Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Took Hazor - See on Joshua 11:1; (note).

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

"And Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor was beforetime 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. 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."

Joshua 11:13-14 here show that Israel took possession of a great many cities without the burning of them, only destroying all of the inhabitants, even the children, as Henry stated, "Lest those children should later on lay claim to the land in the name of their parents."[24] Also, all of the wealth, the treasures, and the cattle of many of those cities became the possessions of Israel. Henry also pointed out that this fulfilled a prophecy, "That Israel should dwell in great and goodly cities which they builded not" (Deuteronomy 6:10). As Woudstra said, "Joshua 11:13 seems to mean that Israel took possession of those cities that were not burned and lived in them."[25]

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And Joshua at that time turned back and took Hazor,.... After he had chased the Canaanites to the places mentioned, he returned to Hazor, near to which Joshua first fell upon them, but through the pursuit he was led on many miles beyond it: Bunting says^F23Travels, p. 96. , it was thirty two miles from Sidon:

and smote the king thereof with the sword; who, very probably, upon the surprise at the waters of Merom, fled to his capital for safety; but that being taken by Joshua, he was slain by him with the sword:

for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms; before mentioned, Joshua 11:1; but not of all the land of Canaan: Jerom^F24De loc. Heb. fol. 88. B. says, it was the metropolis of all the kingdoms of the Philistines; and though they were not now subject to it, and had kings of their own, yet it appears that the king of this place was in great authority, and regard was paid unto him; and this seems to be the reason why Joshua hasted to take this city, slay the king of it, and burn it with fire, because it had been the principal in this war, and might, if not prevented, raise new troubles; wherefore, as a precaution to that, and to deter the rest, he hastened the conquest and destruction of it.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.

The king — In his royal city, to which he fled out of the battle.

Head of these kingdoms — Not of all Canaan, but of all those who were confederate with him in this expedition.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Joshua 11:10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.

Ver. 10. And smote the king thereof.] The new king. See Joshua 10:37.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Smote the king thereof; either in the former battle, though it be mentioned here; or rather in his royal city, to which he fled out of the battle.

The head of all those kingdoms; not of all Canaan, but of all those who were confederate with him in this expedition.

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

‘And Joshua at that time turned back and took Hazor, and smote its king with the sword, for Hazor previously was the head of all those kingdoms.’

It is noteworthy that the king of Hazor, as with his successor in Judges 4, did not go out to battle himself. He had sent another, a general, to act on his behalf, probably Jobab, otherwise he would not have been there. This would be the only city that Joshua would burn with fire. That was because it was the head of the confederacy, a huge city, and therefore a constant future danger to Israel. While he could not yet occupy all these cities, he could weaken their power base.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10.At that time — After he had utterly routed and pursued the enemy even to distant cities and villages, and had destroyed their horses and chariots. The pursuit may have lasted several days.

Turned back — From pursuing the foe.

Smote the king — Jabin, as soon as defeated, seems to have taken refuge in his capital. Joshua did not stop to take Hazor until after he had utterly dispersed the confederate army.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Joshua 11:10. The king — In his royal city, to which he fled out of the battle. Head of those kingdoms — Not of all Canaan, but of all those who were confederate with him in this expedition.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

King. Jabin had thrown himself into the city, or perhaps a new king had been appointed, according to the custom of Persia, &c., when the former went to battle. Hence we find so many kings of Israel were chosen very young and while their fathers were living.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.

Joshua ... turned back and (re-crossing the Leontes) took Hazor ... the head of all those kingdoms. The ruins of a city called Hazur, on Tell Harah are now supposed to be the long-sought-for Hazor (Stanley, 'Sinai and Palestine,' p. 390; also 'Lectures on the Jewish Church,' p. 256). This, however, is not the opinion of Dr. Robinson ('Biblical Researches,' 3:, p. 356), nor of Professor Porter, (see the notes at Judges 3:1-31).

Smote the king thereof with the sword. His death by beheading, and not by the ignominious gallows, was probably owing to his dignified position as suzerain of the whole northern districts of Palestine.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hazor

1; Judges 4:2