Joshua 11:18

KJV

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

KJV (with Strong's)

Joshua {H3091} made {H6213} war {H4421} a long {H7227} time {H3117} with all those kings {H4428}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Y'hoshua made war with all those kings for a long time.

Berean Standard Bible

Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long period of time.

American Standard Version

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 11:18 serves as a pivotal summary statement, encapsulating the arduous and protracted nature of Israel's conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership. Far from a swift, singular victory, this verse highlights that the process of dispossessing the numerous Canaanite nations and their rulers was a prolonged, demanding campaign, requiring sustained effort and perseverance over an extended period, even with the miraculous intervention and unwavering faithfulness of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 11:18 marks a significant transition point in the book of Joshua. It concludes the major military campaigns described in chapters 1-11, particularly following the detailed account of the northern campaign against the formidable coalition of kings led by Jabin of Hazor, as recounted in [Joshua 11:1-15](/joshua/11-1 "Joshua 11:1-15 - Northern Campaign against Hazor"). This verse acts as an overarching summary, providing a retrospective observation on the entire conquest period before the narrative shifts to the division of the land among the tribes in [Joshua 13](/joshua/13 "Joshua 13 - Division of the Land") onwards. It emphasizes that the complete subjugation of the land, despite initial swift victories like Jericho and Ai, required significant time and sustained effort, setting the stage for the subsequent distribution and settlement.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The land of Canaan in the Late Bronze Age was not a unified empire but a patchwork of independent city-states, each with its own king, army, and often fortified capital. These "kings" (or city-rulers) frequently formed coalitions for defense, as seen with the southern kings in [Joshua 10](/joshua/10 "Joshua 10 - Southern Campaign") and the northern kings in [Joshua 11](/joshua/11 "Joshua 11 - Northern Campaign"). The "long time" of war reflects the historical reality of conquering such a fragmented but resilient region, involving numerous sieges, pitched battles, and the systematic dislodging of entrenched populations. The Israelites, though divinely empowered, were still engaged in conventional warfare within the geopolitical landscape of their day.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Joshua and the broader Pentateuchal narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Faithfulness and Human Perseverance**. God had promised the land to Abraham's descendants ([Genesis 15:18](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18 - God's Covenant with Abraham")), but its full inheritance required Israel's active and sustained obedience in warfare. The "long time" highlights that God's promises often unfold through a process that demands endurance. Secondly, it emphasizes the **Scope of the Conquest and Opposition**. The phrase "all those kings" vividly portrays the widespread and formidable resistance Israel faced, underscoring the magnitude of the task and, by extension, the greatness of God's power in granting victory. Finally, it subtly reinforces the theme of **Total Dispossession**, a divine command given in [Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - Command to Destroy Canaanites"), which necessitated a comprehensive and prolonged military effort to cleanse the land of idolatry and prepare it for Israel's settlement.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **War (Hebrew, _milchamah'_):** This term (מִלְחָמָה) refers to military conflict, battle, or warfare. Its use here indicates that Joshua's leadership involved active, sustained, and often brutal military engagement, not merely passive occupation. It emphasizes the physical and strategic demands placed upon Israel in fulfilling God's command.
* **Long time (Hebrew, _yamim rabbim'_):** The Hebrew phrase (יָמִים רַבִּים) literally translates to "many days" or "many years." This is a crucial temporal indicator, emphasizing the extended duration of the conflict. It dispels any notion of an immediate, effortless victory and highlights the protracted nature of the conquest, suggesting a period spanning several years rather than a single campaign season.
* **Kings (Hebrew, _melachim'_):** This word (מְלָכִים) refers to rulers or monarchs, specifically those governing the numerous independent city-states across Canaan. The plural "kings" underscores the fragmented political landscape of Canaan and the widespread, organized opposition Israel encountered, necessitating multiple campaigns against various sovereign entities.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Joshua made war":** This clause emphasizes Joshua's active role as the military commander and God's chosen instrument. It was not a passive inheritance of the land, but an active, divinely mandated campaign that required Joshua's strategic leadership and the Israelites' participation in battle.
* **"a long time":** This phrase directly addresses the duration of the conquest. It signifies that the process of dispossessing the Canaanites was not a swift, singular event but a protracted and arduous endeavor, spanning many years. This highlights the perseverance required from Joshua and the Israelite army.
* **"with all those kings":** This final phrase defines the comprehensive nature of the opposition. It indicates that Israel's conflict was not limited to a few major battles but involved extensive engagements against numerous independent rulers and their armies throughout the entire land of Canaan, underscoring the vast scope of the military undertaking.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 11:18 functions primarily as a **Summary Statement**, providing a concise overview of the preceding narrative of conquest. It distills a multi-year period of military campaigns into a single, impactful sentence. The phrase "all those kings" can be seen as a form of **Generalization** or **Synecdoche**, where "kings" represents the entire opposing forces and their respective city-states, emphasizing the widespread nature of the resistance rather than a literal count of every single monarch. The repetition of the idea of duration, implied by the "long time," serves as a form of **Emphasis**, underscoring the arduous and protracted nature of the conquest, thereby highlighting the perseverance of Joshua and the Israelites, and ultimately, the faithfulness of God in sustaining them through such an extended conflict.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 11:18 profoundly illustrates the theological principle that while God's promises are absolutely certain, their fulfillment often involves a process that requires human participation, sustained effort, and divine endurance. The "long time" of war is a testament to God's faithfulness in sustaining His people through arduous tasks, even when the path to promised blessing is prolonged and challenging. It also highlights the reality of spiritual warfare, where victory is assured by God but requires active engagement and perseverance from believers. The comprehensive nature of the conquest against "all those kings" underscores God's power to overcome all opposition, however widespread or formidable, in order to fulfill His covenant purposes.

* [Numbers 33:50-56](/numbers/33-50 "Numbers 33:50-56 - Command to Dispossess the Land")
* [Deuteronomy 9:4-5](/deuteronomy/9-4 "Deuteronomy 9:4-5 - Not by Israel's Righteousness")
* [Judges 1:1-2:5](/judges/1-1 "Judges 1:1-2:5 - Incomplete Conquest and its Consequences")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 11:18 offers a profound lesson for contemporary believers: the Christian life, much like the conquest of Canaan, is often a marathon, not a sprint. Spiritual growth, overcoming entrenched sins, cultivating godly character, or seeing God's purposes unfold in our lives and communities rarely happens instantly. We, too, face "kings"—entrenched habits, spiritual strongholds, societal pressures, or personal trials—that require sustained spiritual warfare and unwavering perseverance. This verse reminds us that God is with us through the "long time," equipping us for the battle and empowering us to endure. It encourages us not to be discouraged by the length or difficulty of a challenge but to press on in faith, trusting that God's ultimate victory is assured and that He will complete the good work He began in us. Our faithfulness in the long haul reflects our trust in His perfect timing and omnipotent power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "long wars" or protracted challenges are you currently facing in your spiritual journey or personal life, and how might this verse encourage you?**
* **How does the idea of God being with Joshua through a "long time" of conflict provide comfort and strength for your own seasons of extended difficulty?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to grow weary or give up due to the perceived length or difficulty of the struggle, and how can this verse inspire renewed perseverance and reliance on God?**

### FAQ
**Why did the conquest take "a long time" if God was fighting for Israel?**

Answer: While God indeed fought miraculously for Israel, as seen in events like the fall of Jericho ([Joshua 6:20](/joshua/6-20 "Joshua 6:20 - Fall of Jericho")) or the hailstones at Gibeon ([Joshua 10:11](/joshua/10-11 "Joshua 10:11 - Hailstones at Gibeon")), Israel was still required to actively participate in the conquest as an act of obedience and faith. The "long time" reflects the strategic reality of dispossessing numerous fortified city-states, each with its own army, across a vast geographical area. It also served divine purposes: to test Israel's obedience and reliance on God, to allow the land to be filled gradually without becoming desolate, as indicated in [Exodus 23:29-30](/exodus/23-29 "Exodus 23:29-30 - Gradual Dispossession"), and to demonstrate God's sustained faithfulness through a prolonged period of human effort.

**Does this verse imply a failure on Joshua's part or an incomplete conquest?**

Answer: No, quite the opposite. Joshua 11:18 highlights the *extent* and *thoroughness* of Joshua's leadership in the conquest. It is a testament to his faithfulness and perseverance in leading Israel through a comprehensive and arduous campaign, rather than a deficiency. The book of Joshua concludes by stating that Joshua "took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses" ([Joshua 11:23](/joshua/11-23 "Joshua 11:23 - Joshua Took the Whole Land")). While pockets of resistance remained (which the book of Judges later details), Joshua 11:18 emphasizes that the *major* military phase against the organized Canaanite kingdoms was completed under Joshua's long and diligent leadership.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua's "long war" against "all those kings" finds its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the greater Joshua. While Joshua led a physical conquest of a land, Christ came to establish a spiritual kingdom and wage a decisive spiritual war against sin, death, and the forces of darkness. His victory on the cross was a once-for-all triumph over the "principalities and powers" ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph over Principalities and Powers")), securing eternal salvation. However, just as Joshua's war was prolonged, the Christian life for believers is a "long time" of spiritual warfare and sanctification. We are called to "put on the whole armor of God" ([Ephesians 6:11](/ephesians/6-11 "Ephesians 6:11 - The Full Armor of God")) and "fight the good fight of faith" ([1 Timothy 6:12](/1_timothy/6-12 "1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the Good Fight")), not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Our Struggle is Not Against Flesh and Blood")). Through Christ, we are assured of ultimate victory, for He has already "overcome the world" ([John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Christ Has Overcome the World")). The "long time" of Joshua's war thus points to the enduring nature of our walk with Christ, a journey of sustained obedience and reliance on His strength until His glorious return, when all enemies will be finally subdued under His feet ([1 Corinthians 15:25](/1_corinthians/15-25 "1 Corinthians 15:25 - Christ Must Reign Until All Enemies are Under His Feet")).

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.