Bible Strands
Joshua 11:21
At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim from the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua acts during the conquest campaign to remove the Anakim from the southern highlands of Hebron, Debir, Anab, and the broader territories of Judah and Israel. This action follows immediately after God hardens the hearts of the surrounding kings to ensure their complete destruction.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיַּכְרֵת (va.yakhret) literally means "he cut off" or "he exterminated," describing the total removal of the Anakites and their cities. The noun הָעֲנָקִים (ha'anaqim) identifies the specific giant clan targeted in this phase of the campaign.
The thread — The Anakites are previously located in Hebron in Numbers 13:22 and characterized as exceptionally tall in Deuteronomy 9:2 and Deuteronomy 1:28. Their complete eradication here marks the fulfillment of the territorial warnings issued during the initial reconnaissance.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of the absolute execution of divine judgment against entrenched opposition. It requires the reader to acknowledge that territorial conquest follows a strict pattern of total removal rather than partial accommodation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 9:2 The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?”
- Numbers 13:22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 1:28 Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”
- Joshua 15:13 According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)
- Numbers 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”
- Deuteronomy 2:21 They were a people great and many, as tall as the Anakites. But the LORD destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place,
- Joshua 10:42 And because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel, Joshua captured all these kings and their land in one campaign.
- Joshua 14:12 Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.”
- Joshua 24:11 After this, you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The people of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I delivered them into your hand.
- Judges 1:10 Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba), and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.