Joshua 11:10-15

Joshua 11:10-15

[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.  [11] And they smote  all the souls  that were therein with the edge  of the sword,  utterly destroying  them: there was not any left  to breathe:  and he burnt  Hazor  with fire.  [12] And all the cities  of those kings,  of them, did Joshua  take,  and smote  them with the edge  of the sword,  and he utterly destroyed  them, as Moses  the servant  of the LORD  commanded.  [13] But as for the cities  that stood  still in their strength,  Israel  burned  none of them, save  Hazor  only; that did Joshua  burn.  [14] 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  [15] As the LORD  commanded  Moses  his servant,  so did Moses  command  Joshua,  and so did  Joshua;  nothing  undone  of all that the LORD  commanded  Moses. 

What does Joshua 11:10-15 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Archaeological evidence supports a fifteenth-century destruction of Hazor. [1] The meaning of the phrase "cities that stood on their mounds" ( Joshua 11:13) is unclear.
"It would be difficult to point out any single expression in the whole book of Joshua , perhaps in the whole Scriptures, more difficult of explanation than this." [2]
Perhaps these were the older more influential towns that previous generations had rebuilt on their former ruins. [3] If this is the meaning, probably Joshua did not burn them because he wanted to preserve these towns with time-honored sites for the Israelites" occupation.
The secret of Joshua"s remarkable success from the human viewpoint was his consistent obedience to the Lord ( Joshua 11:15). We too will experience victory over our spiritual enemies-the world, the flesh, and the devil-to the extent that we do God"s will as He has revealed that in His Word.