11. Utterly destroying. For the meaning of the Hebrew word thus translated, see on 6:17. Nothing is said about the taking of the spoils. From the context it would appear that everything, including the spoils, was burned along with the city of Hazor, whereas in the other cities the Israelites took the spoil for themselves. Inasmuch as 11 is seemingly a repetition of 10 it has been thought, by some, to describe a different event. The phrase “at that time” ( 10) would then refer to the original investment of Hazor. Jabin, the leader of the confederacy, had fled there for refuge. Joshua took Hazor and smote the king with the sword. It is not unlikely that he reached an agreement at this time that reduced the city to a vassal state. It has also been thought that while Joshua was pursuing his victories in distant quarters the inhabitants of Hazor had revolted and resumed their independence. Verse 11, then, is believed to describe the punishment of Hazor.