Joshua - Chapter 11

1. How is the alliance described in the opening section of Chapter 11 different from the earlier alliance which marched against the Gibeonites? Is there any reference to a different type of military resources (see verse 6) which might have elicited some new concerns on the part of the Israelites?

This alliance was formed to wage war on Israel; as opposed to the previous alliance which waged war against Gibeon (then fought Israel when they came to the defense of Gibeon). This new army seemd to be much better equipped than any Israel had fought previously – having “many hourses and chariots.”.

2. How does verse 15 serve as an encapsulating refrain/justification/ explanation of the total eradication approach?

This verse confirms that Joshua’s actions are exactly as God instructed Moses and Moses instructed Joshua.

3. Verse 20 echoes a refrain from the Egyptian experience, Pharaoh and Divinity. What is this refrain?

The refrain is about God “hardening the heart” of someone. This is somewhat troubling (as I’ve written about before). In Exodus, how is it fair to hold Pharaoh accountable for his refusing to let Israel go, when it was God himself who hardened Pharaoh’s heart, preventing him from freeing Israel sooner? Of course the answer (as I pointed out before) is that hardening of the heart is simply God giving Pharaoh or the armies in this chapter the strength to do what is really in their hearts – and not give up on it out of fear. In this case, the armies really wanted to destroy Israel, but God gave them the strength to keep fighting to the very end, rather than surrender.

4. In verse 21 there is a reference to "Anakim." Does this term necessarily mean "giants"? Does "Anak" have any other meaning? And why does Onkelos translate this term as "gibara?ya"?

The typical translation is Giant (or literally long-necked ones), it can be used to mean “noble ones” or as Onkelos translates it “mightily ones”.

5. How does verse 23 indicate that the closing mandates for the distribution of the conquered land were observed by Joshua?

Again, the book gives credence to the idea that the was Joshua just waged, was instructed by God – a means to the ends of allotting the land to the tribes as God laid out.

6. Is the impression communicated that, with the end of this chapter, the conquest of the land is over?

The chapter ends by saying “the land rested from war”. It doesn’t saw that was the end of war, just which the land rested. I take this to imply that more conquest is still to come.

Favourite Quote : "As Hashem had commanded Moses His servant, so Moses commanded Joshua; and Joshua did." - Verse 15