The Church Fathers on this verse

Joshua 24:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And you passed over the Jordan, and you came to Jericho. And the men of that city fought against you, the Amorrhite, and the Pherezite, and the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Gergesite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite: and I delivered them into your hands.

Douay-Rheims

וַתַּעַבְר֣וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ וַתָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־יְרִיחוֹ֒ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ בָכֶ֣ם בַּעֲלֵֽי־יְ֠רִיחוֹ הָֽאֱמֹרִ֨י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֜י וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗י וְהֽ͏ַחִתִּי֙ וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֔י הֽ͏ַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י וָאֶתֵּ֥ן אוֹתָ֖ם בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Augustine of Hippo

5th centuryChurch Father

The residents of Jericho initiated conflict with you. One might question how this assertion can hold merit when the inhabitants of Jericho were merely taking defensive measures by sheltering behind their walls and gates. Nevertheless, this is accurate; the act of shutting the gates against the adversary signifies the onset of warfare. Moreover, the people of Jericho did not dispatch messengers to seek terms for peace, indicating their intent. It’s important to understand that warfare is not always characterized by a succession of battles. Some conflicts engage in frequent military confrontations, others in fewer skirmishes, and some may experience more than one. True warfare arises from armed resistance.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.