Joshua 11

In our study of Joshua chapter eleven, we look at the completion of the taking of the land of Canaan and the rest that is only available through the will of God.

Chapter Overview

Joshua chapter 11 closes out the military conquest of Canaan. With the southern kings already defeated in chapter 10, the kings of the north now unite into a massive coalition, gathering forces "like the sand at the seashore" complete with horses and chariots — technology Israel's largely infantry-based army had never faced at this scale.

Once again, the outcome hinges entirely on whether Israel trusts ADONAI's assurance rather than the size or strength of the enemy. The chapter systematically works through the destruction of the northern coalition, the burning of Hazor, and a summary of the completed conquest — ending on a phrase that carries enormous weight after so many chapters of warfare: "the land rested from war."

Historical Background

Hazor was, by far, the largest and most significant city in northern Canaan during this period — later excavations identified it as the biggest Bronze Age city in the entire region, which is why the text specifically notes it "had been the head of all those kingdoms." Archaeologists have documented a massive destruction layer at the site consistent with a citywide fire, matching the account of Hazor being singled out for burning while other conquered cities were left standing.

Hamstringing the enemy's horses rather than absorbing them into Israel's own army wasn't simply a battlefield tactic — it reflected a deliberate posture toward military technology. Moses had already commanded that Israel's future kings not multiply horses for themselves (Deuteronomy 17:16), so that the nation's confidence would rest in ADONAI rather than in chariots and cavalry.

Joshua 11:1-5

When Yavin king of Hatzor heard of it, he informed Yovav king of Madon; the king of Shimron; the king of Akhshaf; the kings to the north, in the hills, in the 'Aravah south of Kinn'rot, in the Sh'felah and in the regions of Dor on the west; the Kena'ani to east and west; the Emori, Hitti, P'rizi and Y'vusi in the hills; and the Hivi at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mitzpah. So they set out, they and all their armies, many people, in number like the sand at the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. All these kings met together, then came and pitched camp together at the Merom Spring, to fight Isra'el.

In the last chapter, we saw Israel defeat the kings from the southern part of Canaan primarily around Jerusalem. Now, the kings in the northern part of Canaan heard of those events and united to make war on Israel.

Joshua 11:6-9

ADONAI said to Y'hoshua, "Don't be afraid on their account; because at this time tomorrow I will hand them over, all of them dead, before Isra'el. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots." So Y'hoshua came against them suddenly with all his fighting men and fell on them at the Merom Spring. ADONAI handed them over to Isra'el - they attacked and chased them to Greater Tzidon, Misrefot-Mayim and eastward to the Mitzpeh Valley; they attacked them until none of them was left. Y'hoshua did to them what ADONAI had ordered - he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.

Even though there was a great force preparing to attack Israel, the Lord reassured Y'hoshua that He would provide the victory. We see that Y'hoshua believed the Lord and was obedient as Israel suddenly attacked the massed force and completely defeated them. This opposing force would have never dreamed that the relatively small Israelite army would attack them and this attack demonstrates the faith and obedience of Israel. We see the scope of the victory as Israel drove them out of Canaan and pursued them into Lebanon. We see the total obedience of Y'hoshua as he had their horses hamstrung and burned their chariots.

Hebraic Insight

Hamstringing captured horses instead of keeping them fits a pattern that runs throughout the Torah and the Prophets: God's people were repeatedly warned against placing confidence in the tools of the nations around them. The Psalmist would later put it directly — "some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of ADONAI our God" (Psalm 20:7).

By disabling rather than adopting this technology, Israel's victory couldn't be credited to superior weaponry. The point was made unmistakably clear: it was ADONAI who handed the enemy over, not Israel's cavalry.

Joshua 11:10-12

Then Y'hoshua turned back and captured Hatzor, striking its king dead with the sword; for in time past Hatzor had been the head of all those kingdoms. They put everyone there to death with the sword, completely destroying them; there was nothing left that breathed; and he burned Hatzor to the ground. Y'hoshua captured all the cities of those kings and the kings as well; he defeated them with the sword and completely destroyed them, as Moshe the servant of ADONAI had ordered.

We see that Israel turned back and captured the cities and kings beginning with Hatzor which was the leading city in Canaan. We see that all of them were utterly destroyed and the Hebrew word used is cherem which speaks of devoting to the Lord so nothing was taken or spared from those cities. We also see that Moshe had left a legacy of faithfullness by teaching the next generation (Y'hoshua) the word of God and demonstrating his obedience to that word.

Joshua 11:13 & 14

But as for the cities built on their tels, Isra'el burned none of them except Hatzor; Y'hoshua did burn that one. All the spoil of these cities and the livestock the people of Isra'el took as booty for themselves; but every human being they put to death with the sword, until they had destroyed them - they left no one breathing.

We see a difference as cities that were built on a mound or heap of rubble were destroyed but not burnt. Those cities were plundered but all of the people were killed.

Did You Know?

Excavations at the site identified as ancient Hazor uncovered a dramatic destruction layer from the Late Bronze Age — thick ash, collapsed walls, and evidence of an intense citywide fire. Hazor was also, by a wide margin, the largest fortified city excavated anywhere in the region from this period, which lines up with the biblical description of it as "the head of all those kingdoms" and the only northern city Joshua specifically chose to burn.

Joshua 11:15-17

Moshe had given orders to Y'hoshua, just as ADONAI had given orders to Moshe his servant, and Y'hoshua acted accordingly - he did everything ADONAI had ordered Moshe. So Y'hoshua captured all that land, the hills, the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the Sh'felah, the 'Aravah and the Isra'el hills and Sh'felah, from the bare mountain that goes up to Se'ir to Ba'al-Gad in the L'vanon Valley under Mount Hermon; and he took all their kings, struck them and put them to death.

Once again, we see that Y'hoshua was faithful to do all that the Lord had shown Moshe.

Joshua 11:18-20

Y'hoshua made war with all those kings for a long time. Not one city made peace with the people of Isra'el, except for the Hivi living in Giv'on; they took everything in battle. For it was ADONAI who caused them to harden their hearts and come against Isra'el in battle, so that they would be utterly destroyed, so that they would not find favor but be destroyed, in keeping with the orders ADONAI had given Moshe.

This passage shows us that Israel had victory after victory and all of the enemies were utterly destroyed except for the Gibeonites who had made the covenant with Israel (see chapter 9). We see that, even though the peoples had heard of what God had done, they did not try to make peace with Israel and God knew the pride that was in their hearts.

Joshua 11:21-23

Y'hoshua at that time came and cut off the 'Anakim from the land - from Hevron, D'vir, 'Anav and from all the hill-country of Y'hudah and Isra'el; Y'hoshua utterly destroyed them and their cities. No 'Anakim were left in the land of the people of Isra'el - only in 'Azah, Gat and Ashdod did some remain. Y'hoshua took the whole land, in keeping with all that ADONAI had said to Moshe and to Isra'el according to their divisions into tribes. Then the land rested from war.

The Anakim speaks of giants and we see that Y'hoshua completely destroyed them as well to the point that only a small remnant remained that had escaped. We see that it was only after the will of God was fulfilled in giving them the land of Canaan that the land had rest. We are reminded buy these war stories that the future rest of the land will only come with the fulfillment of the promise of the return of Yeshua Messiah.

🎓 Continue Your Hebraic Journey

Joshua chapter 11 is one lesson in the Walk with Yeshua Joshua course. Continue your study by watching the companion teaching that explores the Hebrew language, covenant themes, and Messianic connections found in Israel's northern campaign and the land's rest from war.

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Messianic Themes

• A rest that points forward. The land's rest from war at the end of this chapter is real, but the author of Hebrews later insists a greater rest still remains for God's people — one only Yeshua ultimately provides (Hebrews 4:8-11).
• Trust over technology. Hamstringing the enemy's horses instead of using them models the New Testament principle that believers don't wage spiritual war with the weapons of the world (2 Corinthians 10:4).
• Complete obedience. The repeated note that Joshua "did everything ADONAI had ordered Moshe" pictures the total obedience Yeshua modeled toward the Father's will (John 17:4).
• Sovereignty over hardened hearts. That ADONAI hardened the northern kings' hearts toward destruction, rather than allowing peace, echoes the same divine sovereignty described in Pharaoh's hardening (Romans 9:17-18).
• Giants still to come. The small remnant of Anakim left in Gath sets up a later, more famous encounter — Goliath — reminding believers that some battles of faith are still ahead even after great victories.

Related Scriptures

• Deuteronomy 17:16 — Israel's future kings are warned against multiplying horses for themselves.
• Psalm 20:7 — Trust is placed in the name of ADONAI rather than chariots and horses.
• Numbers 13:33 — The spies' original report of the intimidating Anakim, decades earlier.
• 1 Samuel 17 — Goliath, a descendant of the Anakim remnant left in Gath, later confronts Israel.
• Hebrews 4:8-11 — A greater, ongoing rest for God's people is described beyond the rest Joshua provided.
• Romans 9:17-18 — Paul discusses God's sovereignty in hardening hearts, using Pharaoh as the example.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Joshua hamstring the horses instead of keeping them for Israel's army?

Disabling the horses rather than absorbing them into Israel's forces kept the credit for victory squarely on ADONAI rather than on captured military technology, consistent with later instructions that Israel's kings not build their strength around horses and chariots.

Why was Hazor burned when other conquered cities were not?

The text explains that Hazor had been "the head of all those kingdoms" — the dominant power in the north. Its destruction served as a decisive statement against the region's leading city, while smaller cities built on mounds were plundered but left standing.

What does it mean that ADONAI hardened the hearts of the kings?

Rather than being drawn to make peace after hearing what God had done, as Rahab and even the Gibeonites had responded, these kings were given over to their own pride and hostility, ensuring the judgment already commanded through Moses would be carried out.

Reflection Questions

1. What "horses and chariots" — resources, strategies, or strengths — are you tempted to trust instead of God?
2. How does the promise of a "greater rest" in Hebrews 4 change the way you view any exhausting season you're in right now?
3. Where do you see the tension between complete obedience and human strategy playing out in your own life?
4. The remnant of Anakim in Gath became Goliath generations later. What "giants" from your past might still need to be faced with faith?
5. What would it look like for you to give God credit for a victory you're tempted to attribute to your own skill or effort?