TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
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.
Berean Standard Bible
As the LORD had commanded His servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. That is what Joshua did, leaving nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.
American Standard Version
As Jehovah commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua: and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that Jehovah commanded Moses.
World English Bible Messianic
As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua. Joshua did so. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.
Geneva Bible (1599)
As the Lord had commanded Moses his seruant, so did Moses commande Ioshua, and so did Ioshua: he left nothing vndone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.
Young's Literal Translation
As Jehovah commanded Moses His servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so hath Joshua done; he hath not turned aside a thing of all that Jehovah commanded Moses.
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In the KJVVerse 6,123 of 31,102
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Commentary on Joshua 11 verses 15–23
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 Baalgad 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, Jos 11:22. 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, Num 13:28, Num 13:33. 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, Co1 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, Jos 11:17. 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, Deu 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, Deu 7:2-5; Exo 23:24; Exo 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 (Exo 33:2; Exo 34:11), and to bring them down, Deu 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.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 15–23. Public domain.
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Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 15.4
The verse says, “Just as Moses, the servant of the Lord, ordered him.” Here, the word of the law itself is called Moses, the servant of the Lord, just as it says in the Gospel, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them listen to them.” Therefore, the law commanded us to destroy all of sin’s kings, who incite us to sin. “Jesus [Joshua] accomplished this, and he did not transgress anything from all that Moses established for him.” Indeed, according to the first stage of explanation, we said that whatever the law of God—which here is called Moses—ordered, Jesus fulfills in us and is himself the one who destroys vices in us and overthrows the most vile kingdoms of sin. Nevertheless, it can also be said about our Lord and Savior himself, that everything Moses commanded in the law, Jesus accomplished, and he did not transgress anything, since the apostle indeed says, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his own Son, made from a woman, made under the law.” If, therefore, he was made under the law, since he was under the law, everything that the law commanded, he fulfilled, so that he might redeem us from the curse of the law. He also says concerning himself, “I came not to abolish but to fulfill the law.”
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Joshua 11:15 serves as a pivotal summary statement, marking the culmination of the initial phase of Israel's conquest of Canaan and profoundly affirming Joshua's unwavering obedience and faithfulness. The verse meticulously outlines the divine chain of command, from the LORD to Moses, then from Moses to Joshua, and finally to Joshua's precise and comprehensive execution. It powerfully asserts that the success of the military campaigns and the dispossession of the Canaanite inhabitants was a direct consequence of absolute adherence to God's explicit instructions, leaving no command unfulfilled.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs Repetition and Chiasm to underscore its central message. The repetition of the verb "commanded" (צָוָה, tsâvâh) three times ("the LORD commanded... Moses command... the LORD commanded") creates a rhythmic emphasis on the divine origin and the unbroken chain of authority and obedience. This repetition reinforces the idea that the entire conquest was not a human initiative but a divinely orchestrated mission. Furthermore, the verse exhibits a subtle Chiasm (ABBA structure): A (LORD commanded Moses), B (Moses commanded Joshua), B' (Joshua did), A' (LORD commanded Moses). This chiastic structure highlights Joshua's obedience as the central, pivotal act, framed by the consistent divine command. The verse also functions as a powerful Summary Statement and Affirmation, providing a theological conclusion to the preceding conquest narratives by attributing their success directly to perfect obedience to God's will.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 11:15 is a profound theological statement on the nature of divine authority and human responsibility. It teaches that God's commands are not optional suggestions but binding decrees, and that true success, particularly in the divine economy, is predicated upon absolute and unreserved obedience. This verse establishes a pattern of faithful leadership, where leaders are not to innovate or deviate from God's revealed will but to faithfully transmit and execute it. It underscores the reliability of God's word and His faithfulness to His covenant promises, demonstrating that when His people obey, He fulfills His word. The meticulousness of Joshua's obedience serves as a powerful model, illustrating that God desires not just partial compliance but a thorough and complete devotion to His every instruction, recognizing that even seemingly minor details of God's will are significant in His grand design.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 11:15 provides a timeless blueprint for spiritual effectiveness and faithful living. It challenges believers to consider the source of their authority and the standard of their obedience. Just as Joshua's success in conquering the land was directly tied to his unwavering adherence to God's commands, our spiritual victories and flourishing in life are intrinsically linked to our obedience to God's revealed Word. This verse calls us to move beyond superficial or selective obedience, urging us to embrace a "left nothing undone" approach to our faith. It reminds us that God's commands are for our good and that His purposes will be accomplished when we align our lives with His will. This principle applies to every sphere of life: from personal discipleship and ethical conduct to vocational callings and community engagement. Our diligence, integrity, and thoroughness in obeying God's Word, no matter how challenging, are foundational to experiencing His blessings and participating in His redemptive work in the world.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "he left nothing undone" truly imply about Joshua's leadership?
Answer: The phrase "he left nothing undone" (לֹא הֵסִיר דָּבָר, lo hesir davar) is a powerful affirmation of Joshua's meticulous and comprehensive obedience. It implies that Joshua did not merely fulfill the major, obvious commands, but he was faithful in every detail, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. This speaks volumes about his integrity, his reverence for God's word, and his commitment to the divine mission. It means he didn't pick and choose which commands to obey, nor did he neglect any instruction. His leadership was characterized by a thoroughness that ensured the full execution of God's will, setting an example for all who would lead God's people. This level of obedience is precisely what God himself commanded Joshua at the outset of his leadership, promising success if he would meditate on and obey all of God's law (e.g., Joshua 1:7).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 11:15, while celebrating the obedience of an Old Testament leader, ultimately points forward to the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. Joshua, whose name is the Hebrew equivalent of "Jesus," serves as a type of the true and greater Joshua. While Joshua perfectly executed the commands given to him, his obedience was still that of a fallen man, limited in scope to the conquest of a physical land. Jesus, however, is the Son who perfectly fulfilled every command of the Father, not just in military conquest but in every aspect of His life, ministry, and sacrificial death. He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (e.g., Matthew 5:17). His food was to do the will of Him who sent Him and to finish His work (e.g., John 4:34). Unlike Joshua, who led Israel into an earthly rest, Jesus, through His perfect obedience, leads His people into an eternal, spiritual rest (e.g., Hebrews 4:8-10). He is the ultimate obedient Servant, whose "leaving nothing undone" in fulfilling the Father's will—even to the point of death on a cross (e.g., Philippians 2:8)—secured salvation and eternal life for all who believe.