Meaning of Joshua 11:20

This verse from Joshua 11:20 asserts that the Lord deliberately caused the hearts of the Canaanite kings and their armies to become stubborn and resistant, thereby inciting them to engage in warfare against Israel. The purpose of this divine hardening was not to create sin where none existed, but rather to ensure their complete annihilation, aligning with God's prior commands to Moses for the extermination of these nations. This statement emphasizes God's sovereign control over human actions and the unfolding of historical events, particularly in the context of fulfilling His promises and judgments upon those who opposed His people and His will.

Context and Background

Joshua 11:20 is situated within the account of Israel's conquest of Canaan, specifically the southern campaign. After a series of decisive victories, including the defeat of a large coalition of northern kings led by Jabin of Hazor, the land was largely subdued. However, remnants of opposition remained. This verse explains why these remaining pockets of resistance continued to fight, even against overwhelming odds, and why their defeat was absolute. The preceding verses (11:10-15) describe the utter destruction of cities and people, reinforcing the severity of God's judgment. The hardening of hearts is presented as the divine mechanism that ensured this total victory and eradication, preventing any possibility of a negotiated peace or a lingering threat to Israel.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Sovereignty and Agency: The verse highlights God's ultimate control over human will and actions. While individuals still made choices, God's sovereign purpose directed those choices towards His predetermined outcome. This doesn't negate human responsibility but places it within the framework of God's overarching plan.
• Judgment and Obedience: The hardening of hearts serves God's judgment upon the Canaanites for their wickedness and their opposition to His chosen people. It also underscores Israel's divine mandate to obey God's commands, which included the complete removal of these nations.
• Total Destruction: The phrase "destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy" emphasizes the uncompromising nature of this judgment. It was not a partial victory but a complete eradication, as previously commanded.

Spiritual Significance and Application

From a theological perspective, this verse invites reflection on the nature of God's justice and sovereignty. It demonstrates that God can use even the stubbornness of His enemies to accomplish His purposes. For believers, it underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands and the assurance that God is in control of history, even when circumstances appear chaotic or overwhelming. It also raises profound questions about divine foreknowledge, predestination, and human free will, which have been subjects of extensive theological discussion throughout Christian history.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This event is a crucial part of the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, which promised the land of Canaan to his descendants (Genesis 15:18-21). The Canaanites were to be driven out not simply for territorial gain, but because of their grievous sins (Leviticus 18:24-30). The conquest, therefore, represents both a judgment on sin and the establishment of God's people in the land He promised them. This narrative sets the stage for the subsequent history of Israel, their struggles with sin, and their relationship with God within the promised land.

Analogies

One analogy to understand the "hardening of hearts" is that of a physician who, knowing a disease is terminal and incurable, allows it to run its course without intervention, thereby achieving the inevitable outcome. The disease (the Canaanites' inherent wickedness and opposition to God) was already present; the physician's inaction (or God's allowance of their stubbornness) simply ensures the predetermined, albeit tragic, end. Another analogy is that of a sculptor who, intending to create a specific statue, chips away at a block of marble. The sculptor's hammer (God's decree) determines the final form, and the marble's resistance (the Canaanites' hardened hearts) is precisely what allows the sculptor to achieve the desired shape through forceful interaction.

Relation to Other Verses

The concept of God hardening hearts appears elsewhere in Scripture, notably in the Exodus narrative concerning Pharaoh (e.g., Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1). In those instances, God hardened Pharaoh's heart, leading to his continued defiance and the subsequent plagues upon Egypt, ultimately resulting in Israel's liberation. Similarly, Romans 9:18 states, "So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills," which directly references this principle of divine sovereignty in both mercy and judgment. The command for total destruction is also echoed in Deuteronomy 7:1-2, where Moses instructs Israel to make no covenants with the inhabitants of the land and to "utterly destroy them."