Why did no city make peace except the Hivites in Joshua 11:19? Setting the Scene • Joshua 11:19: “No city made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites living in Gibeon; all others were taken in battle.” • The statement looks back to Joshua 9, where the Hivites of Gibeon had gained a peace treaty with Israel by deception. • Immediately following, Joshua 11:20 reveals the unseen spiritual dynamic: “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be devoted to destruction…” Why Only the Hivites Sought Peace • Divine Hardening – God sovereignly “hardened their hearts” (11:20), similar to Pharaoh (Exodus 9:12), ensuring judgment on entrenched wickedness and fulfilling His promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:16). – The hardening does not remove responsibility; it confirms cities in the rebellion they had already embraced. • Fulfillment of Covenant Justice – Leviticus 18:24–25 shows the land “vomiting out” its inhabitants because of abominations; Deuteronomy 7:1–5 commanded Israel to “show no mercy” to the nations whose iniquity was complete. – Each city’s refusal sealed its fate under the ban (ḥerem), a judicial act, not indiscriminate aggression. • Pride and Fear Over Repentance – Reports of Jericho and Ai (Joshua 6–8) spread throughout Canaan. Instead of repentance, the cities gathered in alliances (Joshua 9:1–2; 10:1–5; 11:1–5). – Pride in their gods, walls, and armies eclipsed any thought of surrender. • The Hivite Exception—A Case of Cunning Mercy – The Gibeonites believed the God of Israel was unstoppable (Joshua 9:24–25). Even though they resorted to deception, their plea for mercy aligned with God’s oath-honoring character (Psalm 15:4). – God allowed the treaty to stand (Joshua 9:19), transforming them into servants at the tabernacle—evidence that mercy was available to anyone who genuinely sought it (cf. Rahab in Joshua 2). Key Takeaways for Today • God remains righteous when He judges and gracious when He pardons (Romans 9:14–18). • Continual rejection of revealed truth hardens the heart; humble submission opens the way to mercy (Hebrews 3:7–13). • The Hivites illustrate that even flawed, imperfect seeking can lead to preservation, while obstinate resistance ends in ruin. |
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