Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 11:12

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.

12. as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded ] See Deu 7:2; Deu 20:16-17.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them did Joshua take,…. As particularly Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph, with others which he marched unto, after he had burnt Hazor; in which he took their kings, whither they had fled, or else he had taken them before in the pursuit:

and smote them with the edge of the sword; both the kings and the inhabitants of those cities:

[and] he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded; so that, in doing what he did, he did not indulge a spirit of revenge, cruelty, and avarice, but had regard purely to the command of Moses, which was of God, De 7:1.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

12. And all the cities of those kings, etc Having routed the army, they began to plunder and lay waste the country, and to take and demolish the towns. From its being said that the cities which remained entire were not burned, it may be inferred with some probability, that some were taken by force and assault, and so razed. Hazor, alone, after the siege was over, and the heat of the struggle had cooled, was destroyed by fire, because it had held forth the torch which enkindled the war. But in accordance with the explanation already given, it is repeatedly and more clearly stated in this passage, that Joshua did not give loose reins to his passion, when he slew all from the least to the greatest. For there is now a distinct statement of what had not yet been expressed, namely, that Joshua faithfully performed his part, by fulfilling everything which the Lord had enjoined by Moses. It is just as if he had placed his hands at the disposal of God, when he destroyed those nations according to his command. And so ought we to hold that, though the whole world should condemn us, it is sufficient to free us from all blame, that we have the authority of God. (114) Meanwhile, it becomes us prudently to consider what each man’s vocation requires, lest any one, by giving license to his zeal, as wishing to imitate Joshua, may be judged cruel and sanguinary, rather than a strict servant of God.

(114) Latin, “ Deum habere authorem.” French, “ Que nous ayons Dieu pour garant et autheur de ce que nous faisons;” “That we have God as guarantee and author of what we do.” — Ed.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

‘ And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them did Joshua take, and he smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of YHWH commanded.’

He also took the other cities that had taken part in the alliance, killed their kings (whether captured before or then) and slaughtered the people. This was in accordance with the command of God through Moses. None of the Canaanites were to remain alive lest they lead Israel astray after idols and into the gross immorality of their sexually perverted religion.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Jos 11:12 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.

Ver. 12. And all the kings of them. ] Herodotus saith of the Thracians, that if they had been all of one mind, or under one king, they had been invincible.

“ ” – Homer.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)