Joshua 11:1-9

Conquest of Northern Cities

1 When Jabin king of Hazor heard [this news], he sent [a message] to: Jobab king of Madon, the kings of Shimron and Achshaph,

2 and the kings of the north in the hill country, the plain^[a] south of Chinnereth, the Judean foothills,^[b] and the Slopes of Dor^[c] to the west,

3 the Canaanites in the east and west, the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah.

4 They went out with all their armies-a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore-along with a vast number of horses and chariots.

5 All these kings joined forces; they came together and camped at the waters of Merom to attack Israel.

6 The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, for at this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over dead to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots."

7 So Joshua and his whole military force surprised them at the waters of Merom and attacked them.

8 The Lord handed them over to Israel, and they struck them down, pursuing them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and to the east as far as the valley of Mizpeh.^[d] They struck them down, leaving no survivors.

9 Joshua treated them as the Lord had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.

Joshua 11:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 11

This chapter relates how that the kings of the northern parts of Canaan combine together against Joshua, Jos 11:1-5; 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, Jos 11:6-11; and how that he took their cities, and destroyed the inhabitants of them, and took the spoil of them for a prey, Jos 11:12-15; and so became master of the whole country, both southern and northern, which is described Jos 11:16-20; 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, Jos 10:21-23.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or the Arabah
• [b]. Or the Shephelah
• [c]. Or and in Naphoth-dor
• [d]. Mizpah; Jos 11:3; 18:26