Joshua 11:7

7 So Joshua, and {all the fighting men} with him, came against them suddenly at the waters of Merom, and {they attacked them}.

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 And all these kings joined forces, and they came and camped together by the waters of Merom to fight with Israel.

6 And Yahweh said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid because of their presence, for tomorrow at this time I [will] hand them over slain to Israel; you will hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire."

7 So Joshua, and {all the fighting men} with him, came against them suddenly at the waters of Merom, and {they attacked them}.

8 And Yahweh gave them into the hand of Israel, and they struck them and pursued them up to Great Sidon and Misrephoth Maim, and eastward up to the valley of Mizpeh. And they struck them until they left behind no survivor.

9 And Joshua did to them as Yahweh commanded him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "all the people of war"
• [b]. Literally "they fell upon them"