Joshua 11:18 - Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

Generated Verse: Joshua 11:18

What does "Joshua 11:18" mean?


The verse "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings" (Joshua 11:18) from the Book of Joshua means that Joshua's military campaigns against the various Canaanite kings and their armies were not quick or easy. It implies a prolonged period of sustained fighting and effort.

Here's a breakdown of the meaning:

Joshua made war: This refers to Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Moses' death, leading his people in military conquest against the inhabitants of Canaan.

a long time: This signifies that the war was not a short, decisive victory. It was a protracted conflict that stretched over a considerable duration. The exact length is not specified here, but other passages in the Book of Joshua provide some indication. Joshua 14:10 mentions that forty-five years passed between the time when God promised Caleb land and the time Caleb received it. This suggests that the period of conquest and settlement spanned at least several decades.

with all those kings: This highlights that Joshua was not just facing one or two powerful rulers. He was battling against a coalition of multiple kings, each with their own territories and armies. This suggests that the resistance was widespread and required a sustained effort to overcome. The earlier parts of the Book of Joshua describe battles against individual kings and then larger coalitions of kings.

In summary, the verse emphasizes the arduous and time-consuming nature of Joshua's conquest of Canaan. It was not a swift and effortless victory but a long and challenging war against numerous kings who opposed the Israelites' entry into the land.

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