Joshua 11 11

Joshua 11:11 kjv

And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.

Joshua 11:11 nkjv

And they struck all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was none left breathing. Then he burned Hazor with fire.

Joshua 11:11 niv

Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.

Joshua 11:11 esv

And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction; there was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire.

Joshua 11:11 nlt

The Israelites completely destroyed every living thing in the city, leaving no survivors. Not a single person was spared. And then Joshua burned the city.

Joshua 11 verses

Joshua 11 11 Meaning

Joshua 11:11 details the execution of God's judgment upon Hazor, the leading city of the northern Canaanite coalition. The verse describes Israel's complete destruction of its inhabitants and the city itself, precisely according to the Lord's command to Moses. Every living person and creature within Hazor was put to the sword and utterly destroyed, leaving nothing that breathed. Subsequently, the city of Hazor was consumed by fire, ensuring its total eradication as a center of opposition and idolatry.

Joshua 11 11 Context

Joshua 11:11 describes the pinnacle of Joshua's northern campaign against a powerful coalition of Canaanite kings led by Jabin, the king of Hazor. This battle, following God's assurance of victory in verse 6, took place by the waters of Merom (v. 7). Hazor, specifically called "the head of all those kingdoms" in verse 10, was the dominant city-state in northern Canaan, wielding significant military and political influence. Its destruction was crucial to dismantling the Canaanite stronghold in the north and fulfilling the divine command to completely clear the land of its idolatrous inhabitants and practices. The historical context is that of the Late Bronze Age (around 1500-1200 BCE) when powerful city-states controlled much of the Levant. The conquest accounts demonstrate God's specific judgment on nations whose "iniquity was complete," ensuring Israel's separation from the corrupting influence of idolatry, child sacrifice, and immorality prevalent in Canaan. This complete destruction (known as herem) was a unique, divinely ordained judgment against a people whose depravity had reached its fullness, preventing their corrupting influence on the nascent nation of Israel.

Joshua 11 11 Word analysis

• And Hazor: Hebrew wəHatsôr (וַחֲצוֹר). Hazor (Hebrew: חָצוֹר, Ḥāṣôr) was the largest and most influential Canaanite city in the northern Levant during the Late Bronze Age. Its prominence is confirmed archaeologically and by texts from Mari and Amarna. Being the "head of all those kingdoms" (Josh 11:10) signifies its leadership, strategic importance, and its pivotal role as a center of Canaanite religion and power, making its complete destruction a definitive blow to Canaanite resistance and idolatry.
• its king: This emphasizes that even the leadership structure, representing the authority and will of the city-state, was judged.
• they had utterly destroyed: Hebrew heḥěrîmû (הֶחֱרִמּוּ), from the root ḥāram (חָרַם), meaning "to devote," specifically "to devote to destruction" (the herem or "ban"). This is not merely an act of warfare but a religiously sanctioned act of devotion to God through destruction. Anything placed under herem was considered separated from common use and irrevocably given to God, often for complete eradication. It signifies a divine judgment against evil, a purification of the land, and prevents Israel from incorporating pagan practices. This term directly contrasts with "spoiling" (taking plunder) because herem mandated that all humans and some goods were to be utterly destroyed.
• all in it that breathed: Hebrew kāl-nəšāmâ (כָּל־נְשָׁמָה). This phrase literally means "every breath" or "every living thing." It refers to humans, and potentially also animals within the city that might serve as vectors for idolatrous practices or rituals. This complete extermination underscore the severity of God's judgment on Hazor's sin and ensured the elimination of all Canaanite religious, cultural, and genetic influence from the land, preventing Israel's spiritual contamination.
• they put to the sword: Hebrew hiḳkû ləpî-ḥerev (הִכּוּ לְפִי־חֶרֶב), literally "they struck by the mouth of the sword." This is a common Hebrew idiom for killing by the sword, emphasizing the execution of all living inhabitants. The sword serves as an instrument of divine wrath and judgment in the hands of Israel.
• there was not left (a soul alive): Hebrew lōʾ hôṯîr nәšāmâ (לֹא הוֹתִיר נְשָׁמָה), meaning "not a single breather was left remaining." This reiterates the absolute completeness of the herem. The lack of survivors prevents future resurgence of resistance or pagan practices, reinforcing the finality of the judgment.
• and Hazor itself: This specification indicates that not only its inhabitants but the physical city was subject to the herem.
• they consumed with fire: Hebrew śārfû bāʾēš (שָׂרְפוּ בָּאֵשׁ). Burning was a common practice in ancient warfare for destroyed cities, but in the context of herem, it had symbolic significance. It represents a purification of the land from defilement and ensures that idolatrous structures, cultic objects, and anything associated with pagan worship could not be reused or become a temptation for Israel. It also highlights the absolute and irreversible nature of the city's destruction.

Joshua 11 11 Bonus section

The destruction of Hazor holds particular archaeological significance. Tel Hazor, a prominent archaeological site in northern Israel, shows evidence of massive destruction during the Late Bronze Age, correlating with the biblical account. This specific destruction layer, occurring around the mid-13th century BCE (though scholarly dates vary), adds a unique external point of corroboration to the narrative's historicity.

Theologically, Joshua 11:11, as part of the wider herem narrative, serves to highlight several crucial attributes of God:

• His Justice and Holiness: God is utterly just and will not tolerate pervasive evil indefinitely. The herem was a judgment against immense wickedness, not merely ethnic cleansing.
• His Sovereignty: God commands the nations, directing the course of history and fulfilling His purposes.
• His Care for His People: By eradicating these corrupting influences, God was protecting Israel's spiritual integrity, enabling them to be a holy nation set apart for Him. This was a specific and unique commission, not a general military doctrine. It occurred within a redemptive historical context as God established His covenant people in His promised land.

Joshua 11 11 Commentary

Joshua 11:11 vividly illustrates the decisive execution of God's command regarding Hazor, underscoring the completeness of the conquest and the severity of divine judgment. This verse encapsulates the theological concept of herem – a holy war specifically commanded by God against certain peoples in Canaan due to their entrenched and heinous sins, particularly idolatry, child sacrifice, and gross immorality, which had defiled the land (Lev 18:24-28). The actions were not arbitrary acts of war but divine judgment carried out by Israel as agents of God's righteousness.

Hazor, as "the head of all those kingdoms," represented the most formidable and influential center of Canaanite power and religious corruption in the north. Its thorough destruction was therefore critical: it neutralized the greatest threat to Israel's occupation and eradicated a major source of spiritual contamination for the nascent nation. The dual application of the "sword" for inhabitants and "fire" for the city signifies an absolute and irreversible end to its existence and influence, preventing any remnant of its wickedness from corrupting the Land. This act solidified Israel's control over the north and demonstrated God's faithfulness to His covenant promises of granting the land to His people while purifying it of its deeply rooted evil.

Examples: The thoroughness seen in Hazor's destruction contrasts with instances where Israel failed to fully obey the herem command, leading to later struggles and spiritual compromise (Judges 1-2). This highlights the importance of complete obedience to God's specific commands, especially when dealing with deeply ingrained spiritual dangers. The lesson is that half-hearted removal of sin and spiritual strongholds can lead to lingering challenges.