Joshua 11:7

7 Joshua and all his troops arrived suddenly at the Springs of Merom and attacked the Canaanite armies.

Joshua 11:7 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 11:7

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.

Joshua 11:7 In-Context

5 All these kings camped together by the Springs of Merom in order to fight Israel.

6 The LORD told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them because I am going to give them to Israel. About this time tomorrow they will all be dead. You must disable their horses so that they cannot be used in battle. You must burn their chariots."

7 Joshua and all his troops arrived suddenly at the Springs of Merom and attacked the Canaanite armies.

8 The LORD handed them over to Israel, and the Israelites defeated them. The Israelites chased them as far as Great Sidon, Misrephoth Maim, and the valley of Mizpah in the east. There were no survivors.

9 Joshua disabled their horses and burned their chariots, as the LORD had told him.