Joshua 11 · Verse 13

Joshua 11:13

But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

Joshua 11:13, King James Version

Joshua 11:13 in other translations

BSB	Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua burned.
WEB	But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only. Joshua burned that.
ASV	But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
YLT	Only, all the cities which are standing by their hill, Israel hath not burned them, save Hazor only, it hath Joshua burnt;
DARBY	Only, all the cities that stood still upon their hills Israel did not burn, save Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.
BBE	As for the towns made on hills of earth, not one was burned by Israel but Hazor, which was burned by Joshua.
Webster	But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

What does Joshua 11:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

13. as for the cities that stood still in their strength--literally, "on their heaps." It was a Phoenician custom to build cities on heights, natural or artificial [Hengstenberg].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 The cities that stood still in their strength - The word תלם tillam, which we translate their strength, and the margin, their heap, has been understood two ways. 1. As signifying those cities which had made peace with the Israelites, when conditions of peace were offered according to the command of the law; and consequently were not destroyed. Such as the cities of the Hivites; see Jos 11:19. 2. The cities which were situated upon hills and mountains, which, when taken, might be retained with little difficulty. In this sense the place is understood by the Vulgate, as pointing out the cities quae erant in collibus et tumulis sitae, "which were situated on hills and eminences." As the cities of the plain might be easily attacked and carried, Joshua destroyed them; but as those on mountains, hills, or other eminences, might be retained with little trouble, prudence would dictate their preservation, as places of refuge in any insurrection of the people, or invasion of their adversaries. The passage in Jeremiah, Jer 30:18, Jerusalem shall be builded on her own heap, תלה tillah, if understood as above, conveys an easy and clear sense: Jerusalem shall be re-established on her Own Hill.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 11:10-14

The Canaanites filled up the measure of their iniquity, and were, as a judgment, left to the pride, obstinacy, and enmity of their hearts, and to the power of Satan; all restraints being withdrawn, while the dispensations of Providence tended to drive them to despair. They brought on themselves the vengeance they justly merited, of which the Israelites were to be executioners, by the command the Lord gave to Moses.

Read the full comment on Joshua 11:10-14 →

Joshua 11:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

רַ֣קrakonlyH7535

כָּל\־kol-allH3605

הֶעָרִ֗יםhe.'a.Rimthe citiesH5892

הָעֹֽמְדוֹת֙ha.'o.me.dOtwhich were standingH5975

עַל\־'al-onH5921

תִּלָּ֔םti.Lammounds theirH8510

לֹ֥אlo'notH3808

שְׂרָפָ֖םse.ra.Famit burned themH8313

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

זוּלָתִ֛יzu.la.TiexceptH2108

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

חָצ֥וֹרcha.TzorHazorH2674

לְבַדָּ֖הּle.va.Dahto alone itH905

שָׂרַ֥ףsa.Rafhe burnedH8313

יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ\׃ye.ho.Shu.a'JoshuaH3091

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Joshua 11:13

Jeremiah 30:18
Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

in their. Heb. on their heap.The Vulgate, Syriac, Onkelos and Waterland render {âl tillom,} "on their hills." As the cities of the plain might be easily attacked and carried, Joshua destroyed them; but as those on mountains, hills, or other eminences, might be retained by him with little trouble, prudence would dictate their preservation.
Jer 30:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Joshua 11:12
And all the cities of those kings, and all the 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.
Joshua 11:13
But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
Joshua 11:14
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 they any to breathe.

Read all of Joshua 11

Joshua 11:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Empero todas las ciudades que estaban en sus cabezos, no las quemó Israel, sacando á sola Asor, la cual quemó Josué.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Seulement, Israël ne brûla aucune des villes qui étaient demeurées tranquilles sur leurs collines, excepté Hatsor seule, que Josué brûla.
German Elberfelder 1871	Nur alle die Städte, die auf ihren Hügeln standen, verbrannte Israel nicht; ausgenommen Hazor allein, das verbrannte Josua.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Absque urbibus, quæ erant in collibus et in tumulis sitæ, ceteras succendit Israël: unam tantum Asor munitissimam flamma consumpsit.