TRV
Translation
King James Version
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;
Complete Jewish Bible
So Y'hoshua captured all that land, the hills, the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the Sh'felah, the 'Aravah and the Isra'el hills and Sh'felah,
Berean Standard Bible
So Joshua took this entire region: the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah, and the mountains of Israel and their foothills,
American Standard Version
So Joshua took all that land, the hill-country, and all the South, and all the land of Goshen, and the lowland, and the Arabah, and the hill-country of Israel, and the lowland of the same;
World English Bible Messianic
So Joshua captured all that land, the hill country, all the South, all the land of Goshen, the lowland, the Arabah, the hill country of Israel, and the lowland of the same;
Geneva Bible (1599)
So Ioshua tooke all this land of the mountaines, and all the South, and all the lande of Goshen, and the lowe countrey, and the plaine, and the mountaine of Israel, and the lowe countrey of the same,
Young's Literal Translation
And Joshua taketh all this land: the hill-country, and all the south, and all the land of Goshen, and the low country, and the plain, even the hill-country of Israel and its low lands,
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In the KJVVerse 6,124 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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Augustine of HippoAD 430
QUESTIONS ON JOSHUA 17
It is asked how this can be true, since the Hebrews were not altogether able to capture all the cities of those seven nations either in the times after the judges or in the times of the kings. But one must understand it to mean that Joshua never approached any city with hostile intent that he did not capture. Or it may mean that no city remained uncaptured except for those which were in the regions mentioned above. For those regions were enumerated in which there were cities concerning which the conclusion was made: “and he captured all of them in war.”
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 11:16 serves as a pivotal summary statement within the Book of Joshua, encapsulating the extensive and decisive success of the Israelite conquest of Canaan under Joshua's divinely empowered leadership. Following detailed accounts of specific military campaigns in both the southern and northern regions, this verse provides a sweeping geographical overview of the vast territory that had been brought under Israelite control, signifying the substantial fulfillment of God's ancient covenant promises regarding the land. It underscores the thoroughness of the conquest, setting the stage for the subsequent division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Joshua 11:16 employs several literary devices to convey its message of comprehensive conquest. The most prominent is Merism, where contrasting or complementary parts are listed to represent a totality. By listing "the hills," "the south country," "the land of Goshen," "the valley," "the plain," and "the mountain of Israel," the text uses diverse geographical features to signify that the entirety of the land, from its highest points to its lowest, from north to south, was taken. This creates a powerful sense of completeness and thoroughness. Repetition is also evident, particularly with the word "all" ("all that land," "all the south country," "all the land of Goshen") and the pairing of "valley" with "mountain," which reinforces the idea of comprehensive dominion. Finally, the verse functions as a powerful Summary Statement, providing a concise and definitive overview of the military phase of the conquest, effectively closing one major narrative section and preparing the reader for the next.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 11:16 stands as a powerful testament to the unwavering faithfulness of God in fulfilling His ancient promises. For centuries, the descendants of Abraham had awaited the inheritance of the land promised to their patriarch, as recorded in Genesis 12:7 and reaffirmed in Genesis 15:18-21. This verse declares that, through Joshua's obedient leadership, God had indeed delivered on His word, establishing Israel as a nation in their own sovereign territory. It highlights the divine initiative behind the conquest, emphasizing that Israel's success was not merely a result of military prowess but a miraculous act of God's power and commitment to His covenant. The comprehensive nature of the conquest, encompassing diverse geographical regions, underscores the magnitude of God's provision and the thoroughness of His work in dispossessing the nations, as commanded in Deuteronomy 7:1-2. This fulfillment culminates in the declaration of Joshua 21:43-45, affirming that "not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass."
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 11:16 offers profound lessons for believers today, primarily centered on the faithfulness of God and the importance of obedience. Just as God meticulously fulfilled His ancient promises to Israel concerning the physical land, we can trust in His unchanging character and His unwavering commitment to His promises in our lives. This verse reminds us that God is a promise-keeping God, and His word is utterly reliable. Furthermore, Joshua's success was directly tied to his diligent obedience to God's commands. Similarly, our spiritual progress, our ability to "take possession" of the spiritual blessings and callings God has for us, is often contingent upon our willingness to listen to and obey His Word. While we do not inherit a physical land, believers have a rich spiritual inheritance in Christ—salvation, peace, purpose, and eternal life. This verse encourages us to actively appropriate these spiritual realities, living out our faith boldly and confidently in the knowledge that God has already secured our victory in Christ.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the detailed geographical list in Joshua 11:16?
Answer: The detailed geographical list ("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") is highly significant. It serves as a literary device (merism) to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the conquest. By naming diverse topographical regions, from rugged mountains to fertile valleys and arid plains, the text conveys that the Israelites had established dominion over the vast majority of the promised land. It is not an exhaustive list of every single territory, but it powerfully communicates that the main strategic and populated areas were under Israelite control, fulfilling God's promise to give them the land, as seen in Genesis 15:18. This thoroughness was crucial for the subsequent tribal allotments and the establishment of Israel as a nation.
Was the conquest truly 'complete' at this point, given later passages in Joshua?
Answer: Joshua 11:16 describes a comprehensive military victory, signifying that the major strategic strongholds and coalitions of kings had been defeated, and the land was largely brought under Israelite hegemony. However, it does not mean every single Canaanite inhabitant was expelled or every square inch of territory was fully settled. Joshua 13:1 explicitly states, "Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." This indicates that while the military phase of the conquest was largely complete, and the land was now available for inheritance, the settlement phase and the complete dispossessing of all inhabitants would be an ongoing process for the individual tribes. Joshua 11:16 serves as a summary of the primary military success, making the land available for inheritance, rather than a declaration of absolute, immediate, and total occupation of every last village.
How does 'the land of Goshen' mentioned here relate to the Goshen in Egypt?
Answer: The "land of Goshen" in Joshua 11:16 refers to a specific, fertile region located in the southern part of the land of Judah, within Canaan. This is distinct from the "land of Goshen" in Egypt, where the Israelites settled during their time there before the Exodus, as described in Genesis 47:6. While both share the same name, they are geographically separate and historically unrelated. The mention of Goshen in Joshua 11:16 simply identifies another specific area within the conquered territory of Canaan, highlighting the breadth of the Israelite conquest.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 11:16, a powerful declaration of a physical conquest and the fulfillment of a land promise, finds its ultimate and spiritual fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Joshua, whose name (Yeshua) is the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus, foreshadows Christ as the greater leader who leads His people into their true inheritance. Just as Joshua led Israel to conquer and possess the promised land, Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has conquered sin, death, and the powers of darkness, leading His people into a far greater spiritual inheritance. The "all that land" taken by Joshua prefigures the comprehensive spiritual dominion Christ has secured for believers. Our inheritance is not a physical territory but "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Through Christ, we are brought into the "kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13), a spiritual realm of peace, righteousness, and joy. The thoroughness of Joshua's conquest points to the absolute and complete victory of Christ, who "made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:15). Believers are called to "take possession" of this spiritual inheritance by faith, living out the reality of Christ's victory in their lives, knowing that our true rest and eternal dwelling place are found not in an earthly land but in Him, our ultimate Sabbath rest.