Joshua 11:18 kjv
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
Joshua 11:18 nkjv
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
Joshua 11:18 niv
Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time.
Joshua 11:18 esv
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
Joshua 11:18 nlt
waging war for a long time to accomplish this.
Joshua 11 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 7:22 | "The LORD your God will clear out those nations before you little by little..." | God's strategy of gradual conquest. |
| Exod 23:29-30 | "I will not drive them out before you in one year, lest the land become..." | Divine plan for paced dispossessing the inhabitants. |
| Josh 1:5 | "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life..." | God's promise of perpetual victory through Joshua. |
| Josh 1:9 | "Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God is with you..." | Command for perseverance in face of long tasks. |
| Josh 11:23 | "So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken..." | Ultimate fulfillment of conquest despite length. |
| Num 33:53 | "you shall take possession of the land and dwell in it..." | God's command for Israel to inherit the land. |
| Josh 10:40-42 | Joshua conquered various regions "as the LORD God of Israel had commanded." | Depicts the extensive effort of the initial conquests. |
| Josh 23:1 | "The LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies." | Concludes the period of major military conquest. |
| Josh 23:3 | "the LORD your God is he who has fought for you." | God's active role in empowering Israel's victories. |
| Josh 23:10 | "One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God..." | Divine strength enabling Israel's triumph. |
| Judg 1:19, 27-36 | Describes areas where tribes did not completely drive out inhabitants. | Subsequent ongoing struggles for full possession. |
| 2 Sam 3:1 | "There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David..." | Illustrates other prolonged biblical conflicts. |
| Pss 44:3 | "for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm..." | Acknowledges God's intervention in winning the land. |
| Eph 6:12 | "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers..." | Spiritual warfare requires sustained effort. |
| 2 Tim 4:7 | "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race..." | Analogy for Christian perseverance and endurance. |
| Heb 4:11 | "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall..." | Continual diligence for spiritual entry. |
| 1 Pet 5:8-9 | "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion... Resist him..." | Requires persistent resistance against spiritual foes. |
| John 16:33 | "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome..." | Expectation of trials for believers, requiring faith. |
| Jas 1:2-4 | "Count it all joy... when you meet trials of various kinds... steadfastness." | Trials are processes that develop spiritual character. |
| Rom 8:37 | "More than conquerors through Him who loved us." | Ultimate victory for believers in Christ. |
| Phil 1:6 | "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion..." | God's patient, ongoing work of sanctification. |
| Matt 10:22 | "And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures..." | Endurance through sustained opposition for faith. |
Joshua 11 verses
Joshua 11 18 Meaning
Joshua 11:18 reveals that Joshua, as Israel's leader, engaged in protracted warfare against the assembled kings of Canaan. This indicates that the conquest was not an instantaneous or easy victory, but a demanding campaign that required a significant duration of sustained military effort and divine support. The verse highlights the reality of a difficult, prolonged conflict necessary to subdue the organized opposition in the promised land.
Joshua 11 18 Context
Joshua 11 is situated in the middle section of the Book of Joshua, specifically detailing the Northern Campaign of the Israelite conquest. Following the significant victories in the south (chapter 10), Joshua moves to confront a massive coalition of northern kings, led by Jabin, king of Hazor (Josh 11:1-5). Verses 6-14 describe the decisive defeat of this coalition at the waters of Merom, followed by the destruction of Hazor and the conquest of surrounding cities. Verse 18 serves as a summarizing statement, reflecting on the overall nature and duration of this period of major conquest under Joshua. It highlights that even with divine aid and initial swift successes, the complete subjugation of organized Canaanite power was a long, arduous process requiring sustained effort and perseverance.
Joshua 11 18 Word analysis
- Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshua`): Meaning "The LORD is salvation" or "The LORD saves." He was Moses' successor, tasked by God to lead Israel into Canaan. His name embodies the divine power and purpose behind the conquest. This refers to the leader whose faithful obedience and military skill were essential, yet secondary to God's power.
- waged war (לָחַם, lāḥam): This Hebrew verb denotes active, sustained fighting, not merely winning battles quickly. It implies engagement in a full-scale military campaign, enduring over a period of time, involving repeated confrontations and efforts.
- a long time (יָמִים רַבִּים, yamîm rabbîm): Literally "many days," interpreted as "many years" or "a lengthy period." This phrase is pivotal, correcting any misconception that the conquest was instantaneous or effortlessly completed. It signifies an extended duration, possibly spanning several years (scholars often suggest around five to seven years for this initial phase), underscoring the demanding and protracted nature of the overall campaign. It also highlights the faithfulness of God through a prolonged and challenging period, demonstrating divine patience and Israel's required persistence.
- with all those kings (כָּל־הַמְּלָכִים הָאֵלֶּה, kol-ha-mlākîm hā-'ēlleh): Refers collectively to the numerous independent city-state rulers of Canaan who formed various coalitions, particularly the northern confederacy mentioned in Joshua 11:1-5. This signifies a large, unified, and formidable opposition that Joshua faced, emphasizing the scale of the task and the comprehensive nature of the war effort.
Words-group analysis
- "Joshua waged war a long time": This phrase underlines the leadership of Joshua in maintaining the military effort over an extended period. It was a testament to his obedience, resilience, and the divine empowerment that sustained him through a demanding and arduous campaign. The length of the war demonstrated that even with God fighting for Israel, human perseverance was still required in the actual execution of the command to conquer.
- "a long time with all those kings": This combination stresses the formidable opposition encountered and the persistent, strategic nature of Israel's conquest. It refutes any notion of a quick, clean sweep of the land and underscores the strategic reality of breaking down the consolidated power of multiple enemy rulers piece by piece, rather than merely seizing scattered territories. This protracted struggle illustrates divine purpose, patience, and the testing of Israel's faith.
Joshua 11 18 Bonus section
The "long time" period mentioned here likely represents the primary phase of the conquest, focusing on breaking the back of organized Canaanite resistance. It is distinct from the complete physical expulsion of every last Canaanite from the land, which was an ongoing process well into the period of the Judges. This verse confirms Joshua's faithfulness and success in fulfilling the command to subdue the land and its organized kings, establishing Israel's claim and presence, even if every square inch wasn't yet fully "possessed" or cleansed. It served as a divine school for Israel, training them in dependency on God through sustained warfare and confirming His covenant faithfulness through challenging circumstances.
Joshua 11 18 Commentary
Joshua 11:18 is a concise summary verse emphasizing the true nature of the main conquest under Joshua. It was not a swift, overwhelming blitz, but a deliberate and demanding campaign that extended over "a long time"—likely several years. This extended period highlights God's strategic guidance in dispossessing the powerful Canaanite city-states and their formidable coalitions gradually, in line with prior divine revelation (Deut 7:22; Exod 23:29-30). The verse underscores the perseverance required of Joshua and the Israelite army, demonstrating that even with God fighting for them, sustained human effort, faith, and patience were essential. It sets the stage for the later narrative, acknowledging the significant completion of military dominance under Joshua while subtly foreshadowing that the complete possession of the land would be a continuing challenge for subsequent generations. The "long time" served to dismantle centralized opposition and prevent the land from reverting to a wild state too quickly.