Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 11:10
And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms.
10. turned back ] Far over the western hills Joshua pursued the flying hosts before he “turned back,” and took Hazor, and because of its prominence as the chief city of these petty northern kingdoms, burned it with fire.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 10. Took Hazor] See Clarke on Jos 11:1.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Smote the king thereof; either in the former battle, though it be mentioned here; or rather in his royal city, to which he fled out of the battle.
The head of all those kingdoms; not of all Canaan, but of all those who were confederate with him in this expedition.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Joshua at that time turned back and took Hazor,…. After he had chased the Canaanites to the places mentioned, he returned to Hazor, near to which Joshua first fell upon them, but through the pursuit he was led on many miles beyond it: Bunting says w, it was thirty two miles from Sidon:
and smote the king thereof with the sword; who, very probably, upon the surprise at the waters of Merom, fled to his capital for safety; but that being taken by Joshua, he was slain by him with the sword:
for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms; before mentioned, Jos 11:1; but not of all the land of Canaan: Jerom x says, it was the metropolis of all the kingdoms of the Philistines; and though they were not now subject to it, and had kings of their own, yet it appears that the king of this place was in great authority, and regard was paid unto him; and this seems to be the reason why Joshua hasted to take this city, slay the king of it, and burn it with fire, because it had been the principal in this war, and might, if not prevented, raise new troubles; wherefore, as a precaution to that, and to deter the rest, he hastened the conquest and destruction of it.
w Travels, p. 96. x De loc. Heb. fol. 88. B.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| Joshua’s Victories. | B. C. 1450. |
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. 11 And 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. 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. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn. 14 And 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.
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 thereof, this daring design against Israel was laid, Jos 11:10; Jos 11:11. The king of Hazor, it seems, escaped with his life out of the battle, and thought himself safe when he had got back into his own city, and Joshua had gone in pursuit of the scattered troops another way. But it proved that that which he thought would be for his welfare was his trap; in it he was taken as in an evil net; there he was slain, and his city, for his sake, burned. Yet we find that the remains of it being not well looked after by Israel the Canaanites rebuilt it, and settled there under another king of the same name, Judg. iv. 2. 2. The rest of the cities of that part of the country are spoken of only in general, that Joshua got them all into his hands, but did not burn them as he did Hazor, for Israel was to dwell in great and goodly cities which they builded not (Deut. vi. 10) and in these among the rest. And here we find Israel rolling in blood and treasure. (1.) In the blood of their enemies; they smote all the souls (v. 1), neither left they any to breathe (v. 14), that there might be none to infect them with the abominations of Canaan, and none to disturb them in the possession of it. The children were cut off, lest they should afterwards lay claim to any part of this land in the right of their parents. (2.) In the wealth of their enemies. The spoil, and the cattle, they took for a prey to themselves, v. 14. As they were enriched with the spoil of their oppressors when they came out of Egypt, wherewith to defray the charges of their apprenticeship in the wilderness, so they were now enriched with the spoil of their enemies for a stock wherewith to set up in the land of Canaan. Thus is the wealth of the sinner laid up for the just.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
The Fatal Mistake, vs. 10-20
After Joshua had totally vanquished the allied pagan army he fell back on Hazor, Jabin’s city, and the head of all the others, slew all the, inhabitants, and burned the city to ashes. The cities of the other kings involved in the affray were likewise put to the sword in keeping with the instructions Joshua had from Moses, who had them from God.
However, only Hazor was burned. The other cities were saved for the subsequent occupancy of the Israelites who would receive them in the tribal allotment. This is also in keeping with the Lord’s word, whereby He had said He would drive out the pagan inhabitants little by little until Israel increased in number to occupy the land, and that the land might not be overrun with wild and dangerous beasts (Exo 23:30; Deu 7:22).
The people of Israel continued to enjoy the spoil of their battles, showing how liberally the Lord supplies His people after the first has been given Him (Jos 6:17-19; 1Co 16:2; Php_4:19).
A very commendable thing is said about Joshua (v. 15); he faithfully followed the instructions of Moses, leaving “nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.”
Because of this the Lord blessed him and gave to Israel all the area of Canaan from mount Halak, near Seir, in the extreme south, to Baal-gad, in the valley of Lebanon at the base of mount Hermon, in the extreme north.
Another indication of the passage of a considerable period of time is found in verse 18. This was the result of a fatal mistake on the part of the Canaanites. They had enjoyed the longsuffering of God from the days of the patriarchs (Gen 15:16) and had made no change.
None of the numerous cities and kings of Canaan, save Gibeon of the Hivites, had sought peace with Israel. God did not arbitrarily harden their hearts, but allowed them to continue to the hardening of their own hearts, when they had refused to leave off their iniquity.
In the end God got Him honor and glory from their hardened hearts by bringing judgment upon them by the hand of Joshua and Israel. Favor was no longer possible for they had closed mercy’s door, (Rom 9:22 -23).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
The Destruction of Hazor Jos. 11:10-15
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.
11 And 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.
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.
13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
14 And 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.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
10. At that time After he had utterly routed and pursued the enemy even to distant cities and villages, and had destroyed their horses and chariots. The pursuit may have lasted several days.
Turned back From pursuing the foe.
Smote the king Jabin, as soon as defeated, seems to have taken refuge in his capital. Joshua did not stop to take Hazor until after he had utterly dispersed the confederate army.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Joshua at that time turned back and took Hazor, and smote its king with the sword, for Hazor previously was the head of all those kingdoms.’
It is noteworthy that the king of Hazor, as with his successor in Judges 4, did not go out to battle himself. He had sent another, a general, to act on his behalf, probably Jobab, otherwise he would not have been there. This would be the only city that Joshua would burn with fire. That was because it was the head of the confederacy, a huge city, and therefore a constant future danger to Israel. While he could not yet occupy all these cities, he could weaken their power base.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
As Hazor was the ringleader of this war, for so we read in the opening of the chapter, Joshua directed his special vengeance on him. This Hazor is a remarkable place in scripture, for it contained the enemy to God’s church and people, for we find another Jabin of this kingdom, rising up to afflict Israel; see Jdg 4:2 . Perhaps as we read in the 13th verse, that Israel spared the strong cities of Hazor, this became a snare to their children after. For so the Lord hath said: Exo 20:5 . But let not the Reader overlook what is said of Joshua’s uprightness, he left nothing undone of all the Lord’s commands. Oh! it is lovely to behold souls zealous for the honour of their Lord, and to have respect unto all his precepts. Psa 119:128 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 11:10 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.
Ver. 10. And smote the king thereof. ] The new king. See Jos 10:37 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 11:10-15
10Then Joshua turned back at that time, and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor formerly was the head of all these kingdoms. 11They struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. 12Joshua captured all the cities of these kings, and all their kings, and he struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded. 13However, Israel did not burn any cities that stood on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned. 14All the spoil of these cities and the cattle, the sons of Israel took as their plunder; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They left no one who breathed. 15Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.
Jos 11:11 Notice the intensity of the holy war judgment on Hazor:
1. they struck every person, BDB 645, KB 697, Hiphil IMPERFECT
2. utterly destroying them, BDB 355, KB 353, Hiphil INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE
3. there was no one left who breathed, BDB 451, KB 451 Niphal PERFECT
4. he burned Hazor with fire, BDB 976, KB 1358, Qal PERFECT
See Deu 20:16 and Exo 23:23 b.
Jos 11:12 Moses the servant of the LORD This honorific title for Moses is found often in Joshua (cf. Jos 1:7; Jos 1:13; Jos 1:15; Jos 8:31; Jos 8:33; Jos 9:24; Jos 11:12; Jos 11:15; Jos 12:6; Jos 13:8; Jos 18:7; Jos 22:2; Jos 22:4-5). Moses is first called by this title in Exo 14:31 and Num 12:7. It is reaffirmed in Deu 34:5 just before his death, so too, Joshua received this title close to his death in Jos 24:17 (also in Jdg 2:8).
Joshua, like Moses, represents YHWH before the people of Israel. They act on instructions from Him (cf. Jos 11:20).
Jos 11:13-14 Some of the cities became property of the different Israeli tribes (Jos 11:13), while the booty or spoils (Jos 11:14) from those cities became the property of the Israeli soldiers involved in the battle. Jos 11:13 is an eyewitness, historical detail.
mounds This is the Hebrew term tel or ruin (BDB 1068). Each successive rebuilding used the same site; thus, a mound was formed or at least heightened.
Jos 11:15 This refers to the destruction of the Canaanite population and livestock which were under the herem (BDB 355, cf. Jos 11:20). Notice the threefold use of command (BDB 845, KB 1010, Piel PERFECT) in Jos 11:15. Joshua was under strict orders from YHWH through Moses (cf. Jos 11:20).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Hazor: Jos 11:1, Jdg 4:2
Reciprocal: Jos 8:24 – returned unto Ai Jos 9:1 – all the kings Jos 12:19 – Hazor 2Sa 10:19 – servants 2Ki 15:29 – Hazor
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 11:10. The king In his royal city, to which he fled out of the battle. Head of those kingdoms Not of all Canaan, but of all those who were confederate with him in this expedition.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Archaeological evidence supports a fifteenth-century destruction of Hazor. [Note: Douglas Petrovich, "The Dating of Hazor’s Destruction in Joshua 11 by Way of Biblical, Archaeological, and Epigraphical Evidence," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 51:3 (September 2008):489-512.] The meaning of the phrase "cities that stood on their mounds" (Jos 11:13) is unclear.
"It would be difficult to point out any single expression in the whole book of Joshua, perhaps in the whole Scriptures, more difficult of explanation than this." [Note: Bush, p. 134.]
Perhaps these were the older more influential towns that previous generations had rebuilt on their former ruins. [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, p. 122.] If this is the meaning, probably Joshua did not burn them because he wanted to preserve these towns with time-honored sites for the Israelites’ occupation.
The secret of Joshua’s remarkable success from the human viewpoint was his consistent obedience to the Lord (Jos 11:15). We too will experience victory over our spiritual enemies-the world, the flesh, and the devil-to the extent that we do God’s will as He has revealed that in His Word.