Joshua 15:63

JOSHUA—NOTE ON Joshua 15:63 How is it that the people of Judah could not drive out their enemies? In Joshua 17:12 the Manassites are unable to occupy certain towns because “the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.” In Joshua 17:16 the Ephraimites cite Canaanite possession of “chariots of iron” as preventing them from taking the plains. These statements seem to contrast with the dominant theological conviction of the book of Joshua 1:1 that “the hand of the LORD is mighty” (Joshua 4:24). Perhaps statements of what Israel “could not” do are to be read as early evidence of spiritual decline, which will become increasingly evident in the book of Judges 1:1. The note that the Canaanites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day recalls Moses’ repeated warnings against allowing the Canaanites to survive and live among the Israelites (see note on 6:17–18).