Grammar Analysis: Joshua 11:16–23 (Conquest Fulfillment Summary)¶
Text¶
Hebrew (v. 16): וַיִּקַּ֨ח יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֗את הָהָ֤ר וְאֶת־כָּל־הַנֶּ֨גֶב֙ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַגֹּ֔שֶׁן וְאֶת־הַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה וְאֶת־הָעֲרָבָ֑ה וְאֶת־הַ֥ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וּשְׁפֵלָתֹֽה׃
Hebrew (v. 17): מִן־הָהָ֤ר הֶֽחָלָק֙ הָעֹולֶ֣ה שֵׂעִ֔יר וְעַד־בַּ֤עַל גָּד֙ בְּבִקְעַ֣ת הַלְּבָנֹ֔ון תַּ֖חַת הַר־חֶרְמֹ֑ון וְאֵ֤ת כָּל־מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ לָכַ֔ד וַיַּכֵּ֖ם וַיְמִיתֵֽם׃
Hebrew (v. 18): יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים עָשָׂ֧ה יְהֹושֻׁ֛עַ אֶת־כָּל־הַמְּלָכִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה מִלְחָמָֽה׃
Hebrew (v. 19): לֹֽא־הָיְתָ֣ה עִ֗יר אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִשְׁלִ֨ימָה֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בִּלְתִּ֥י הַחִוִּ֖י יֹשְׁבֵ֣י גִבְעֹ֑ון אֶת־הַכֹּ֖ל לָקְח֥וּ בַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
Hebrew (v. 20): כִּ֣י מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה׀ הָיְתָ֡ה לְחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבָּם֩ לִקְרַ֨את הַמִּלְחָמָ֤ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְמַ֣עַן הַֽחֲרִימָ֔ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י הֱיֹות־לָהֶ֖ם תְּחִנָּ֑ה כִּ֚י לְמַ֣עַן הַשְׁמִידָ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃
Hebrew (v. 21): וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא וַיַּכְרֵ֤ת אֶת־הָֽעֲנָקִים֙ מִן־הָהָ֤ר מִן־חֶבְרֹון֙ מִן־דְּבִ֣ר מִן־עֲנָ֔ב וּמִכֹּל֙ הַ֣ר יְהוּדָ֔ה וּמִכֹּ֖ל הַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עִם־עָרֵיהֶ֖ם הֶחֱרִימָ֥ם יְהֹושֻֽׁעַ׃
Hebrew (v. 22): לֹֽא־נֹותַ֣ר עֲנָקִ֔ים בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל רַ֗ק בְּעַזָּ֛ה בְּגַ֥ת וּבְאַשְׁדֹּ֖וד נִשְׁאָֽרוּ׃
Hebrew (v. 23): וַיִּקַּ֨ח יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֗רֶץ כְּ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֒ וַיִּתְּנָהּ֩ יְהֹושֻׁ֨עַ לְנַחֲלָ֧ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל כְּמַחְלְקֹתָ֖ם לְשִׁבְטֵיהֶ֑ם וְהָאָ֥רֶץ שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
KJV (v. 16): So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
KJV (v. 17): [Even] from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
KJV (v. 18): Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
KJV (v. 19): There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all [other] they took in battle.
KJV (v. 20): For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, [and] that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
KJV (v. 21): 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.
KJV (v. 22): There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
KJV (v. 23): So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
Word-by-Word Parsing¶
Joshua 11:16¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וַ | ו | Conj | and |
| 2 | יִּקַּ֨ח | לקח | Verb.Qal.Wayq.3ms | took |
| 3 | יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ | יהושׁע | PropN.ms.Abs | Joshua |
| 4 | אֶת | את | Prep (object marker) | — |
| 5 | כָּל | כל | Noun.ms.Cst | whole of |
| 6 | הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֗את | ארץ / זאת | Art+Noun.s.Abs + Art+DemPron.fs | this land |
| 7 | הָהָ֤ר | הר | Art+Noun.ms.Abs | the mountain (hill country) |
| 8 | וְאֶת־כָּל־הַנֶּ֨גֶב֙ | נגב | Conj+Prep + kol + Art+Noun.ms.Abs | and all the Negeb |
| 9 | וְאֵת֙ כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַגֹּ֔שֶׁן | גשׁן | Conj+Prep + kol + Noun.Cst + PropN | and all the land of Goshen |
| 10 | וְאֶת־הַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה | שׁפלה | Conj+Prep + Art+Noun.fs.Abs | and the Shephelah |
| 11 | וְאֶת־הָעֲרָבָ֑ה | ערבה | Conj+Prep + Art+Noun.fs.Abs | and the Arabah |
| 12 | וְאֶת־הַ֥ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל | הר / ישׂראל | Conj+Prep + Noun.ms.Cst + PropN | and the mountain of Israel |
| 13 | וּשְׁפֵלָתֹֽה | שׁפלה | Conj+Noun.fs.Abs.+3ms | and its lowland |
Joshua 11:17¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מִן־הָהָ֤ר הֶֽחָלָק֙ | הר / חלק | Prep + Art+Noun.ms.Abs + Art+Adj.ms.Abs | from the smooth mountain |
| 2 | הָעֹולֶ֣ה | עלה | Art+Verb.Qal.Ptcp.ms.Abs | the one going up |
| 3 | שֵׂעִ֔יר | שׂעיר | PropN.s.Abs | (toward) Seir |
| 4 | וְעַד־בַּ֤עַל גָּד֙ | בעל גד | Conj+Prep + PropN | and unto Baal-Gad |
| 5 | בְּבִקְעַ֣ת הַלְּבָנֹ֔ון | בקעה / לבנון | Prep + Noun.fs.Cst + Art+PropN | in the valley of Lebanon |
| 6 | תַּ֖חַת הַר־חֶרְמֹ֑ון | תחת / הר / חרמון | Noun.ms.Cst + Noun.ms.Cst + PropN | under Mount Hermon |
| 7 | וְאֵ֤ת כָּל־מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ | מלך | Conj+Prep + kol + Noun.mp.+3mp | and all their kings |
| 8 | לָכַ֔ד | לכד | Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms | he captured |
| 9 | וַיַּכֵּ֖ם | נכה | Verb.Hiphil.Wayq.3ms.+3mp | and he struck them |
| 10 | וַיְמִיתֵֽם | מות | Verb.Hiphil.Wayq.3ms.+3mp | and he put them to death |
Joshua 11:18¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים | יום / רב | Noun.mp.Abs + Adj.mp.Abs | many days |
| 2 | עָשָׂ֧ה | עשׂה | Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms | made |
| 3 | יְהֹושֻׁ֛עַ | יהושׁע | PropN.ms.Abs | Joshua |
| 4 | אֶת־כָּל־הַמְּלָכִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה | מלך / אלה | Prep + kol + Art+Noun.mp.Abs + Art+DemPron.p | all these kings |
| 5 | מִלְחָמָֽה | מלחמה | Noun.fs.Abs | war |
Joshua 11:19¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | לֹֽא | לא | Neg | not |
| 2 | הָיְתָ֣ה | היה | Verb.Qal.Perf.3fs | was |
| 3 | עִ֗יר | עיר | Noun.fs.Abs | a city |
| 4 | אֲשֶׁ֤ר | אשׁר | Rel | that |
| 5 | הִשְׁלִ֨ימָה֙ | שׁלם | Verb.Hiphil.Perf.3fs | made peace |
| 6 | אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | בן / ישׂראל | Prep + Noun.mp.Cst + PropN | with the sons of Israel |
| 7 | בִּלְתִּ֥י | בלת | Conj/Prep (of exception) | except |
| 8 | הַחִוִּ֖י | חוי | Art+Adj/Gentilic.ms.Abs | the Hivite |
| 9 | יֹשְׁבֵ֣י גִבְעֹ֑ון | ישׁב / גבעון | Verb.Qal.Ptcp.mp.Cst + PropN | inhabitants of Gibeon |
| 10 | אֶת־הַכֹּ֖ל | כל | Prep+Art+Noun.ms.Abs | the whole |
| 11 | לָקְח֥וּ | לקח | Verb.Qal.Perf.3p | they took |
| 12 | בַמִּלְחָמָֽה | מלחמה | Prep+Art+Noun.fs.Abs | in battle |
Joshua 11:20¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | כִּ֣י | כי | Conj | for / because |
| 2 | מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה | את / יהוה | Prep (מן + את) + PropN | from-with YHWH |
| 3 | הָיְתָ֡ה | היה | Verb.Qal.Perf.3fs | it was |
| 4 | לְחַזֵּ֣ק | חזק | Prep+Verb.Piel.InfCon | to strengthen |
| 5 | אֶת־לִבָּם֩ | לב | Prep+Noun.ms.+3mp | their heart |
| 6 | לִקְרַ֨את | קרא | Prep+Verb.Qal.InfCon | to meet |
| 7 | הַמִּלְחָמָ֤ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | מלחמה / ישׂראל | Art+Noun.fs + Prep+PropN | the war with Israel |
| 8 | לְמַ֣עַן | למען | Prep | in order that |
| 9 | הַֽחֲרִימָ֔ם | חרם | Verb.Hiphil.InfCon.+3mp | he might devote them (to destruction) |
| 10 | לְבִלְתִּ֥י | בלת | Prep+Conj of negation | so that not |
| 11 | הֱיֹות־לָהֶ֖ם | היה / ל | Verb.Qal.InfCon + Prep.+3mp | there be to them |
| 12 | תְּחִנָּ֑ה | תחנה | Noun.fs.Abs | supplication / favor |
| 13 | כִּ֚י | כי | Conj | for / but |
| 14 | לְמַ֣עַן הַשְׁמִידָ֔ם | שׁמד | Prep + Verb.Hiphil.InfCon.+3mp | in order to destroy them |
| 15 | כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר | אשׁר | Prep+Rel | just as |
| 16 | צִוָּ֥ה | צוה | Verb.Piel.Perf.3ms | commanded |
| 17 | יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה | יהוה / משׁה | PropN + Prep+PropN | YHWH — Moses |
Joshua 11:21¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וַיָּבֹ֨א | בוא | Verb.Qal.Wayq.3ms | and came |
| 2 | יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ | יהושׁע | PropN.ms.Abs | Joshua |
| 3 | בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא | עת / היא | Prep+Art+Noun + Art+DemPron.3fs | at that time |
| 4 | וַיַּכְרֵ֤ת | כרת | Verb.Hiphil.Wayq.3ms | and he cut off |
| 5 | אֶת־הָֽעֲנָקִים֙ | ענק | Prep+Art+Noun.mp.Abs | the Anakim |
| 6 | מִן־הָהָ֤ר | הר | Prep+Art+Noun.ms.Abs | from the hill-country |
| 7 | מִן־חֶבְרֹון֙ מִן־דְּבִ֣ר מִן־עֲנָ֔ב | Prep+PropN ×3 | from Hebron, Debir, Anab | |
| 8 | וּמִכֹּל֙ הַ֣ר יְהוּדָ֔ה | Conj+Prep+kol+Noun.Cst+PropN | and from all the hill-country of Judah | |
| 9 | וּמִכֹּ֖ל הַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל | Conj+Prep+kol+Noun.Cst+PropN | and from all the hill-country of Israel | |
| 10 | עִם־עָרֵיהֶ֖ם | עיר | Prep+Noun.fp.+3mp | with their cities |
| 11 | הֶחֱרִימָ֥ם | חרם | Verb.Hiphil.Perf.3ms.+3mp | he devoted them (to destruction) |
| 12 | יְהֹושֻֽׁעַ | יהושׁע | PropN.ms.Abs | Joshua |
Joshua 11:22¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | לֹֽא | לא | Neg | not |
| 2 | נֹותַ֣ר | יתר | Verb.Niphal.Perf.3ms | was left / remained |
| 3 | עֲנָקִ֔ים | ענק | Noun.mp.Abs | Anakim |
| 4 | בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל | ארץ / בן / ישׂראל | Prep+Noun.Cst + Noun.mp.Cst + PropN | in the land of the sons of Israel |
| 5 | רַ֗ק | רק | Adv | only |
| 6 | בְּעַזָּ֛ה בְּגַ֥ת וּבְאַשְׁדֹּ֖וד | Prep+PropN ×3 | in Gaza, Gath, Ashdod | |
| 7 | נִשְׁאָֽרוּ | שׁאר | Verb.Niphal.Perf.3p | they remained |
Joshua 11:23¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וַיִּקַּ֨ח | לקח | Verb.Qal.Wayq.3ms | and took |
| 2 | יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ | יהושׁע | PropN.ms.Abs | Joshua |
| 3 | אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֗רֶץ | ארץ | Prep+kol+Art+Noun | all the land |
| 4 | כְּ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֒ | Prep+kol+Rel+Piel.Perf.3ms+PropN+Prep+PropN | according to all YHWH spoke to Moses | |
| 5 | וַיִּתְּנָהּ֩ | נתן | Verb.Qal.Wayq.3ms.+3fs | and he gave it |
| 6 | יְהֹושֻׁ֨עַ | יהושׁע | PropN.ms.Abs | Joshua |
| 7 | לְנַחֲלָ֧ה | נחלה | Prep+Noun.fs.Abs | for an inheritance |
| 8 | לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל | ישׂראל | Prep+PropN | to Israel |
| 9 | כְּמַחְלְקֹתָ֖ם | מחלקת | Prep+Noun.fp.+3mp | according to their divisions |
| 10 | לְשִׁבְטֵיהֶ֑ם | שׁבט | Prep+Noun.mp.+3mp | by their tribes |
| 11 | וְהָאָ֥רֶץ | ארץ | Conj+Art+Noun.fs.Abs | and the land |
| 12 | שָׁקְטָ֖ה | שׁקט | Verb.Qal.Perf.3fs | rested |
| 13 | מִמִּלְחָמָֽה | מלחמה | Prep+Noun.fs.Abs | from war |
Clause Structure¶
The pericope's discourse skeleton (from hebrew_parser.py --clause) shows a deliberate alternation between wayyiqtol foreground (mainline narrative steps) and WX-QATAL / xQt background (summary, parenthetical, explanation). The pattern is what Niccacci calls the "summary + circumstantial" closing block of a narrative unit.
| Verse | Clause type(s) | Domain | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | WayX (וַיִּקַּ֨ח יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ … "and Joshua took the whole land") | N | Foreground: pericope-opening mainline wayyiqtol |
| 17 | Ellp (geographic PP) + Ptcp (הָעֹולֶ֣ה שֵׂעִ֔יר) + WxQ0 (וְאֵ֤ת כָּל־מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ לָכַ֔ד) + Way0 / Way0 (וַיַּכֵּ֖ם / וַיְמִיתֵֽם) | N | Elliptical geographic bracket; then fronted-object WxQ0 (X-qatal background of the king-capture) + resumed wayyiqtol chain |
| 18 | xQtX (יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים עָשָׂ֧ה יְהֹושֻׁ֛עַ … "many days Joshua made war") | N | Background-summary qatal: fronted time-phrase יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים + qatal — durational recap, not a new wayyiqtol step |
| 19 | xQtX (לֹֽא־הָיְתָ֣ה עִ֗יר…) + xQt0 (אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִשְׁלִ֨ימָה֙…) + xQt0 (אֶת־הַכֹּ֖ל לָקְח֥וּ בַמִּלְחָמָֽה) | N | Parenthetical negated-existence + relative + fronted-object summary qatal — all background, supplying the Gibeonite exception |
| 20 | xQt0 (כִּ֣י מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה הָיְתָ֡ה) + five InfC purpose chains + xQtX (כַּ אֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה) | N | כִּי-headed theological aside: background qatal of היה + infinitival purpose scaffold (לְ…לְמַ֣עַן…לְבִלְתִּ֥י…לְמַ֣עַן…), closed by comparative כַּאֲשֶׁר + qatal of divine command |
| 21 | WayX (וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא) + Way0 (וַיַּכְרֵ֤ת…) + xQtX (עִם־עָרֵיהֶ֖ם הֶחֱרִימָ֥ם יְהֹושֻֽׁעַ) | N | Resumed wayyiqtol foreground (temporal hook בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא "at that time") → Anakim episode → fronted-PP qatal recap |
| 22 | xQtX (לֹֽא־נֹותַ֣ר עֲנָקִ֔ים…) + xQt0 (רַ֗ק בְּעַזָּ֛ה בְּגַ֥ת וּבְאַשְׁדֹּ֖וד נִשְׁאָֽרוּ) | N | Double negated/restrictive qatal — background summary of the Anakim episode |
| 23 | WayX (וַיִּקַּ֨ח יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ…) + xQtX (אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהוָה֮…) + WayX (וַיִּתְּנָהּ֩…) + WXQt (וְהָאָ֥רֶץ שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה) | N | Final foreground doublet (וַיִּקַּ֨ח + וַיִּתְּנָהּ֩) bracketing the pericope back to v. 16, closed by WXQt circumstantial ("and the land rested from war") |
Construct chains: אֶ֣רֶץ הַגֹּ֔שֶׁן (land of Goshen, v. 16); בִּקְעַ֣ת הַלְּבָנֹ֔ון (valley of Lebanon, v. 17); הַר־חֶרְמֹ֑ון (Mount Hermon, v. 17); הַר יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (mountain of Israel, vv. 16, 21); בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (sons of Israel, vv. 19, 22); הַ֣ר יְהוּדָ֔ה / הַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (hill-country of Judah/Israel, v. 21); אֶ֖רֶץ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (land of the sons of Israel, v. 22).
Key Grammatical Features¶
1. The wayyiqtol "לקח — לקח — בוא — כרת — לקח — נתן" chain as narrative backbone (vv. 16, 21, 23)¶
- Form: Four mainline wayyiqtols distributed across the pericope — וַיִּקַּ֨ח (v. 16, Qal.Wayq.3ms of לקח), וַיָּבֹ֨א (v. 21, Qal.Wayq.3ms of בוא), וַיַּכְרֵ֤ת (v. 21, Hiphil.Wayq.3ms of כרת), וַיִּקַּ֨ח (v. 23, Qal.Wayq.3ms of לקח) + וַיִּתְּנָהּ֩ (v. 23, Qal.Wayq.3ms.+3fs of נתן). In v. 17 the embedded doublet וַיַּכֵּ֖ם / וַיְמִיתֵֽם (Hiphil.Wayq.3ms.+3mp of נכה / מות) continues the foreground within the geographic section.
- Function: Waltke–O'Connor (IBHS §33.2.1) and Niccacci call this the foreground narrative register — the wayyiqtol is the "waw-relative" prefix form whose sole discourse function is to advance the mainline. Every other clause type in vv. 16–23 is pragmatically background relative to these wayyiqtols.
- Inclusio by repeated verb: The first and final wayyiqtols are the same verb — וַיִּקַּ֨ח יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ (v. 16) ↔ וַיִּקַּ֨ח יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֗רֶץ (v. 23). This is a deliberate lexical inclusio: the pericope opens and closes with the same three-word clause (and-took Joshua DO all the-land), with everything between them serving as expansion, qualification, and theological comment on that single claim. The two wayyiqtols of v. 23 then add the redistribution (וַיִּתְּנָהּ֩) before the final WXQt closural formula וְהָאָ֥רֶץ שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה.
- Geographic scope: The wayyiqtol verb takes six consecutive object-phrases in v. 16 (הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֗את / הָהָ֤ר / הַנֶּ֨גֶב֙ / אֶ֣רֶץ הַגֹּ֔שֶׁן / הַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה / הָעֲרָבָ֑ה / הַ֥ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל + וּשְׁפֵלָתֹֽה) — a cartographic tiling of the land, with the 3fs pronominal suffix on וּשְׁפֵלָתֹֽה ("its lowland") folding the final region back onto הַ֥ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל. The conjunction waw + אֵת/אֶת string (וְאֶת…וְאֵת…וְאֶת…וְאֶת…וְאֶת) is the stock Hebrew syndetic list idiom for a closed enumeration (GKC §154a n. 1; Joüon–Muraoka §177n).
- Significance: The wayyiqtol chain, by itself, would tell a complete military story ("Joshua took the land … came at that time … cut off the Anakim … took the whole land … and gave it"). Everything the narrator inserts between those wayyiqtols — the durational xQtX of v. 18, the Gibeonite-exception of v. 19, the divine-hardening parenthesis of v. 20, the Anakim-remnant of v. 22 — is grammatically subordinated to this chain, even when it occupies the majority of the verses.
- Grammar reference: syntax-waw-conjunction; foreground vs. background distinction in syntax-wx-qatal-circumstantial.
2. The xQtX durational summary: יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים עָשָׂ֧ה יְהֹושֻׁ֛עַ (v. 18)¶
- Form: Fronted adverbial-accusative יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים ("many days") + Qal.Perf.3ms עָשָׂ֧ה + Subj יְהֹושֻׁ֛עַ + Objc כָּל־הַמְּלָכִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה + cognate object מִלְחָמָֽה. BHSA tags this as a single xQtX clause with
[Time]…[Pred]…[Subj]…[Cmpl]…[Objc]slots — a fronted-time qatal, not a wayyiqtol. - Function: Niccacci classifies the fronted-time + qatal construction as a summary / recapitulative background clause (Niccacci §23). The break from wayyiqtol register is the signal: the narrator is not advancing the storyline to a new event, but compressing a long span into a single durational remark. The KJV rendering "a long time" tracks this — it is not "then, on a day, Joshua made war" but "over many days Joshua was engaged in making war."
- Cognate-accusative object: עשׂה + מִלְחָמָה is a stock Hebrew cognate-noun idiom for "wage war" (Gen 14:2; Deut 20:10, 12, 19–20; Josh 11:18; 1 Chr 22:8) — lexically parallel to the paronomastic-nedher construction in Jdg 11:30 (jdg-11-30-31). The pairing of עשׂה ("make/do") with מִלְחָמָה ("war") treats warfare as a durative action-nominal, naturally compatible with the durational יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים.
- Significance: V. 18 is the first moment the narrator slows the wayyiqtol camera. After v. 17's breathless wayyiqtol chain of verbs of capture/strike/kill, the xQtX steps back to say "this was not a single day — this took many days." The construction prepares the reader to receive v. 19's exception and v. 20's theological explanation, both of which are also backgrounded.
3. The Gibeonite exception: לֹֽא־הָיְתָ֣ה עִ֗יר אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִשְׁלִ֨ימָה֙ (v. 19)¶
- Form: Clause-1 xQtX with fronted negation — Neg לֹֽא + Qal.Perf.3fs הָיְתָ֣ה + Subj עִ֗יר + Adju בִּלְתִּ֥י הַחִוִּ֖י יֹשְׁבֵ֣י גִבְעֹ֑ון. Clause-2 xQt0 with relative — Rela אֲשֶׁ֤ר + Hiphil.Perf.3fs הִשְׁלִ֨ימָה֙ + Cmpl אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל. Clause-3 xQt0 with fronted object — Objc אֶת־הַכֹּ֖ל + Qal.Perf.3p לָקְח֥וּ + Cmpl בַמִּלְחָמָֽה.
- Key lexemes: הִשְׁלִ֨ימָה֙ is Hiphil perfect 3fs of שׁלם (H7999), "to make peace, enter into a peace-covenant" (Deut 20:12; Josh 9:15; 10:1, 4; 11:19; 2 Sam 10:19; 1 Kgs 22:44). The Hiphil is causative — "cause (a treaty) to be complete / made peace-with." The subject is feminine (עִ֗יר "city") and the feminine perfect matches.
- The exception particle בִּלְתִּ֥י: ETCBC tags בלת as a Noun.s.Cst of the lexeme בלת ("failure, not-being"), but functionally in this slot it operates as a preposition/conjunction of exception — "except, save for" (GKC §163c; Joüon–Muraoka §160m; BDB 116a "except"). The parser's "failure" gloss is a lexical-root reconstruction (the same lexeme underlies v. 20's לְבִלְתִּ֥י "so that not") — pragmatically בִּלְתִּ֥י governs הַחִוִּ֖י יֹשְׁבֵ֣י גִבְעֹ֑ון as an exceptive phrase tied to the negated universal "there was not a city." Compare Num 32:12 בִּלְתִּ֥י כָּלֵ֣ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֗ה, with the same syntactic profile (negative universal + בִּלְתִּ֥י + named exception).
- Three-clause rhetorical symmetry: Clause-1 states the universal negation ("no city made peace"), clause-2 expands the subject's action via relative ("[a city] that made-peace with Israel"), clause-3 fronts the object אֶת־הַכֹּ֖ל ("the whole") and asserts the positive counterpart ("they took all-of-it in battle"). The three qatals (הָיְתָ֣ה / הִשְׁלִ֨ימָה֙ / לָקְח֥וּ) are all background — none is wayyiqtol — so the entire v. 19 is a parenthetical qualification of v. 16's wayyiqtol וַיִּקַּ֨ח, not a fresh narrative step.
- The Gibeonite datum as grammatical exception, not plot-event: Joshua 9 narrated the Gibeonite treaty as a deceived covenant that Israel nonetheless honored (Josh 9:15, 19, 26–27). In Josh 11:19 that prior narrative is not re-narrated but cited as a grammatical exception: the Gibeonites stand outside the negative universal "no city made peace" precisely because Josh 9 already established they did make peace, by subterfuge. The xQt0 בִּלְתִּ֥י-phrase is the grammar doing the theological housekeeping — the author acknowledges the anomaly without disturbing v. 16's universal claim וַיִּקַּ֨ח…אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ.
- Significance: The Gibeonite clause is grammatically marked as exception and pragmatically marked as background, both at once. It is the single crack in the otherwise sealed universal of conquest, and the narrator signals that status by (a) refusing to put it in wayyiqtol and (b) flagging it with the exceptive particle. Theological readings that invoke Josh 11:19 for a doctrine of peace-as-option cannot do so without noting that the construction is negative and exceptive — a denied universal with one named exception — not a generic invitation to peace.
4. The WX-QATAL theological parenthesis: כִּ֣י מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה הָיְתָ֡ה לְחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבָּם (v. 20)¶
- Form: The verse's spine is xQt0 — Conj כִּ֣י + PreC מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה + Pred הָיְתָ֡ה (Qal.Perf.3fs of היה, feminine because the null subject is "the-thing" / "it"). The predicate-complement מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה ("from-with YHWH") is fronted before the qatal verb. This is a כִּי-headed explanatory xQt0 — a background causal clause, not a wayyiqtol. BHSA lists it as Clause 1, type
xQt0, domain N. - Infinitival purpose scaffold: Five successive InfC clauses specify the content and purpose of what "was from YHWH" —
- InfC לְחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבָּם֩ (Prep+Piel.InfCon of חזק + Objc) — "to strengthen their heart"
- InfC לִקְרַ֨את הַמִּלְחָמָ֤ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Prep+Qal.InfCon of קרא + Objc) — "to meet the war-with-Israel"
- InfC לְמַ֣עַן הַֽחֲרִימָ֔ם (Prep+Hiphil.InfCon of חרם + 3mp suffix) — "in order to devote them to destruction"
- InfC לְבִלְתִּ֥י הֱיֹות־לָהֶ֖ם תְּחִנָּ֑ה (Prep+בלת+Qal.InfCon of היה + Prep.+3mp + Noun) — "so that there be no favor/supplication to them"
- InfC כִּ֚י לְמַ֣עַן הַשְׁמִידָ֔ם (Conj+Prep+Hiphil.InfCon of שׁמד + 3mp suffix) — "for in order to destroy them"
- Closed by a xQtX comparative clause: כַּ אֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה (Clause 7, type
xQtX) — "just as YHWH commanded Moses." The Piel.Perf.3ms צִוָּ֥ה anchors the whole divine program in the already-given Mosaic instruction. - "Hardening of the heart" as Piel לְחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבָּם֩: The verb is חזק in Piel (H2388, factitive/causative "cause to be strong"). This is the classic Exodus lexeme for pharaoh-hardening (Ex 4:21; 9:12; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17 — all Piel חזק with YHWH as subject or implicit agent). The Piel InfCon לְחַזֵּ֣ק + direct-object אֶת־לִבָּם֩ (Noun.ms.+3mp) makes the idiom morphologically identical to Ex 14:4 וְחִזַּקְתִּ֣י אֶת־לֵב־פַּרְעֹ֗ה. The narrator is quoting the Exodus hardening-formula and applying it to the Canaanite coalition kings. This is the theological index-verse by which Joshua's conquest is grammatically bound to the Exodus plague cycle.
- Why this is a WX-QATAL / xQt0 and not a wayyiqtol: The כִּי-headed clause with fronted PreC and qatal verb is by construction non-sequential. It explains why the universal-conquest claim of v. 19 held — the explanation is logical and theological, not temporal. Niccacci (Syntax of the Verb §§17–23) treats כִּי + fronted-phrase + qatal as the standard Hebrew causal-background construction in narrative. Had the narrator written וַיְהִי מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה לְחַזֵּ֣ק, he would have turned divine hardening into a narrative step ("and there came to pass, from YHWH, a hardening…"); instead the xQt0 treats it as the reason-frame behind the events of vv. 16–19.
- The nested negative-purpose לְבִלְתִּ֥י: לְבִלְתִּ֥י + Qal.InfCon הֱיֹות (from היה) + לָהֶ֖ם + תְּחִנָּ֑ה is "so that there not come to be, to them, supplication/favor." The nominal תְּחִנָּ֑ה (H8467) from חנן ("show favor") is the abstract for the favor-act. Joüon–Muraoka §160l and GKC §165b treat לְבִלְתִּ֥י + InfCon as the stock negative-purpose clause ("lest, so that…not"). This is the third explicit rejection-of-mercy construction in the infinitival chain, sandwiched between the two לְמַ֣עַן clauses of active destruction.
- Double לְמַ֣עַן + Hiphil.InfCon of חרם / שׁמד: The framing purpose verbs are both causative-Hiphil infinitives with 3mp suffixes — הַחֲרִימָ֔ם ("devote-them-to-destruction," Hiphil of חרם H2763; see H2763-charam, H2764-cherem) and הַשְׁמִידָ֔ם ("destroy-them," Hiphil of שׁמד H8045). These are the two technical-theological verbs of the ḥērem ban (Deut 7:2, 23–26; 20:16–18; 1 Sam 15:3, 8, 9, 15, 18, 20, 21 — see 1sa-15-1-33). Their appearance as infinitival complements of the divine-hardening clause explicitly subordinates the military extermination to YHWH's prior decision to make the kings fight.
- Significance: V. 20 is the pericope's theological linchpin. Grammatically it is a background parenthesis, not a narrative step — but the background is load-bearing. The conquest's near-universal success (v. 16, v. 23) and its peculiar absence of peace-treaties (v. 19) are both explained by a single xQt0 clause whose predicate-complement מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה ("from-with YHWH") places YHWH as the causal source. The construction answers the question v. 19 would otherwise leave hanging ("why did no city make peace?") with the Piel-חזק Exodus-hardening lexeme + the Deuteronomic ḥērem vocabulary + a Mosaic-command anchor (כַּ אֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה).
- Grammar reference: syntax-wx-qatal-circumstantial — background-qatal halts the wayyiqtol chain to supply circumstance/cause; stem-hiphil (for הַחֲרִימָ֔ם, הַשְׁמִידָ֔ם).
- Word study cross-refs: H2763-charam, H2764-cherem.
5. The Anakim episode as internal wayyiqtol sub-unit (vv. 21–22)¶
- Form: V. 21 resumes the WayX register with temporal hook בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא ("at that time") — a stock Hebrew discourse device for embedding a sub-episode without breaking from foreground narrative (cf. Gen 21:22; Deut 10:1; Josh 6:26; 1 Kgs 8:65; 14:1). The two wayyiqtols וַיָּבֹ֨א + וַיַּכְרֵ֤ת carry the Anakim extermination.
- Closing xQtX: Clause 3 of v. 21 is xQtX — fronted PP עִם־עָרֵיהֶ֖ם + Hiphil.Perf.3ms.+3mp הֶחֱרִימָ֥ם + redundant Subj יְהֹושֻֽׁעַ. The verb הֶחֱרִימָ֥ם is the same ḥērem Hiphil that appeared as infinitive in v. 20's divine-hardening chain — here in its finite form, performed by Joshua. Grammar thus executes in v. 21 what v. 20 announced as YHWH's purpose.
- Niphal-remnant background in v. 22: לֹֽא־נֹותַ֣ר עֲנָקִ֔ים (xQtX with Niphal.Perf.3ms of יתר "be-left") + רַ֗ק בְּעַזָּ֛ה בְּגַ֥ת וּבְאַשְׁדֹּ֖וד נִשְׁאָֽרוּ (xQt0 with Niphal.Perf.3p of שׁאר "remain"). The two Niphals are the classic passive/middle of state — "none was-left … only they remained." The negation + restriction (לֹא … רַק) is the standard gnomic "none … except" idiom (GKC §159cc; Joüon §172e).
- Significance: The Anakim sub-unit is a pericope-within-the-pericope with its own wayyiqtol opening (v. 21) and xQtX/Niphal background closing (vv. 21c–22). This structurally mirrors the larger pericope (v. 16 wayyiqtol opening → v. 23 wayyiqtol inclusio with intermediate background). The two Niphal perfects of v. 22 soften the universal claim — the Anakim are not totally extirpated; they survive in Gaza, Gath, Ashdod — setting up the Goliath-of-Gath narrative of 1 Sam 17. The grammar flags the exception in the same way the Gibeonite exception of v. 19 is flagged: by background-register qatal, not by wayyiqtol.
- Grammar reference: stem-niphal (for נֹותַ֣ר / נִשְׁאָֽרוּ as passive/medio-passive state); syntax-wx-qatal-circumstantial (for xQtX + לֹא as negated-background summary).
6. Closural formula: וְהָאָ֥רֶץ שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה (v. 23)¶
- Form: Clause 4 of v. 23 is WXQt (BHSA) — Conj וְ + Subj הָ אָ֥רֶץ + Pred שָׁקְטָ֖ה (Qal.Perf.3fs of שׁקט, "be quiet, at rest") + Cmpl מִ מִּלְחָמָֽה. Word order waw + X + qatal is WX-QATAL — a background circumstantial clause.
- Function: This is a closural formula — a standard Hebrew discourse device marking the end of a narrative unit by shifting from foreground wayyiqtol to state-describing WX-qatal. The same formula closes Josh 14:15 (הָאָ֥רֶץ שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה) and the thematically parallel rest-formulas of Judg 3:11, 3:30, 5:31, 8:28 (וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָאָ֖רֶץ… in Judges use a wayyiqtol form of the same verb, but still clausing a state of rest).
- Qal שׁקט as perfect of state: Waltke–O'Connor §30.3 and §30.5.3 classify stative-root qatals as "perfect of state" — the suffix-conjugation of a stative root denotes a resultant state that obtains at the narrative's reference time. שָׁקְטָ֖ה thus is not "and the land (became) quiet (on a day)" but "and the land was (already) at rest / was in a state of rest." The WX-fronting of הָאָ֥רֶץ + stative qatal + min-of-separation מִמִּלְחָמָֽה ("from war") yields a stative resultant predicate.
- Inclusio with v. 18: V. 18's fronted-time יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים עָשָׂ֧ה יְהֹושֻׁ֛עַ…מִלְחָמָֽה ("many days Joshua made war") opens the recap with an active combat-idiom עשׂה מִלְחָמָה. V. 23 closes with the state-reversal שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה ("rested from war"). The same noun מִלְחָמָה frames the pericope's middle-to-end movement: the long durational war of v. 18 terminates in the state of rest of v. 23.
- Significance: The entire pericope is grammatically contoured as mainline conquest → background explanation → mainline execution → state of rest. The final WX-QATAL is not an event but the absence of events — the narrator closes the Conquest panel of Joshua by stepping out of wayyiqtol altogether and reporting the resultant state.
- Grammar reference: syntax-wx-qatal-circumstantial — closural WX-qatal with perfect of state.
Discourse Map of the Pericope¶
v. 16 WayX וַיִּקַּ֨ח יְהֹושֻׁ֜עַ אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ ← FOREGROUND opener
v. 17 Ellp + Ptcp + WxQ0 + Way0×2 ← geographic bracket, X-qatal + wayyiqtol sub-chain
v. 18 xQtX יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים עָשָׂ֧ה ← durational SUMMARY background
v. 19 xQtX + xQt0 + xQt0 ← GIBEONITE EXCEPTION (all background)
v. 20 xQt0 + 5×InfC + xQtX (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה) ← DIVINE HARDENING theological parenthesis
v. 21 WayX + Way0 + xQtX ← ANAKIM sub-episode (resumed foreground)
v. 22 xQtX + xQt0 ← Anakim-remnant background
v. 23 WayX + xQtX + WayX + WXQt ← FOREGROUND inclusio (וַיִּקַּ֨ח) + WX-QATAL closure (שָׁקְטָ֖ה)
The structure is A–B–A' ring: v. 16 wayyiqtol universal (A) → vv. 17–20 background explanation (B) → v. 21 wayyiqtol Anakim (A sub-unit) → v. 22 background Niphal exception (B sub-unit) → v. 23 wayyiqtol inclusio + WX-QATAL closure (A'). The theological parenthesis of v. 20 is at the B-center, and the grammatical design ensures it is read as the reason behind the A-claims, not as a new story-event.
Cross-References¶
- Grammar library:
- syntax-wx-qatal-circumstantial — governs vv. 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 (all background WX-QATAL / xQt clauses); v. 20's כִּ֣י מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה הָיְתָ֡ה is the prototype case
- syntax-waw-conjunction — wayyiqtol waw vs. background waw; syndetic list idiom of v. 16
- stem-hiphil — הַחֲרִימָ֔ם / הַשְׁמִידָ֔ם (v. 20 infinitives), הֶחֱרִימָ֥ם (v. 21 finite), הִשְׁלִ֨ימָה֙ (v. 19 peace-making), וַיַּכְרֵ֤ת (v. 21 cut off)
- stem-niphal — נֹותַ֣ר / נִשְׁאָֽרוּ (v. 22)
- infinitive-absolute-intensification — cognate-accusative idiom עשׂה מִלְחָמָה (v. 18; no inf.abs. here, but same family of paronomastic intensification)
- Parallel passages to compare:
- Exodus 14:4, 8, 17 — Piel חזק "harden the heart" of Pharaoh, the lexical-theological template for Josh 11:20 לְחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבָּם֩
- Deuteronomy 7:2, 23–26; 20:16–18 — the Mosaic ḥērem command referenced by v. 20's כַּ אֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה
- Joshua 9:3–27 — Gibeonite treaty (backstory for v. 19's בִּלְתִּ֥י exception)
- Joshua 14:15 — identical closural formula שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה
- Judges 3:11, 30; 5:31; 8:28 — thematic rest-formulas with שׁקט
- 1 Samuel 15:1–33 — ḥērem command / failure (1sa-15-1-33); same Hiphil חרם vocabulary as Josh 11:20–21
- 1 Samuel 17 — Goliath of Gath; the Anakim remnant of Josh 11:22 (בְּעַזָּ֛ה בְּגַ֥ת וּבְאַשְׁדֹּ֖וד) presupposed
- Word studies: H2763-charam, H2764-cherem
- Reference grammars:
- Waltke–O'Connor IBHS §30.3, §30.5.3 (perfect of state — שָׁקְטָ֖ה); §33.2.1 (wayyiqtol narrative register); §39.2.3 (disjunctive/background waw)
- Gesenius GKC §112ff (weqatal/qatal), §141e, §156 (circumstantial clauses with waw + subj + perf.), §159cc (restrictive רַק), §163c (בִּלְתִּ֥י of exception), §165b (לְבִלְתִּ֥י + InfCon negative purpose)
- Joüon–Muraoka §118n (fronted time + qatal), §160l–m (בִּלְתִּ֥י / לְבִלְתִּ֥י), §168g (לְמַ֣עַן + InfCon purpose)
- Niccacci, Syntax of the Verb §§17–23 (background xQt0 / xQtX in narrative)
Generated from: hebrew_parser.py --verse "Jos 11:16" through Jos 11:23; hebrew_parser.py --clause "Jos 11:16" through Jos 11:23. Parser output tables reproduced directly; morphology tags are BHSA/ETCBC.
Last updated: 2026-04-18