The children of Israel didn't strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.
Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; [It means that he was beginning to be a little feeble. The idea of "stricken in years" refers to more or less the feebleness that oftentimes accompanies old age.] ... and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed ( Joshua 13:1 ).