John Gill Commentary Joshua 11:20

"For it was of Jehovah to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as Jehovah commanded Moses." — Joshua 11:20 (ASV)

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts
As he hardened the hearts of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, that his power might be displayed in their destruction:

that they should come against Israel battle ;
and so fall in it:

that he might destroy them utterly ;
for their abominable wickedness, idolatry, incest they had been guilty of:

[and] that they might have no favour ;
which they would have had, had they made peace as the Gibeonites did; or that they might not pray and make supplication, the Lord not giving them a spirit of supplication, but an hard heart, as Gussetius ^F6 observes the words may be interpreted, though he seems to prefer the former, sense:

but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses ;
(Deuteronomy 7:1Deuteronomy 7:2) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F6: Comment. Ebr. p. 272.