Gave them peace translates a Hebrew verb which in 1.13 Good News Translation has translated as your home and in 1.15 given safety. The word emphasizes the peace and security Israel enjoyed in the land as a result of the Lord’s promise and action. The statement about the total defeat of all their enemies is somewhat exaggerated, since in many places the Israelites were not able to drive out the Canaanites completely from their cities, as the text itself has made clear.

The contents of this verse may be arranged into what is almost a chronological order:

• The LORD caused the people of Israel to defeat all their enemies. Not one of their enemies could stand up against them. The LORD had promised the ancestors of the people of Israel that he would let them live in peace throughout the land. So the LORD kept this promise.

Or, making explicit the other aspect of the Lord’s promise:

• The LORD had promised the ancestors of the people of Israel, “You will defeat all your enemies and live in peace throughout the land.” So the LORD kept his promise. He caused the people of Israel to defeat all their enemies. Not one of their enemies could stand against them, and they lived in peace throughout the land.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .