Joshua 11:20

For it was of the Lord "Forsothe the sentence of the Lord it was," Wyclif. Compare Exodus 4:21, "When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go;" and Exodus 7:3, "And I will hardenPharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt;" Joshua 14:4; Romans 9:17. Here, as everywhere in Scripture where such hardening is spoken of, it is to be carefully borne in mind, that it is always inflicted as a judgment on those who had previously acted contrary to the Divine will. This is true of

(a) Pharaoh, who had grievously and cruelly oppressed the Israelites for his own selfish ends;

(b) The Canaanites, who had persisted in the lowest and most degrading idolatry and sensuality;

(c) The Israelites, who in spite of warning and example fell away into idolatry in like manner, and forgat the Lord, Who had done such great things for them (Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 13:12-15).

The same is in a measure said of Sihon king of the Amorites (Deuteronomy 2:30); of Samson (Judges 14:4); of the sons of Eli (1 Samuel 2:25); of Solomon (1 Kings 12:15); of Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 22:7); of Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:16; 2 Chronicles 25:20). It is expressed also in the Latin proverb, "Quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat."