God’s decisive plan was to bring judgment on the people of Canaan, while also granting Israel the land He had promised to their fathers.
Joshua 11:20 reveals a key aspect of God’s sovereignty and judgment during the Israelite conquest. The verse states, “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, just as the LORD had commanded Moses” (v.20). In the historical flow of the book of Joshua (taking place sometime around the late 15th century BC to the early 14th century BC), we see the direct aftermath of Moses’ leadership. Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt (circa 1446 BC) and guided them for four decades in the wilderness, had passed away around 1406 BC. His successor, Joshua, took up the charge to lead Israel into the Promised Land, fulfilling God’s earlier promises (Deuteronomy 34:9-12). Here in Joshua 11:20, the notion of the LORD “hardening their hearts” demonstrates God’s active role in orchestrating events so that the battle would occur, ensuring that the Canaanite nations’ sin reached its limit and that Israel would be God’s instrument of judgment.
When the Scripture says, “that they might receive no mercy” (v.20), it underscores the completeness of the impending judgment. This is not a commentary on God’s lack of compassion in general; throughout the Bible, the LORD is often portrayed as patient and merciful (e.g., Psalm 103:8). However, in this specific situation, God’s justice demanded that the wickedness of these nations not go unchecked (Genesis 15:16). The land of Canaan itself was crucial geographically—a fertile corridor bridging major ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. With this land being so pivotal, God used Israel to purify it from idolatry and rampant immorality, fulfilling His promise to Abraham while judging the Canaanite corruptions that had accumulated over centuries.
Finally, “just as the LORD had commanded Moses” (v.20) points us back to the earlier instructions given to Moses, emphasizing the unfolding plan that continued beyond Moses’ lifetime. Joshua, now carrying out God’s instructions, stands in direct continuity with Moses’ leadership—both historically and spiritually. The introduction of Moses in this verse reminds us that Joshua’s actions are connected to Moses’ original commission, which God had given decades before. The people are not merely acting on their own impulses; they are carrying out the divine plan started under Moses’ guidance.
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Joshua 11:20 meaning
Joshua 11:20 reveals a key aspect of God’s sovereignty and judgment during the Israelite conquest. The verse states, “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, just as the LORD had commanded Moses” (v.20). In the historical flow of the book of Joshua (taking place sometime around the late 15th century BC to the early 14th century BC), we see the direct aftermath of Moses’ leadership. Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt (circa 1446 BC) and guided them for four decades in the wilderness, had passed away around 1406 BC. His successor, Joshua, took up the charge to lead Israel into the Promised Land, fulfilling God’s earlier promises (Deuteronomy 34:9-12). Here in Joshua 11:20, the notion of the LORD “hardening their hearts” demonstrates God’s active role in orchestrating events so that the battle would occur, ensuring that the Canaanite nations’ sin reached its limit and that Israel would be God’s instrument of judgment.
When the Scripture says, “that they might receive no mercy” (v.20), it underscores the completeness of the impending judgment. This is not a commentary on God’s lack of compassion in general; throughout the Bible, the LORD is often portrayed as patient and merciful (e.g., Psalm 103:8). However, in this specific situation, God’s justice demanded that the wickedness of these nations not go unchecked (Genesis 15:16). The land of Canaan itself was crucial geographically—a fertile corridor bridging major ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. With this land being so pivotal, God used Israel to purify it from idolatry and rampant immorality, fulfilling His promise to Abraham while judging the Canaanite corruptions that had accumulated over centuries.
Finally, “just as the LORD had commanded Moses” (v.20) points us back to the earlier instructions given to Moses, emphasizing the unfolding plan that continued beyond Moses’ lifetime. Joshua, now carrying out God’s instructions, stands in direct continuity with Moses’ leadership—both historically and spiritually. The introduction of Moses in this verse reminds us that Joshua’s actions are connected to Moses’ original commission, which God had given decades before. The people are not merely acting on their own impulses; they are carrying out the divine plan started under Moses’ guidance.