This chapter relates how that the kings of the northern parts of Canaan combine together against Joshua, Josh. 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, Josh.

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…

And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, &c.] Of Libanus and Antilibanus, with others near them; so Josephus [[18]] says, the kings about Lebanon being Canaanites, fought against them, i.e.

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, ; and others dwelt on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, which was to the west of the land:…

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…

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: Josephus [[0]] says it was at Berotha; perhaps it should be Merotha, a city of upper Galilee, not far from Cedesa, the same he elsewhere calls [[1]]…

And the Lord said unto Joshua, be not afraid because of them, &c.] Of their number, of their horsemen, and of their scythed chariots; which might at first hearing occasion some fear and dread.

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.

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…

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…

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 says [[21]], it was thirty two miles from Sidon: and…

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…

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…

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” [[23]]; upon an eminence, being built on hills and mountains: Israel burned none of them; but reserved them for their own…

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…

As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua Which was to destroy the people of the land, (Deut. 7:1, Deut. 7:2) ; 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,…

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, Luke 1:65) ; and all the south country; where lived the five kings; and those of other places, the account of…

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…

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, ; but…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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 ;…