Josué 11

Josué 11

Wiersbe adds this note "The “long time” of verse 18 is about seven years. Israel’s failure at Kadesh Barnea (Deut. 2:14), at which time Caleb was forty years old (Josh. 14:7) to their crossing of the Jordan was thirty-eight years. He was eighty-five when the Conquest was over (Josh 14:10), which means that at least seven years had been devoted to the campaign." (Bible Exposition Commentary) Believer's Study Bible - This verse suggests that the account of the conquest of the land is merely a summary of the actual events, and that there were undoubtedly periods of time between the battles. Norman Geisler - JOSHUA 11:18—Was Canaan conquered quickly or only gradually? PROBLEM: This verse declares that “Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.” But earlier (in Joshua 10:42) it affirms that “all these kings and their land Joshua took at one time.” SOLUTION: These two texts refer to different kings at different times. The first passage speaks of the southern campaigns which went rapidly. But the other verse has reference to the northern battles which took much longer. (When Critics Ask online) Alan Carr - We Must Fight With Determination—This verse tells us that Joshua fought his battles for a long time. This tells me that this man had determination! That is a quality that needs to be developed by all the children of the Lord! Too many are quitting in our day! Too many are throwing in the towel and giving up the fight. We need some people who will vow before the Lord this morning that come what may, they will stand for Him and will be in His service all the way until the end. That is the command we have from Paul, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor 15:58). Dear friends, don’t quit! Some of you are so close to dropping out on God that it isn’t even funny. I beg you to come to Him this morning and let Him fan the dying embers back into a raging flame for His glory! Your life does not have to become shipwrecked, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” (1Ti 1:19)....Folks, eventually, the battles of life will be over, the long day will be finished and we who are saved will go home to Heaven to rest in that glorious place. In the meantime, however, there are enemies and there are battles that must be fought. Now, we can either fight them with our own weapons and lose, or we can fight them the way the Lord has shown us and win (2Cor 10:3-5, Eph 6:10-18). Which would you rather have: defeat or victory (cf 1Jn 5:4-5, cf Jn 16:33)? I don’t know what you are fighting today, but I know Who can help you with that battle. Bring that thing to Jesus and let Him get you safely through the fight. (Joshua 10:6-14 Valuable Lessons For The Day Of Battle) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 11 18. Joshua made war a long time. Heb. ימים רבים yâmim rabbim, many days. As many at least as six or seven years; as appears from comparing ch. 14:7–10; the first having been occupied in the conquest of the southern portion of the land, and the remaining five or six in that of the northern. It would seem that the writer by inserting this statement here designed to guard the reader against the impression that, as the record of these wars is very brief, so the space of time in which they were accomplished was also brief. This by no means follows, as the present account is intended as a mere rapid sketch or outline of Israel’s victories over the nations of Canaan. In the sacred writings the compass of a few sentences often contains the events of many years.—We may not perhaps be able to state all the reasons that weighed in the Divine mind for thus prolonging the warfare of his people, but of one we are assured by God himself, Deut. 7:22, ‘The Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little; thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.’ In addition to this, it was no doubt the purpose of heaven to try the faith and patience of his people by a long series of arduous struggles. Although the commencement of the work was marked by a succession of wonderful interpositions in their behalf, yet in its progress they were to be left more to their personal exertions. God would not make his miraculous aid too cheap in their eyes by making it common. He would train them to a course of the most vigorous efforts on their part, while at the same time they were taught their continual dependence on Him for success in their conflicts. This is in beautiful analogy with the warfare of the Christian. In its commencement, at the outset of the Christian life, the power of God is no less wonderfully displayed than in the history before us. The transition of a soul from darkness to light is virtually a miracle. It is effected by the sovereign power of God as really, and to the sinner’s consciousness in many instances as marvellously, as the passage of Israel through the cloven waters of Jordan. But in its progress, the work is carried forward more appropriately by his own actings. He has the armor given him, but his own activity is called forth in the use of it. His whole life is to be a state of warfare, and it is by hard fighting that he is to obtain the victory. No one enemy will submit to him without an obstinate resistance, nor until violently smitten with the sword of the Spirit. There will be some seasons of more than ordinary conflict, when he will need peculiar succor from on high; and there will be other seasons of comparative rest; but there is no entire discharge in this war till mortality is swallowed up of life; and then he shall enjoy the fruit of his victories in everlasting rest. Joshua 11:19 There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took them all in battle. the Hivites: Jos 9:3-27 Joshua 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took them all in battle - Only one made peace and that one did it deceptively. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 11 19. Not a city that made peace—save the Hivites, &c. Although in the commands given to Moses respecting the extirpation of the Canaanites we have no express intimation that any of them were to be spared upon their voluntary surrender and submission, yet from the example of Rahab and the Gibeonites, and especially from these words, the presumption is, that this was the case. The Divine laws, wherever it can be done without compromising the interests of justice, always lean to the side of mercy. Besides, it has been justly remarked, that the reason of the law is the law. The evil designed to be prevented by the order for the universal destruction of the Canaanites, was the infecting of the Israelites with their idolatry, Deut. 7:4. But if these devoted nations renounced their idolatry, and came heartily into the interest of Israel, the danger was effectually prevented, the reason of the law ceased, and consequently, we may suppose, the obligation ceased also. But the Canaanites in general were not in the least disposed to do this, nor did they so much as propose terms of accommodation. Of the cause, or occasion rather, of this utter infatuation, we are informed in the ensuing verse. All other they took in battle. That is, all whom they did take, they took in battle. They received none upon submission. It is certain from other parts of the sacred narrative, that the Canaanites were neither utterly exterminated, nor absolutely driven from their settlements, either by Joshua or his immediate successors. On the contrary, a large proportion of them fled, it is supposed, to Tyre and Zidon, and thence migrated into distant countries, particularly Africa, where they established numerous and flourishing colonies. Procopius relates that the Phœnicians fled before the Hebrews into Africa, and spread themselves abroad as far as the pillars of Hercules, and adds, ‘In Numidia, where now stands the city Tigris (Tangiers) they have erected two columns, on which, in Phœnician characters, is the following inscription:—“We are the Phœnicians, who fled from the face of that notorious robber, Jesus (or Joshua) the son of Nave (Nun).” ’ Numbers, however, yet remained to dispute, for ages, the possession of the land with their invaders, and to cause them infinite trouble. Joshua 11:20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. it was: Ex 4:21 9:16 De 2:30 Jdg 14:4 1Sa 2:25 1Ki 12:15 22:20-23 2Ch 25:16 Isa 6:9,10 Ro 9:18,22,23 as the LORD had commanded Moses: Jos 11:12-15 De 20:16,17 Joshua 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 4:21+ (GOD FIRST GIVES A PROPHETIC PROMISE) The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. (YAHWEH DID BUT NOTICE PHARAOH HARDENED HIS HEART!) Exodus 8:15+ (cf Ex 8:32+) (PHARAOH'S WILLFUL CHOICE TO HARDEN HIS HEART) But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Exodus 9:12+ (Ex 10:1+) And the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses. Deuteronomy 2:30+ “But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today. Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. GOD'S MANDATE "TAKE NO PRISONERS!" For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts - NET = " the LORD determined to make them obstinate" God did not harden their hearts out of spite, but to fulfill His justice. They had already made a choice to harden their hearts much like Pharaoh's hardened his heart (Exodus 8:15+ Ex 8:32+), so the purposes of God might be accomplished. Their hardening was righteous and was punitive because from Genesis 15:16+ it is clear God had already give Canaanites over 400 years to repent. Not only that, God had made sure the Canaanites heard the revelation of His great power in delivering Israel from Egyptian slavery some 40 years earlier. More recently they had heard the revelation of what God did "to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og" (Josh 2:10+). And yet they refused to repent, even though Rahab received this truth about God and repented! The kings (and all the Canaanites) had the same opportunity to repent as Rahab had done and yet they refused! Their "day of grace" had passed! This verse is a reminder that God is sovereign and in complete charge of every situation in every age! Note the fact that Yahweh “hardened their hearts” does not imply that the kings otherwise would have been submissive had He not hardened their hearts. It is also notable that the Gibeonites made a similar declaration as Rahab (Josh 9:9-10+) and they acted on that truth about God (were they saved, or some of them saved, like Rabah? That's difficult to state with certainty, but it is certainly a possibility, considering that they later served in the House of God and around the altar of God!) We have already seen hardening of hearts described with other rulers (Pharaoh, Ex. 4:21; Ex 7:3; Ex 9:12; Ex 10:1, 2, 20, 27; 11:10; Sihon king of Heshbon – Dt 2:30+) The hardening of men’s hearts similar to what God does in Romans 1 when He three times gives truth rejecting mankind up to the sin that is in their heart (Woe!)... Therefore God gave them over (paradidomi - gave over to the power) in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over (paradidomi - gave over to the power) to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over (paradidomi - gave over to the power) to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,(Romans 1:24–28+). Campbell points out that the Canaanites "had sinned against the light of God’s revelation in nature (Ps. 19:1; Rom. 1:18–20), in conscience (Rom. 2:14–16), and in His recent miraculous works at the Red (Reed) Sea, the Jordan River, and Jericho. Now the sovereign God confirmed the hearts of these unrepentant people in their stubborn unbelief before judging them." (ED: RECALL JERICHO - ALL HEARD TRUTHS ABOUT ISRAEL AND GOD BUT ONLY RAHAB RESPONDED WITH FAITH!) (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament or Here)