Joshua 11:11

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they smote {H5221} all the souls {H5315} that were therein with the edge {H6310} of the sword {H2719}, utterly destroying {H2763} them: there was not any left {H3498} to breathe {H5397}: and he burnt {H8313} Hazor {H2674} with fire {H784}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself.

American Standard Version

And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left that breathed: and he burnt Hazor with fire.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 11:11 vividly recounts the climactic and decisive destruction of Hazor, the preeminent city of the northern Canaanite coalition, and its inhabitants by the Israelite forces. This verse underscores the meticulous fulfillment of God's command for "utter destruction" (Hebrew: *cherem*), leaving no survivors and culminating in the city's complete incineration. It marks the successful conclusion of the northern campaign, signifying God's unwavering faithfulness in delivering the promised land into Israel's hands and executing His righteous judgment against the deeply entrenched wickedness of the Canaanite nations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 11 serves as the narrative apex of Israel's conquest of Canaan, specifically detailing the northern campaign. Preceding this chapter, Israel had achieved significant victories in the southern and central regions. Here, the focus shifts to a formidable coalition of northern kings, led by Jabin, king of Hazor, who assembled at the Waters of Merom to confront Israel. [Joshua 11:10](/joshua/11-10 "Joshua 11:10 - Hazor as the Head of Kingdoms") explicitly identifies Hazor as "the head of all those kingdoms," highlighting its unparalleled power, strategic importance, and leadership role in the resistance. God had previously assured Joshua of victory, promising to deliver these enemies into his hands and providing specific instructions on how to neutralize their military advantage by disabling their chariots and horses ([Joshua 11:6](/joshua/11-6 "Joshua 11:6 - God's Assurance of Victory Over Northern Kings")). Verse 11, therefore, meticulously describes the precise and devastating fulfillment of this divine promise and command against the most significant northern stronghold, paralleling the complete destruction witnessed in earlier campaigns against cities like Jericho and Ai. The subsequent verses ([Joshua 11:12-15](/joshua/11-12-15 "Joshua 11:12-15 - Comprehensive Nature of the Northern Conquest")) further emphasize the comprehensive nature of the conquest, noting that only Hazor was burned among the captured cities, underscoring its unique status and the severity of its judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Hazor was an exceptionally large and strategically vital city in the Late Bronze Age, controlling major trade routes and boasting impressive fortifications. Archaeological excavations at Tel Hazor confirm its immense prominence and its eventual destruction around the time of the Israelite conquest, aligning with the biblical account. The actions described in [Joshua 11:11](/joshua/11-11 "Joshua 11:11 - Destruction of Hazor") are situated within the unique framework of "holy war," often referred to by the Hebrew term *herem*. This was not arbitrary violence but a specific, divinely mandated judicial act against the Canaanite inhabitants, whose cultures were steeped in extreme wickedness. This included widespread idolatry, child sacrifice (e.g., to Molech), temple prostitution, and other abhorrent practices explicitly condemned in Mosaic Law (cf. [Leviticus 18](/leviticus/18 "Leviticus 18 - Prohibited Sexual Relations and Abominations") and [Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - Abominable Practices of the Nations")). God had patiently delayed this judgment for centuries, allowing the "iniquity of the Amorites" to reach its full measure ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites")). The destruction of Hazor and its people was thus a divinely ordained act of judgment, intended to cleanse the land and prevent the spiritual and moral corruption of Israel by these pervasive pagan influences.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes present in the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it exemplifies **Divine Judgment and Holy War**, showcasing God's absolute sovereignty and His righteous wrath against profound human wickedness. The *herem* command underscores that God is not indifferent to sin but actively intervenes to purge evil from His chosen land. Secondly, it highlights **Israel's Obedience**, demonstrating their faithful and meticulous execution of God's specific and demanding instructions. This obedience was crucial for Israel to maintain its distinct identity as God's covenant people and avoid succumbing to the spiritual contamination of the Canaanite cultures. The thoroughness described—"not any left to breathe"—emphasizes Israel's adherence to the totality of the command. Thirdly, the verse reinforces the **Totality of Conquest and Fulfillment of God's Promise**. The destruction of Hazor, the "head" of the northern kingdoms, signifies the comprehensive nature of Israel's victory and the dismantling of the strongest opposition. It serves as a tangible demonstration that God was indeed fighting for Israel and fulfilling His ancient promise to give them the land of Canaan ([Joshua 21:43-45](/joshua/21-43-45 "Joshua 21:43-45 - God Gives Israel Rest and Land")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Souls (Hebrew, נֶפֶשׁ, _nephesh_):** This term, derived from the root meaning "to breathe," broadly refers to a living being, a person, or life itself. In this context, "all the souls that were therein" emphasizes the comprehensive destruction of every living individual within Hazor, highlighting the totality of the judgment. It underscores that the command extended to all inhabitants, not merely the military combatants.
* **Utterly destroying (Hebrew, חָרָם, _châram_):** This is a crucial theological term (*herem*) in the conquest narratives. *Châram* signifies something "devoted" or "set apart" to God, often in the context of complete destruction. When applied to cities and their inhabitants during the Canaanite conquest, it meant that they were to be dedicated to God by being completely destroyed, with no spoils taken by the Israelites (except in specific, divinely authorized cases). This was a unique divine command for the Canaanite conquest, intended to eliminate the pervasive evil and pagan influences that God deemed a severe threat to Israel's spiritual and moral integrity. It underscores the severity of God's judgment against profound wickedness and the necessity of radical separation from evil.
* **Not any left to breathe (Hebrew, נְשָׁמָה, _nᵉshâmâh_):** This phrase, literally "no breath remaining," powerfully emphasizes the absolute and complete eradication of life. It is an idiom for total annihilation, leaving no survivors. This expression, common in ancient Near Eastern conquest accounts, stresses the decisive nature of the victory and the thorough fulfillment of the *cherem* command, ensuring that the pagan influence would be completely removed from the land.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they smote all the souls that [were] therein with the edge of the sword":** This clause describes the direct, physical action taken by the Israelite army. "Smote" (נָכָה, *nakah*) indicates a decisive blow, and "edge of the sword" specifies the primary instrument of their military action. "All the souls" reiterates the comprehensive nature of the command, extending the judgment to every living inhabitant of Hazor, encompassing men, women, and children, in accordance with the *cherem* mandate.
* **"utterly destroying [them]: there was not any left to breathe":** This segment clarifies the divine purpose and absolute extent of the smiting. "Utterly destroying" translates the concept of *cherem*, emphasizing that the inhabitants were dedicated to God for complete annihilation. The follow-up phrase, "there was not any left to breathe," serves as a powerful hyperbole to underscore the absolute totality of this destruction, leaving no survivors to perpetuate the Canaanite wickedness or idolatry, thereby preventing the spiritual contamination of Israel.
* **"and he burnt Hazor with fire":** This final clause describes the specific fate of the city itself. While other conquered cities in the northern campaign were captured but not burned ([Joshua 11:13](/joshua/11-13 "Joshua 11:13 - Cities Not Burned")), Hazor, as the "head of all those kingdoms," received a unique and more severe judgment. Burning with fire was a potent symbol of complete desolation and divine judgment, ensuring that the city's power and influence were utterly neutralized and that it could not be re-established as a center of paganism. This act served as a visible testament to God's wrath and Israel's decisive victory.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey the intensity and totality of the conquest. **Hyperbole** is notably evident in the phrase "not any left to breathe," a common ancient Near Eastern literary convention used to emphasize the thoroughness and decisiveness of a military victory, rather than necessarily a literal, biological impossibility of any single individual escaping. This exaggerative language underscores the *intent* and *impact* of the *cherem* command. **Repetition** of the concept of totality—"all the souls," "utterly destroying," "not any left to breathe"—reinforces the comprehensive nature of the judgment and Israel's unwavering obedience. Furthermore, the act of burning Hazor with fire functions as powerful **Symbolism**. Fire in biblical narratives often symbolizes divine judgment, purification, and complete destruction. In this context, it signifies the absolute and irreversible end of Hazor's pagan influence and power, serving as a stark visual representation of God's wrath against profound wickedness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 11:11 stands as a stark testament to God's absolute holiness and His unwavering opposition to sin and evil. The command for *cherem* was a unique, divinely ordained act of judgment against cultures whose wickedness had reached its full measure, threatening to corrupt God's chosen people and the very land He had promised them. This account reveals a God who is not merely transcendent but also immanently involved in human history, executing justice and cleansing the earth of profound moral corruption. It underscores the seriousness of sin in God's eyes and the necessity of radical separation from anything that defiles or leads away from Him. While the specific commands of *cherem* were unique to Israel's historical conquest and are not directly applicable to believers today, the underlying theological principle of God's righteous judgment and the call to holiness remains eternally relevant.

* [Deuteronomy 7:2](/deuteronomy/7-2 "Deuteronomy 7:2 - Command to Utterly Destroy the Nations")
* [Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16-18 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - Law of Holy War for Inhabited Cities")
* [Joshua 6:21](/joshua/6-21 "Joshua 6:21 - Destruction of Jericho")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific commands of *cherem* in [Joshua 11:11](/joshua/11-11 "Joshua 11:11 - Destruction of Hazor") are rooted in a unique historical and theological context and are not a model for contemporary warfare or evangelism, this verse offers profound spiritual lessons for the believer. It serves as a powerful reminder of the absolute holiness of God and His uncompromising opposition to sin and evil. Just as Israel was commanded to utterly destroy the pagan influences in the land to preserve their spiritual purity, believers are called to engage in a spiritual "holy war" against the sin within themselves and the corrupting influences of the world. This means a radical commitment to "put to death" sinful desires and practices ([Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Put to Death Earthly Members")) and to separate ourselves from anything that defiles our relationship with God. The totality of Hazor's destruction should impress upon us the seriousness with which God views unrighteousness and the certainty of His ultimate judgment against all evil, where no unrighteousness will be left to breathe in His new creation. It calls us to examine our own lives: are there areas where we are allowing "Canaanite" influences—idolatry, immorality, ungodliness—to linger, rather than utterly destroying them in obedience to Christ?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the totality of Hazor's destruction inform our understanding of God's holiness and His opposition to sin?**
* **While *cherem* is not a command for us today, what spiritual "idols" or "corrupting influences" in our lives are we called to "utterly destroy" in obedience to God?**
* **In what ways does this account remind us of the seriousness of God's judgment and the ultimate triumph of His righteousness?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command such extreme violence, including the killing of women and children, in the conquest of Canaan?**

Answer: The command for *cherem* (utter destruction) in the Canaanite conquest, as seen in [Joshua 11:11](/joshua/11-11 "Joshua 11:11 - Destruction of Hazor"), is one of the most challenging aspects of the Old Testament. It is crucial to understand this within its unique theological and historical context. This was not a general command for all warfare but a specific, limited judicial act of God against particular nations. The Canaanites were steeped in profound wickedness, including widespread idolatry, child sacrifice, and extreme sexual immorality ([Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24-28 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Defilement of the Land")). God had delayed judgment for centuries, allowing their "iniquity" to reach its full measure ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites")). The command to utterly destroy was a divine judgment, a form of capital punishment on a national scale, intended to cleanse the land and prevent the spiritual corruption of Israel, who were to be a holy nation set apart for God. It was a surgical act to remove a cancerous evil that threatened the very lineage through which the Messiah would come. From a biblical perspective, God, as the giver of life, also has the right to take life and execute justice. This was a unique, unrepeatable event in salvation history, not a blueprint for human behavior or warfare today.

**Is the concept of *cherem* applicable to Christians today?**

Answer: No, the physical command of *cherem* to utterly destroy cities and their inhabitants is not applicable to Christians today. It was a unique, specific command given to ancient Israel for a particular historical purpose: the conquest of Canaan and the establishment of a holy land. The New Testament transforms the concept of "holy war" from a physical conquest to a spiritual one. Believers are called to engage in spiritual warfare against sin, the flesh, and demonic forces ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Spiritual Warfare")). The "utter destruction" for Christians involves putting to death the deeds of the flesh ([Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Put to Death Earthly Members")), separating from the world's corrupting influences ([2 Corinthians 6:17](/2_corinthians/6-17 "2 Corinthians 6:17 - Come Out From Among Them")), and dedicating our lives wholly to God. Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual ([2 Corinthians 10:4](/2_corinthians/10-4 "2 Corinthians 10:4 - Spiritual Weapons")), and our mission is to make disciples, not to physically conquer.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The total destruction of Hazor and its inhabitants, leaving "not any left to breathe," serves as a powerful Old Testament shadow pointing to the ultimate and decisive victory of Jesus Christ. Just as Joshua led Israel to conquer the physical enemies of God's people and cleanse the promised land of wickedness, Jesus, the greater Joshua, came to wage a spiritual holy war against the true enemies of humanity: sin, death, and the devil. His victory was not achieved through the edge of a sword but through His sacrificial death on the cross, where He disarmed the powers and authorities ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Powers and Authorities")). The "utter destruction" of evil that began in Canaan finds its perfect fulfillment in Christ's triumph over all unrighteousness. He is the one who "takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and through His resurrection, He ensures that death has no more dominion ([Romans 6:9](/romans/6-9 "Romans 6:9 - Death No Longer Has Dominion Over Christ")). Ultimately, Joshua's burning of Hazor foreshadows the final, complete judgment that Christ will execute at His return, when all evil will be utterly destroyed, and "nothing unclean will ever enter" the new heavens and new earth ([Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - No Unclean Thing Enters New Jerusalem")). In Christ, we find the definitive end to the reign of sin and the establishment of a perfectly holy kingdom where only righteousness can breathe.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 10:40

So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.

Deuteronomy 20:16

But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: