Joshua 11:13
New International Version
Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

New Living Translation
But the Israelites did not burn any of the towns built on mounds except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

English Standard Version
But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor alone; that Joshua burned.

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

King James Bible
But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

New King James Version
But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only, which Joshua burned.

New American Standard Bible
However, Israel did not burn any cities that stood on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.

NASB 1995
However, Israel did not burn any cities that stood on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.

NASB 1977
However, Israel did not burn any cities that stood on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.

Legacy Standard Bible
However, Israel did not burn any cities that stood on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.

Amplified Bible
But Israel did not burn any of the cities that stood [walled and fortified] on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.

Christian Standard Bible
However, Israel did not burn any of the cities that stood on their mounds except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
However, Israel did not burn any of the cities that stood on their mounds except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

American Standard Version
But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

English Revised Version
But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Israel did not burn cities built on mounds. However, Joshua made an exception and burned Hazor.

Good News Translation
However, the Israelites did not burn any of the cities built on mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua did burn.

International Standard Version
However, Israel did not burn any of the cities that had been built on mounds of ruins, except for Hazor only, which Joshua burned.

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

NET Bible
But Israel did not burn any of the cities located on mounds, except for Hazor; it was the only one Joshua burned.

New Heart English Bible
But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only. Joshua burned that.

Webster's Bible Translation
But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

World English Bible
But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only. Joshua burned that.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Only, all the cities which are standing by their hill, Israel has not burned them—except Joshua has burned Hazor, only;

Young's Literal Translation
Only, all the cities which are standing by their hill, Israel hath not burned them, save Hazor only, it hath Joshua burnt;

Smith's Literal Translation
Only all the cities standing upon their heap, Israel burnt them not, except Hazor only Joshua burnt.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Except the cities that were on hills and high places, the rest Israel burned: only Asor that was very strong he consumed with fire.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And except for the cities that were on hills and in elevated places, the rest Israel burned. One only, highly-fortified Hazor, was consumed with fire.

New American Bible
However, Israel did not destroy by fire any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

New Revised Standard Version
But Israel burned none of the towns that stood on mounds except Hazor, which Joshua did burn.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And all the towns that stood on the hills did Israel burn, and Joshua burned Hazor.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Israel burned all these cities that stood on the hills, and Yeshua burned Khetsur
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only--that did Joshua burn.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But all the walled cities Israel burnt not; but Israel burnt Asor only.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Conquest of the Northern Cities
12Joshua 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. 13Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 14The 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.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 20:16-18
However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, / so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.

Joshua 6:24
Then the Israelites burned up the city and everything in it. However, they put the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house.

2 Kings 19:25
Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.

Isaiah 37:26
Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.

Jeremiah 33:4
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses of this city and the palaces of the kings of Judah that have been torn down for defense against the siege ramps and the sword:

Ezekiel 26:4
They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.

Ezekiel 26:12
They will plunder your wealth and pillage your merchandise. They will demolish your walls, tear down your beautiful homes, and throw your stones and timber and soil into the water.

2 Chronicles 32:29
He made cities for himself, and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance, for God gave him very great wealth.

1 Kings 9:15-17
This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. / Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. / So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth-horon,

Judges 1:8
Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.

Judges 1:25
So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family.

2 Samuel 12:31
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 4:41
These who were noted by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings as well as the Meunites who were there, devoting them to destruction even to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks.

Matthew 11:20-24
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. / “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ...

Luke 10:13-15
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. / But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. / And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!


Treasury of Scripture

But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

Jeremiah 30:18
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

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Joshua 11
1. Diverse kings overcome at the waters of Merom
10. Hazor is taken and burnt
16. All the country taken by Joshua
21. The Anakims cut off
23. The land rests from war














Yet Israel did not burn
This phrase highlights a strategic decision made by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership. The Hebrew root for "burn" is "שָׂרַף" (saraph), which means to consume by fire. In the context of ancient warfare, burning a city was a common practice to ensure complete destruction and prevent future habitation. However, Israel's choice not to burn these cities suggests a deliberate preservation of infrastructure, possibly for future settlement or use. This decision reflects a divine strategy, as God had promised the Israelites cities they did not build (Deuteronomy 6:10-11).

any of the cities built on their mounds
The term "mounds" refers to "tells," which are archaeological sites consisting of layers of human occupation. These mounds were often strategic locations, elevated and fortified, making them valuable for defense and control. The Hebrew word "תֵּל" (tel) signifies these ancient city sites. By not burning these cities, Israel preserved the strategic and economic advantages they offered. This decision aligns with God's promise to give Israel a land already prepared for them, emphasizing His provision and foresight.

except Hazor alone
Hazor was a significant Canaanite city, often referred to as the "head of all those kingdoms" (Joshua 11:10). Its destruction was unique and intentional. The Hebrew word "לְבַדָּהּ" (levaddah) means "alone" or "only," underscoring Hazor's distinct treatment. This exception highlights Hazor's importance and possibly its role as a central hub of Canaanite resistance against Israel. The complete destruction of Hazor served as a decisive blow to Canaanite power and a demonstration of God's judgment against idolatry and opposition to His people.

which Joshua burned
Joshua, as the leader appointed by God, executed this act of judgment. The Hebrew name "יְהוֹשֻׁעַ" (Yehoshua) means "The LORD is salvation," reflecting his role as a deliverer for Israel. The act of burning Hazor was not merely a military tactic but a fulfillment of divine command. It symbolizes the purging of evil and the establishment of God's holiness in the land. Joshua's obedience in this act is a testament to his faithfulness and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. This decisive action ensured that the spiritual and physical integrity of the Promised Land was maintained.

(13) The cities that stood still in their strength.--Literally, that stood on their mounds ("quaeerant in collibus et in tumulis sitae."--Vulg.). Comp. Joshua 11:20. We may fairly suppose that Jericho and Ai committed themselves to hostile measures against Israel, though they were not able to send forth armies against Joshua before they were attacked. Those who "stood still in their strength" are those who remained absolutely neutral in the war. "The men of Jericho fought against you" (Joshua 24:11).

Verse 13. - The cities that stood still in their strength. This is the rendering of the Chaldee version. The LXX. has κεχωματισμένας, heaped up, i.e., defended with mounds. Rather, on their hill ("in collibus et in tumulis sitae," Vulg.). As many of the towns in Italy, and the castles in Germany in the middle ages, so these Phoenician cities were placed upon hills, that they might be more easily defended. The various tribes of Palestine were no doubt continually at war, and, as regards these northern tribes at least, were not accustomed to subsist by commerce. Therefore each of these cities stood (the Hebrew עמד surely implies situation here) on its own hill, a detail possibly obtained from an eyewitness, who was probably struck by this feature of the district, a feature he had not observed before. The expression is used, however, as Masius observes, by Jeremiah (Joshua 30:18). Knobel observes that all the early versions have no suffix here. What he calls the "free translation," however, of the LXX. (which has αὐτῶν) requires the suffix, though the Vulgate requires none. We must not adopt the very plausible explanation of Knobel and others that Joshua burnt the cities in the valleys, but spared the cities on the hills, because they could be more easily defended (see Joshua 17:16; Judges 1:19, 34), since we read that Hazor alone was burnt. The word here translated hill (Tell, Arabic) is one with which we are familiar in the modern name of places in Palestine (see note on Joshua 8:28).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Yet
רַ֣ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

did not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

burn
שְׂרָפָ֖ם (śə·rā·p̄ām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

any
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

of the cities
הֶעָרִ֗ים (he·‘ā·rîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

built
הָעֹֽמְדוֹת֙ (hā·‘ō·mə·ḏō·wṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

their mounds,
תִּלָּ֔ם (til·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8510: A mound

except
זוּלָתִ֛י (zū·lā·ṯî)
Preposition
Strong's 2108: Scattering, removal, except

Hazor,
חָצ֥וֹר (ḥā·ṣō·wr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2674: Hazor -- the name of several places in Palestine, also one in Arabia

which Joshua
יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ׃ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

burned.
שָׂרַ֥ף (śā·rap̄)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire


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OT History: Joshua 11:13 But as for the cities that stood (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 11:12
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