Joshua 24:9

9 Then Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo'av, arose and fought against Yisra'el: and he sent and called Bil`am the son of Be'or to curse you;

Joshua 24:9 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 24:9

Then Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, arose
Being alarmed with what Israel had done to the two kings of the Amorites, and by their near approach to the borders of his kingdom:

and warred against Israel;
he fully designed it, and purpose is put for action, as Kimchi observes; he prepared for it, proclaimed war, and commenced it, though he did not come to a battle, he made use of stratagems and wiles, and magical arts, to hurt them, and sent for Balaam to curse them, that they both together might smite the Israelites, and drive them out of the land, ( Numbers 22:6 ) ; so his fighting is interpreted by the next clause:

and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;
by which means he hoped to prevail in battle, and get the victory over them; but not being able to bring this about, durst not engage in battle with them.

Joshua 24:9 In-Context

7 When they cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Mitzrim, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Mitzrayim: and you lived in the wilderness many days.

8 I brought you into the land of the Amori, that lived beyond the Yarden: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and you possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you.

9 Then Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo'av, arose and fought against Yisra'el: and he sent and called Bil`am the son of Be'or to curse you;

10 but I would not listen to Bil`am; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

11 You went over the Yarden, and came to Yericho: and the men of Yericho fought against you, the Amori, and the Perizzi, and the Kana`ani, and the Hittite, and the Girgashi, the Hivvi, and the Yevusi; and I delivered them into your hand.