Jos 11:21 | KingComments | STEP | The “long time” of war ( ) is about six to seven years. This can be deducted from the times that Caleb mentions in the review of his life ( ). With the “long time” that the conquest has taken, what the LORD has said about expelling the enemies has also been fulfilled: “I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land” ( ; cf. ). Also the Anakim, the giants of whom they were so afraid ( ), are exterminated ( ). Without God we are nothing and we lose to dwarves. With God we can do everything and giants are nothing. Yet there are still a few giants left ( ). One of their descendants will be Goliath. We should not see such individuals as little things. If we leave anything of the enemy behind, it will put us in the greatest trouble. The remaining giants find refuge in some cities of the Philistines, whose influence will soon be felt when the people become unfaithful.

‏ Joshua 11:21

Overview of the Conquests

The “long time” of war (Jos 11:18) is about six to seven years. This can be deducted from the times that Caleb mentions in the review of his life (Jos 14:7 ; 10). With the “long time” that the conquest has taken, what the LORD has said about expelling the enemies has also been fulfilled: “I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land” (Exo 23:29-30; cf. Deu 7:22).

Also the Anakim, the giants of whom they were so afraid (Num 13:33), are exterminated (Jos 11:21). Without God we are nothing and we lose to dwarves. With God we can do everything and giants are nothing. Yet there are still a few giants left (Jos 11:22). One of their descendants will be Goliath. We should not see such individuals as little things. If we leave anything of the enemy behind, it will put us in the greatest trouble. The remaining giants find refuge in some cities of the Philistines, whose influence will soon be felt when the people become unfaithful.