1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
2 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,
3 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.
4 And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
5 And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
6 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
8 And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
9 And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.
11 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.
13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.
1 And it came to pass, when Jabin H2985 king H4428 of Hazor H2674 had heard H8085 those things, that he sent H7971 to Jobab H3103 king H4428 of Madon, H4068 and to the king H4428 of Shimron, H8110 and to the king H4428 of Achshaph, H407
2 And to the kings H4428 that were on the north H6828 of the mountains, H2022 and of the plains H6160 south H5045 of Chinneroth, H3672 and in the valley, H8219 and in the borders H5299 of Dor H1756 on the west, H3220
3 And to the Canaanite H3669 on the east H4217 and on the west, H3220 and to the Amorite, H567 and the Hittite, H2850 and the Perizzite, H6522 and the Jebusite H2983 in the mountains, H2022 and to the Hivite H2340 under Hermon H2768 in the land H776 of Mizpeh. H4709
4 And they went out, H3318 they and all their hosts H4264 with them, much H7227 people, H5971 even as the sand H2344 that is upon the sea H3220 shore H8193 in multitude, H7230 with horses H5483 and chariots H7393 very H3966 many. H7227
5 And when all these kings H4428 were met together, H3259 they came H935 and pitched H2583 together H3162 at the waters H4325 of Merom, H4792 to fight H3898 against Israel. H3478
6 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 Be not afraid H3372 because H6440 of them: for to morrow H4279 about this time H6256 will I deliver them up H5414 all slain H2491 before H6440 Israel: H3478 thou shalt hough H6131 their horses, H5483 and burn H8313 their chariots H4818 with fire. H784
7 So Joshua H3091 came, H935 and all the people H5971 of war H4421 with him, against them by the waters H4325 of Merom H4792 suddenly; H6597 and they fell upon H5307 them.
8 And the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Israel, H3478 who smote H5221 them, and chased H7291 them unto great H7227 Zidon, H6721 and unto Misrephothmaim, H4956 and unto the valley H1237 of Mizpeh H4708 eastward; H4217 and they smote H5221 them, until they left H7604 them none remaining. H8300
9 And Joshua H3091 did H6213 unto them as the LORD H3068 bade H559 him: he houghed H6131 their horses, H5483 and burnt H8313 their chariots H4818 with fire. H784
10 And Joshua H3091 at that time H6256 turned back, H7725 and took H3920 Hazor, H2674 and smote H5221 the king H4428 thereof with the sword: H2719 for Hazor H2674 beforetime H6440 was the head H7218 of all those kingdoms. H4467
11 And they smote H5221 all the souls H5315 that were therein with the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 utterly destroying H2763 them: there was not any left H3498 to breathe: H5397 and he burnt H8313 Hazor H2674 with fire. H784
12 And all the cities H5892 of those kings, H4428 and all the kings H4428 of them, did Joshua H3091 take, H3920 and smote H5221 them with the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 and he utterly destroyed H2763 them, as Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 commanded. H6680
13 But as for the cities H5892 that stood H5975 still in their strength, H8510 Israel H3478 burned H8313 none of them, save H2108 Hazor H2674 only; that did Joshua H3091 burn. H8313
14 And all the spoil H7998 of these cities, H5892 and the cattle, H929 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 took for a prey H962 unto themselves; but every man H120 they smote H5221 with the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 until they had destroyed H8045 them, neither left H7604 they any to breathe. H5397
15 As the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses H4872 his servant, H5650 so did Moses H4872 command H6680 Joshua, H3091 and so did H6213 Joshua; H3091 he left H5493 nothing H1697 undone H5493 of all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard thereof, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
2 and to the kings that were on the north, in the hill-country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,
3 to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill-country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
4 And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
5 And all these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.
6 And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hock their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and fell upon them.
8 And Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they smote them, and chased them unto great Sidon, and unto Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
9 And Joshua did unto them as Jehovah bade him: he hocked their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
10 And Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.
11 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left that breathed: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and he smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; as Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded.
13 But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any that breathed.
15 As Jehovah commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua: and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that Jehovah commanded Moses.
1 And it cometh to pass when Jabin king of Hazor heareth, that he sendeth unto Jobab king of Madon, and unto the king of Shimron, and unto the king of Achshaph,
2 and unto the kings who `are' on the north in the hill-country, and in the plain south of Chinneroth, and in the low country, and in the elevations of Dor, on the west,
3 `to' the Canaanite on the east, and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill-country, and the Hivite under Hermon, in the land of Mizpeh --
4 and they go out, they and all their camps with them, a people numerous, as the sand which `is' on the sea-shore for multitude, and horse and charioteer very many;
5 and all these kings are met together, and they come and encamp together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.
6 And Jehovah saith unto Joshua, `Be not afraid of their presence, for to-morrow about this time I am giving all of them wounded before Israel; their horses thou dost hough, and their chariots burn with fire.'
7 And Joshua cometh, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and they fall on them;
8 and Jehovah giveth them into the hand of Israel, and they smite them and pursue them unto the great Zidon, and unto Misrephoth-Maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward, and they smite them, till he hath not left to them a remnant;
9 and Joshua doth to them as Jehovah said to him; their horses he hath houghed, and their chariots burnt with fire.
10 And Joshua turneth back at that time, and captureth Hazor, and its king he hath smitten by the sword; for Hazor formerly `is' head of all these kingdoms;
11 and they smite every person who `is' in it by the mouth of the sword; he hath devoted -- he hath not left any one breathing, and Hazor he hath burnt with fire;
12 and all the cities of these kings, and all their kings, hath Joshua captured, and he smiteth them by the mouth of the sword; he devoted them, as Moses, servant of Jehovah, commanded.
13 Only, all the cities which are standing by their hill, Israel hath not burned them, save Hazor only, `it' hath Joshua burnt;
14 and all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, have the sons of Israel spoiled for themselves; only, every human being they have smitten by the mouth of the sword, till their destroying them; they have not left any one breathing.
15 As Jehovah commanded Moses His servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so hath Joshua done; he hath not turned aside a thing of all that Jehovah commanded Moses.
1 And it came to pass when Jabin king of Hazor heard [this], that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
2 and to the kings that were northward in the mountains, and in the plain south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and on the upland of Dor on the west,
3 to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
4 And they went out, they and all their armies with them, a people numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
5 And all these kings met together, and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
6 And Jehovah said to Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow about this time will I give them all up slain before Israel: their horses shalt thou hough, and thou shalt burn their chariots with fire.
7 And Joshua, and all the people of war with him, came upon them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and fell upon them.
8 And Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and to Misrephoth-maim, and to the valley of Mizpah eastward, and smote them until none were left remaining to them.
9 And Joshua did to them as Jehovah had said to him: he houghed their horses, and burned their chariots with fire.
10 And Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword; for Hazor was in times past the head of all those kingdoms.
11 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, destroying them utterly: there was not any left to breathe; and he burned Hazor with fire.
12 And all the cities of those kings and all their kings did Joshua take; and he smote them with the edge of the sword, destroying them utterly, as Moses the servant of Jehovah had commanded.
13 Only, all the cities that stood still upon their hills Israel did not burn, save Hazor alone, [which] Joshua burned.
14 And all the spoil of these cities and the cattle the children of Israel took as prey to themselves; only, they smote all the men with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them: they left none that breathed.
15 As Jehovah had commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua: he let nothing fail of all that Jehovah had commanded Moses.
1 It happened, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
2 and to the kings who were on the north, in the hill-country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,
3 to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill-country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
4 They went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
5 All these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.
6 Yahweh said to Joshua, Don't be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: you shall hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and fell on them.
8 Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they struck them, and chased them to great Sidon, and to Misrephoth Maim, and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they struck them, until they left them none remaining.
9 Joshua did to them as Yahweh bade him: he hamstrung their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
10 Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and struck the king of it with the sword: for Hazor before was the head of all those kingdoms.
11 They struck all the souls who were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left who breathed: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
12 All the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and he struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded.
13 But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
14 All the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey to themselves; but every man they struck with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any who breathed.
15 As Yahweh commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua: and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
1 Now Jabin, king of Hazor, hearing of these things, sent to Jobab, king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
2 And to the kings on the north in the hill-country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the highlands of Dor on the west,
3 And to the Canaanites on the east and on the west, and to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill-country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
4 And they went out, they and all their armies with them, a great people, in number like the sand on the seaside, with horses and war-carriages in great number.
5 And all these kings came together, and put their forces in position at the waters of Merom, to make war on Israel.
6 And the Lord said to Joshua, Have no fear of them: for tomorrow at this time I will give them all up dead before Israel; you are to have the leg-muscles of their horses cut and their war-carriages burned with fire.
7 So Joshua and all the men of war with him came against them suddenly at the waters of Merom, and made an attack on them.
8 And the Lord gave them up into the hands of Israel, and they overcame them driving them back to great Zidon and to Misrephoth-maim and into the valley of Mizpeh to the east; and they put them all to death, no man got away safely.
9 And Joshua did to them as the Lord had said to him; he had the leg-muscles of their horses cut and their war-carriages burned with fire.
10 At that time, Joshua went on to take Hazor and put its king to the sword: for in earlier times Hazor was the chief of all those kingdoms.
11 And they put every person in it to death without mercy, giving every living thing up to the curse, and burning Hazor.
12 And all the towns of these kings, and all the kings, Joshua took, and put them to the sword: he gave them up to the curse, as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had said.
13 As for the towns made on hills of earth, not one was burned by Israel but Hazor, which was burned by Joshua.
14 And all the goods taken from these towns, and their cattle, the children of Israel kept for themselves; but every man they put to death without mercy, till their destruction was complete, and there was no one living.
15 As the Lord had given orders to Moses his servant, so Moses gave orders to Joshua, and so Joshua did; every order which the Lord had given to Moses was done.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on Joshua 11
Commentary on Joshua 11 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 11
This chapter relates how that the kings of the northern parts of Canaan combine together against Joshua, Joshua 11:1; and that the Lord encouraged him to fight with them, and did deliver them into his hands, who, with all their people, were smitten by him, Joshua 11:6; and how that he took their cities, and destroyed the inhabitants of them, and took the spoil of them for a prey, Joshua 11:12; and so became master of the whole country, both southern and northern, which is described Joshua 11:16; and the chapter is concluded with an account of his cutting off the Anakim from various parts, which finished the conquest of the whole land, Joshua 10:21.
And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard these things,.... The taking of Jericho and Ai, the defeat of the five kings, and the conquest of the southern part of the land of Canaan; he was alarmed by them, and sent to all the northern kings to join with him against Israel; and he the rather took this upon him, because as Adonizedek king of Jerusalem was the principal king in the southern part of the land, so was he in the northern part; see Joshua 11:10; Hazor fell to the tribe of Naphtali, Joshua 19:36. It was situated, as JosephusF14Antiqu. l. 5. c. 5. sect. 1. says, on the lake Samachonitis, the same with the waters of Merom, Joshua 11:5. According to AdrichomiusF15Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 102. , it was four miles from the castle Theron to the north, six miles from Caesarea Philippi to the southwest, and nine miles from the great sea to the east; and was, in the times of Christ, one of the ten principal cities of the region of Decapolis, in which he preached, Matthew 4:25; and is now called Antiopia; and in the Arabic version here it is called Caesarea, and, according to BuntingF16Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 101. , it lay eighty miles from Jerusalem to the north:
that he sent to Jobab king of Madon; of which place we nowhere else read but in Joshua 12:19; though BrocardF17Apud Fuller's Pisgah Sight, B. 2. c. 4. p. 114. finds a place near Dan, called Madan by the Turks at this day:
and to the king of Shimron; not Samaria, as many think, for that was built by Omri, king of Israel, and had its name from Shemer, the owner of the hill on which it was built some hundreds of years after this; besides Samaria was in the tribe of Ephraim, this in the tribe of Zebulun, Joshua 19:15; and is called Shimronmeron, Joshua 12:20; and in the Jerusalem TalmudF18Megillah, fol. 70. 1. Simoniah, and here in the Septuagint version Symoson:
and to the king of Achshaph: a city which fell to the lot of the tribe of Asher, Joshua 19:25. The Septuagint calls it Aziph, as if it was the same with Achzib, or Ecdippa, now called Zib: but Achshaph and Achzib are manifestly distinguished, Joshua 19:25. Jerom saysF19De loc. Heb. fol. 88. C. D. , in his time it was a little village, and went by the name of Chasalus, eight miles from Diocaesarea, at the foot of Mount Tabor. The Arabic version adds a fourth king that Jabin sent to, called "the king of Mausel"; but we read not of any such place in the land of Canaan.
And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains,.... Of Libanus and Antilibanus, with others near them; so JosephusF20Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 18. says, the kings about Lebanon being Canaanites, fought against them, i.e. the Israelites; for Lebanon lay to the north of the land:
and of the plains south of Cinneroth; or Gennesaret, of the land and lake of which we read in the New Testament, Matthew 14:34; and seems to have respect chiefly to the famous plain of Jezreel, or Esdraelon, of which See Gill on Hosea 1:5,
and in the valley; which may more especially design the valley of Jezreel, as it is called in the above place, and distinguish it from other plains; it was two miles broad, and ten long:
and in the borders of Dor, on the west; which fell to the lot of the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 17:11; which PlinyF21Nat. Hist. l. 5. c 19. calls Dorum, and mentions it along with the promontory of Carmel; so Josephus saysF23Contr. Apion. l. 2. c. 9. , in Phoenicia, near Mount Carmel, is a city called Dora, four days' journey distant from Judea; that is, that part of the land of Israel particularly so called; some copies read Idumea. According to JeromF24De loc. Heb. fol. 92. I. , it was nine miles from Caesarea of Palestine, as you go to Tyre; and in his time a desert. It was a haven in the Mediterranean sea, and lies three leagues from the castle of the "pilgrims" near Mount Carmel; and, as a traveller says, is now so decayed, that there is nothing more extant than a large and high tower, which the inhabitants still call DorteiteF25Rauwolff's Travels, par. 3. c. 1. p. 211. Ed. Ray. .
And to the Canaanites on the east and on the west,.... That is, that particular nation of the seven so called, part of which dwelt in the eastern part of the land, by the dead sea, and by the coast of Jordan, Numbers 13:29; and others dwelt on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, which was to the west of the land:
and to the Amorite, and to the Hittite, and to the Perizzite: which were scattered about in several parts of the country:
and the Jebusite in the mountains; in the mountainous part of Judea, in the mountains about Jerusalem, and which they still inhabited, and did to the times of David:
and to the Hivite under Hermon, in the land of Mizpeh, so described to distinguish them from the Gibeonites, who were also Hivites. Mizpeh is the place, as Kimchi thinks, where the people of Israel are often said to meet together; which he supposes they did, on account of the great salvation wrought here in Joshua's time. Hermon was a mountain that adjoined to Lebanon, where it is certain some of the Hivites dwelt, Judges 3:3.
And they went out,.... The several kings and people sent to; these went out from the places they inhabited:
they and all their hosts with them; the kings of those several places, with their armies:
much people, even as the sand that is upon the seashore in multitude; a proverbial expression, to denote an exceeding great number:
with horses and chariots very many; being supplied with horses from Egypt, and their chariots were chariots of iron; see Judges 4:3; JosephusF26Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 18. gives us the number of this great army, and says it consisted of three hundred thousand footmen, ten thousand horse, and thirty thousand chariots; some copies read only twenty thousand; and these chariots were armed with iron hooks or scythes, to cut down men as they drove along, and so were very terrible.
And when all those kings were met together,.... At some certain place, which Jabin had appointed:
they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom: JosephusF1Ibid. (Antiq. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 8.) says it was at Berotha; perhaps it should be Merotha, a city of upper Galilee, not far from Cedesa, the same he elsewhere callsF2De Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 20. sect. 6. Meroth, These waters are the same with the lake Samachonitis, on which Hazor was situated; so that it was near Jabin where the rendezvous was. This lake is thoughtF3Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 1. p. 262. to have its name from the Arabic word "Samacha", which signifies high, as Merom does in Hebrew. It was, as Josephus saysF4De Bello Jud. l. 4. c. 1. sect. 1. & l. 3. c. 9. sect. 7. thirty furlongs broad, and sixty long, and its waters clayish. Jerom saysF5De loc. Heb. fol. 93. D. , in his time there was here a village called Merrus, twelve miles from the city Sebaste by Dothaim: here the kings and their armies met
to fight against Israel; so that they were the aggressors, which made the war still more lawful.
And the Lord said unto Joshua, be not afraid because of them,.... Of their number, of their horsemen, and of their scythed chariots; which might at first hearing occasion some fear and dread. And according to JosephusF6Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 18. , the multitude of them terrified both Joshua and the Israelites; and therefore the Lord appeared and spoke to him for his encouragement: though what was said was for the sake of the Israelites, and to animate them who might be disheartened, rather than for the sake of Joshua, who was of a bold and courageous spirit. Whether this was said to him at Gilgal, and out of the tabernacle there, quickly after the tidings of the combination of the kings were brought to him, or whether when upon his march towards them, is uncertain:
for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up slain before Israel; as many were, and others wounded and put to flight, as the word signifies, so as to be as good as dead. If Gilgal was twenty two miles from the waters of Merom, as Bunting saysF7Travels, p. 96. , and supposing this to be said to him before he set out, he must travel all night to reach thither the next day; and if it was sixty miles, as some say, this must be said to him when on his march, and within a day's march of the enemy; for Josephus saysF8Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 18.) it was on the fifth day that he came up with them, and fell upon them:
thou shalt hough their horses; cut their nerves under their hams, or hamstring them, so that they might be useless hereafter; for the kings of Israel were not to multiply horses; and Joshua, as their chief ruler, was to have no advantage of them by their falling into his hands:
and burn their chariots with fire; that so they might not be used by the Israelites afterwards, who might be tempted to put their trust and confidence in them, as many did.
So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them,.... Being encouraged by the Lord, they set out with Joshua at the head of them, to fight the kings and their forces. It is highly probable that these were not the whole body of armed men in the camp of Israel, but a select company Joshua took of them, and who would be able to make quicker marches on this expedition:
by the waters of Merom suddenly; the Targum is,"they lay by the waters of Merom;'as they were thoughtless and careless, and not on their guard, Joshua and his forces came to them suddenly, unawares, and they not provided for them:
and they fell upon them; at once, which threw them into disorder and confusion.
And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel,.... The whole host, who either were killed or wounded, or put to flight: it was of the Lord that Israel was directed to make so quick a march, and come upon them so suddenly, and that they were off their guard, and unprovided for them, and so fell into their hands:
who smote them; with the edge of the sword killed and wounded great numbers; and the rest fleeing, they
chased them unto great Zidon; not that there was another Zidon called the less, as Kimchi and Ben Melech thought there seemed to be, and which also JeromF9De loc. Heb. fol. 92. B. suggests; but this was so called because of its greatness, the large extent of it, and the abundance of wealth and riches in it: Curtius saysF11Hist. l. 4. c. 1. 4. , it was renowned for its antiquity and the fame of its buildings; and Mela saysF12De Situ Orbis, l. 1. c. 12. , that before it was conquered by the Persians, it was the greatest of the maritime cities, though now greatly reduced: Mr MaundrellF13Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 45. says of it,"Sidon is stocked well enough with inhabitants but is very much shrunk from its ancient extent, and more from its splendour, as appears from a great many beautiful pillars that lie scattered up and down the gardens without the present walls:'it lay, according to Strabo, not more than two hundred furlongs from TyreF14Geograph. l. 16. p. 521. , or twenty five miles: it was more ancient than that, which is called the daughter of it: Homer speaks much of Sidon, as the same writer observes, but not a word of Tyre: JosephusF15Antiqu. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 2. thinks it had its name from Sidon, the firstborn of Canaan, and that he built it, Genesis 10:15; but Justin saysF16E Trogo, l. 19. c. 3. it had its name from the plenty of fishes there: and Tzaid in the Chaldee and Syriac languages signifies fishing and a fisherman: hence Bethsaida, a city mentioned in the New Testament, Matthew 11:21, had its name; and Sidon is at this day called Said, and is now in the hands of the Turks: and though it was a part of the land of Canaan, and belonged to the tribe of Asher, never was conquered and possessed by them, but remained an Heathen city to the time of Christ:
and unto Misrephothmaim, or "boilings of water", it seems as if it was a place of hot baths, but the Targum renders it "pits of water", which Jarchi, Kimchi, and Ben Melech say, were pits into which the salt waters of the sea were drawn, and where they were heated by the sun, and made salt of; and so it is thought this was a place of salt pits, where salt was boiled, either by the heat of the sun or by fireF17Vid. Adrichom. Theatrum Terrae Sanct. sect. p. 2. : Junius and Tremellius render the word by "glass furnaces", furnaces in which glass was made; and it is certain, that at Sidon, and near it, within the borders of which this place was, Joshua 13:6; glass was made: PlinyF18Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19. calls Sidon the artificer of glass, or a city where glass was made: and Strabo saysF19Ut supra. (Geograph. l. 16. p. 521.) , that between Ace and Tyre is a shore which bears glassy sand, but they say it is not melted there, but carried to Sidon to be melted; and some say the Sidonians have a glassy sand fit for melting: CalmetF20Dictionary on this word. thinks this place is the same with Sarepta, Luke 4:26; which had its name from melting: of what construction the furnaces were in this place cannot be said, no doubt great improvement has been since madeF21Vid. Merrett de Fornac. Vitriar. p. 421, &c. :
and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward, and they smote them, until they left them none remaining; the same with the valley of Lebanon; now as Sidon lay northwest and this was eastward, it seems that the armies of the Canaanites, in their consternation and confusion, fled some to the west and some to the east, who were pursued by different bodies of the army of Israel, separated for that purpose.
And Joshua did unto them as the Lord bade him,.... Namely, in the following instances:
he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire; not consulting his own worldly interest or that of the people of Israel, but the command of God, which he carefully obeyed, and reserved none for himself or them, as David in another case afterwards did; see 2 Samuel 8:4.
And Joshua at that time turned back and took Hazor,.... After he had chased the Canaanites to the places mentioned, he returned to Hazor, near to which Joshua first fell upon them, but through the pursuit he was led on many miles beyond it: Bunting saysF23Travels, p. 96. , it was thirty two miles from Sidon:
and smote the king thereof with the sword; who, very probably, upon the surprise at the waters of Merom, fled to his capital for safety; but that being taken by Joshua, he was slain by him with the sword:
for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms; before mentioned, Joshua 11:1; but not of all the land of Canaan: JeromF24De loc. Heb. fol. 88. B. says, it was the metropolis of all the kingdoms of the Philistines; and though they were not now subject to it, and had kings of their own, yet it appears that the king of this place was in great authority, and regard was paid unto him; and this seems to be the reason why Joshua hasted to take this city, slay the king of it, and burn it with fire, because it had been the principal in this war, and might, if not prevented, raise new troubles; wherefore, as a precaution to that, and to deter the rest, he hastened the conquest and destruction of it.
And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them,.... Men, women, and children:
there was not any left to breathe; any human creature; for as for the cattle they were taken for a prey:
and he burnt Hazor with fire; as he did Jericho and Ai, though no other cities he had taken; but it seems that this city, though burnt, was built again and inhabited by Canaanites, who had a king over them of the same name with this in the times of Deborah, Judges 4:2.
And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them did Joshua take,.... As particularly Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph, with others which he marched unto, after he had burnt Hazor; in which he took their kings, whither they had fled, or else he had taken them before in the pursuit:
and smote them with the edge of the sword; both the kings and the inhabitants of those cities:
and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded; so that, in doing what he did, he did not indulge a spirit of revenge, cruelty, and avarice, but had regard purely to the command of Moses, which was of God, Deuteronomy 7:1.
But as for the cities that stood still in their strength,.... Whose walls were not demolished when taken, as Kimchi and Jarchi interpret it, or that "stood upon their heaps"F25על תלם "super tumulum eorum", Montanus; "quae erant in collibus et in tamulis sitae", V. L. ; upon an eminence, being built on hills and mountains:
Israel burned none of them; but reserved them for their own habitations, being well fortified, and having no need of new walls being built to them, or being in a very agreeable situation:
save Hazor only, that did Joshua burn; because it was the chief city where the scheme was formed, and the combination against Israel was made, and was the rendezvous of the confederate forces against them: the Jews have a traditionF26Bereshit Rabba, sect. 81. fol. 71. 1. , that God said to Moses, and Moses said to Joshua, that he should burn it, and that only.
And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves,.... The gold, silver, household goods, corn, wine, oil, or any mercantile goods, together with cattle of every sort, all were taken by them for a prey, for their own use and benefit, which was allowed them:
but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe; for which they had warrant so to do from the Lord, as follows.
As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua,.... Which was to destroy the people of the land, Deuteronomy 7:1,
so did Joshua, he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses; both with respect to the destruction of the people, and of all their images, pictures, altars, groves, and high places; see Exodus 34:11.
So Joshua took all that land,.... The whole land of Canaan, described as follows, both as to the southern and northern parts of it:
the hills; the hill country of Judea, of which see Luke 1:39,
and all the south country; where lived the five kings; and those of other places, the account of the taking of which we have in the preceding chapter, Joshua 10:40,
and all the land of Goshen; see Joshua 10:41,
and the valley, and the plain; the low places and campaign fields which lay between the hills and mountains; particularly all the plain and campaign country near Eleutheropolis, towards the north and west, Jerom says, in his day, was called "Sephela", or "the vale"F1De loc. Heb. fol. 94. M. :
and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; by which may be meant Jerusalem, situated on a mountain, and is so called, Ezekiel 17:23; and its valley may be the valley of Hinnom or of Jehoshaphat, as they were after called, which were near it: some think the hill of Samaria or the mountains about that are meant.
Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up unto Seir,.... Or the "smooth" and "bald" mountain, which had no trees on it, as some interpret it, observed by Kimchi; it was a mount on the borders of Edom, to which the land of Canaan reached on that side:
even unto Baalgad, in the valley of Lebanon, under Mount Hermon; and so describes the northern part of the land conquered by Joshua:
and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them; both in the southern and northern parts of the land.
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. For, though the account of the conquest of them is put together, and lies in a small compass, yet those victories were not obtained at once, or in a few days, as were those of the five kings, and others, related in the preceding chapter, Joshua 10:10; but were the work of some years; JosephusF2Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 19. says five years, but the common notion of the Jews is, that Joshua was seven years in subduing the land of CanaanF3Seder Olam Rabba, c. 11. p. 31. ; our Bishop UsherF4Annal. Vet. Test. p. 39, 40. thinks it was done in six years; and it may be concluded that it was about six or seven years ere this work was completely finished.
There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel,.... Though, according to the Jews, Joshua, upon his first landing in Canaan, sent letters and messages to all the inhabitants of the land, offering them peace on certain terms; particularly that he sent three messages, or proposed three things to them; that those who had a mind to flee might flee; that those who were desirous of making peace might make it; and they that were for war, let them fight; all were for the last, and so perishedF5Hieros. Sheviith, fol. 37. 3. :
save the Hivites and the inhabitants of Gibeon; these, some have thought, did not hear of the offers of peace, others think they did, and at first rejected them, but repenting were obliged to take the crafty methods they did to obtain it, of which see Joshua 9:1,
all other they took in battle; refusing to submit to them and make peace with them.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts,.... As he hardened the hearts of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, that his power might be displayed in their destruction:
that they should come against Israel battle; and so fall in it:
that he might destroy them utterly; for their abominable wickedness, idolatry, incest, &c. they had been guilty of:
and that they might have no favour; which they would have had, had they made peace as the Gibeonites did; or that they might not pray and make supplication, the Lord not giving them a spirit of supplication, but an hard heart, as GussetiusF6Comment. Ebr. p. 272. observes the words may be interpreted, though he seems to prefer the former, sense:
but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses; Deuteronomy 7:1.
And at that time came Joshua,.... After he had made a conquest of the land, or at the time he made it, as before related:
and cut off the Anakims from the mountains; whither, upon the conquest of the land, they had betaken themselves, and lived in dens and caves: these were giants, so called from Anak the father of them; though these are not to be restrained to his posterity, but include all other giants in the land; and the Targum renders the word by "mighty men"; and as some of them dwelt in mountains, others in cities, as follows:
from Hebron; where the children of Anak dwelt when the spies were sent into the land between forty and fifty years before this; and though the inhabitants of Hebron had been before destroyed by Joshua, these Anakims, who very likely then made their escape, returned and took possession of it after Joshua's departure, and while he was engaged in making other conquests; as we find that after this others of the same race again possessed it, and were in the possession of it after the death of Joshua, when they were slain by the tribe of Judah, Judges 1:10; from Debir: where others of them also had got after the conquest of it; unless we suppose, as I see no great reason to object to it, that these were cut off both at Hebron and Debir, at the time of the taking of them, of which see Joshua 10:36,
from Anab; a city which fell to the lot of the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:50. JeromF7De loc. Heb. fol. 88. C. says, in his time it was a village, near Diospolis or Lydda, about four miles from it to the east, and called Bethoannaba; but he says, that most affirm it to be eight miles from it, and called Bethannaba: Masius conjectures, that it is the same with the city of Nob; for, he says, that travellers in those parts affirm, that the city Nob is called Bethanoba and Bethanopolis:
and from all the mountains of Judah; the hill country of Judea, and the mountains round about Jerusalem:
and from all the mountains of Israel; as those about Samaria, and elsewhere:
Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities; which they had formerly inhabited, or had got into the possession of.
There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel,.... For those that escaped the sword fled elsewhere, particularly to the following places:
only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod there remained; that is, some of the Anakims or giants; these were three of the five principalities of the Philistines, and were never conquered and possessed by Israel, see Joshua 13:3; of the city of Gaza; see Gill on Amos 1:7; See Gill on Amos 1:8; and See Gill on Zephaniah 2:4; and of Gath; see Gill on Amos 6:2; Ashdod is the same with Azotus; see Gill on Acts 8:40, Mela saysF8De Situ Orbis, l. 1. c. 10. , the port of Azotus was a mart for the merchandises of Arabia, and was built on such an eminence, that from the top of it, at the fourth watch, might be seen the rising of the sun at the mountain Azotus; see"Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.' (1 Maccabees 9:15)this city held out a siege of twenty nine years against Psammitticus, king of Egypt; see Gill on Isaiah 20:1.
So Joshua took the whole land,.... Of Canaan, the far greater and better part of it, all before described; all that he went against, he failed not in any of his attempts; no place stood out against him that he besieged or summoned, all yielded to him:
according to all that the Lord said unto Moses: in Deuteronomy 11:23,
and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel, according to their divisions by their tribes; as is after related in this book:
and the land rested from war; there were no combinations of any of the dispersed Canaanites, or insurrections made by them, nor any annoyance given to Israel by the Philistines, who inhabited five principal cities, with what belonged to them; nor did Joshua attempt anything more in a warlike manner: and so it became a land of rest, as the heavenly Canaan will be to the spiritual Israel and church of God, after their militant state is ended, in which they now are; being engaged with many spiritual enemies, the Canaanites that are in the land, but then their warfare will be ended.