The enemy in the north of Canaan united to resist Israel’s advance, and their forces were formidable. But God assured Joshua that he would win the battle, and he did. God assures us before the battle (11:6), fights for us during the battle (11:8), and commands us after the battle (11:9, 15). How we follow orders after the victory is as important as what we do before the battle begins.
迦南北部的敌人为抵挡以色列的进攻联合起来，势力非凡。然而，神向约书亚保证以色列必赢得这场争战，而事实确实如此。神在争战前给我们保证（11:6），争战时为我们而战（11:8），争战后也给予我们命令（11:9,15）。得胜后对主命的顺服与战前的顺服之心是一样重要的。
Joshua conquered the whole land and did it to provide each Israelite with his inheritance from the Lord (11:23). God helped him defeat thirty-one kings and claim their land and their wealth for the Lord and His people. Our Joshua, the Son of God, has defeated every spiritual enemy and now reigns in heaven (Eph. 1:15–23; Col. 2:9–15). Through Him, we can “reign in life” (Rom. 5:17) and claim the victory.
约书亚为要把土地划分给每个以色列人为业，征服了全地。（11:23）神帮助他击败31个国王，叫他能为主和主的子民夺下土地和财富。我们的约书亚，神的儿子，已击败每个属灵仇敌，至今在天上掌权（弗1:15-23；西2:9-15）。借着祂，我们可以“在生命中做王”（罗5:17），并取得胜利。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- This section of the Book of Joshua summarizes Israel’s conquest of the southern (10:29–43) and northern cities (11:1–15) in Palestine, and closes with a list of the names of some of the kings whom Israel defeated (11:16–12:24). Two things stand out in this record: It was the Lord who gave the victory (10:30, 32, 42; 11:6, 8); and Joshua obeyed the Lord by utterly destroying the enemy, just as Moses had commanded (11:9, 12, 15, 20). Are you afraid when the enemy’s number is like the sand on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots (Jos 11:4). Let’s pray that we keep our eyes on the Lord rather on the circumstances.
《约书亚记》的这段经文总结了以色列在巴勒斯坦南部（10:29-43）和北部城市（11:1-15）的征服，并最后把以色列所击败的一些国王之名列出（11:16-12:24）。这段记载突出了两件事：胜利是主所赐的（10:30,32,42; 11:6,8）；以及约书亚遵从神的话，将敌人彻底毁灭，如摩西所吩咐的（11:9,12,15,20）。当敌人多如海沙，并有许多马匹车辆时（书11:4），你是否感到害怕？让我们祈祷能定睛在主而不是所在的处境。
- The apparent contradiction between verses 11:23 and 13:1 can easily be explained. Joshua and his army did take control of the whole land by destroying the key cities with their kings and people. Israel didn’t take every little city or slay every citizen or ruler, but they did enough to break the power of the enemy and establish control over the land. Once this was accomplished and there was rest in the land, Joshua was able to assign each tribe its inheritance; and within each inheritance, the tribes had to gain mastery over the remaining inhabitants who were still there. Even after the death of Joshua and his officers, there was additional land to be taken (Jud. 1–3). Jesus Christ already broke the power of Satan and it is now for us to claim victory in every area of our lives. Let’s pray that we would overcome any unclaimed territory in our lives for His glory.
11:23与13:1看似矛盾，但其实很简单：约书亚和他的军队确实借着攻打主要的城市，毁灭了她们的国王和子民，成功拿下并掌控整片土地。以色列并没有夺取每一个小城市，也没有击杀每一个王和民，但所攻下的足以让以色列斩断敌人的势力，在全地掌权。一旦这事已定，国中便有平安，约书亚才能按以色列支派的宗族将地分给他们为业；而在各个支派的土地掌管中，他们必须学会掌控其中仍存活的外邦人。所以，即便约书亚和他的军官过世后，以色列仍有土地需要占领（士1-3）。耶稣基督已经打破了撒但的权势，而我们现在需要在生命中的每一个领域取得胜利。让我们祈祷，能为了神的荣耀征服生命中还未夺下的领域。
