Josué 11
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Josué 11:1-5
11:1-15 This is the description of Joshua's northern military campaign. 11:1 "Jabin" This name means "one who is intelligent" (BDB 108). It may have been the royal title of the kings of Hazor, because another king by the same name is in control of Hazor in Jdg. 4:2 (i.e., royal titles like Abimelech of Palestine, Hadad of Syria, Pharaoh of Egypt). ▣ "Hazor" This was the largest walled city of Canaan. It covered over 200 acres. Apparently the Israelis did not occupy this site because in Judges 4 it is a powerful Canaanite stronghold again. See the good article in NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 696-698. ▣ "Achshaph" This term (BDB 38) means "a place of sorcery" (cf. Jos. 12:20). The VERB root (BDB 506) means "to cut," possibly the cutting of herbs for spells or trances. The exact location of Achshaph, and for that matter Shimron, are uncertain. 11:2 "Arabah" This refers to the Jordan Rift Valley from south of the Sea of Galilee (here called Chinneroth) through the Dead Sea and down to the Gulf of Aqabah (BDB 787 I). It is referred to in the Septuagint as "wasteland." See the good article in NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 406-408. ▣ "Chinneroth" This OT term could refer to the Sea of Galilee the area around it a city in that area (cf. Jos. 19:35) It is also spelled Chinnereth (cf. Deut. 3:17; Jos. 13:27; 19:35). The NT term Gennesaret (cf. Matt. 14:34; Mark 6:53; Luke 5:1) is taken from the Hebrew name. The name means "harp" (BDB 409), which refers to the shape of the lake the presence of many shepherds who played the harp ▣ "the lowlands" This term (BDB 1050) refers to the low, rolling hills (Shephelah) along the Palestinian coast. In this text it refers to the northern region of this topography (i.e., north of Mt. Carmel). ▣ NASB, NET "the heights of Dor" "in Naphoth-dor" "the coast near Dor" "on the slopes of Dor" JPSOA, REB "in the district of Dor" "to Napheddor" "in Napotdor" This refers to the coastal mountain ridge of which Mt. Carmel is the last rise before the Great or Upper Sea (Mediterranean). The MT has "Naphoth-dor" (BDB 632 CONSTRUCT BDB 190). The first term is uncertain (BDB 632 II, cf. Jos. 12:23; 1 Kgs. 4:11). 11:3 Several Canaanite tribes are listed. Canaanite Amorite Hittite Perizzite Jebusite Hivite SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE ▣ "Mizpeh" This place name means "watch tower" (BDB 859). This was a very common name and its location is uncertain, possibly related to Jos. 11:8. 11:4 "as the sand that is on the sea shore" This is a Semitic idiom for a large military force (cf. Jdg. 7:12; 1 Sam. 13:5; 2 Sam. 17:11). It was used in Genesis (cf. Gen. 22:17; 32:12) to describe God's promises of many descendants to the Patriarchs. See full note at Gen. 13:16. ▣ "with very many horses and chariots" This was the author's way of describing the superior military forces of Canaan's coastal region. Chariots could not function in the hill country. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARIOTS
Josué 11:6-9
11:6 Again YHWH (emphatic personal PRONOUN) encourages Joshua (cf. Jos. 1:5,9; 10:8) in the face of the overwhelming military superiority of the Canaanite chariot force. This is YHWH's battle and victory, not Israel's (cf. Jdg. 7:2; 1 Sam. 17:45,47; 2 Chr. 32:8; Ps. 20:7; 33:16-17; 44:2-3,5-7; Zech. 4:6). ▣ "hamstring" This (BDB 785, KB 874, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. Jos. 11:9; 2 Sam. 8:4; 1 Chr. 18:4) involved cutting the tendons of the back legs so that the horses could not pull chariots. Joshua was not to rely on their captured weaponry ("burn the chariots with fire," BDB 976, KB 1358, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Jos. 11:9), but on YHWH (cf. Jos. 11:8). ▣ Chariots were the ultimate military weapon of this period and area. Their origin and exact design are uncertain (Hyksos or Hittites). The different chariots could hold the driver and a soldier the driver and two soldiers They were usually pulled by two horses. The term "iron" could refer to: the sides being reinforced the wheels, rims, or axles They were effective only on relatively flat ground. 11:8 "as far as Great Sidon" This shows the ancientness of this account. Sidon was the contemporary capital of Phoenicia at this period, but later Tyre became the capital. ▣ NASB, NRSV "Misrephoth-maim" "to the Brook Misrephoth" "Misrephoth-Maim" NJB, REB "Misrephoth to the west" "Maseron" "to the lake" "Misrephoth Maim" The Jewish Publication Society of America's (JPSOA) translation supports the NJB's translation in a footnote. See note at Jos. 13:6. The UBS Text Project, p. 23, gives an A rating to the TEV translation. 11:9 Why did Israel destroy these captured weapons of war? Chariots were the ultimate military weapon of that day. The theories are: they were to trust in YHWH, not weaponry the chariots were only usable on the coastal plains (or other flat areas) Number 1 fits the context of Joshua best.
Josué 11:10-15
11:11 Notice the intensity of the holy war judgment on Hazor: "they struck every person," BDB 645, KB 697, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw "utterly destroying them," BDB 355, KB 353, Hiphil INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE "there was no one left who breathed," BDB 451, KB 451 Niphal PERFECT "he burned Hazor with fire," BDB 976, KB 1358, Qal PERFECT >See Deut. 20:16 and Exod. 23:23b. 11:12 "Moses the servant of the Lord" This honorific title for Moses is found often in Joshua (cf. Jos. 1:7,13,15; 8:31,33; 9:24; 11:12,15; 12:6; 13:8; 18:7; 22:2,4,5). Moses is first called by this title in Exod. 14:31 and Num. 12:7. It is reaffirmed in Deut. 34:5 just before his death, so too, Joshua received this title close to his death in Jos. 24:29 (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). SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT 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. Verse 13 is an eyewitness, historical detail. ▣ mounds" This is the Hebrew term tel or ruin (BDB 1068). Each successive rebuilding of a city used the same site and the same materials, thus a mound was formed or at least heightened. 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).
Josué 11:16-20
11:16 This is a summary of the different topological divisions of Canaan from the south to the north. In reality all of chapter 12 is also a summary of Joshua's military victories. ▣ "Negev" This is the dry semi-desert region in southern Canaan. It was uninhabited except for shepherds and flocks. ▣ "land of Goshen" This refers to an area in the hill country of Judah (cf. Jos. 10:41; 11:16; 15:51). 11:17 "Mount Halah" This (BDB 325) is a mountain or mountain range in the central Negev. It seems to be between the wilderness of Zin and Seir. It was part of the boundary between Judah's allotment and the nation of Edom (cf. Jos. 15:1). ▣ "Baal-gad" Baal was the male fertility god of Canaan. Every town had its own worship altar. Many of the towns of Canaan had the male god Ba'al or the female Asherah or Ashtarte in their names (cf. Jos. 12:4). The term "gad" (BDB 151) apparently meant "good fortune" (cf. Gen. 30:11, BDB 151 II) and was used of a Canaanite deity (cf. Isa. 65:11). 11:18 This shows how the account given in the Bible is telescoped! Verse 17 reveals the northern limits of Joshua's conquest. More was given by YHWH, but not taken by Israel. 11:20 "For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts" This is biblical imagery of God's control over human events to accomplish His purpose. This has nothing to do with the issue of "free will." The thrust of this context is YHWH's control of history and events (particularly redemptive events, cf. Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:28; SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN). This is similar to God's actions with Pharaoh (cf. Exod. 4:21; 7:3,13; 8:15,32; 9:12,34; 10:20,27; 14:4,17). See SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD HARDENED. Verse 20 has a series of INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTS showing YHWH's purposeful actions. "to harden their hearts," BDB 304, KB 302, Piel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT "to meet Israel in battle," BDB 896, KB 1131, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT "in order that he might utterly destroy them," BDB 355, KB 353, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (the PRONOUN could refer to YHWH or to Israel/Joshua, but because of the end of Jos. 11:20, probably Joshua) "they might receive no mercy," BDB 224, KB 243, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT "that he might destroy them," BDB 1029, KB 1552, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT All of these are related to YHWH's prophecy to Abraham in Gen. 15:12-21.
Josué 11:21-23
11:21 "the Anakim" This was a very tall tribe which inhabited Hebron (Arba, cf. Jos. 15:13 or Kiriath-arba). There seem to be three names used in the OT to describe these very tall people: Nephilim (BDB 658, cf. Gen. 6:4) Rephaim (BDB 952, cf. Gen. 14:5; 15:20; Jos. 12:4; 13:12) Anakim (BDB 778, cf. Num. 13:22,28; Deut. 1:28; 9:2; Jdg. 1:20) Anak means "long necked" (BDB 778). Goliath and his brothers were probably related (cf. Jos. 11:22). SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS USED FOR TALL/POWERFUL WARRIORS OR PEOPLE GROUPS (Giants) 11:23 "So Joshua took the whole land" The book of Judges seems to tell a different story. There were two parts to an effective conquest of Canaan. Joshua defeated the main military forces of the Canaanites and captured or destroyed the major walled cities. Each individual tribe had to possess its allotted land by faith. The later problems developed because Israel did not kill all of the Canaanites and they reasserted themselves and recaptured some of their old fortresses the individual tribes never fully finished the task of conquest There are hints of this failure in Joshua 13 and Judges 1. ▣ "the land had rest from war" This VERB (BDB 1052, KB 1641, Qal PERFECT) describes the results of Joshua's conquest here and in Jos. 14:15. It also describes the temporary peace brought by the different judges (cf. Jdg. 3:11,30; 5:31; 8:28). It is not used in Deuteronomy. YHWH desired His covenant people (after the conquest and occupation of Canaan) to be restful (cf. Deuteronomy 27-28; 1 Chr. 22:9-10; Isa. 32:17). But this covenant peace and abundance depended on covenant obedience. ▣ The tribes were initially about the same size. Notice the warriors (aged 20-50) from each tribe (the term "1,000" could mean military unit; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND [eleph]) listed in Numbers 1. Reuben ‒ 46,500, Jos. 11:21 Simeon ‒ 59,300, Jos. 11:23 Gad ‒ 45,650, Jos. 11:25 Judah ‒ 74,600, Jos. 11:27 Issachar ‒ 54,400, Jos. 11:29 Zebulun ‒ 57,400, Jos. 11:31 Ephraim ‒ 40,500, Jos. 11:33 Manasseh ‒ 32,200, Jos. 11:35 Benjamin ‒ 35,400, Jos. 11:37 Dan ‒ 62,700, Jos. 11:39 Asher ‒ 41,500, Jos. 11:41 Naphtali ‒ 53,400, Jos. 11:43 The divisions of the land (amount given) do not reflect these numbers. Judah and Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) are given the largest allotments. Apparently by Joshua's time these numbers had changed or this is another rationale to the allotment procedures.