Berean Study Bible The Conquest of Canaan ProceedsIsrael entered a critical transition. Joshua had led the tribes into Canaan, directed major campaigns, and called the nation to covenant faithfulness. His death left Israel without a single human leader over all the tribes, exposing the need for each tribe to obey the Lord and depend upon His rule. Jos 24:29-31 Some time later, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD,… the Israelites inquired of the LORD, The nation rightly sought God’s direction before beginning further warfare. Such inquiry likely came through the priestly ministry and the Urim and Thummim. Israel’s security did not rest in military strength or tribal ambition, but in obedience to the God who had promised them the land and commanded the removal of its idolatrous inhabitants. 1Sa 23:2 So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and… “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?” The conquest had not been completed under Joshua, and Canaanite strongholds remained throughout the land. God’s command required united faith and persistent obedience, yet the tribes would soon compromise with the nations they were meant to drive out. The question recognizes that the battle belonged to the Lord, who appoints His people for the work before them and gives victory through faithful obedience. Jdg 20:18 The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel… “Judah shall go up,” The Lord appointed Judah to lead Israel’s advance against the remaining Canaanite strongholds. Jacob had foretold Judah’s preeminence among his brothers, and Judah’s leadership anticipates the royal line of David and the greater reign of Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. 2Sa 2:1 Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, … answered the LORD. Israel began well by seeking God’s direction after Joshua’s death. The conquest was not to be governed by tribal ambition or military strength, but by obedience to the covenant God who had given the land. 1Sa 23:2-4 So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and… “Indeed, I have delivered the land God spoke of the victory as already accomplished because His promise could not fail. The land had been pledged to Abraham and his descendants, and the Lord Himself would fulfill what He had sworn. Jos 1:2-4 Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise… into their hands.” Judah’s victory depended upon receiving what God gave rather than claiming success by human power. The command called Israel to act in faith, trusting that God’s presence and promise secured the outcome. Jos 2:24 “The LORD has surely delivered the entire land”… Then the men of Judah said to their brothers the Simeonites, Judah acted first after the Lord appointed that tribe to lead Israel’s advance (Judges 1:2). Simeon was rightly called Judah’s brother, both through their descent from Jacob and through the close association of their inheritances. Simeon’s cities lay within Judah’s larger territory because Judah’s original allotment proved more than the tribe required (Joshua 19:1–9). Jos 19:1-2 The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe… “Come up with us to our allotted territory, Judah recognized the land as an inheritance assigned by God rather than a possession gained merely by human strength. The allotted territory included hill country and fortified Canaanite settlements still requiring conquest. Israel had received the land by promise, yet each tribe was responsible to walk in obedient faith to possess what God had given. Jos 18:4-10 Appoint three men from each tribe, and I will send them out… and let us fight against the Canaanites. The Canaanites remained in the land despite Israel’s earlier victories under Joshua. Their idolatry and moral corruption stood under God’s judgment, and Israel was commanded to remove the nations so that their worship would not become a snare to God’s people (Deuteronomy 7:1–4). The conflict therefore concerned Israel’s covenant faithfulness as well as control of the land. Jos 11:1-6 Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things… And we likewise will go with you to your territory.” Judah pledged reciprocal help to Simeon. Although each tribe held a distinct inheritance, Israel’s tribes were not meant to pursue God’s purposes in isolation. Their shared commitment displayed the unity required of a people redeemed by God and bound together by His covenant. Num 32:20-27 Moses replied, “If you will do this—”… So the Simeonites went with them. Simeon answered Judah’s call with willing cooperation. Their partnership strengthened both tribes for the work ahead and illustrated the blessing of brothers serving together under God’s direction. Jos 19:9 The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken… When Judah attacked, Judah took the lead in the conquest as the LORD had directed, continuing the tribe’s prominent role among Israel. Jacob’s blessing had associated Judah with rule, and Judah’s leadership here anticipates the royal line of David and the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Israel’s advance into Canaan involved the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to give the land to Abraham’s descendants. 2Ch 14:11-12 Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD,… the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, Victory came from the LORD, not merely from Judah’s military strength. The Canaanites and Perizzites were among the peoples occupying the land God had assigned to Israel. Their defeat displayed God’s faithfulness to His promises and His judgment upon nations whose sin had reached its fullness. Israel was to trust and obey the LORD rather than claim His victories as its own achievement. Deu 7:1-2 When the LORD your God brings you into the land… and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. The battle at Bezek was a decisive defeat for the inhabitants of the land and led to the capture of Adoni-bezek, their ruler. The large number slain reveals the scale of Judah’s victory and the seriousness of Israel’s task. God’s judgment against Canaan also pointed beyond Israel’s earthly battles to the final triumph of Christ over every enemy of His people. 2Ch 25:11-12 Amaziah, however, summoned his strength and led his troops… And there they found Adoni-bezek Adoni-bezek, “lord of Bezek,” ruled a Canaanite center whose precise location remains uncertain. Judah and Simeon encountered a ruler of real regional influence as they began to take possession of the land God had promised to Abraham’s descendants. 1Sa 11:8 And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000… and fought against him, Judah did not merely claim the inheritance by word but entered the conflict required by God’s command to remove the nations devoted to idolatry and violence. The battle displayed God’s faithfulness to give His people victory as they acted in obedient dependence upon Him. Jos 10:9-10 After marching all night from Gilgal,… striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites. The Canaanites and Perizzites represented peoples entrenched in the land and its corrupt worship. Their defeat advanced God’s judgment upon persistent sin and His covenant purpose for Israel, while foreshadowing the believer’s continuing call to resist evil under the Lord’s strength. Deu 7:1-2 When the LORD your God brings you into the land… As Adoni-bezek fled, Adoni-bezek, “lord of Bezek,” was a Canaanite ruler defeated by the tribes of Judah and Simeon in their opening campaign after Joshua’s death. His flight showed the collapse of Canaanite resistance before the army that God had appointed to take possession of the land. 2Ki 9:27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road…… they pursued him, Judah and Simeon did not allow the defeated king to escape and rebuild his power. Their pursuit carried out God’s command to remove the Canaanite nations whose idolatry and violence had filled the land. 2Ki 25:5 but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king… seized him, The capture of Adoni-bezek publicly demonstrated the Lord’s victory over a ruler who had terrorized other kings. The triumph also confirmed that God was giving His people the inheritance He had promised. 2Ki 25:6 The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up… and cut off his thumbs and big toes. The mutilation rendered Adoni-bezek unable to fight or flee effectively and marked his complete humiliation. In the next verse, he recognized that he had inflicted the same cruelty on seventy kings, acknowledging that God had repaid him according to his own deeds. Jdg 16:21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes… Then Adoni-bezek said, Adoni-bezek was a Canaanite ruler whose name means “lord of Bezek.” After Judah and Simeon defeated his forces and captured him, he recognized that his defeat was not merely the result of military loss but the righteous repayment of God. His words preserve a striking confession from an enemy of Israel that the God of Israel judges cruelty and pride. 1Sa 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned;… “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off Adoni-bezek had subjected numerous lesser kings to deliberate mutilation. Removing the thumbs crippled a man’s ability to grasp weapons, while removing the great toes severely hindered balance and mobility. The practice displayed his dominance and reduced former rulers to helpless captives. The number seventy emphasizes the breadth of his conquests and the severity of his oppression. 2Sa 4:12 So David commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab.… have gathered the scraps under my table. The defeated kings had been humiliated as dependents forced to live on whatever fell from Adoni-bezek’s table. A ruler who had treated others as beneath his feet now suffered the same disgrace. God’s judgment did not overlook the cruelty inflicted upon those under his power. Mrk 7:27-28 “First let the children have their fill,” He said.… As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” Adoni-bezek openly acknowledged the justice of his punishment. Although he was a pagan king, he understood that his own deeds had returned upon him. His confession illustrates the enduring principle that God holds rulers and nations accountable for their actions, for whatever a man sows, he will also reap. Oba 1:15 For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations.… And they brought him to Jerusalem, Jerusalem was still a Canaanite stronghold contested by Israel and had not yet become Israel’s permanent political and spiritual center. Adoni-bezek’s removal to Jerusalem placed his downfall near the city that would later be established by David as the capital of Israel and the site of the temple. 2Ki 23:30 From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot… where he died. His death ended a reign marked by violence and humiliation of others. The fall of Adoni-bezek showed that the Canaanite powers resisting Israel were subject to the justice of the Lord, who was giving the land to His people according to His covenant. 1Ki 2:10 Then David rested with his fathers and was buried…
The Capture of Jerusalem and HebronJudah began the allotted conquest by attacking Jerusalem, a Jebusite stronghold near the boundary of Judah and Benjamin. Although Jerusalem would later belong to Benjamin’s territory, Judah took the lead in battle, consistent with the Lord’s earlier command that Judah should go first in the conquest. The city had not yet become Israel’s political or spiritual center, but its position in the hill country made it strategically significant. 2Sa 5:6-7 Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem… and captured it. Judah gained a real victory over Jerusalem, yet Jebusite control was not permanently removed. Jebusites continued to dwell in Jerusalem, and the fortified stronghold of Zion remained in their hands until David captured it centuries later. David’s conquest established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and prepared the way for the temple under Solomon. From David’s line, the royal tribe of Judah would bring forth Christ, the eternal King. 2Ki 25:4-7 Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans… They put the city to the sword The judgment upon Jerusalem’s inhabitants followed God’s command for Israel to remove the corrupting influence of the Canaanite peoples and their idolatry. Israel was not merely pursuing territory; the conquest involved the execution of God’s righteous judgment against nations whose wickedness had reached its full measure. Judah’s obedience in battle stood in contrast to later failures to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Jos 11:11 The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword.… and set it on fire. The burning of Jerusalem marked the defeat of a Canaanite center of power and worship. Yet the city’s later history showed that military success alone could not secure lasting faithfulness or peace. Jerusalem would eventually become the city of David, the site of the temple, and the place where Christ died and rose again. God’s purposes for the city ultimately point beyond earthly Jerusalem to the New Jerusalem, where sin, judgment, and hostile powers will be removed forever. 2Ch 36:19 Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God… Afterward, the men of Judah marched down Judah continued the campaign begun under God’s direction after Joshua’s death. The tribe’s leadership fulfilled the Lord’s command that Judah should go first (Judges 1:2) and reflected Jacob’s blessing that Judah would lead among his brothers (Genesis 49:8–10). Jos 10:36-37 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon… to fight against the Canaanites Israel’s battles carried out God’s judgment on peoples whose entrenched idolatry, immorality, and violence had filled the land (Deuteronomy 9:4–5; 18:9–12). The Lord was giving Israel the inheritance promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while calling His people to remain separate from Canaanite worship. Deu 7:1-2 When the LORD your God brings you into the land… living in the hill country, The central highlands included important cities such as Hebron and provided defensible territory, fertile valleys, and control of major routes through the land. Securing this region established Judah within the heart of its allotted inheritance. Jos 11:21-22 At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim… in the Negev, The Negev lay south of the hill country, extending toward Egypt and the wilderness. Though dry and sparsely populated in places, it contained pastureland and guarded southern approaches and trade routes. Jos 15:21-32 These were the southernmost cities of Judah in the Negev… and in the foothills. The foothills, later called the Shephelah, formed the western transition between Judah’s mountains and the coastal plain. Its productive farmland and strategic valleys made it a frequent battleground, especially in later conflicts with the Philistines. Judah’s advance across these regions showed the breadth of the inheritance God had assigned, even though the full possession of the land would require continued faith and obedience. Jos 15:33-47 These were in the foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,… Judah also marched against the Canaanites Judah took the lead in the continuing conquest after Joshua’s death, acting in response to the Lord’s direction (Judges 1:1–2). The campaign required Israel to remove entrenched peoples whose idolatry and moral corruption had long defiled the land (Deuteronomy 9:4–5). Judah’s advance displayed the necessity of persevering obedience rather than assuming that earlier victories had completed God’s command. Jos 10:36-37 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon… who were living in Hebron Hebron stood in the hill country of Judah and carried deep patriarchal significance. Abraham lived nearby and purchased the cave of Machpelah as Sarah’s burial place, establishing a lasting testimony to God’s promise of the land (Genesis 23). The capture of Hebron demonstrated that the inheritance promised to Abraham was becoming Israel’s possession. Jos 14:12-14 Now therefore give me this hill country… (formerly known as Kiriath-arba), Kiriath-arba, meaning “City of Arba,” was associated with Arba, the great ancestor of the Anakim (Joshua 14:15). Its former name recalled Canaanite strength and influence, while its place within Judah’s inheritance marked the Lord’s power to give His people what He had promised. Jos 14:15 Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba, after Arba… and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai were descendants of Anak, belonging to the formidable people whose size had once caused Israel’s spies to fear (Numbers 13:28, 33). Their defeat fulfilled the confidence Caleb had expressed decades earlier: the Lord was able to drive out even the strongest inhabitants of the land (Numbers 13:30; Joshua 14:12). The victory showed that God’s promises are not hindered by human strength, fortified cities, or fears that had once kept Israel from obedience. Jos 15:13-14 According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave… From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir Judah continued its campaign through the hill country of southern Canaan, pressing beyond Hebron toward Debir. The parallel account identifies Caleb as the leader associated with this advance (Joshua 15:15). Debir’s capture strengthened Israel’s hold on the region and demonstrated the Lord’s faithfulness to give His people the inheritance He had promised. The continuing warfare also reveals that receiving God’s gift required obedient faith and persistent action against entrenched Canaanite opposition. Jos 10:38-39 Finally Joshua and all Israel with him… (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher). Kiriath-sepher, meaning “City of Books” or “City of Scribes,” was Debir’s earlier Canaanite name and may indicate its importance as an administrative or cultural center. Its inclusion connects the account closely with Joshua 15:15 and preserves the historical setting of Judah’s conquest. Under Israelite control, the city became part of Judah’s inheritance, marking the displacement of Canaanite power and the advance of God’s covenant purposes in the land. Jos 15:15-17 From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir… And Caleb said, Caleb, one of the two faithful spies who trusted God’s promise at Kadesh-barnea, continued to act in confidence that the Lord had given Israel the land. His leadership in Judah reflected the enduring reward God had promised for following Him wholeheartedly (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:6–14). Jos 14:6-12 Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,… “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, Kiriath-sepher, later called Debir, stood in the hill country of Judah near Hebron. Its capture was part of removing Canaanite control from Judah’s inheritance and securing the land God had assigned to the tribe. Caleb’s challenge called for courage, initiative, and faith in the Lord’s help. Jos 15:15 From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir… I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.” Acsah’s marriage would join Caleb’s family to the man who proved himself faithful in battle. Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, accepted the challenge and captured the city, becoming both Acsah’s husband and a future deliverer of Israel (Judges 1:13; 3:9–11). Jos 15:16-17 And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher…… So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, Othniel belonged to Caleb’s family within the tribe of Judah, linking his victory to the faithfulness of the household that had trusted God when Israel first approached Canaan. He captured Debir, formerly called Kiriath-sepher, fulfilling Caleb’s challenge and demonstrating courage in the continued conquest of the land. Othniel later became Israel’s first judge, raised up by the Lord to deliver His people from oppression (Judges 3:9–11). His early victory over Debir foreshadowed the leadership God would later entrust to him. Jos 15:17 So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city,… and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage. Caleb honored his promise by giving Acsah to Othniel. The marriage joined two faithful branches of Judah’s leading family and provided Othniel with an inheritance in the land Caleb had received. Acsah’s later request for springs of water shows that she and Othniel were establishing their household in the territory God had given them. Caleb’s generosity and Othniel’s courage display the blessing that accompanied obedience, faith, and perseverance in claiming God’s promised inheritance. Jos 15:18-19 One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him… One day Acsah came to Othniel Acsah, Caleb’s daughter and Othniel’s wife, acted after Othniel had won Debir and received her in marriage. Their household needed land capable of sustaining the family within the inheritance of Judah. Jos 15:17 So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city,… and urged him to ask her father for a field. Acsah recognized that a marriage gift without productive land would leave them poorly provided for. Her initiative appears again in Joshua 15:18–19 and shows prudent concern for the future of her family. Jos 15:18 One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him… When she got off her donkey, Acsah approached Caleb with deliberate respect and seriousness. Her dismounting prepared the way for a personal appeal to the father whose faith had secured an inheritance in the land. 1Sa 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey,… Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?” Caleb’s question opened the way for Acsah to request springs as well as land, since fields in the Negeb required a reliable water supply. The scene reflects Caleb’s generosity and points to the Lord’s provision through the inheritance He gave His people. 1Ki 3:5 One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream,… “Give me a blessing,” she answered. Achsah approached Caleb with confidence as his daughter, asking for a gift that would make her inheritance fruitful. Her request reflects the rightful concern of a household establishing itself in the land God had given Israel. Caleb’s willingness to hear her also displays the generosity expected of a faithful father. Gen 27:38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing,… “Since you have given me land in the Negev, The Negev lay in the dry southern region of Judah, where land without a dependable water supply could not easily sustain fields, flocks, or families. Caleb had given Achsah and Othniel an inheritance, but Achsah understood the practical demands of life there. Israel’s possession of such land fulfilled God’s covenant promise to give Abraham’s descendants the land of Canaan. Jos 14:13-15 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh… give me springs of water as well.” Achsah sought the resources needed for the land to become productive rather than merely requesting a greater possession. Springs brought life to an arid place, enabling cultivation and security. Her wise appeal pictures the believer’s dependence on God’s provision, for He alone supplies what is necessary for life and fruitfulness. Scripture later uses water as an image of the life and satisfaction Christ gives to those who come to Him. Gen 26:19-22 Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley,… So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs. Caleb granted more than a minimal provision, giving springs in both higher and lower areas so that the inheritance would be well supplied. His response honored Achsah’s faith-filled wisdom and secured the future of her household. The gift testifies to God’s abundant provision through the faithful servants He raises up among His people. Jos 15:19 “Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have… Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, also called Reuel, had received Moses during his years of exile in Midian and confessed the greatness of the Lord after Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 2:15–22; 18:1–12). His Kenite family maintained a faithful association with Israel. Their presence shows that those outside Jacob’s physical line could join themselves to the people who worshiped the God of Israel. Num 10:29 Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law… went up with the men of Judah Judah led Israel’s advance into the land by the Lord’s appointment (Judges 1:1–2). The Kenites joined Judah’s movement and shared in the settlement of the territory God gave to that tribe. Their alliance was not merely political; it connected them to Israel’s covenant life and to the people among whom the Lord had chosen to dwell. Num 13:30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said,… from the City of Palms The City of Palms was Jericho, the first fortified city defeated after Israel crossed the Jordan (Joshua 6). Though Jericho itself had been placed under God’s judgment, the surrounding region became part of Israel’s inheritance. The Kenites’ departure from that area placed them within Judah’s expanding territory. Deu 34:3 the Negev, and the region from the Valley… to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. The Negev south of Arad was a dry and demanding region, yet it lay within the land promised to Israel. Arad had opposed Israel during the wilderness journey and had been defeated when the Lord gave Israel victory (Numbers 21:1–3). The Kenites settled near territory marked by God’s faithfulness and Israel’s conquest. Num 21:1-3 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev,… They went to live among the people. The Kenites dwelt among Judah without being absorbed into Israel’s tribal genealogies. Their continued identity appears later in Scripture, including the household of Heber the Kenite during the days of Deborah and Barak (Judges 4:11, 17). Their acceptance among Israel demonstrates that devotion to the Lord, rather than ancestry alone, marked those who found a place among His people. 1Ch 2:55 and the clans of the scribes who lived at Jabez… Then the men of Judah went with their brothers the Simeonites, Judah and Simeon were sons of Leah and shared a close tribal relationship. Simeon’s inheritance was later located within Judah’s territory, reflecting the smaller tribe’s dependence on Judah and the practical unity required for Israel’s conquest. Jos 19:1 The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe… attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, Zephath lay in the southern region of Canaan, near the Negev. The campaign continued Israel’s God-given responsibility to remove the Canaanite peoples whose entrenched idolatry and wickedness had brought divine judgment upon the land. Jos 10:28 On that day Joshua captured Makkedah and put it to the sword… and devoted the city to destruction. Judah and Simeon placed Zephath under the ban of complete destruction (herem, meaning to devote something to God by completely destroying it) for the Lord. Israel was not to preserve Canaanite worship, wealth, or influence, since compromise with the nations of the land would draw God’s people into rebellion. Jos 6:17 Now the city and everything in it must be devoted… So it was called Hormah. Hormah means “destruction” and commemorated the Lord’s judgment upon the Canaanites. The name also recalled Israel’s earlier vow at Hormah, when God granted victory over Canaanite enemies in response to His people’s dependence on Him (Numbers 21:1–3). Num 21:3 And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up… And Judah also captured Judah advanced in the strength the Lord had given, beginning to take possession of the inheritance assigned to the tribe. Jacob had foretold Judah’s prominence among the tribes, and Judah’s early leadership in battle anticipated the royal line that would later culminate in David and ultimately Christ. Jos 15:13-17 According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave… Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron— These coastal cities belonged to the Philistine sphere of influence and guarded important trade routes along the Mediterranean plain. Judah’s victories brought at least temporary control over key Philistine strongholds, though the Philistines later regained power and became persistent enemies during the days of Samson, Saul, and David. Israel’s incomplete obedience in removing the inhabitants left room for recurring conflict and idolatrous influence. Jos 13:2-3 This is the land that remains: All the territory… each with its territory. Judah took not merely fortified cities but the surrounding lands, villages, fields, and routes needed to sustain the region. The conquest displayed God’s faithfulness to give Israel the land He had promised, while the later history of the Judges shows that continued possession depended on Israel’s continued faithfulness to Him. Jos 15:45-47 Ekron, with its towns and villages;… The LORD was with Judah, Judah’s victories rested on the Lord’s covenant faithfulness, not merely on military strength. God had assigned Judah the leading role in the conquest, and His presence assured them that no enemy was beyond His power. 2Ch 20:17 You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions… and they took possession of the hill country; Judah secured the central highlands, including territory associated with Hebron and the patriarchal promises. The elevated terrain provided defensible settlements and became an important heartland for Judah, David’s royal line, and eventually the kingdom centered in Jerusalem. Jos 10:40-42 So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country… but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains The incomplete removal of the Canaanites fell short of God’s command and left hostile peoples within the land. Their continued presence would bring recurring conflict and temptation toward idolatry, especially through the strength of the Canaanite cities in the lowlands. Jos 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out… because they had chariots of iron. Iron-reinforced chariots gave the Canaanites a formidable advantage on open, level ground, where such forces could move freely. Yet the chariots did not limit the Lord, who later defeated Canaanite chariots under Deborah and Barak (Judges 4). Judah’s failure reveals the danger of allowing visible human power to weaken obedience and faith in God’s promised help. Jos 17:16-18 “The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied,… Just as Moses had promised, Caleb received the inheritance God had pledged because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly when the other spies discouraged Israel (Numbers 14:24; Deut. 1:36; Josh. 14:6–14). God’s promise endured through the wilderness years, Moses’ death, and the conquest under Joshua. Jos 14:9 On that day Moses swore to me, saying… Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, Hebron is a significant city in biblical history, located in the hill country of Judah. It was originally called Kiriath Arba and is one of the oldest cities in the world. The allocation of Hebron to Caleb by the tribe of Judah fulfills the promise made to him and demonstrates the tribal leadership and inheritance practices in ancient Israel. Hebron later becomes a city of refuge and a Levitical city, further emphasizing its importance. Jos 15:13-14 According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave… who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak. Caleb expelled Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, members of the formidable Anakim whom the fearful spies had once regarded as unbeatable (Numbers 13:28, 33; Josh. 15:13–14). The victory demonstrated that the obstacles which had frightened Israel forty-five years earlier could not withstand faith in the Lord’s power. Jos 15:14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—… The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. Jerusalem lay along the boundary of Benjamin and Judah, and Benjamin bore responsibility for removing the Jebusite stronghold within its inheritance. Their failure continued the pattern of incomplete conquest seen throughout Judges. God had given Israel the land, yet the tribes often settled for partial possession rather than carrying out His command completely. The Jebusites retained control of the fortified city until David captured it and made Jerusalem the capital of Israel (2 Samuel 5:6–9). Jos 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out… So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites. The continued Jebusite presence showed that Benjamin’s failure had lasting consequences. Living among Israel, the remaining Canaanites became a source of spiritual compromise and recurring conflict, as later events in Judges demonstrate. Jerusalem would eventually become the place where David established his throne and where Solomon built the temple, but its later glory does not erase the warning here: unfinished obedience leaves room for influences that oppose the rule and worship of God. Jdg 19:10-12 But the man was unwilling to spend the night.… The house of Joseph The “house of Joseph” refers to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. These tribes were significant in the history of Israel, often taking a leading role in the conquest and settlement of Canaan. Joseph’s sons were blessed by Jacob, and Ephraim was given prominence over Manasseh (Genesis 48:13-20). This phrase highlights the unity and collective action of these tribes in fulfilling God’s command to possess the land. Jos 17:17 So Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim… also attacked Bethel, Bethel, meaning “house of God,” was a significant city in the central hill country of Canaan. It held historical importance as a place where Abraham and Jacob had encounters with God (Genesis 12:8, 28:19). The attack on Bethel signifies the continuation of the conquest of Canaan, as commanded by God. Archaeological evidence suggests Bethel was a fortified city, making its capture a strategic victory for the Israelites. The city’s religious significance and its location on a major trade route made it a key target. Jos 8:17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out… and the LORD was with them. God’s presence gave success to the house of Joseph as they acted in obedience to His command to possess the land. The victory fulfilled the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and showed that Israel’s strength depended upon the Lord rather than military power alone. Jos 6:27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame… They sent spies to Bethel The house of Joseph surveyed the city before attacking, following the pattern of reconnaissance used at Jericho. Bethel, meaning “House of God,” stood within the territory promised to Joseph’s tribes and carried deep patriarchal significance as the place where Jacob encountered God and received confirmation of the covenant promises. Jos 2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies… (formerly known as Luz), Luz had been identified by Jacob as Bethel, “the house of God,” after his vision of the stairway reaching heaven. Israel’s advance against the city joined military conquest with the fulfillment of God’s pledge to give the land to Abraham’s descendants. The later rescue of the man who revealed the entrance to the city recalls Rahab’s deliverance at Jericho, though the account also shows that conquest required discernment, obedience, and faith in the Lord who gave Israel the land. Gen 28:19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city… and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, The house of Joseph had sent scouts to Bethel, formerly called Luz, to discover how the fortified city might be taken. The man’s departure from the city placed him in their path and gave them access to knowledge unavailable from outside its walls. Bethel carried deep covenant significance as the place where Jacob had received God’s promise, yet its inhabitants remained among the Canaanites whom Israel was commanded to dispossess. Jos 2:1-3 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies… they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, The spies sought the route or means by which the city could be entered, recognizing that a direct assault against its defenses would be costly. Their request recalls the Israelite spies’ appeal to Rahab at Jericho, where help from within the city became part of God’s provision for Israel’s conquest. 1Sa 30:15-16 “Will you lead me to these raiders?” David asked.… and we will treat you kindly.” The promise offered protection and mercy in return for cooperation. When the man showed them the entrance, the house of Joseph struck the city but spared him and his family (Judges 1:25). Mercy was extended to one who separated himself from the doomed city, while Bethel’s fall testified that Israel’s possession of the land depended ultimately upon the Lord’s faithfulness to His covenant. Jos 2:12-14 Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD… So the man showed them the entrance to the city, The man provided the house of Joseph with the information needed to enter Bethel and overcome its defenses. His help resembles Rahab’s aid to Israel at Jericho, where knowledge and allegiance to Israel’s God brought deliverance from judgment. Bethel, formerly called Luz, stood in a place associated with Jacob’s encounter with God and His promise to give the land to Jacob’s descendants. Jos 2:12-16 Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD… and they put the city to the sword The forces of Joseph captured Bethel and destroyed its inhabitants in judgment. Israel’s conquest of Canaan involved both the fulfillment of God’s promise to give the land to His people and the judgment of entrenched idolatry and wickedness among the Canaanite nations. Bethel’s fall demonstrated that the Lord was giving Israel victory when they acted in dependence upon Him. Jos 8:24-25 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai… but released that man and all his family. The house of Joseph kept its promise of kindness to the man who aided them. Like Rahab and her household, he and his family were spared amid the destruction of a condemned city. Their deliverance shows that judgment did not exclude mercy for those who turned from the doomed city and identified themselves with God’s people. Jos 6:22-25 Meanwhile, Joshua told the two men who had spied out the… And the man went to the land of the Hittites, Having received mercy from the house of Joseph after revealing the way into Bethel, the man departed with his family and sought a new home among the Hittites. The Hittite peoples occupied regions extending northward from Canaan into Syria and Anatolia, showing that the events of Israel’s settlement were connected with the wider world of the ancient Near East. Gen 15:20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, built a city, He established a permanent community rather than merely finding refuge. Building a city required leadership, security, households, and ordered life. The man who preserved his life through the fall of one city became the founder of another. 1Ki 16:24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer… and called it Luz, The name preserved the memory of the former Luz, the Canaanite city later known as Bethel. Bethel had become a place associated with Jacob’s encounter with God and Israel’s inheritance, while this new Luz stood outside the land promised to Abraham’s descendants. Gen 28:19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city… which is its name to this day. The continuing name marked the lasting outcome of the man’s departure and settlement. Israel’s conquest brought judgment upon Canaanite strongholds, yet God also showed mercy to the household that aided Joseph’s tribe. 2Ki 14:7 Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.…
The Failure to Complete the ConquestIsrael was living in the unsettled period after Joshua’s death, when the tribes were responsible to complete the conquest of their allotted territories. The land had been granted by God, yet its full possession required continued faith, obedience, and warfare against entrenched Canaanite strongholds. Jos 11:21-23 At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim… Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants Manasseh possessed territory on both sides of the Jordan and bore responsibility for securing key areas west of the river. By permitting Canaanite populations to remain, the tribe disobeyed God’s command to remove the nations whose idolatry would corrupt Israel’s covenant life. What began as incomplete obedience became a lasting source of spiritual compromise. Jos 17:12-13 But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy… of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, These fortified cities controlled major routes through the Jezreel Valley and toward the coastal plain. Their strategic position made them difficult to conquer but also essential for Israel’s security. Beth-shean lay near the Jordan Valley, while Megiddo guarded a major pass and later became associated with the final gathering at Armageddon. Canaanite control of these centers preserved military pressure and pagan influence within Israel’s inheritance. 1Ch 7:29 And along the borders of Manasseh were Beth-shean, Taanach,… and their villages; The failure extended beyond the walled cities to the surrounding settlements and agricultural lands. Canaanite life, worship, and social practices remained woven into the region rather than being displaced by faithful Israelite settlement. Jos 21:42 Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands;… for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. The Canaanites resisted Israel’s advance, but their persistence did not cancel God’s promise or excuse Manasseh’s disobedience. Israel’s unwillingness to trust God fully allowed former inhabitants to remain, setting the stage for oppression, idolatry, and the repeated need for deliverance that marks the era of the Judges. Num 33:55-56 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land… When Israel became stronger, Israel’s growing strength followed the initial conquest under Joshua and reflected God’s faithfulness in giving His people dominion in the land. Yet military success did not produce full obedience. The tribes increasingly possessed the ability to remove their remaining enemies but did not carry out the command God had given. Jos 17:13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger… they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, Israel chose economic advantage over covenant faithfulness. Enslaving the Canaanites brought immediate benefit, but it allowed idolatrous peoples and their worship practices to remain within Israel’s inheritance. What seemed profitable became a source of spiritual compromise and future conflict. Jos 16:10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer… but they never drove them out completely. The Canaanite presence became a continuing snare, contributing to the cycles of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance recorded in Judges. Israel’s incomplete conquest demonstrated that partial obedience to God leaves room for influences that oppose Him. Jos 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out… Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites Ephraim’s failure repeated the pattern already seen among other tribes. God had commanded Israel to remove the Canaanite nations from the land, both as an act of judgment upon their entrenched wickedness and as protection against their idolatry. Partial obedience left a continuing source of temptation within Israel’s inheritance. Jos 16:10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer… living in Gezer; Gezer stood on the southwestern border of Ephraim near the strategic route connecting Egypt with the coastal plain and the interior of Canaan. Its fortified position made it important commercially and militarily. Joshua had earlier recorded that Ephraim did not dispossess the Canaanites of Gezer, though they later subjected them to forced labor (Joshua 16:10). Jos 10:33 At that time Horam king of Gezer went to help Lachish, but… so the Canaanites continued to dwell among them in Gezer. The Canaanites remained within Israel’s territory rather than being removed as God had directed. Their presence exposed Ephraim and the surrounding tribes to Canaanite worship and practices, contributing to the recurring idolatry that marked the period of the judges. What Israel tolerated in the land eventually became a snare to its covenant faithfulness. Jos 17:12-13 But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy… Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol; Zebulun’s inheritance lay in central Galilee (Josh. 19:10–16), yet the tribe did not carry out God’s command to dispossess the Canaanite peoples (Deut. 7:1–2). Kitron and Nahalol were towns within or near Zebulun’s allotted territory, though their precise sites are no longer certain. Israel’s incomplete conquest revealed a failure of faith and obedience that would leave enduring spiritual danger within the land. Jos 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out… so the Canaanites lived among them Canaanite presence exposed Zebulun to pagan worship, immoral religious customs, and alliances that threatened wholehearted devotion to the Lord. God had warned Israel not to live in covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they become a snare and turn His people toward other gods (Ex. 23:32–33). The coexistence described here anticipates the repeated pattern in Judges: compromise with the nations led to idolatry, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. Jos 17:12-13 But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy… and served as forced laborers. Zebulun chose economic advantage over full obedience, reducing the Canaanites to laborers rather than removing them from the land. Israel, once afflicted by forced labor in Egypt, now imposed it upon others. Partial obedience did not remove the spiritual threat; it preserved it. The remaining Canaanite population would continue to influence Israel’s life and worship, demonstrating that disobedience tolerated for practical gain eventually bears deeper consequences. Jos 16:10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer… Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants Asher’s incomplete obedience left Canaanite populations embedded within its inheritance. What Israel spared in disobedience became a continuing source of spiritual compromise, insecurity, and pressure to adopt foreign worship. Jos 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out… of Acco, Acco was an important Mediterranean port, known today as Acre. Its retention by the Canaanites limited Asher’s control of the coast and preserved a center of trade, influence, and military strength outside Israelite rule. Act 21:7 When we had finished our voyage from Tyre,… Sidon, Sidon was a leading Phoenician city renowned for commerce, seafaring, and wealth. Phoenician influence exposed Israel to the religious practices of Baal and Ashtoreth, dangers against which the Lord had repeatedly warned His people. Jos 11:8 and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel… Ahlab, Ahlab was among the settlements Asher did not possess. Canaanite communities remaining throughout the tribal territory made it difficult for Israel to live as a distinct people devoted wholly to the Lord. Jos 19:24-26 The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:… Achzib, Achzib stood along the coastal region and shared in the prosperity associated with maritime trade. Asher’s failure to take such places showed that the tribe did not fully enter into the possession God had given. Jos 19:29 The border then turned back toward Ramah… Helbah, Helbah’s precise location is uncertain, but its inclusion reveals that Asher’s failure extended beyond one fortified city or isolated defeat. The tribe accepted coexistence where God had commanded removal. Jos 19:25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, Aphik, Aphik was likely a fortified site in the northern region. Canaanite control of strongholds left Israel vulnerable and demonstrated the consequences of relying on human calculation rather than God’s promised help. Jos 19:30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities… and Rehob. Rehob lay near Asher’s northern boundary, where remaining Canaanite inhabitants continued to occupy the land. Asher’s settlement among the Canaanites reversed God’s intended order: Israel was to possess the land, not be shaped by the people it had been commanded to remove. Jos 19:28 It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah… So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, Asher’s inheritance lay along the northern Mediterranean coast, including fertile territory and important coastal towns. Yet the tribe did not secure the cities assigned to it, leaving Canaanite populations embedded throughout its territory. Israel’s calling was not merely territorial expansion but the establishment of a people set apart for the worship and obedience of the Lord. Living among idolatrous Canaanite communities exposed Asher to religious corruption and weakened its distinct covenant witness. Jos 16:10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer… because they did not drive them out. God had commanded Israel to remove the Canaanite nations so that their altars, idols, and immoral practices would not become a snare to His people. Asher’s failure reflected the broader pattern in Judges: incomplete obedience produced enduring compromise. The Canaanites remained both a military threat and a spiritual temptation, contributing to Israel’s recurring drift into idolatry. God’s commands concerning the land protected Israel’s covenant life and pointed to the necessity of wholehearted obedience rather than accommodation with sin. Num 33:55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land… Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. Naphtali, descended from Jacob’s son by Bilhah, received its inheritance in the northern part of Canaan. Yet the tribe did not complete the conquest God had commanded when Israel entered the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–2). Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were Canaanite towns within Naphtali’s allotted territory, and their continued occupation testified to Israel’s incomplete obedience. The Lord had warned that remaining Canaanite populations would become snares, drawing His people toward their gods and practices (Exodus 23:32–33). Jos 19:32-39 The sixth lot came out for the clans of the tribe… So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, Instead of possessing the land in the fullness God had given, Naphtali settled alongside those whom Israel had been commanded to remove. Such coexistence exposed Israel continually to Canaanite idolatry, fertility worship, and social customs opposed to the holiness required of God’s covenant people (Leviticus 20:24–26). The pattern seen in Naphtali would recur throughout Judges: accommodation with the nations led to spiritual compromise, and compromise eventually brought oppression. Jdg 3:5-6 Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites… but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers. Naphtali gained economic advantage and control over these cities without carrying out God’s command completely. Forced labor may have appeared a practical substitute for conquest, but it preserved a Canaanite presence and its corrupting influence within Israel’s inheritance. Israel’s later struggles were not caused by any failure in God’s promise, but by the nation’s unwillingness to trust and obey Him fully. Jos 16:10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer… The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country Dan’s inheritance included valuable lowland territory, but Amorite resistance confined the tribe to the less fertile uplands. Israel had been commanded to dispossess the Canaanite peoples, yet Daniel did not secure the land assigned to it. The continuing Amorite presence exposed the cost of incomplete obedience and left Israel vulnerable to its enemies and their idolatrous influence. Jos 17:16-18 “The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied,… and did not allow them to come down into the plain. Control of the plains gave the Amorites access to fertile farmland, trade routes, and military advantage. Judges 1:35 identifies their strongholds at Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. Dan’s inability to possess its full inheritance contributed to the tribe’s later search for territory in the north, recorded in Judges 18. God’s promised rest and blessing were tied to faithful trust in Him and obedience to His command. Jos 17:11-13 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean,… And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. The Amorites maintained control of key towns in the territory allotted to Dan, despite Israel’s earlier victories in the land. Aijalon lay along an important route through the western foothills toward the coastal plain, while Shaalbim and Mount Heres strengthened Amorite control over the region. Dan’s inability to dislodge these inhabitants exposed Israel’s incomplete obedience to the Lord’s command to possess the land and remove its idolatrous peoples. The surviving Canaanite presence would become a continuing source of military pressure and spiritual temptation. Jos 19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, The house of Joseph, consisting chiefly of Ephraim and Manasseh, became strong enough to exert authority over the Amorite-held region. Their strength reflected the Lord’s faithfulness to preserve and establish the tribes of Israel in the inheritance He had promised. Yet military strength brought responsibility: Israel was to use the Lord’s gifts in obedient faith rather than adopt expedient arrangements with the nations remaining in the land. Jos 17:17-18 So Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim… they pressed the Amorites into forced labor. The house of Joseph subjected the Amorites to labor instead of driving them out as the Lord had commanded. This practical compromise brought economic benefit but left pagan peoples and their influence within Israel’s borders. Israel’s repeated willingness to tolerate what God had commanded them to remove prepared the way for the idolatry, oppression, and conflict that mark the period of the Judges. Jos 17:13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger… And the border of the Amorites The Amorites held territory that Israel had not subdued, especially in the hill country and southern approaches to Canaan. Their continued presence exposed Israel’s incomplete obedience and allowed Canaanite strength and idolatry to remain within the land God had given them. Jos 13:4 to the south, all the land of the Canaanites… extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim The Ascent of Akrabbim, meaning Scorpion Pass, lay south of the Dead Sea near the wilderness frontier. Its steep terrain formed an important route between the Arabah and the highlands, making it a natural military boundary and a strategic stronghold. Num 34:4 cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin,… to Sela Sela, meaning “rock,” was associated with the rocky region of Edom and may refer to a fortified site in that area. The reference shows that Amorite control reached into difficult, elevated country where entrenched cities and natural defenses hindered Israel’s advance. 2Ki 14:7 Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.… and beyond. Amorite territory continued upward from these southern landmarks, indicating influence beyond the locations specifically named. Judges records the cost of leaving hostile peoples in the land: Israel faced recurring military pressure and spiritual compromise because it did not fully carry out the Lord’s command. Jos 15:1 Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. 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