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;

JOSHUA 11:16KJV
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Joshua 11:16 (KJV)

What does Joshua 11:16 mean?

Joshua 11:16 states that Joshua captured all the regions mentioned—hill country, southern areas, the land of Goshen, valleys, plains, and the mountain of Israel—during the conquest of Canaan. This verse summarizes the wide scope of territory that came under Israelite control through Joshua’s leadership.

Joshua 11:16 is a summary statement in the book of Joshua, describing the results of a series of military campaigns. The narrator is recounting to the Israelites (and future readers) the extent of the land that Joshua and the Israelites took from their enemies. This verse highlights the completeness of the conquest and sets up the following sections about how the land would be divided among the tribes.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 11:16

  • The word for "land" is אֶרֶץ (erets), which often means not just soil but an entire territory or region. Here, it emphasizes the broad expanse that Joshua captured.
  • "Hills" is הָר (har), meaning mountain or hill country. This term points to the challenging terrain that was also conquered, not just the easy-to-reach places.
  • "South country" is נֶגֶב (negev), which refers to the dry southern region of Canaan. Mentioning it shows that even the less fertile, harder-to-settle areas were taken.
  • "Goshen" גֹּשֶׁן (goshen) is a specific region within Canaan, not to be confused with the Egyptian Goshen. Its mention shows attention to detail in recording the conquest.

Why Joshua 11:16 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that only a small part of Canaan was taken; it stresses that Joshua’s campaigns were thorough and far-reaching.
  • By naming specific regions, Joshua 11:16 connects the conquest to earlier promises God made about the land, showing fulfillment of those promises.
  • The summary prepares the reader for the next section, where the focus shifts from conquest to dividing the land among the tribes, making the transition clear.

Where else these words appear

“Goshen” Hebrew H1657 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 45:10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:
  • Genesis 47:1 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.
  • Genesis 50:8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

“valley” Hebrew H8219 · used in 19 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
  • Judges 1:9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

“plain” Hebrew H6160 · used in 57 verses

  • Numbers 22:1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
  • Joshua 4:13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
  • Psalms 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

“country” Hebrew H5045 · used in 98 verses

  • Genesis 12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
  • Joshua 15:21 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
  • Isaiah 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.