King James Version

What Does Joshua 11:10 Mean?

Joshua 11:10 in the King James Version says “And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was... — study this verse from Joshua chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.

Joshua 11:10 · KJV


Context

8

And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. great Zidon: or, Zidonrabbah Misrephothmaim: or, Salt pits: Heb. Burnings of waters

9

And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

10

And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.

11

And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. any: Heb. any breath

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword—After the pursuit, Joshua returned to the coalition's headquarters. Hazor (חָצוֹר, Chatzor, 'enclosure/castle') was the head of all those kingdoms (רֹאשׁ, rosh, chief/capital). Its destruction was strategically and symbolically critical—eliminating the power center that organized resistance.

The execution of Hazor's king fulfilled the pattern established with Jericho and Ai: removing Canaanite leadership to prevent future rebellion. Archaeological evidence confirms Hazor's massive size (200 acres, 10 times larger than typical Canaanite cities) and catastrophic destruction in the late 13th century BC, exactly matching Joshua's timeframe. Destroying the 'head' paralyzed the entire northern region.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Hazor was the most important city in Canaan, mentioned in Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Mari texts as a major political power. Its king controlled trade routes from Egypt to Mesopotamia. Excavations revealed a lower city housing 20,000+ people and an upper acropolis with royal palaces. The destruction layer shows intense fire, validating verse 11's account.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'Hazor'—the controlling center of opposition in your life—needs to be confronted and conquered?
  2. How does defeating the 'head' of an evil system affect its subsidiary parts?
  3. Why must spiritual victories be consolidated, not just celebrated?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיָּ֨שָׁב1 of 19

turned back

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ2 of 19

And Joshua

H3091

jehoshua (i.e., joshua), the jewish leader

בָּעֵ֤ת3 of 19

at that time

H6256

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc

הַהִיא֙4 of 19
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וַיִּלְכֹּ֣ד5 of 19

and took

H3920

to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere

אֶת6 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

חָצ֣וֹר7 of 19

Hazor

H2674

chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in palestine and of one in arabia

וְאֶת8 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מַלְכָּ֖הּ9 of 19

the king

H4428

a king

הִכָּ֣ה10 of 19

and smote

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

בֶחָ֑רֶב11 of 19

thereof with the sword

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

כִּֽי12 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

חָצ֣וֹר13 of 19

Hazor

H2674

chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in palestine and of one in arabia

לְפָנִ֔ים14 of 19

beforetime

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הִ֕יא15 of 19
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

רֹ֖אשׁ16 of 19

was the head

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

כָּל17 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַמַּמְלָכ֥וֹת18 of 19

of all those kingdoms

H4467

dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)

הָאֵֽלֶּה׃19 of 19
H428

these or those


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 11:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 11:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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