Joshua 11:20

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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 children of Israel, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. All the others they took in battle. 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. 21And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. 22None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.

Joshua 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 all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
• Exodus 9:16But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
• Deuteronomy 2:30“But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.
• Judges 14:4But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
• 1 Samuel 2:25If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them.
• 1 Kings 12:15So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the Lord, that He might fulfill His word, which the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
• 1 Kings 22:20And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.
• 2 Chronicles 25:16So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?” Then the prophet ceased, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”
• Isaiah 6:9And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
• Romans 9:18Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
• Joshua 11:12So all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took and struck with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded.
• Deuteronomy 20:16“But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive,

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

• Heart
• Predestination
• War

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Moses
• Joshua
• Predestination
• Rest
• Salmon, Zalmon
• Save
• Criticism
• Exodus, the Book of
• Galilee

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