Did Joshua Truly Conquer All the Land? Exploring Biblical Contradictions
In this article, you will learn how Joshua 11:23 contradicts Judges 1:27, Judges 1:28, Judges 2:1-3, Judges 2:21-23 and Joshua 13:1. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The biblical narrative of Joshua presents an account where Joshua, following Moses' directives, leads the Israelites to conquer and divide the land among the tribes, resulting in a period of peace (Joshua 11:23). However, when we turn to the book of Judges, we encounter a contrasting picture that raises questions about the completeness of Joshua's conquest.
Firstly, Judges 1:27 states that the Israelites did not fully drive out the Canaanites from certain territories, exemplifying an incomplete occupation. Similarly, Judges 1:28 notes that the Canaanites were subjected to forced labor rather than being expelled entirely. These verses directly challenge the claim of total possession indicated earlier in Joshua.
Furthermore, an angel of the Lord, in Judges 2:1-3, reprimands the Israelites for failing to obey God’s command to destroy the altars and avoid covenants with the land's inhabitants, highlighting a breach in the conquest's supposed completeness. Judges 2:21-23 suggests divine intervention withheld further conquest because of incomplete obedience, opposing the narrative of a finished conquest.
Adding another layer to this seeming anomaly, in Joshua 13:1, God informs Joshua of remaining land yet to be possessed, contradicting the earlier statement of complete land division.
The scenario is akin to a student who, after an exam, claims to have answered all questions but later finds several pages untouched. This juxtaposition of claimed achievement versus actual accomplishment invites readers to reflect on the complexities and layered narratives within these ancient texts. The varying accounts prompt deeper inquiry into the nature of biblical storytelling, historical recollections, and the multifaceted journey of the Israelites. Could differing perspectives and objectives of the authors contribute to these inconsistencies, or do they reflect broader lessons about human endeavors? The exploration of such contradictions opens avenues for understanding and interpretation.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Joshua 11:23 | 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. |
| 2. | Judges 1:27 | Neither did Manasseh drive out [the inhabitants of] Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. |
| 3. | Judges 1:28 | And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. |
| 4. | Judges 2:1-3 | And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. [angel: or, messenger] |
| 5. | Judges 2:21-23 | I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: |
| 6. | Joshua 13:1 | Now Joshua was old [and] stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old [and] stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. [to...: Heb. to possess it] |