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 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.

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, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. For it was of Yhwh 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 Yhwh 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.

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

• For it was of Yhwhיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · 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 Yhwh said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
• Exodus 9:16And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
• Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for Yhwh thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
• Judges 14:4But his father and his mother knew not that it was of Yhwh, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
• 1 Samuel 2:25If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against Yhwh, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Yhwh would slay them.
• 1 Kings 12:15Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from Yhwh, that he might perform his saying, which Yhwh spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
• 1 Kings 22:20And Yhwh said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth–gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
• 2 Chronicles 25:16And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.
• Isaiah 6:9And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
• Romans 9:18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
• Joshua 11:12And 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 Yhwh commanded.
• Deuteronomy 20:16But of the cities of these people, which Yhwh thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

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