Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 11:21

21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountain, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountain of Judah, and from all the mountain of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.

i. e. In that War, for it cannot be meant of any particular and short time, because the work here related was done in divers times and years.

A race of Giants, of which see Numb. 13. 33.

Or, Mountains, the Singular Number for the Plural; These Barbarous and Monstrous persons either chose to live in the Dens or Caves, which were frequent in the Mountains of those parts; or else they were driven thither by the Arms and Success of the Israelites.

Either, 1. From the Territories belonging to these Cities, as we have oft seen in this History, Cities mentioned for the Country subject to them, for the Cities were taken before by Ioshua, chap. 10. 36, 37, 38. or 2. From the Cities themselves; and so either the Cities were re-taken by the Giants, which it is not probable that God would permit in Ioshua's time; or he speaks here of that time when he took those places mentioned here, and chap. 10. which History he here in part repeats and enlargeth with this memorable circumstance, That, together with the rest, he destroyed also the Giants which were in those places.

A place in the Tribe of Iudah, Jos. 15. 50.

It doth not follow from hence, which some conclude, that this Book was written by some other person long after Ioshua's Death, even after the division of the Israelites into two Kingdoms, of Israel and Iudah; but only that this was one of those clauses which were added or altered, and suited to the stile of the present times by Ezra, or some other Prophet; though that be not necessary: for since it was evident to Ioshua, from Gen. 49. 10, &c. That the Tribe of Iudah was to be the chief of all the Tribes, and some dawnings of its Eminency appeared in that time, in their having the first Lot in the Land of Canaan, Ios. 15. 1. and the largest inheritan[illegible: 1+ letters]e, Ios. 19. 9. It is no wonder that it is mentioned apart, and distinguished from the rest of the Tribes of Israel, though that also be one of them; even as the Daughter of Phara[illegible: 1+ letters]h is distinguished from the Strange Women, 1 King. 11. 1. and Saul from all Davids Enemies, Psal. 18. title. and Peter from the Disciples, Mark 16. 7. though they were each of the same nature and quality with the rest.

Q[illegible: 1+ letters]. How could Ioshua utterly destroy these, when Ca[illegible: 1+ letters]eb and Othoniel destroyed some of them after Ioshua's Death? Ios. 14. 12. Iudg. 1. 10, 11, 12. Ans. This might be, either 1. [illegible: 1 word] these places being in part destroyed and neglected by the Israelites, might be re-possessed by the Giants, either in Ioshua's time, or after his Death, and by them kept till Caleb dispossessed and destroyed them. Or rather 2. Because this work, though done by the particular valour and industry of Caleb, is ascribed to Ioshua as the General of the Army, according to the manner of all Historians; and therefore it is here attributed to Ioshua, though afterwards, that Caleb might not lose his deserved Honour, the History is more particularly described, and Caleb owned as the great Instrument in the atchievement of it. Ios. 14. and Iudg. 1.