Joshua 11:14

12 Joshua captured all these kings and their cities and put them to the sword. He devoted them to destruction, as Moses the LORD’s servant had commanded.

13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

The Israelites took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed.

15 As the LORD had commanded His servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. That is what Joshua did, leaving nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

16 So Joshua took this entire region: the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah, and the mountains of Israel and their foothills,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The Israelites took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed.
KJV
And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
WEB
The children of Israel took all the plunder of these cities, with the livestock, as plunder for themselves; but every man they struck with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They didn’t leave any who breathed.
ASV
And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any that breathed.
DARBY
And all the spoil of these cities and the cattle the children of Israel took as prey to themselves; only, they smote all the men with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them: they left none that breathed.
BLB
And all the spoil of these cities, and the livestock, the sons of Israel plundered for themselves. But every man they struck with the mouth of the sword, until they had completely destroyed them; [and] they left not anyone breathing.
ÅB
Og alt hærfanget i disse byer og feet tok Israels barn for seg selv; men alt folket slo de med sverdets egg inntil de hadde utryddet dem; de lot ingen som dro ånde, bli igjen.
OTB
Israelittene tok alt byttet og buskapen fra disse byene som sitt bytte, men de slo hver person med sverdet til de hadde ødelagt dem, og lot ingen som pustet bli igjen.
B1930
Og alt hærfanget i disse byer og feet tok Israels barn for sig selv; men alt folket slo de med sverdets egg inntil de hadde utryddet dem; de lot ingen som drog ånde, bli igjen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 31:9

    The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods.

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  • Deuteronomy 20:14

    But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.

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  • Joshua 8:27

    Israel took for themselves only the cattle and plunder of that city, as the LORD had commanded Joshua.

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  • Joshua 10:40

    So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes, together with all their kings—leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.

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  • Numbers 31:11–12

    and carried away all the plunder and spoils, both people and animals.

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  • Deuteronomy 6:10–11

    And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build,

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  • Joshua 11:11

    The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself.

    Read in context