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英文原文
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)
結盟對抗以色列（主前1450年）
¹ 夏瑣王耶賓聽見這事，就打發人去見瑪頓王約巴、伸崙王、押煞王，
² 又去見北方山地、基尼烈湖邊高原南邊的諸王，與亞拉巴西邊多珥山岡的諸王，
³ 又去見東方和西方的迦南人，山地的亞摩利人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人，並黑門山米斯巴地的希未人。
⁴ 他們就出來，和他們的一切軍隊同來，人數多如海邊的沙，並有許多馬匹車輛。
⁵ 這些王都會合之後，就來到米倫水邊一同安營，要與以色列人爭戰。
⁶ 耶和華對約書亞說：「你不要因他們懼怕。明日這時候，我必將他們全部交付以色列人殺滅。你要砍斷他們馬的蹄筋，用火焚燒他們的車輛。」
⁷ 於是約書亞和一切兵丁猛然來到米倫水邊，攻擊他們。
⁸ 耶和華將他們交在以色列人手裡，以色列人就擊殺他們，追趕他們到西頓大城，到米斯利弗瑪音，到東邊米斯巴的平原，直到將他們剪除，沒有留下一個。
⁹ 約書亞就照耶和華所吩咐他的去行：砍斷了他們馬的蹄筋，用火焚燒了他們的車輛。
我們在此開始讀到約書亞所行的另一場戰役的記載，這是一場輝煌的戰役，其成功不亞於前一場，雖然在神蹟方面遜於前一場的榮耀。神當時為他們所行的奇事，是為激勵他們自己奮勇行事。照樣，福音講道對撒但國度的爭戰，起初也因神蹟而得以推進；但戰爭既因神蹟充分證明是出於神，如今這爭戰的管理者便只靠聖靈之劍在使用中所得的神恩之尋常幫助，不可期望冰雹或日頭停住。在這故事中我們看到：
一、迦南人列陣對抗以色列。他們是進攻的一方，神使他們的心剛硬發動戰爭，好叫以色列毀滅他們時無可指摘。約書亞和全體以色列人已回到吉甲的營中，這些王或許只以為他們打算滿足於已經取得的征服，安頓下來，卻仍要向他們發動戰爭。注意：罪人把毀滅招到自己頭上，以致神在他的判語中顯為公義，他們卻要永遠獨自承擔責備。猶大如今已如獅子蹲伏，如母獅上了獵物；北方諸王若要惹動他，是自尋死路（創49:9）。如今：1. 好幾個民族加入了這個聯盟，有的在山地，有的在平原（Jos 11:2）。迦南人來自東方和西方，亞摩利人、赫人、比利洗人等（Jos 11:3），彼此體制不同、利益分歧，卻在此聯合對抗以色列，視之為共同的仇敵。這樣，今世之子比光明之子更加同心，在其中也更為聰明。教會仇敵的一致，當使教會的朋友因自己的紛爭和分裂而羞愧，並激勵他們合而為一。2. 這聯盟的首領是夏瑣王耶賓（Jos 11:1），正如前一個聯盟的亞多尼洗德；據說（Jos 11:10）夏瑣從前是這些國度的首邑，若非引起不快，否則不會叛離；但這一切在此場合被遺忘、擱置，是各方的共識（路23:12）。當他們把軍隊全部集結，每個王國都派出自己的份額時，他們是一支極大的軍隊，人數如海邊的沙，而且在此基礎上更為強大可畏——他們有許多馬匹車輛，這是我們在南方諸王那裡沒有看到的；藉此他們對以色列有極大的優勢，因為以色列的軍隊只有步兵，從未把馬匹車輛帶上戰場。約瑟夫告訴我們，迦南人的軍隊有三十萬步兵、一萬匹馬、兩萬輛戰車。雖有許多人起來攻擊神的以色列；無疑他們的人數使他們對勝利極有把握，結果卻證明他們被殺的更多。
二、神賜給約書亞的勉勵，要他在仇敵自己所選的地盤上迎戰他們（Jos 11:6）：不要因他們懼怕。約書亞以英勇著稱——那是他主要的恩典——然而看來他仍需要一次又一次地受提醒不可懼怕。新的危險和艱難，使我們有必要從神的話語中汲取新的支持和安慰——這話語我們常在身邊，可在每一個需要的時候使用。有神站在他們一邊的人，不必因仇敵的人數和勢力而驚惶；與我們同在的比與他們同在的更多；有萬軍之耶和華為他們效力的，就有耶和華的萬軍。為了勉勵他：1. 神保證他必勝，並定下了時刻：明日這時候——那時（大概）雙方都預期並打算交鋒——我必將他們交付殺滅。他們雖要被以色列的刀所殺，卻被說成是神的作為——他要將他們交付。2. 神命他砍斷他們馬的蹄筋，使他們瘸腿，並焚燒他們的車輛，不僅是以色列日後不可使用它們，更是使他們現在不致懼怕它們——因為他們的神定意要如此藐視它們。讓以色列看他們的戰車不過是為火預備的朽木，看他們的戰馬為殘廢之物，幾乎連拉車都不配。神在此給約書亞的這勉勵，無疑他傳達給了百姓；百姓或許對這支大軍有些懼怕，儘管他們已有神為他們效力的大能的經歷。當留意神的智慧和良善：（一）他使仇敵的計謀被迷惑，叫迦南的諸王——他們彼此相距不遠，本可一開始就全體聯合起來——並未一開始就結盟對抗以色列，而是分為南方和北方的聯合，因而較不可畏。（二）他以先破壞較小的力量，來預備他的百姓面對更大的力量。他們先是與五個王交戰，如今又與更多的王交戰。神照我們的力量量給我們試驗，也照試驗量給我們力量。
三、約書亞進軍對抗這些聯軍（Jos 11:7）。他猛然來到，在他們的營地中突襲他們。他如此急行軍：1. 為要使他們更加混亂，在他們萬萬想不到他臨近之時給他們一個警報。2. 為要確保不會錯過神所定的尊榮——要在明日這時候於仇敵營中與他們相會。我們當與神同步。
四、他的成功（Jos 11:8）。他得了完全勝利的尊榮和好處；他擊殺他們，又在他們逃跑的各條路上追趕他們；有的往西北的西頓逃，有的往東邊的米斯巴逃，但約書亞所派的人各路追趕。這樣，耶和華將他們交在以色列人手裡；他們不肯把自己交在以色列人手中作歸信者和進貢者、如此獻給神的恩典（羅15:16），所以神把他們交在他們手中作他公義的祭物；因為神若不在我們身上得榮耀，便要在我們身上得榮耀。
五、他遵命毀壞馬匹車輛（Jos 11:9），這表明：1. 他順服神的旨意，如同在權柄之下的人，當照所吩咐的去行。2. 他克己，為順服神的命令而違背自己的性情和愛好。3. 他信靠為以色列效力的神的大能，這使他們能藐視別人所倚靠的戰車馬匹（詩20:7,33:17）。4. 他謹慎地在百姓心中維持同樣的信靠，把那會引誘他們過度倚靠的東西從他們中間拿走。這是砍掉右手。
英文原文
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)
約書亞的勝利（主前1450年）
¹⁰ 約書亞這時回兵奪了夏瑣，用刀擊殺夏瑣王。（素來夏瑣在這諸國中是為首的。） ¹¹ 以色列人用刀擊殺城中所有的人口，將他們盡行殺滅；凡有氣息的沒有留下一個。約書亞又用火焚燒夏瑣。 ¹² 約書亞奪了這些王的一切城邑，擒獲這些王，用刀擊殺他們，將他們盡行殺滅，正如耶和華的僕人摩西所吩咐的。 ¹³ 至於造在山岡上的城，除了夏瑣之外，以色列人都沒有焚燒。約書亞只將夏瑣焚燒了。 ¹⁴ 這些城的各樣財物和牲畜，以色列人都取為自己的掠物；惟有一切人口都用刀擊殺，直到殺盡；凡有氣息的沒有留下一個。
本章所記載的這場勝利，與上一章的勝利有同樣的運用。1. 夏瑣的毀滅被特別記錄，因為對以色列人的那個膽大妄為的計謀，就是在夏瑣、並藉著夏瑣王發起的（Jos 11:10-11）。看來夏瑣王在戰場上保住了性命，以為回到自己的城中、而約書亞又往別處追擊散兵時，他就安全了。但結果那他以為會使他平安的，反成了他的陷阱；他「在其中被網羅纏住」；在那裏他被殺，他的城也因他的緣故被焚燒。然而我們看見，因以色列人沒有好好善後，迦南人又重建了那城，在同一個名字之下另立一王，定居在那裏（Jdg 4:2）。2. 那一帶的其餘城邑只是籠統地提及——約書亞把它們都收入手中，卻沒有像夏瑣一樣焚燒它們，因為以色列人要住在「又大又美的城邑，不是你蓋造的」（De 6:10），這些城也包括在內。在這裏我們看見以色列人沉浸在血與財寶之中。（1）沉浸在仇敵的血中；他們「擊殺了凡有血氣的」（Jos 11:1），「凡有氣息的沒有留下一個」（Jos 11:14），免得有人將迦南的可憎之物傳染給他們，也免得有人在他們得地的佔有上擾亂他們。連孩童也被剪除，免得他們日後憑著父母的名義，對這地的任何部分提出主張。（2）沉浸在仇敵的財富中。掠物和牲畜，他們「取為自己的掠物」（Jos 11:14）。正如他們出埃及時因掠奪壓迫他們的人而致富，以支付他們在曠野學徒生涯的開支；如今他們也因掠奪仇敵而致富，作為在迦南地安身立命的本錢。如此，「罪人為義人積存資財」。
¹⁵ 耶和華怎樣吩咐他僕人摩西，摩西就照樣吩咐約書亞，約書亞也照樣行。凡耶和華所吩咐摩西的，約書亞沒有一件偏廢不行的。 ¹⁶ 約書亞奪了那全地，就是山區、整個尼革夫、歌珊全地、低原、亞拉巴、以色列的山區，和山下的平原。 ¹⁷ 從上西珥的哈拉山，直到黑門山腳黎巴嫩平原的巴力‧迦得，眾王都被擒獲，被約書亞擊殺。 ¹⁸ 約書亞和這些王作戰了許多年。 ¹⁹ 除了基遍的希未人之外，沒有一座城與以色列人講和的；都是以色列人爭戰奪來的。 ²⁰ 因為耶和華的意思是要使他們心裏剛硬，來與以色列人作戰，好使他們被盡行殺滅，不蒙憐憫，正如耶和華所吩咐摩西的。 ²¹ 那時約書亞來到，將山區、希伯崙、底璧、亞拿伯、猶大山區、以色列山區所有的亞衲族人剪除了。約書亞將他們和他們的城邑盡都毀滅。 ²² 在以色列人的地沒有一個亞衲族人留下，只在迦薩、迦特和亞實突有留下的。 ²³ 這樣，約書亞照著耶和華對摩西所說的一切話，奪了那全地，就按著以色列支派的宗族將地分給他們為業。於是國中太平，沒有爭戰了。
我們在此有了這整件事的總結。
I. 這裏簡述了所成就的事，分四方面：1. 迦南人對以色列人的頑強抵抗。令人奇怪的是，儘管神為以色列爭戰這事如此明顯，而且每一次交戰迦南人都慘敗，他們卻堅持到最後；沒有一座城與以色列講和，除了基遍人——他們比鄰舍更明白關乎自己平安的事（Jos 11:19）。這暗示其他城本可以為自己爭取同樣好的條件，不必穿破衣、爛鞋，只要他們肯謙卑自己，但他們卻從未「求和睦的條款」。我們在此被告知，這種不可理喻的迷惑從何而來：「是耶和華使他們心裏剛硬」（Jos 11:20）。正如法老的心先是因自己的驕傲和頑梗而剛硬，後來又因神公義的審判而剛硬，以致滅亡；這些迦南人的心也是如此。為懲罰他們所有其他的愚妄，神任憑他們落到這地步——將那些本可成為朋友的人變成仇敵。這正是他們滅亡的原因：他們「來與以色列作戰」，先動手，因此「不蒙憐憫」。那些挑釁神的公義、或神的公義之授權執行者的人，不知道自己所作的是甚麼。「我們比神更強嗎？」當注意：心裏剛硬就是罪人滅亡的原因。那些麻木不仁、對神的警告漫不經心的人，已被標記為滅亡。對那些神已說了「你去使他們的心蒙脂油」的人，還有甚麼指望呢？2. 以色列人堅持進行這場戰爭的堅忍（Jos 11:18）：「約書亞和他們作戰了許多年」；有人估計花了五年，有人說七年，才征服這地：神要用這麼長的時間訓練以色列人作戰，並在每一次新的勝利中讓他們重複經歷他的大能和恩慈。3. 亞衲族人最終被征服（Jos 11:21-22）。這或者是當他們散佈各處時就地對付，如有些人所想；或者更可能的是，亞衲族人退守到他們的據點，因此在其他所有以色列的仇敵之後，最後才被搜出剪除。猶大和以色列的山區是那些「巨人山」的居所；但他們的高大、洞穴的堅固、通往他們險隘的艱難，都不能保護這些勇士免受約書亞的刀劍。剪除亞衲子孫的事被特別提及，因為這些人四十年前曾是探子們的恐怖，他們的身量和力量曾被認為是征服迦南道路上不可逾越的障礙（Nu 13:28,33）。連那看似無敵的抵抗也被克服了。不要讓亞衲的子孫成為以色列的神的百姓的恐怖，因為他們傾覆的日子也必來到。巨人在全能者面前不過是侏儒；然而與亞衲族人的這場爭戰被保留到戰爭的後期，那時以色列人對作戰的技藝更為熟練，對神的大能和恩慈也更有經歷。當注意：神有時為他的百姓保留了最嚴峻的試煉——無論是患難還是試探——直到他們年日的末了。因此「自己以為站得穩的，須要謹慎，免得跌倒。」死亡——那可怕的亞衲之子——是最後要面對的仇敵；但它是「要被毀滅的」（1Co 15:26）。感謝神，他必賜我們得勝。4. 這場漫長戰爭的結局。迦南人被連根拔起，不是完全的（正如我們後來在士師記中所見），但大體上如此；他們不能有任何作為：（1）不能阻止以色列人得地的佔有：「約書亞奪了那全地」（Jos 11:16-17）。我們可以設想，百姓將自己和家人分散到他們所征服的地區，至少是那些離吉甲大本營最近的地區，直到按鬮有秩序地分配，使每個人都知道自己的地業。或者（2）不能使他們忙於應付，或對他們有任何騷擾（Jos 11:23）：「地就太平了，沒有爭戰了。」這不是與迦南人講和的結束（那是被禁止的），而是脫離迦南人擾害的太平。還有一個安息——就是脫離爭戰的安息——為神的百姓存留，當他們的爭戰結束時，他們必進入其中。
II. 如今所成就的事在此與從前對摩西所說的相比較。神的話語和他的作為，若一併觀看和思想，必互相闡明。在結尾處我們注意到：1. 神賜給摩西關於征服迦南的一切命令，在百姓這方面都得到了遵行——至少在約書亞活著的時候。看這事被多麼鄭重地提到（Jos 11:15）：「耶和華怎樣吩咐他僕人摩西」——藉著他的手頒佈律法——「摩西就照樣吩咐約書亞」，因為摩西作為立法者，對設立他的主忠心；他盡了自己的本分，然後就死了：但摩西的命令在他進了墳墓之後仍被遵守嗎？是的：「約書亞也照樣行」——他在自己的位分上，與摩西在他的位分上同樣忠心。「凡耶和華所吩咐摩西的」，他「沒有一件偏廢不行的」（原文作「沒有移去一件」）。那些不盡自己本分的人，盡力要移去或廢棄那約束他們去行的神的命令；但約書亞因遵行誡命，反倒「堅定」了它，如 De 27:26 所說。約書亞自己是一位大元帥，然而沒有甚麼比他的順服更得稱讚。那些隨己意統治別人的人，自己必須受神的旨意管轄；那時他們的權柄才是他們真正的尊榮，否則就不是。約書亞在此受稱讚的敬虔順服，特別關乎毀滅迦南人、「拆毀他們的祭壇、焚燒他們的偶像」的命令（De 7:2-5; Ex 23:24; 34:13）。約書亞在為萬軍之耶和華的熱心中，既不顧惜偶像，也不顧惜拜偶像的人。掃羅在盡行毀滅亞瑪力人的命令上不順從——或者更確切地說是部分順從——使他失去了國位。看來約書亞自己對他在執行使命時如何謹慎而忠實地遵守命令作了這樣的陳述：他在各方面都照摩西所吩咐他的行了；這也暗示，他回顧自己在這一切戰爭中對神命令的順服，比回顧因此所得的一切利益和勝利，更有喜樂和滿足，也以此為更大的價值。2. 神賜給摩西關於這次征服的一切應許，在他這方面都已成就（Jos 11:23）。約書亞「奪了全地」，征服了它，並取得了它的佔有權，「照著耶和華對摩西所說的一切」。神曾應許將列國從他們面前趕出（Ex 33:2; 34:11），並將他們「消滅」（De 9:3）。如今這事成就了。應許沒有一句落空。我們的成功和享受，當我們看見它們是從應許流溢而來時（這就是「照著耶和華所說的」），對我們就加倍甘甜和舒適；我們的順服也當注目於誡命時，才蒙神悅納。我們若盡自己的本分，就不必懷疑應許的成就。
英文原文
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.
本章繼續並結束征服迦南的記述。前一章已記載南方的平定，此後我們可以設想約書亞讓軍隊稍作喘息；如今本章記述北方的戰事及其美滿的勝利。一、北方諸王結盟對抗以色列（Jos 11:1-5）。二、神賜給約書亞勉勵，使他迎戰他們（Jos 11:6）。三、他勝了他們（Jos 11:7-9）。四、攻取他們的城邑（Jos 11:10-15）。五、殲滅亞衲族人（Jos 11:21,22）。六、這場戰事的總結（Jos 11:16-20,23）。