Judgment in the Conquest

In less than three chapters of Scripture we have seen Israel move from a mere foothold in the Land of Promise to possession of “all this land.” But the brevity of the account of Israel’s conquest is no indication of the actual duration of the war the nation fights. Indeed, the author of the book here tells us that “Joshua made war a long time” with the kings of Canaan. Some commentators believe that several years pass before Israel subdues all the Canaanites in the land. In truth, God had told Israel that the conquest would not be achieved overnight. He had said that He would drive the Canaanites out, but it would happen “ ‘little by little’ ” (Ex. 23:30) so that heavy warfare would not devastate the land. Thus, even the lengthy time it takes to achieve the conquest is an expression of God’s goodness and grace. And in the end, with God’s overwhelming help, Joshua does take all the land. Yes, some Canaanites remain, as we will see, but Israel has the upper hand now. The Canaanites are reduced, demoralized, and defeated.

The primary reason for the length of the conquest is the stubbornness of the Canaanites’ hearts. We’re told in today’s passage that no city within the land, with the notable exception of Gibeon, makes peace with Israel. As Matthew Henry notes, “They never so much as desired conditions of peace.” And the Holy Spirit here reveals the reason for this pride of heart—the Canaanites are hardened by God. These sinful, immoral, idolatrous people had had a time of grace. After all, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived among them, worshiping the one true God (Gen. 12:6–7). But they did not turn from their evil ways and their opportunity for repentance passed (Gen. 15:16). Therefore, God brings the descendants of the patriarchs back to Canaan as instruments of judgment. To achieve His purpose, He does with the Canaanites as He did with Pharaoh (Ex. 10:1) to effect His people’s release from Egypt and to bring judgment on their slavemasters: He hardens their hearts so they will not repent. He withdraws His Spirit and gives them over to their sin. Thus, the Canaanites relentlessly attack Israel, even though each battle is fresh evidence that fighting is futile. They prefer to fight and die rather than serve and live. And so God’s judgment falls upon them.