Joshua 11:21
And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse notes Joshua destroyed "all the hill country of Israel," a detail often missed. This phrase doesn't refer to a specific mountain but rather encompasses the entire mountainous region of the land, underscoring the thoroughness of God's promised conquest through Joshua.
This verse marks the final, decisive campaign of Joshua's conquest, targeting the fearsome Anakim, a race of giants who had instilled terror in the Israelites even before they entered the Promised Land. After securing victories across the land, Joshua now systematically eradicates these formidable people from the mountainous regions, fulfilling God's command to utterly destroy them and their cities to clear the way for Israel's inheritance. The chapter concludes with the statement that the land finally rested from war, signifying the completion of this phase of conquest.
Why did the Anakim linger in the land long after the initial conquest? Joshua’s final campaign against them wasn't just a mop-up operation; it was the decisive conclusion to a divinely ordained task.
This verse highlights the final, systematic removal of the Anakim, a fearsome people described as giants who had once terrified the Israelite spies.
The Last Stand
The Anakim, descendants of Anak, were a significant threat. Their presence in the mountainous regions of Judah and Israel, specifically around key cities like Hebron and Debir, represented a lingering danger and an unfinished task. Joshua's campaign here wasn't just about clearing territory; it was about fulfilling God's command to utterly destroy these people and their strongholds.
Divine Purpose
Calvin suggests that God’s purpose in allowing these people to persist was to ensure their complete destruction, leaving no room for mercy. This was a judgment carried out through Israel, demonstrating God’s unwavering commitment to purifying the land for His chosen people. The focus on the Anakim underscores the seriousness of obedience and the consequences of defying God’s will.
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The phrase 'utterly destroyed' or 'devoted them to destruction' appears multiple times. What does this stark language mean in the context of God’s commands?
The Hebrew term for 'devoted to destruction' signifies a complete and total consecration to God, meaning everything within that category was to be annihilated and not kept for any use.
A Holy Judgment
This wasn't arbitrary violence. The Anakim, along with other Canaanite nations, were judged for their extreme wickedness, which had reached its peak. God, as the sovereign Lord of all creation, has the right to pass judgment. The command for 'utter destruction' was a judicial sentence aimed at purging the land of pervasive sin that would corrupt Israel and lead them astray from God.
God's Sovereignty and Mercy
Commentaries note that God hardened their hearts, not to create evil, but to ensure the execution of His predetermined judgment. While this concept is challenging, it highlights God's absolute sovereignty and His commitment to justice. Simultaneously, the entire conquest narrative is framed by God's promise to Israel, demonstrating His faithfulness and mercy toward His people, even as He enacts judgment on others.
Understand the original words
anaqiy · Hebrew Noun
A group of people described in the Old Testament as being of great stature and strength, often associated with the inhabitants of Canaan before the Israelite conquest. They were seen as a source of fear and an obstacle to faith for the Israelites.
charam · Hebrew Verb
In the context of Old Testament warfare, this refers to the act of setting something apart for God as a holy, irrevocable judgment, often involving the total destruction of an enemy and their possessions as an act of obedience to God's command.
The complete removal of the formidable Anakim from the hill country, a people who had previously terrified the Israelites, was a critical step in securing the land and demonstrating God's power to His people.
c. 1440 BC
Israelites Enter Promised Land
After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River to begin the conquest of Canaan under God's command.
c. 1439 BC
Conquest of Southern Canaan
Joshua achieves swift victories against several southern Canaanite kingdoms, including the capture of major cities like Hebron and Debir.
c. 1439 BC
Northern Coalition Defeated
A large alliance of northern Canaanite kings is decisively defeated by Joshua at the waters of Merom, clearing the way for further consolidation.
c. 1439 BC— this verse
Anakim Purged from Hill Country
Joshua launches a targeted campaign against the Anakim, a fearsome race of giants, in the mountainous regions of Judah and Israel, utterly destroying them and their cities.
c. 1438-1400 BC
Land Division and Occupation
Joshua oversees the distribution of the conquered land among the twelve tribes of Israel, although full occupation and subjugation of all territories would take generations.
Post-Joshua era
Residual Anakim Eliminated
Though Joshua decisively defeated the Anakim, pockets of this giant race remained and were later eliminated by Caleb and the tribe of Judah, fulfilling the conquest.
This passage commands Israel to drive out the inhabitants of the land and destroy them, paralleling Joshua's action in utterly destroying the Anakim and their cities.
Numbers 13:33This verse describes the Anakim as giants that terrified the Israelite spies, highlighting the formidable nature of the people Joshua was tasked with eradicating.
Judges 1:10This passage details how Caleb, after Joshua's death, took Hebron and destroyed the three sons of Anak who had reoccupied it, showing the lingering presence and threat of the Anakim and the continuation of the task.
Joshua 10:40This verse describes Joshua's conquest of the entire hill country, south country, and low country, setting the stage for the final removal of the Anakim mentioned in 11:21.
Psalm 44:3This psalm reflects on God's powerful hand in granting victory and possession of the land, aligning with the divine enablement Joshua and Israel experienced in defeating formidable enemies like the Anakim.
calvinJoshua 11:16-23: "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;"
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 favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Quia a Jehova fuit, ut induraretcor eorum in occursum belli c…
bensonJoshua 11:21: "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."
Joshua 11:21 . At that time — That is, in the war before mentioned, and probably toward the conclusion of it; after he had left none to oppose him in other places, but only in those mountainous parts which were of difficult access. Joshua cut off th…
The verse notes Joshua destroyed "all the hill country of Israel," a detail often missed. This phrase doesn't refer to a specific mountain but rather encompasses the entire mountainous region of the land, underscoring the thoroughness of God's promised conquest through Joshua.
This verse marks the final, decisive campaign of Joshua's conquest, targeting the fearsome Anakim, a race of giants who had instilled terror in the Israelites even before they entered the Promised Land. After securing victories across the land, Joshua now systematically eradicates these formidable people from the mountainous regions, fulfilling God's command to utterly destroy them and their cities to clear the way for Israel's inheritance. The chapter concludes with the statement that the land finally rested from war, signifying the completion of this phase of conquest.
This verse marks the final, decisive campaign of Joshua's conquest, targeting the fearsome Anakim, a race of giants who had instilled terror in the Israelites even before they entered the Promised Land. After securing victories across the land, Joshua now systematically eradicates these formidable people from the mountainous regions, fulfilling God's command to utterly destroy them and their cities to clear the way for Israel's inheritance. The chapter concludes with the statement that the land finally rested from war, signifying the completion of this phase of conquest.
"And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their c…" — The verse notes Joshua destroyed "all the hill country of Israel," a detail often missed. This phrase doesn't refer to a specific mountain but rather encompasses the entire mountainous region of the…
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