1Various other kings assemble against Israel by the waters of Merom. 6God encourageth Joshua, who smiteth them. 10Hazor is taken and burned; and the cities of the other kings are taken and spoiled. 16All the country taken by Joshua. 21The Anakims are cut off. 23The land being subdued resteth from war.
1AND it came to pass, when Jabin king of 1Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of 2Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
1 The name of a city, situated in the upper Galilee, otherwise called Galilee of the Gentiles, not far from Kadesh.
2 At Joshua 12:20 this city is called Shimron-meron.
2And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and 3of the plains south of 4Chinneroth, and in the valley, and 5in the borders of Dor 6on the west,
3 Other, in the wilderness.
4 Otherwise called Gennesaret Luke 5:1, also the Sea of Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee.
5 Or, in the coasts, regions, provinces of Dor.
6 Or, toward the west.
3And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of 7Mizpeh.
7 See Judges 10:17.
4And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
5And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
6¶And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt 8hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
8 That is, cut their ham-strings, to make them unserviceable either for war, or any other labor.
7So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
8And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto 9great Zidon, and unto 10Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
9 This is not therefore called great Zidon as if there were also a little Zidon, but in respect of the greatness or largeness of the city. It has its name of Zidon the first-born son of Canaan, of whom mention is made, Gen. 10:15.
10 This word is diversely interpreted. Some expound it: unto the warm waters; others, to the glass furnaces; others, the salt pits. Hebr. unto the burnings of the waters.
9And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he 11houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
11 See verse 6.
10¶And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was 12the head of all those kingdoms.
12 That is, the metropolis or capital city. Understand this of that part of the land of Canaan, where Joshua at that time made war.
11And they smote 13all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was 14not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
13 That is, all the people; for, the cattle they took for a prey, and reserved the same for themselves.
14 That is, no person.
12And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, asa Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.
a Deut. 20:16, 17; Joshua 10:40.
13But as for the cities 15that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
15 Other, which remained with their walls (or bulwarks), that is, which were not as yet leveled or made without walls, when the Israelites took them, but continued still fenced and walled; for the children of Israel left those complete, that they themselves might freely and safely dwell therein.
14And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
15¶Asb the LORD commanded Moses his servant, soc did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.
b Exod. 23:32, 33; 34:12; Num. 33:52.
c Deut. 7:2; 20:16.
16So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all 16the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain 17of Israel, and the valley of the same;
16 See Joshua 10:41.
17 That is, wherein Israel dwelt, or which fell to the lot and portion of the tribes of Israel (except Judah). The ones of the tribe of Judah had their own mountains or hill country, as appears verse 21.
17Even from the mount 18Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
18 This mountain called such, because it was bald, or without trees, grass or herbs. Others retain the Hebrew word Halak, as being a proper name.
18Joshua made war a 19long time with all those kings.
19 Somewhat more then six years, as may be gathered from Caleb’s age, when he requested of Joshua a land of inheritance, Joshua 14:7.
19There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other 20they took in battle.
20 Namely, all the above named cities; or all the cities that Joshua approached unto; otherwise it is certain, that there were yet long after that, namely, in the time of the judges, many cities which the Israelites had not as yet subdued.
20For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
21¶And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the 21Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
21 See Num. 13:22; Deut. 1:28.
22There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in 22Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
22 Here lived the giant Goliath, 1 Sam. 17:4.
23So Joshua took 23the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel 24according to their divisions by their tribes. 25And the land rested from war.
23 That is, the greatest and chiefest part thereof; or all; that is, all manner of land, namely, plain, mountainous, pasture lands, heaths, moors, etc.
24 This division of the land is related in Joshua 15 and in the following chapters.
25 Understand this of public wars when armies took the field one against another.