Matthew Henry Commentary Joshua 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Joshua 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Joshua 11
"And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard thereof, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings that were on the north, in the hill-country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west, to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill-country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. And all these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel. And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hock their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and fell upon them. And Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they smote them, and chased them unto great Sidon, and unto Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. And Joshua did unto them as Jehovah bade him: he hocked their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire." — Joshua 11:1-9 (ASV)
The wonders God performed for the Israelites were intended to encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Similarly, the war against Satan's kingdom, waged by preaching the gospel, was initially advanced by miracles. However, once this work was fully proven to be from God, we were then left to rely on divine grace in the ordinary course of things, using the sword of the Spirit.
God encouraged Joshua. Fresh dangers and difficulties make it necessary to seek fresh support from the word of God, which we have near to us for use in every time of need. God proportions our trials to our strength, and our strength to our trials.
Joshua's obedience in destroying the horses and chariots demonstrates his self-denial in compliance with God's command. The possession of things on which the carnal heart is prone to depend is detrimental to the life of faith and the walk with God; therefore, it is better to be without worldly advantages than to have the soul endangered by them. (Joshua 11:10–14)
"And Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left that breathed: and he burnt Hazor with fire. And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and he smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; as Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded. But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn. And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any that breathed." — Joshua 11:10-14 (ASV)
The Canaanites filled up the measure of their iniquity and, as a judgment, were left to the pride, obstinacy, and enmity of their hearts, and to the power of Satan; all restraints being withdrawn, while the dealings of Providence tended to drive them to despair. They brought on themselves the vengeance they justly merited, of which the Israelites were to be executioners by the command the Lord gave to Moses.
"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. 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; from mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and put them to death. Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: they took all in battle. 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. 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 utterly destroyed them with their cities. There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain. So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Jehovah spake unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land had rest from war." — Joshua 11:15-23 (ASV)
Never let the sons of Anak be a terror to the Israel of God, for their day to fall will come. The land rested from war. It did not end in a peace with the Canaanites, which 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.
What was now done is compared with what had been said to Moses. God's word and His works, if viewed together, will be found mutually to illuminate each other. If we are conscientious about our duty, we need not question the performance of the promise. But the believer must never put off his armor or expect lasting peace until he closes his eyes in death; indeed, as his strength and usefulness increase, he may expect heavier trials. Yet the Lord will not permit any enemies to assault the believer until He has prepared him for the battle.
Christ Jesus ever lives to plead for His people, and their faith shall not fail, even if Satan is permitted to assault them. And however tedious, sharp, and difficult the believer's warfare may be, his patience in tribulation may be encouraged by the joyfulness of hope; for he will, before long, rest from sin and from sorrow in the Canaan above.
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