify this with the Samochonitis (Joseph, Ant. 5.1; Bell. Jud. 3.9. 7; 4. 1.1), now Huleh. Keil and Delitzseh deny this, but it may be regarded as esta…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:6
And the Lord said unto Joshua. The encouragement was not unnecessary. The task before Joshua was harder than any that had yet befallen him. The enemy was far more numerous and better equipped. And it is a well known fac…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:7
Suddenly (see remarks in Introduction on Joshua's characteristics as a general. Also Joshua 10:9). And they fell upon them. This phrase denotes the rapidity of the onset. While they deemed him to be leagues away, he sud…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:8
And the Lord delivered them (see Joshua 10:42). The issue of every battle is in God's hands. The natural man attributes it to human skill. The spiritual man, whether under the law or under the gospel, acknowledges the t…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 11:10-14
The Canaanites filled up the measure of their iniquity, and were, as a judgment, left to the pride, obstinacy, and enmity of their hearts, and to the power of Satan; all restraints being withdrawn, while the dispensatio…
Joshua's Victories. (b. c. 1450.)
JOSHUA'S VICTORIES. (B. C. 1450.) 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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:10
Turned back. From his march toward Sidon. For Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms (see note on Joshua 11:1).
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:11
Utterly destroying them (see note on Joshua 6:17; so below, Joshua 6:12). There was not any left to breathe (see note on Joshua 10:40). And he burnt Hazor with fire. Comparing this verse with Joshua 11:13 and Joshua 11:…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:13
The cities that stood still in their strength. This is the rendering of the Chaldee version. The LXX. has κεχωματισμένας, heaped up, i.e; defended with mounds. Rather, on their hill ("in collibus et in tumulis sitae,"…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:14
Took for a prey unto themselves (see Joshua 8:2, Joshua 8:27, and notes).
Matthew Henry on Joshua 11:15-23
Never let the sons of Anak be a terror to the Israel of God, for their day to fall will come. The land rested from war. It ended not in a peace with the Canaanites, that was forbidden, but in a peace from them. There is…
Matthew Henry on 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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:15
God's commandment and man's faithfulness. I. GOD'S COMMANDMENT IS ENDURING. The commandment to Moses is transmitted to Joshua. God's will is changeless. What is right is right eternally. We must not regard God's laws as…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:15
As the Lord Commanded Moses (see note on Joshua 10:40). So did Joshua. The implicit obedience of Joshua to all the commands he had received of God, whether directly or indirectly through Moses, is a striking feature of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:16
All that land. Rather, "all this land ;" the land, that is, which has been spoken of in all the previous narrative. It must not be pressed to mean the utter destruction of all the Canaanites, and the undisturbed possess…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 11:17
The Mount Halak. The smooth mountain. Literally," monte glabro," Vulg.; λεῖον, Symmachus. This may either be interpreted "the mountain bare of foliage," as opposed to Seir, the hairy or wooded mountain, as Masius and R…