Joshua 11 23

Joshua 11:23 kjv

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

Joshua 11:23 nkjv

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war.

Joshua 11:23 niv

So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.

Joshua 11:23 esv

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

Joshua 11:23 nlt

So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the LORD had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war.

Joshua 11 verses

Joshua 11 23 Meaning

Joshua 11:23 marks a significant transition in the book of Joshua, signifying the successful completion of the major conquest campaigns in Canaan. It proclaims that Joshua had taken control of the entire promised land, directly fulfilling the divine command and ancient promises given by the Lord through Moses. The verse then states Joshua’s action of distributing this land as a permanent inheritance among the tribes of Israel, solidifying their tribal boundaries. A crucial outcome noted is that "the land rested from war," indicating a cessation of the primary military conflicts that had characterized the earlier chapters, thereby bringing a period of relative peace and stability for the fledgling nation within their newly acquired homeland.

Joshua 11 23 Context

Joshua chapter 11 concludes the main conquest narrative of the book, focusing on the campaigns against the northern confederation of kings led by Jabin of Hazor. Chapters 1 through 11 recount Israel's military operations: the initial crossing of the Jordan, the conquest of central Canaan (Jericho, Ai), then the southern campaign (against the Amorite kings, culminating in Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir), and finally the northern campaign described in chapter 11. Joshua's victory over the northern coalition, particularly the utter destruction of Hazor, signifies the decisive end to large-scale, coordinated Canaanite resistance. Thus, Joshua 11:23 serves as a summary statement and theological conclusion to this conquest phase. Historically, this period reflects the Bronze Age collapse, where established city-states faced significant disruptions, aligning with the narrative of Israel's military success and territorial gains in a fragmented region. The mention of "the land rested from war" implies that the primary threat from the centralized Canaanite power was broken, setting the stage for the distribution of the land in subsequent chapters (13-19) and the transition to the more decentralized period of the Judges, where localized conflicts and continued occupation struggles would still occur. The verse highlights God's faithfulness in delivering on His long-standing promise to provide Israel with a land, thereby fulfilling the covenant established with Abraham and reiterated through Moses.

Joshua 11 23 Word analysis

• Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshua): Meaning "The Lord is salvation" or "The Lord saves." This name is highly significant as it prefigures Jesus (ישוע, Yeshua, the Greek equivalent being Iēsous), who also brings His people into spiritual rest and an eternal inheritance. Joshua acts as God's chosen instrument to fulfill divine promises for His people.
• took (לָקַח, lakaḥ): A strong verb indicating decisive seizure, appropriation, and control. It signifies the physical act of conquest and establishment of sovereignty over the territory.
• whole land (כָּל־הָאָרֶץ, kol-ha'aretz): While geographically, pockets of resistance or unconquered areas remained (as detailed later in Judges 1 and Joshua 13:1-6), this phrase from God's perspective and the author's theological summary implies the comprehensive breaking of the power of the Canaanite nations across the land, and that all strategically important regions and fortified centers were under Israel's control. It speaks to the scope of the Lord's fulfilled promise, not necessarily every single square inch. The major, organized opposition was crushed.
• according to all that the Lord had said unto Moses: This emphasizes the divine authorship and blueprint behind the conquest and inheritance. It explicitly links Joshua's actions to God's precise instructions given earlier through Moses (e.g., Deut 7:1-6; Num 33:50-56). It underscores God's sovereignty and faithfulness as the ultimate orchestrator. This statement serves as a powerful theological validation that the entire enterprise was divinely initiated and superintended.
• gave it for an inheritance (וַיִּתְּנָהּ נַחֲלָה, wayyittenah naḥalah):
  • gave it: Implying divine bestowal, acting through Joshua.
  • inheritance (נַחֲלָה, naḥalah): More than just "possession," naḥalah refers to an ancestral gift or possession, specifically divinely allotted property. For Israel, the land was not merely conquered territory; it was their divinely promised legacy, central to their identity as a people and their relationship with God. This concept often points forward to the believer's spiritual inheritance in Christ.
• unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes: This refers to the structured and organized distribution of the land. This distribution was based on tribal and familial lines, determined by lot, emphasizing order, fairness, and the fulfillment of promises made to the various tribes dating back to Jacob's blessings (Gen 49). This sets the stage for Joshua chapters 13-19.
• And the land rested from war (וְהָאָרֶץ שָׁקְטָה מִמִּלְחָמָה, ve-ha'aretz shaqtah mimilchamah):
  • rested (שָׁקַט, shaqat): Implies a state of quietness, tranquility, or cessation of disturbances, particularly military conflicts. This signifies the end of major, organized warfare and large-scale resistance from the Canaanite kingdoms.
  • from war: Specifies the nature of the rest – a cessation of military campaigns. This peace, though not absolute in terms of minor skirmishes or later localized conflicts (as Judges makes clear), marked the end of the decisive conquest phase and provided a crucial period for consolidation and settlement. It foreshadows the ultimate spiritual rest found in God.

Joshua 11 23 Bonus section

The fulfillment declared in Joshua 11:23 and later echoed in 21:43-45 ("Not one word failed...") is a key theological cornerstone for understanding divine faithfulness. It argues against any notion that God's promises are unreliable. The "rest" provided in the land was a contingent rest, often tied to Israel's obedience (cf. Deut 12:10; 2 Chron 15:15). This provides a significant transition point in biblical history, moving from the active military conquest phase to the more domestic settlement period which subsequently details Israel's ongoing spiritual struggles in Judges. The book of Joshua highlights a deliberate "holy war" or herem policy against the Canaanites, which scholars explain was not for simple ethnic cleansing but for divine judgment on profound evil (idolatry, child sacrifice, moral degradation), and to prevent spiritual defilement of Israel within their new sacred space. This distinguishes God's command from arbitrary human conquest, framing it as a unique, historical divine intervention to clear a path for His holy nation and preserve His truth. Joshua's role as the leader who brings Israel into this inheritance foreshadows Jesus as the one who truly brings His people into their eternal spiritual inheritance and ultimate rest.

Joshua 11 23 Commentary

Joshua 11:23 serves as a momentous summary statement, affirming God's unfailing faithfulness and Israel's partial yet significant fulfillment of the covenant mandate. The assertion that Joshua "took the whole land" from the perspective of God’s overall plan for the major, organized military conquest. While isolated pockets of Canaanites remained (e.g., Jerusalem until David’s time), the strategic heart of Canaanite resistance was broken, their capacity for widespread, coordinated opposition was destroyed. This success was "according to all that the Lord had said," underlining divine enablement and fulfillment, rather than human strength alone. The land’s subsequent distribution "as an inheritance" to Israel's tribes was not merely a logistical exercise, but a concrete realization of generations of promises to Abraham and his descendants. This highlights the foundational role of land in Israel’s covenant identity and national existence. The concluding phrase, "And the land rested from war," indicates a vital cessation of the major, existential military struggles, allowing Israel to settle. This peace, though not permanent or comprehensive in every detail, was a significant milestone – a taste of the divine rest promised by God for obedience and trust. The spiritual significance of this rest foreshadows the ultimate rest and eternal inheritance believers find in Christ, not through military might, but through His completed work on the cross. The partial fulfillment here underscores the nature of biblical promise: God delivers fully on His word, often through stages.