Joshua 11 13

Joshua 11:13 kjv

But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

Joshua 11:13 nkjv

But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only, which Joshua burned.

Joshua 11:13 niv

Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds?except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

Joshua 11:13 esv

But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor alone; that Joshua burned.

Joshua 11:13 nlt

But the Israelites did not burn any of the towns built on mounds except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

Joshua 11 verses

Joshua 11 13 Meaning

Joshua 11:13 explains a crucial aspect of Israel's northern campaign during the conquest of Canaan: most fortified cities built upon mounds were intentionally not burned by the Israelites, likely to be repurposed for their own settlement. However, Hazor, the most significant and powerful city-state in the region, was singled out by Joshua and completely incinerated, serving as a decisive act against the primary Canaanite opposition and fulfilling God's strategic command.

Joshua 11 13 Context

Joshua 11 describes the culminating stage of the Israelite conquest in the northern part of Canaan. After defeating the southern coalition, Joshua moves north to confront a vast alliance led by Jabin, king of Hazor, described as the "head of all those kingdoms" (Josh 11:10). This alliance gathered at the Waters of Merom, where Joshua, under divine instruction, executed a surprise attack, achieving a decisive victory. Following the battle, the narrative turns to the treatment of the captured cities and kings. The cherem (devotion to destruction) command, previously applied strictly to Jericho and Ai, now takes on a more nuanced application. Verse 13 distinguishes between Hazor, which was completely burned, and other strategically important cities situated on tells, which were not burned, likely for immediate occupation by the Israelite tribes, as they had been promised houses they did not build.

Joshua 11 13 Word analysis

• But as for the cities: ʿarim (עָרִים), plural for "city" or "town," specifically fortified settlements. The preceding "But as for" indicates a contrast or an exception to a general rule or prior statement.
• that stood still: ʿāmad (עָמַד), meaning "to stand, remain, endure." Here, it describes cities that were still standing, intact, and presumably inhabited and functional, as opposed to cities already in ruins or easily overcome. It conveys a sense of stability or resilience in their fortifications.
• on their mounds: tellim (תֵּלִים), referring to artificial mounds or "tells" formed by centuries of successive habitation on the same site. Cities built on these mounds were naturally fortified and difficult to conquer. This highlights their strategic defensibility.
• Israel burned none of them: sārap̄ (שָׂרַף), "to burn, set on fire, consume." This is a definitive statement of a policy decision. It contrasts sharply with the commanded destruction of other cities and suggests a pragmatic choice to preserve infrastructure for future Israelite settlement.
• except Hazor only: Ḥaṣôr (חָצוֹר). The emphatic inclusion of "only" highlights Hazor as the sole and significant exception to the general policy of preserving cities on mounds. Hazor's distinct treatment underscores its preeminent status and threat.
• which Joshua burned: Specifies the agent of Hazor's destruction, linking it directly to Joshua's leadership and the divine command he was executing. This was not a random act but a targeted, commanded one.

• cities that stood still on their mounds: This phrase collectively describes strong, fortified cities that had endured through time and were strategically located. The description emphasizes their intact nature, setting them apart from those requiring extensive military effort to take or those already destroyed. It signifies they were habitable and useful.
• Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only, which Joshua burned: This contrasting clause succinctly summarizes the strategic outcome of the northern campaign. It highlights a deliberate, pragmatic approach to conquest where useful infrastructure was spared for future Israelite habitation, but the most powerful enemy capital (Hazor) was utterly annihilated, symbolizing the crushing of organized Canaanite resistance. This selective application of the cherem demonstrated both divine wisdom and military effectiveness.

Joshua 11 13 Bonus section

The selective application of the cherem in Joshua 11:13 (preserving most cities while utterly destroying Hazor) reflects a divine strategy that was both theological and pragmatic. Theological, in that the total annihilation of Hazor, the center of regional power and likely a hub of idolatry, delivered a strong blow against Canaanite religion and organized opposition. Pragmatic, as it avoided the monumental task of rebuilding numerous cities for the nascent Israelite tribes, allowing them to occupy existing, well-constructed fortifications immediately. This shows that God's commands for cherem were not a uniform scorched-earth policy across all of Canaan but were specifically directed and adapted to the strategic needs of the conquest and the immediate needs of His people for settlement, without compromising the overarching goal of removing pagan strongholds. Archaeological findings at Hazor generally attest to massive destruction layers around the Late Bronze Age, consistent with a major military event described in the biblical text, making it a prominent example in discussions of historical biblical reliability.

Joshua 11 13 Commentary

Joshua 11:13 unveils a critical detail of Israel's divinely guided conquest strategy, highlighting a purposeful distinction in the treatment of captured Canaanite cities. While the command of cherem often entailed complete destruction, this verse reveals a practical nuance: most well-established cities located on strategic mounds were preserved. This allowed the incoming Israelite tribes to inhabit ready-made settlements, fulfilling God's promise of houses they did not build. However, Hazor, a massively fortified city and the recognized "head of all those kingdoms" in the northern coalition, was a stark exception. Its total destruction by fire, carried out personally under Joshua's supervision, served as a profound military and theological statement. It represented the decisive crushing of the most formidable opposition, removing the central stronghold of pagan influence and political resistance in the North, and preventing its potential future resurgence. This selective destruction demonstrated divine wisdom, combining complete judgment where necessary with pragmatic foresight for Israel's settlement.