Joshua 11:11

Context

Joshua 11 marks a pivotal moment in the conquest of Canaan, detailing the northern campaign where Israel faced a formidable coalition of kings led by Jabin, king of Hazor. Hazor was the most powerful city in the region, described in Joshua 11:10 as "the head of all those kingdoms." God had assured Joshua of victory, promising to deliver these enemies into his hands (see Joshua 11:6). This verse specifically describes the thorough and complete destruction of Hazor and its inhabitants, fulfilling God's direct command for the eradication of the corrupt Canaanite presence in the land.

Key Themes

• Divine Judgment and Holy War: The actions described here are not arbitrary violence but the execution of God's righteous judgment against the deeply entrenched wickedness of the Canaanite nations, which included idolatry, child sacrifice, and gross immorality. This was part of a unique "holy war" commanded by God to prepare the land for His chosen people and prevent moral corruption.
• Israel's Obedience: The verse highlights Israel's strict adherence to God's command regarding the "utter destruction" of certain cities. This obedience was crucial for Israel to maintain its spiritual purity and avoid succumbing to the pagan practices of the surrounding cultures.
• Totality of Conquest: The phrase "not any left to breathe" emphasizes the complete and decisive nature of Israel's victory over Hazor, signifying the fulfillment of God's promise to deliver the land into their possession and the dismantling of the strongest opposition in the north.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "utterly destroying them" translates the Hebrew term cherem (חֵרֶם). This powerful word signifies something "devoted" or "set apart" to God, often in the context of complete destruction. In the conquest narratives, *cherem* meant that the city and its inhabitants were to be dedicated to God by being completely destroyed, with no spoils taken by the Israelites. This was a unique divine command for the Canaanite conquest, intended to eliminate the pervasive evil and pagan influences that God deemed a threat to Israel's spiritual integrity. It underscores the severity of God's judgment against profound wickedness.

Related Scriptures

• The divine command for the "utter destruction" of the Canaanites is explicitly given in the Law, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:2 and Deuteronomy 20:16-18.
• A similar application of the cherem principle was seen in the conquest of Jericho, as detailed in Joshua 6:21.
• The complete destruction of Hazor stands in contrast to the later failures of Israel to fully drive out the Canaanites, which led to significant spiritual compromise, as recounted in Judges 1:27-36.

Practical Application

While the specific commands of *cherem* were unique to Israel's historical conquest and are not directly applicable to believers today, this verse offers profound spiritual lessons. It reminds us of the absolute holiness of God and His unwavering opposition to sin and evil. For the believer, it underscores the importance of a radical break from sin and its corrupting influences. Just as Israel was commanded to utterly destroy the paganism in the land, we are called to "put to death" sinful desires and practices in our lives, dedicating ourselves wholly to God. It also points to the ultimate certainty of God's final judgment against all evil, where no unrighteousness will be left to breathe in His new creation (see Revelation 21:8).