Chapter commentary
Joshua Chapter 11
서론
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简体中文
English original
This chapter continues and concludes the history of the conquest of Canaan; of the reduction of the southern parts we had an account in the foregoing chapter, after which we may suppose Joshua allowed his forces some breathing-time; now here we have the story of the war in the north, and the happy success of that war. I. The confederacy of the northern crowns against Israel, Jos 11:1-5. II. The encouragement which God gave to Joshua to engage them, Jos 11:6. III. His victory over them, Jos 11:7-9. IV. The taking of their cities, Jos 11:10-15. V. The destruction of the Anakim, Jos 11:21,22. VI. The general conclusion of the story of this war, Jos 11:16-20,23.
1-9
Confederacy Against Israel (1450 BC)
简体中文
北方联军对抗以色列（主前1450年）
¹ 夏琐王耶宾听见这事，就打发人去见玛顿王约巴、伸仑王、亚押撒音王，
² 又去见北方山地、基尼烈南边的亚拉巴高原，并西边多珥山冈的诸王，
³ 又去见东方和西方的迦南人，山地的亚摩利人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人，并黑门山米斯巴地的希未人。
⁴ 他们就出来，连他们的众军都出来，人数众多，如同海边的沙，并有许多马匹车辆。
⁵ 这些王都会合，来到米伦水边一同安营，要与以色列人争战。
⁶ 耶和华对约书亚说：你不要因他们惧怕；明日这时我必将他们交付以色列人全然杀了；你要砍断他们马的蹄筋，用火焚烧他们的车辆。
⁷ 于是约书亚和一切兵丁忽然来到米伦水边，攻击他们。
⁸ 耶和华将他们交在以色列人手里，以色列人就击杀他们，追赶他们到大西顿、米斯利弗玛音，东边的米斯巴平原，直到将他们灭尽，不留一个。
⁹ 约书亚就照耶和华所吩咐他的去行：砍断他们马的蹄筋，用火焚烧他们的车辆。
我们在此进入约书亚另一次战役的记载，那是一次光辉的战役，其成功并不逊于前次，虽然在神迹方面不及前次荣耀。神当时为他们所行的奇事，是要激励他们自己奋勇行事。照样，福音传讲对撒但国度所发的争战，起初也是借神迹推动的；但这战争既已借神迹充分证明是出于神，如今其经营之人便只余留圣灵之剑的使用中神圣恩典的常助，再不可指望冰雹，也不可指望日头停住。在这故事中我们可见：
I. 迦南人列阵对抗以色列。他们是主动进攻的一方——神使他们心里刚硬，发动战争，好叫以色列在毁灭他们时无可指摘地显为公义。约书亚和以色列众人已回到吉甲的营中，这些王也许以为他们打算安于已有的征服，便坐下来知足了；然而他们竟还预备向以色列开战。请注意：罪人将灾祸招到自己头上，以致神说话时显为公义，他们要永远独自承担罪责。犹大如今已如狮蹲伏，如公狮从猎物上来；北方的诸王若要惹动他，便要自负其险（创49:9）。如今，1. 有几个民族加入这联盟，有在山地的，有在平原的（书11:2）；有东西方的迦南人，有亚摩利人、赫人、比利洗人等（书11:3）——彼此体质不同，利益分歧，却在此联合对抗以色列，视为共同的仇敌。如此，今世之子在世事上比光明之子更加同心合意，也更加聪明。教会仇敌的合一，当使教会的朋友为自己的纷争分裂而羞愧，并促使他们合而为一。2. 这次联盟的首领是夏琐王耶宾（书11:1），正如前次是亚多尼·洗德；据说（书11:10）夏琐原是那些国中的首都，本不会无端叛离而生嫌隙；但在此事上各派同意搁置此事（路23:12）。他们各自率兵会合，每国各尽其分，便组成一支极庞大的军队，比前次更大，人数如同海边的沙；他们还因此更强盛、更可畏——他们有许多马匹车辆，而南方的诸王我们不见有此装备；这使他们相对以色列占了极大优势，因为以色列的军队全是步兵，且……
II. 神鼓励约书亚前去迎战，甚至就在他们自己所选的阵地上（书11:6）：你不要因他们惧怕。约书亚以勇敢著称——这是他首要的美德——然而看来他仍需再三受嘱咐不要害怕。新的危险和困难叫人不得不从神的话语中重新汲取新的力量与安慰——那话语常在我们左右，备我们随时取用。凡有神站在他们一边的，便不必因仇敌的人数和权势而惊惶；与我们同在的，比与他们同在的更多；凡有万军之主为他们争战的，便是有万军之耶和华为他们效力。为鼓励他，1. 神保证他必胜，并定了时刻：明日这时——大概双方都预期并有意在那时刻交锋——我必将他们交付全然被杀。他们虽要被以色列的刀所杀，却被称为神的工作，说是他将他们交付。2. 神吩咐他砍断他们马的蹄筋——使之残废、跛足——并用火焚烧他们的车辆，不仅是以色列日后不能使用，更是叫他们如今不必惧怕，因他们的神定意将羞辱加在这些之上。让以色列视他们的战车不过是为火预备的朽木，视他们的战马为残废之物，连拉车都不配。神在此给约书亚的鼓励，他无疑已转达百姓——百姓虽经历过神为他们所显的大能，面对这浩荡大军或许仍心怀忧惧。请观察神的智慧与良善：(1.) 他使仇敌的计谋昏乱——迦南的诸王彼此相距并不遥远，本可全部合兵一处，却起初没有联合对抗以色列，而是分为南北两路联盟，于是威力大减。(2.) 他先以小敌预备自己的百姓去对付更大的敌人。他们先与五个王交锋，如今则与更多王交锋。神使我们的试炼与力量相称，又使我们的力量与试炼相称。
III. 约书亚进军攻击这些联军（书11:7）。他忽然来到他们那里，趁他们在营帐中猝不及防。他如此急速，1. 是为使他们更加混乱——趁他们毫未想到他已临近时给他们警报。2. 是为确守不误神所定赐给他的荣耀，叫他在仇敌营前与之交锋——明日这时。与神同步，本当如此。
IV. 他的成功（书11:8）。他得着了彻底胜利的荣耀与益处；他击杀他们，追赶他们，循他们逃跑的各条路追击；有人逃向西顿——位于西北；有人逃向米斯巴——东边的平原；约书亚所派的队伍各路追击。如此，耶和华将他们交在以色列人手里；他们不肯将自己交在以色列人手中作归化者和进贡者，从而献给神的恩典（罗15:16），所以神将他们交在以色列人手中作为他公义的祭物；因为神若不借着我们得荣耀，便要在我们身上得荣耀。
V. 他遵从所受的命令，毁掉马匹车辆（书11:9），这是他(1.) 顺服神旨的实例，如服在权柄之下的人，必须照所吩咐的去行。(2.) 舍己的实例，为顺服神的命令而违背自己的性情和喜好。(3.) 信靠神为以色列效力之能力的实例——这信靠使他们能藐视别人所仗赖的车辆马匹（诗20:7，33:17）。(4.) 关心百姓的实例，为要保持他们对神同样的信靠，便除掉他们容易过度信赖之物。这乃是砍断右手。
English original
Confederacy Against Israel (1450 BC)
¹ And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
² And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,
³ And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.
⁴ And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
⁵ And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
⁶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
⁷ So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
⁸ And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
⁹ And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
We are here entering upon the story of another campaign that Joshua made, and it was a glorious one, no less illustrious than the former in the success of it, though in respect of miracles it was inferior to it in glory. The wonders God then wrought for them were to animate and encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the war carried on by the preaching of the gospel against Satan's kingdom was at first forwarded by miracles; but, the war being by them sufficiently proved to be of God, the managers of it are now left to the ordinary assistance of divine grace in the use of the sword of the Spirit, and must not expect hail-stones nor the standing still of the sun. In this story we have,
I. The Canaanites taking the field against Israel. They were the aggressors, God hardening their hearts to begin the war, that Israel might be justified beyond exception in destroying them. Joshua and all Israel had returned to the camp at Gilgal, and perhaps these kings knew no other than that they intended to sit down content with the conquest they had already made, and yet they prepare war against them. Note, Sinners bring ruin upon their own heads, so that God will be justified when he speaks, and they alone shall bear the blame for ever. Judah had now couched as a lion gone up from the prey; if the northern kings rouse him up, it is at their peril, Ge 49:9. Now, 1. Several nations joined in this confederacy, some in the mountains and some in the plains, Jos 11:2. Canaanites from east and west, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, etc. (Jos 11:3), of different constitutions and divided interests among themselves, and yet they here unite against Israel as against a common enemy. Thus are the children of this world more unanimous, and therein wiser, than the children of light. The oneness of the church's enemies should shame the church's friends out of their discords and divisions, and engage them to be one. 2. The head of this confederacy was Jabin king of Hazor (Jos 11:1), as Adoni-zedec was of the former; it is said (Jos 11:10) Hazor had been the head of all those kingdoms, which could not have revolted without occasioning ill-will; but this was forgotten and laid aside upon this occasion, by consent of parties, Lu 23:12. When they had all drawn up their forces together, every kingdom bringing in its quota, they were a very great army, much greater than the former, as the sand on the sea shore in multitude, and upon this account much stronger and more formidable, that they had horses and chariots very many, which we do not find the southern kings had; hereby they had a great advantage against Israel, for their army consisted only of foot, and they never brought horses nor chariots into the field. Josephus tells us that the army of the Canaanites consisted of 300,000 foot, 10,000 horses, and 20,000 chariots. Many there be that rise up against God's Israel; doubtless their numbers made them very confident of success, but it proved that so much the greater slaughter was made of them.
II. The encouragement God gave to Joshua to give them the meeting, even upon the ground of their own choosing (Jos 11:6): Be not afraid because of them. Joshua was remarkable for his courage—it was his master grace, and yet it seems he had need to be again and again cautioned not to be afraid. Fresh dangers and difficulties make it necessary to fetch in fresh supports and comforts from the word of God, which we have always nigh unto us, to be made use of in every time of need. Those that have God on their side need not be disturbed at the number and power of their enemies; more are those that are with us than those that are against us; those have the hosts of the Lord that have the Lord of hosts engaged for them. For his encouragement, 1. God assures him of success, and fixes the hour: To-morrow about this time, when an engagement (it is probable) was expected and designed on both sides, I will deliver them up slain. Though they were to be slain by the sword of Israel, yet it is spoken of as God's work, that he would deliver them up. 2. He appoints him to hough their horses, hamstring them, lame them, and burn their chariots, not only that Israel might not use them hereafter, but that they might not fear them now, their God designing this contempt to be put upon them. Let Israel look upon their chariots but as rotten wood designed for the fire, and their horses of war as disabled things, scarcely good enough for the cart. This encouragement which God here gave to Joshua no doubt he communicated to the people, who perhaps were under some apprehensions of danger from this vast army, notwithstanding the experience they had had of God's power engaged for them. And the wisdom and goodness of God are to be observed, (1.) In infatuating the counsels of the enemy, that all the kings of Canaan, who were not dispersed at such a distance from each other but that they might have got all together in a body, did not at first confederate against Israel, but were divided in to the southern and northern combination, and so became the less formidable. And, (2.) In preparing his people to encounter the greater force, by breaking the less. They first engage with five kings together, and now with many more. God proportions our trials to our strength and our strength to our trials.
III. Joshua's march against these confederate forces, Jos 11:7. He came upon them suddenly, and surprised them in their quarters. He made this haste, 1. That he might put them into the greater confusion, by giving them an alarm, when they little thought he was near them. 2. That he might be sure not to come short of the honour God had fixed, to give him the meeting at the enemies' camp, to-morrow about this time. It is fit we should keep time with God.
IV. His success, Jos 11:8. He obtained the honour and advantage of a complete victory; he smote them and chased them, in the several ways they took in their flight; some fled towards Zidon, which lay to the northwest, others towards Mizpeh, eastward, but the parties Joshua sent out pursued them each way. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel; they would not deliver themselves into the hands of Israel to be made proselytes and tributaries, and so offered up to God's grace (Ro 15:16), and therefore God delivered them into their hands to be made sacrifices to his justice; for God will be honoured by us or upon us.
V. His obedience to the orders given him, in destroying the horses and chariots (Jos 11:9), which was an instance, 1. Of his subjection to the divine will, as one under authority, that must do as he is bidden. 2. Of his self-denial, and crossing his own genius and inclination in compliance with God's command. 3. Of his confidence in the power of God engaged for Israel, which enabled them to despise the chariots and horses which others trusted in, Ps 20:7,33:17. 4. Of his care to keep up in the people the like confidence in God, by taking that from them which they would be tempted to trust too much to. This was cutting of a right hand.
10-23
Joshua's Victories (1450 BC)
简体中文
约书亚的胜利（公元前1450年）
¹⁰ 那时约书亚转回，夺了夏琐，用刀击杀了夏琐王；因为夏琐素来是这一切诸国的首领。 ¹¹ 以色列人用刀击杀城中所有的人口，尽行毁灭；其中没有留下一个有气息的，约书亚又用火焚烧了夏琐。 ¹² 约书亚夺了这些王的一切城邑，和其中的诸王，用刀击杀他们，将他们尽行毁灭，正如耶和华仆人摩西所吩咐的。 ¹³ 至于那些建造在山冈之上、仍然存立的城邑，以色列人都没有焚烧，惟独夏琐是约书亚焚烧的。 ¹⁴ 那些城邑所有的掠物和牲畜，以色列人都取为自己的掠物；惟有一切人口都用刀击杀，直到杀尽；凡有气息的没有留下一个。
此处我们看见，对这次胜利所作的处置，与前一章那次胜利所作的处置相同。1．夏琐的毁灭被特别记录下来，因为攻击以色列人的图谋正是起于此城、成于其王（书 11:10、11）。看来夏琐王在战场上逃得性命，自以为回到本城就安全了，那时约书亚正向另一方向追击溃散之军。然而他所以为的保障，竟成了他的网罗；在其中他如同被恶网缠住；他就在那里被杀，他的城也因他的缘故被火焚烧。然而我们发现，因以色列人未妥善看守其残迹，迦南人重新建造了这城，并在另一位同名之王手下定居于彼（士 4:2）。2．那地其余的城邑只是概括地被提及：约书亚把它们全都收入掌中，却没有像焚烧夏琐那样焚烧它们，因为以色列人要住在他们所没有建造的大而美好的城邑里（申 6:10），这些城邑也包括在内。在此我们看见以色列人在血与财上都得以丰盈。(1.) 在仇敌之血上丰盈；他们击杀了一切人口（书 11:1），凡有气息的没有留下一个（书 11:14），好使无人将迦南的可憎之事传染给他们，也无人扰害他们对其地的占有。连孩童也被剪除，免得他们日后凭父母的权利，对这地的任何部分提出主张。(2.) 在仇敌之财富上丰盈。掠物和牲畜，他们取为自己的掠物（书 11:14）。正如他们出埃及时因掠夺欺压他们之人的财物而富足，用以应付在旷野受训练期间的所需；照样他们如今也因仇敌的掠物而富足，作为在迦南地立业的资本。罪人的财物，正是为义人积存的。
¹⁵ 耶和华怎样吩咐他仆人摩西，摩西就怎样吩咐约书亚，约书亚也照样行了；凡耶和华所吩咐摩西的，约书亚没有一件懈怠不行的。 ¹⁶ 约书亚夺了那全地，就是山地、一切南地、歌珊全地、高原、亚拉巴、以色列的山地，和其下的平原。 ¹⁷ 从上西珥的哈拉山，直到黑门山脚利巴嫩平原的巴力迦得；他也擒获他们的诸王，击杀他们，将其杀死。 ¹⁸ 约书亚和这诸王作战了许多日子。 ¹⁹ 除了基遍的希未人之外，没有一城与以色列人讲和的；以色列人都是用战争夺来的。 ²⁰ 因为耶和华的意思是要使他们心里刚硬，来与以色列人争战，好使他们尽被灭绝，不蒙怜悯，正如耶和华所吩咐摩西的。 ²¹ 那时约书亚来到，将山地、希伯仑、底璧、亚拿伯，和犹大全山地、以色列全山地的亚衲族人剪除了；约书亚将他们和他们的城邑尽都毁灭。 ²² 在以色列人的地中没有留下一个亚衲族人，只在迦萨、迦特、亚实突有留下的。 ²³ 这样，约书亚照着耶和华对摩西所说的一切话，夺了那全地；约书亚就按着以色列支派的分，将地分给他们为业。于是国中太平，没有争战了。
在此我们看见这事整体之收尾。
I. 此处简略记载了所成就的四件事：—1．迦南人对以色列人的顽梗抗拒。这事令人诧异：既然如此明显地有神为以色列争战，而迦南人在每次交锋中都大败亏输，他们竟仍顽抗到底；除基遍人之外，没有一座城与以色列人讲和；而基遍人比邻舍更明白关乎自己平安的事（书 11:19）。经上暗示，其他城邑本可以为自己争取同样优厚的条件，且无需穿着破烂衣服和补过的鞋，只要他们肯自卑；但他们从不寻求讲和的条件。我们在此被告知，这种难以理解的蒙蔽从何而来：是耶和华使他们心里刚硬（书 11:20）。正如法老的心先是因自己的骄傲和刚硬而变硬，其后因神的公义审判而被硬化，以致灭亡；这些迦南人的心也是如此。为要刑罚他们其他一切的愚妄，神就任凭他们把那些本可结为朋友的人当作仇敌。正是这事使他们灭亡：他们来与以色列争战，先开了战端，因此不能蒙怜悯。凡挑衅神圣公义或其受命器皿的人，都不知自己所做的是什么。我们比神还强壮吗？ 当留意：心里刚硬正是罪人灭亡的根由。那些对神警告麻木不仁、漫不经心的人，已被标上灭亡的记号。神既说你去使这百姓心蒙脂油，这样的人还有什么指望呢？2．以色列人坚持进行这场争战的恒心（书 11:18）：约书亚和诸王争战了许多日子；有人估算征服这地共用了五年，也有人估算用了七年：神如此长久地训练以色列人习于战事，并在每一次新的胜利中，向他们重复彰显自己的大能和恩慈。3．亚衲族人终被征服（书 11:21、22）。这事或是按他们散居各处时相遇而行的——如某些人所见；或是更可能：亚衲族人退守到他们的坚固据点，所以在以色列一切仇敌都被对付之后，他们才最后被搜寻出来加以剪除。犹大和以色列的山地，是那些"山中之山"（巨人）的居所；然而他们的身量、洞穴的坚固、通往其间的险峻道路，都不能保护这些勇士免于约书亚的刀剑。剪除亚衲子孙之事被特别提及，是因为这些人四十年前曾如此惊吓探子，他们的体格和力量曾被看作征服迦南路上无法逾越的障碍（民 13:28、33）。连那看似不可战胜的反对，也被克服了。愿亚衲的子孙永不再作神以色列民的惊吓，因为他们倾覆的日子必将来到。在全能者面前，巨人不过如侏儒；然而与亚衲族人的这场较量，是被保留到争战的后期，那时以色列人已更精于战阵，也更多经历神的大能与恩慈。当注意，神有时将祂百姓最严酷的试炼（无论出于患难或试探）保留到他们日子的末了。所以腰束武装的，不可像解下武装的那样夸口。死亡，这位可怕的"亚衲之子"，是最后要面对的仇敌；但它终必被毁灭（林前 15:26）。感谢神，祂将把胜利赐给我们。4．这场长久争战的结局。迦南人被连根拔起——并非彻底（如我们在《士师记》后文所见），但在相当程度上；他们也无法再有什么作为：(1.) 无法将以色列人拒之于这地之外而使其不得占有：约书亚夺了那全地（书 11:16、17）。我们可以设想，百姓已经把自己和家人分散安置在他们所征服的区域，至少是那些最靠近吉甲总部的地方，直到日后借着拈阘作出有条理的分配，使各人都知道自己的份。或者，(2.) 无法使他们继续作战，也无法再搅扰他们（书 11:23）：于是国中太平，没有争战了。 这并非以与迦南人讲和告终（那是被禁止的），而是以脱离迦南人的扰害告终。神的百姓尚有一安息、一种争战之后的安息为他们存留，他们必在战事完毕之后进入其中。
II. 此处所成就的，被拿来与从前对摩西所说的话相对照。神的话语和神的作为，若一并考察思想，必互相阐明。结尾处如此观察：1．神所赐给摩西关于征服迦南的一切诫命，在百姓这一边（至少在约书亚在世之时）都得着了遵行。请看这事被何等郑重地记下（书 11:15）：耶和华怎样吩咐他仆人摩西——律法是借摩西的手而传——摩西就怎样吩咐约书亚；因为摩西作为赐律法者，对设立他的那位忠心；他尽了自己的本分，然后死了；但摩西的吩咐在他安葬之后仍被遵守吗？是的，仍被遵守：约书亚也照样行了；他在自己的地位上，与摩西在其地位上同样忠心。凡耶和华所吩咐摩西的，约书亚没有一件懈怠不行的（希伯来文作：他没有废掉任何一件）。凡懈怠不行本分的人，都竭力要废掉或使那拘束他们遵行的神之诫命归于无效；但约书亚借着遵行诫命，反倒确认了它，正如申命记 27:26 的说法。约书亚自己是一位大元帅，然而再没有比他的顺服更值得称赞的了。那些随意管辖他人的人，自己必须受神圣旨意的管辖；这样，他们的权柄才真是他们的尊荣，否则便不是。此处所称赞约书亚的敬虔顺服，特别关乎那毁灭迦南人、拆毁他们的祭坛、焚烧他们的偶像的命令（申 7:2-5；出 23:24，34:13）。约书亚因对万军之耶和华的热心，对偶像和拜偶像者一无所惜。扫罗对神吩咐尽灭亚玛力人的命令，其不顺服——更准确说是部分的顺服——使他失去了国位。看来约书亚自己对他在执行使命时如何谨慎、如何恪尽地遵守命令，正是这样作的交代：在凡事上他都照摩西所吩咐的行了；这表明，他回顾自己在整场争战中对神诫命的遵行，所得的喜乐和满足，并以此为夸耀，胜过他所获得的一切利益和凯旋所带来的富足和尊荣。2．神所赐给摩西关于这场征服的一切应许，在祂这一边都得着了成全（书 11:23）。约书亚夺了那全地，征服了它，并取得了占有，正如耶和华对摩西所说的。神曾应许要在他们面前赶出那些国民（出 33:2，34:11），并要将他们交在他们手中（申 9:3）。如今这事已经成就。应许的话一句也没有落空。当我们的成功和享受，我们看见是从应许而流归我们的（这就是照耶和华所说的），它们对我们便加倍甘甜而安慰；正如我们的顺服，当它对准诫命时，在神面前便蒙悦纳。我们若尽忠于本分，就无需怀疑应许的成就。
English original
Joshua's Victories (1450 BC)
¹⁰ And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.
¹¹ 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.
¹² And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.
¹³ But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
¹⁴ And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
We have here the same improvement made of this victory as was made of that in the foregoing chapter. 1. The destruction of Hazor is particularly recorded, because in it, and by the king thereof, this daring design against Israel was laid, Jos 11:10,11. The king of Hazor, it seems, escaped with his life out of the battle, and thought himself safe when he had got back into his own city, and Joshua had gone in pursuit of the scattered troops another way. But it proved that that which he thought would be for his welfare was his trap; in it he was taken as in an evil net; there he was slain, and his city, for his sake, burned. Yet we find that the remains of it being not well looked after by Israel the Canaanites rebuilt it, and settled there under another king of the same name, Jdg 4:2. 2. The rest of the cities of that part of the country are spoken of only in general, that Joshua got them all into his hands, but did not burn them as he did Hazor, for Israel was to dwell in great and goodly cities which they builded not (De 6:10) and in these among the rest. And here we find Israel rolling in blood and treasure. (1.) In the blood of their enemies; they smote all the souls (Jos 11:1), neither left they any to breathe (Jos 11:14), that there might be none to infect them with the abominations of Canaan, and none to disturb them in the possession of it. The children were cut off, lest they should afterwards lay claim to any part of this land in the right of their parents. (2.) In the wealth of their enemies. The spoil, and the cattle, they took for a prey to themselves, Jos 11:14. As they were enriched with the spoil of their oppressors when they came out of Egypt, wherewith to defray the charges of their apprenticeship in the wilderness, so they were now enriched with the spoil of their enemies for a stock wherewith to set up in the land of Canaan. Thus is the wealth of the sinner laid up for the just.
¹⁵ As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.
¹⁶ So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
¹⁷ Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
¹⁸ Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
¹⁹ There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.
²⁰ For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
²¹ And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
²² There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
²³ 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.
We have here the conclusion of this whole matter.
I. A short account is here given of what was done in four things:—1. The obstinacy of the Canaanites in their opposition to the Israelites. It was strange that though it appeared so manifestly that God fought for Israel, and in every engagement the Canaanites had the worst of it, yet they stood it out to the last; not one city made peace with Israel, but the Gibeonites only, who understood the things that belonged to their peace better than their neighbours, Jos 11:19. It is intimated that other cities might have made as good terms for themselves, without ragged clothes and clouted shoes, if they would have humbled themselves, but they never so much as desired conditions of peace. We here are told whence this unaccountable infatuation came: It was of the Lord to harden their hearts, Jos 11:20. As Pharaoh's heart was hardened by his own pride and wilfulness first, and afterwards by the righteous judgment of God, to his destruction, so were the hearts of these Canaanites. To punish them for all their other follies, God left them to this, to make those their enemies whom they might have made their friends. This was it that ruined them: they came against Israel in battle, and gave the first blow, and therefore might have no favour shown them. Those know not what they do who give the provocation to divine justice, or the authorized instruments of it. Are we stronger than God? Observe here, That hardness of heart is the ruin of sinners. Those that are stupid and secure, and heedless of divine warnings, are already marked for destruction. What hope is there of those concerning whom God has said, Go, make their hearts fat? 2. The constancy of the Israelites in prosecuting this war (Jos 11:18): Joshua made war a long time; some reckon it five years, others seven, that were spent in subduing this land: so long God would train up Israel to war, and give them repeated instances of his power and goodness in every new victory that he gave them. 3. The conquest of the Anakim at last, Jos 11:21,22. Either this was done as they met with them where they were dispersed, as some think, or rather it should seem the Anakim had retired to their fastnesses, and so were hunted out and cut off at last, after all the rest of Israel's enemies. The mountains of Judah and Israel were the habitations of those mountains of men; but not their height, nor the strength of their caves, nor the difficulty of the passes to them, could secure, no, not these mighty men, from the sword of Joshua. The cutting off of the sons of Anak is particularly mentioned because these had been such a terror to the spies forty years before, and their bulk and strength had been thought an insuperable difficulty in the way of the reducing of Canaan, Nu 13:28,33. Even that opposition which seemed invincible was got over. Never let the sons of Anak be a terror to the Israel of God, for even their day will come to fall. Giants are dwarfs to Omnipotence; yet this struggle with the Anakim was reserved for the latter end of the war, when the Israelites had become more expert in the arts of war, and had had more experience of the power and goodness of God. Note, God sometimes reserves the sharpest trials of his people by affliction and temptation for the latter end of their days. Therefore let not him that girds on the harness boast as he that puts it off. Death, that tremendous son of Anak, is the last enemy that is to be encountered; but it is to be destroyed, 1Co 15:26. Thanks be to God, who will give us the victory. 4. The end and issue of this long war. The Canaanites were rooted out, not perfectly (as we shall find after in the book of Judges), but in a good measure; they were not able to make any head either, (1.) So as to keep the Israelites out of possession of the land: Joshua took all that land, Jos 11:16,17. And we may suppose the people dispersed themselves and their families into the countries they had conquered, at least those that lay nearest to the head-quarters at Gilgal, until an orderly distribution should be made by lot, that every man might know his own. Or, (2.) So as to keep them in action, or give them any molestation (Jos 11:23): The land rested from war. It ended not in a peace with the Canaanites (that was forbidden), but in a peace from them. There is a rest, a rest from war, remaining for the people of God, into which they shall enter when their warfare is accomplished.
II. That which was now done is here compared with that which had been said to Moses. God's word and his works, if viewed and considered together, will mutually illustrate each other. It is here observed in the close, 1. That all the precepts God had given to Moses relating to the conquest of Canaan were obeyed on the people's part, at least while Joshua lived. See how solemnly this is remarked (Jos 11:15): As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, by whose hand the law was given, so did Moses command Joshua, for Moses was faithful, as a law-giver, to him that appointed him; he did his part, and then he died: but were the commands of Moses observed when he was in his grave? Yes, they were: So did Joshua, who was, in his place, as faithful as Moses in his. He left nothing undone (Heb. he removed nothing) of all that the Lord commanded Moses. Those that leave their duty undone do what they can to remove or make void the command of God, by which they are bound to do it; but Joshua, by performing the precept, confirmed it, as the expression is, De 27:26. Joshua was himself a great commander, and yet nothing was more his praise than his obedience. Those that rule others at their will must themselves be ruled by the divine will; then their power is indeed their honour, and not otherwise. The pious obedience for which Joshua is here commended respects especially the command to destroy the Canaanites, and to break down their altars and burn their images, De 7:2-5, Ex 23:24,34:13. Joshua, in his zeal for the Lord of hosts, spared neither the idols nor the idolaters. Saul's disobedience, or rather his partial obedience, to the command of God, for the utter destruction of the Amalekites, cost him his kingdom. It should seem Joshua himself gives this account of his most careful and punctual observance of his orders in the execution of his commission, that in all respects he had done as Moses commanded him; and then it intimates that he had more pleasure and satisfaction in reflecting upon his obedience to the commands of God in all this war, and valued himself more upon that, than upon all the gains and triumphs with which he was enriched and advanced. 2. That all the promises God had given to Moses relating to this conquest were accomplished on his part, Jos 11:23. Joshua took the whole land, conquered it, and took possession of it, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses. God had promised to drive out the nations before them (Ex 33:2,34:11), and to bring them down, De 9:3. And now it was done. There failed not one word of the promise. Our successes and enjoyments are then doubly sweet and comfortable to us when we see them flowing to us from the promise (this is according to what the Lord said), as our obedience is then acceptable to God when it has an eye to the precept. And, if we make conscience of our duty, we need not question the performance of the promise.
约书亚记第十一章
本章延续并结束了征服迦南的历史；前一章已记述了南方诸地的降服，此后我们可以推想约书亚曾让他的军队稍作休整；如今此处记载的是北方战事的故事，以及那场战争的胜利结局。I. 北方诸王结盟对抗以色列，书 11:1-5。II. 神鼓励约书亚去迎战他们，书 11:6。III. 他战胜了他们，书 11:7-9。IV. 攻取他们的城邑，书 11:10-15。V. 亚衲人的灭绝，书 11:21,22。VI. 这场战争故事的总体结语，书 11:16-20,23。