English Standard Version
Joshua 11:20
20For it was the Lord's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
Joshua 11:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For 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.
- New International Version (NIV)For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For the Lord hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Context of Joshua 11:20
18Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took them all in battle. For it was the Lord's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 21And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities. 22There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain.
Read all of Joshua 11Joshua 11:20 word by word
כִּ֣י מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה׀ הָיְתָ֡ה לְחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבָּם֩ לִקְרַ֨את הַמִּלְחָמָ֤ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְמַ֣עַן הַֽחֲרִימָ֔ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י הֱיוֹת־לָהֶ֖ם תְּחִנָּ֑ה כִּ֚י לְמַ֣עַן הַשְׁמִידָ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For it was of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- to hardenחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
- their heartsלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- that they should come againstקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- in battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- that he might destroy them utterlyחָרַםchâram · to devote/destroyH2763
- that they might have no favourתְּחִנָּהtechinnâh · supplicationH8467
- but that he might destroyשָׁמַדshâmad · to destroyH8045
- commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
Cross-references for Joshua 11:20
- Exodus 4:21And the Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
- Exodus 9:16But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
- Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.
- Judges 14:4His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
- 1 Samuel 2:25If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
- 1 Kings 12:15So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
- 1 Kings 22:20and the Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16But as he was speaking, the king said to him, "Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?" So the prophet stopped, but said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel."
- Isaiah 6:9And he said, "Go, and say to this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'
- Romans 9:18So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
- Joshua 11:12And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua captured, and struck them with the edge of the sword, devoting them to destruction, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded.
- Deuteronomy 20:16But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes,
Commentaries on Joshua 11:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20It was of the Lord to harden their hearts - They had sinned against all the light they had received, and God left them justly to the hardness, obstinacy, and pride of their own hearts; for as they chose to retain their idolatry, God was determined that they should be cut off. For as no city made peace with the Israelites but Gibeon and some others of the Hivites, Joshua 11:19, it became therefore necessary to destroy them; for their refusal to make peace…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20See the marginal references.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 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 a rest, a rest from war, remaining for the people of God, into which they shall enter, when their warfare is accomplished. That which was now done, is compared with what had been said to Moses. God's word and his works, if…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20The judgment on Canaan came from God, not Israel. God had shown mercy to the people of Canaan for many generations. However, God decided that "iniquity of the Amorites" now requires that they become set apart for destruction (Genesis 15:16). Therefore, he decided to harden their hearts (to make them stubborn and unwilling to change). God used Israel as the tool and agent of his judgment. In later centuries, God used other nations to judge Israel and Judah…Read the comment
Topics related to Joshua 11:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Joshua 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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