Joshua 11:20
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Cross-reference
Joshua 11:12-15 records the actual destruction of the cities that verse 20 explains — the hard hearts led to total fulfillment of the command.
Joshua 6:25 shows Rahab spared by mercy — contrasting with the 'no mercy' destruction in Joshua 11:20.
Joshua 8:17 describes all Ai's men pursuing Israel, leading to their destruction — a parallel example of God bringing enemies to battle for defeat.
Exodus 9:16 reveals God’s purpose in hardening Pharaoh—to display His power; Joshua 11:20 similarly states God hardened hearts to destroy them.
Romans 9:22 speaks of vessels of wrath prepared for destruction — the same outcome as the hardened Canaanites in Joshua 11:20.
Romans 9:18 states God hardens whomever he wills — a direct doctrinal summary of the principle seen in Joshua 11:20.
Isaiah 6:10 explicitly asks God to dull hearts and blind eyes to prevent repentance — identical concept to Joshua 11:20's hardening.
Isaiah 6:9 records God commanding that the people hear but not understand — a classic parallel of divine hardening of hearts.
1 Kings 22:20-23 describes God sending a lying spirit to entice Ahab to his death — a direct parallel to God hardening hearts for destruction.
Deuteronomy 20:17 is the command to utterly destroy Canaanite nations — the very law Joshua 11:20 says God was fulfilling by hardening hearts.
Deuteronomy 20:16 is the command to destroy all breathing in Canaan — the very law Joshua 11:20 says was fulfilled by the hardening.
Deuteronomy 2:30 records God hardening King Sihon’s spirit so Israel could defeat him—parallel to God hardening Canaanite hearts in Joshua 11:20.
Exodus 4:21 shows God hardening Pharaoh’s heart—the same divine hardening of enemies’ hearts described in Joshua 11:20.
Deuteronomy 20:11 offers terms of peace to distant cities — the opposite of the no-mercy destruction commanded for Canaan in Joshua 11:20.
John 12:40 quotes Isaiah about God hardening hearts to prevent repentance, echoing the same divine hardening theme for judgment.
Isaiah 63:17 also speaks of God hardening hearts, but here it is Israel's heart in complaint, not the Canaanites' for judgment.
Judges 4:7 has God drawing Sisera to battle — similar to God hardening hearts to bring enemies to destruction in Joshua 11:20.
Romans 2:5 describes human hardheartedness storing up wrath, contrasting with God actively hardening hearts here.
Judges 14:4 shows the LORD orchestrating Samson’s marriage for an opportunity against Philistines—similar divine sovereignty as hardening in Joshua 11:20.
In 1 Kings 12:15, God similarly turns Rehoboam's heart to reject counsel, fulfilling prophecy — another instance of divine hardening to accomplish judgment.
1 Samuel 2:25 states it was the LORD’s will to put Eli’s sons to death—echoing God’s active role in destruction seen in Joshua 11:20.