The Heb. kol, “whole,” often does not imply what might at first seem to be its meaning. It cannot here be understood in the absolute sense, for the Lord Himself told Joshua, “There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed” (ch. 13:1).

Joshua had made a military conquest of the land, and there was now no unified resistance. It was not God’s plan to exterminate the Canaanites immediately, and to do so was not a part of Joshua’s military program. Before the conquest could be completed to its full extent, it was necessary to divide the land among the tribes of Israel and make provision for the peaceful settlement of the tribes in the land already conquered. But the Canaanites were so thoroughly defeated and dispirited that they dared not offer any further resistance.