Joshua 11

King James Version

Full text for Joshua Chapter 11

1¶ 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,

2And 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,

3[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.

4And 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.

5And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

6And 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.

7So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.

8And 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.

9And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

10¶ 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.

11And 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.

12And 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.

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

14And 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.

15¶ As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

16So 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;

17[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.

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

19There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all [other] they took in battle.

20For 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 favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

21And 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.

22There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.

23So 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Joshua 11 details the final major campaign of the conquest, where Jabin king of Hazor assembled a vast northern coalition against Israel. The LORD assured Joshua of victory and instructed him to disable the enemy's chariots and horses. Joshua executed a swift, decisive attack at the waters of Merom, utterly defeating the confederacy and subsequently capturing and burning Hazor, the head of those kingdoms. This chapter concludes with Joshua having taken the whole land, bringing a period of rest from war.

Medium Summary

In Joshua 11, Jabin, king of Hazor, gathered a formidable alliance of northern kings and peoples, amassing a host as numerous as the sand, with many horses and chariots, to fight against Israel at the waters of Merom. The LORD encouraged Joshua not to fear, promising to deliver the enemy and instructing him to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots. Joshua launched a sudden attack, routing the coalition and pursuing them extensively, leaving none remaining. Following divine command, Joshua disabled their horses and destroyed their chariots. He then captured Hazor, utterly destroying its inhabitants and burning the city, before conquering other cities and their kings, adhering strictly to the LORD's command given through Moses. The chapter concludes with Joshua having taken the entire land, including the eradication of the Anakims from the mountains, and the land resting from war.

Long Summary

Joshua 11 recounts the climactic northern campaign of the Israelite conquest. Jabin, king of Hazor, a prominent city, formed a massive confederacy, summoning kings from various regions including Madon, Shimron, Achshaph, and diverse Canaanite, Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, Jebusite, and Hivite peoples. This vast host, described as innumerable as the sand of the sea, gathered with numerous horses and chariots at the waters of Merom to confront Israel. The LORD intervened, assuring Joshua of victory and providing specific military instructions: to hamstring the enemy's horses and burn their chariots, preventing their future use against Israel. Joshua, with his army, launched a sudden and overwhelming attack at Merom, completely routing the allied forces and pursuing them over great distances, leaving no survivors. Following the divine command, Joshua personally oversaw the disabling of their horses and the destruction of their chariots. Subsequently, Joshua turned his attention to Hazor, which was the strategic head of the northern kingdoms, capturing it, utterly destroying all its inhabitants with the sword, and burning the city. While other conquered cities were also utterly destroyed, only Hazor was burned, with Israel taking the spoil and cattle from these other cities. The chapter emphasizes Joshua's complete obedience to all the LORD's commands given through Moses, leaving nothing undone. Joshua proceeded to conquer the entire land, from the southern hills to the northern valley under Mount Hermon, engaging in prolonged warfare against these kings. It is noted that no city made peace with Israel except the Hivites of Gibeon, as the LORD hardened the hearts of the other nations for their utter destruction. Finally, Joshua cut off the Anakims from the mountainous regions of Judah and Israel, completing their eradication from the land, save for a remnant in Philistine cities. The chapter concludes with Joshua having taken the whole land according to the LORD's word to Moses, giving it as an inheritance to Israel by tribes, and the land resting from war.

Core Concepts

  • Northern CoalitionJabin, king of Hazor, assembled a vast alliance of northern kings and peoples, including Canaanites, Amorites, and Hittites, to oppose Israel, forming a formidable military force.
  • Divine StrategyThe LORD directly instructed Joshua not to fear the numerous enemy, promising victory and specifically commanding him to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots, thereby neutralizing their primary military advantage.
  • Utter Destruction (Cherem)Israel, under Joshua's leadership, implemented the divine command to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the conquered cities, leaving none alive to breathe, particularly exemplified in the fall of Hazor.
  • Conquest of HazorHazor, identified as the head of the northern kingdoms, was captured by Joshua, its inhabitants utterly destroyed, and the city itself burned with fire, signifying a decisive blow to the northern resistance.
  • Joshua's ObedienceThe chapter repeatedly highlights Joshua's unwavering adherence to all the LORD's commands, as delivered through Moses, ensuring the complete execution of the divine will in the conquest.
  • Eradication of AnakimsJoshua specifically targeted and cut off the Anakims, a race of giants, from the mountainous regions of Judah and Israel, further securing the land from formidable adversaries.
  • Rest from WarThe chapter concludes with the declaration that Joshua had taken the whole land, distributed it among the tribes, and the land subsequently rested from major warfare, marking a significant phase of the conquest's completion.