Joshua 11:18

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. For, though the account of the conquest of them is put together, and lies in a small compass, yet those victories were not obtained at once, or in a

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. No JFB commentary on this verse.

For divers years together, as is evident by the following history, and by comparing with , &c. And this is here expressed, lest it should be thought that as all these wars are here recorded in a short narration, so they were despatched in a short time. And God would have the land to be conquered gradually, for many weighty reasons: 1. Lest the sudden extirpation of those nations should have made a great part of the land desert, and thereby have increased the numbers of wild beasts, . 2. Lest being done suddenly and easily, it should soon be forgotten and despised, as the nature of man is apt to do in those cases. 3. That by long exercise the Israelites might grow skilful in the art of war, which was very useful and needful for them in that land. 4. For the trial and exercise of their patience, and courage, and trust in God. 5. To oblige them to the greater care to please and obey God, whom they yet needed for their help against their enemies.

Joshua 11:18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.Ver. 18. Joshua made war a long time.] Near seven years, though in few words related. Of him it might be said, as was once of our Alfred, “ Si modo victor eras, ad crastina bella pavebas; Si modo rictus eras (as at Ai) ad crastina bella parabas. ” The Romans’ war with the pirates was finished by Pompey with incredible swiftness, and in a very short time, saith Augustine; but so was not this with the Canaanites. "Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down." Incredibili celeritate confectum. - Aug., De Civ. Dei.

(18) A long time.—See Note on Joshua 14:10. The war seems to have lasted seven years, a long time when compared with the desultory incursions and single campaigns which made up the greater part of ancient warfare, when there were no standing armies.

Verse 18. Joshua made war a long time] The whole of these conquests were not effected in one campaign: they probably required six or seven years. There are some chronological notices in this book, and in Deuteronomy, by which the exact time may be nearly ascertained. Caleb was forty years old when he was sent from Kadesh-barnea by Moses to search out the land, about A.M. 2514; and at the end of this war he was eighty-five years old; (compare Joshua 14:10 with Numbers 13:16, and Deuteronomy 1:36;) consequently the war ended in 2559, which had begun, by the passage of Jordan, on the tenth day of the first month of the year 2554. From this date to the end of 2559 we find exactly six years; the first of which Joshua seems to have employed in the conquest of the south part of the land of Canaan, and the other five in the conquest of all the territories situated on the north of that country. See Dodd. Calmet computes this differently, and allows the term of seven years for the conquest of the whole land. "Caleb was forty years old when sent from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land. At the conclusion of the war he was eighty-five years old, as himself says, Joshua 14:10. From this sum of eighty-five subtract forty, his age when he went from Kadesh-barnea, and the thirty-eight years which he spent in the wilderness after his return, and there will remain the sum of seven years, which was the time spent in the conquest of the land." 1. By protracting the war the Canaanites had time to repent, having sufficient opportunity to discern the hand of Jehovah. 2. Agriculture was carried on, and thus provision was made even for the support of the conquerors, for had the land been subdued and wasted at once, tillage must have stopped, and famine would have ensued. 3. Wild beasts would have multiplied upon them, and the land have been desolated by their means. 4. Had these conquests been more rapid the people of Israel would have been less affected, and less instructed by miracles that had passed in such quick succession before their eyes; and, as in this case they would have obtained the dominion with comparatively little exertion, they might have felt themselves less interested in the preservation of an inheritance, to obtain which they had been but at little trouble and little expense. What we labour under the Divine blessing to acquire we are careful to retain; but what comes lightly generally goes lightly. God obliged them to put forth their own strength in this work, and only blessed and prospered them while they were workers together with him. See Clarke on Joshua 13:6.

18. a long time] “Myche time,” Wyclif. Five years at least. Caleb was 40 years old when Moses sent him out of Kadesh-Barnea as a spy, and 80 years old when, on the conquest of the land, he received his portion at the hands of Joshua. Thus 45 years had elapsed since the former date, of which 40, or 38, had been spent in the wanderings of the wilderness. The campaigns of Joshua must therefore have occupied at least five or seven years for their accomplishment.

A long time - At least five years; according to others, seven years (see Joshua 14:10, and Introduction).

18. Joshua made war a long time — The only note of time in this book is the age of Caleb, forty when a spy to search out the land, (Joshua 14:7,) and eighty-five at the end of the war.