And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard [those things], that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, Ver. 1. _When Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things._] In policy he should have done this sooner, before the five southern kings... [ Continue Reading ]
And to the kings that [were] on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west, Ver. 2. _South of Cinneroth._] Afterwards called the lake of Gennesareth, Luk 5:1 and the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias. Joh 6:1... [ Continue Reading ]
Joshua 11:3 [And 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 Mizpeh. Ver. 3. _In the land of Mizpeh._] Not that Mizpeh of Judah, Jos 15:38 nor that of Benj... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 4. _They and all their hosts._] These were, as one said of Carthage, half destroyed, _Morientium ferarum ultimi nixus, et violenti... [ Continue Reading ]
And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. Ver. 5. _And when all these kings were met together._] Heb., Assembled by appointment, at a set time. _Ducunt volentes fata, nolentes trahunt._ See Psalms 37:12,13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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 hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. Ver. 6. _Be not afraid because of them._] Though many, and mighty, and malicious, and combine... [ Continue Reading ]
So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. Ver. 7. _By the waters of Merom suddenly._] Like a lightbolt. Bajazet, for like cause, was surnamed _Gilderun,_ or lightning: and of two brave Romans Lucan saith that they were... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. Ver. 8. _Who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon._] The mother c... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire. Ver. 9. See Joshua 11:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. Ver. 10. _And smote the king thereof._] The new king. See Joshua 10:37 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they smote all the souls that [were] therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying [them]: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. Ver. 11. _And he burnt Hazor with fire._] Which yet was rebuilt and reigned in by another Jabin, this man's nephew haply, who ther... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. Ver. 12. _And all the kings of them._] Herodotus saith of the Thracians, that if they had been all o... [ Continue Reading ]
_But [as for] the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; [that] did Joshua burn._ Ver. 13. _That stood still in their strength._] Heb., On their heap: _i.e., _ that prepared to have stood out a siege, but yet repented and did not; or that had not the... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 14. _Neither left they any to breathe,_] viz., Upon that air which th... [ Continue Reading ]
As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. Ver. 15. _As the Lord commanded._] This is often repeated, to free Joshua from suspicion of inhumanity and cruelty in all these bloody executions. Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; Ver. 16. _So Joshua took all that land._] Here we have Joshua's victories summed up: who quickly sheathed his sword,... [ Continue Reading ]
Joshua 11:17 [Even] from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. Ver. 17. _Even from the mount Halak._] Or, The smooth or bare mountain; not unlike that they call Axylon, by wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. Ver. 18. _Joshua made war a long time._] Near seven years, though in few words related. Of him it might be said, as was once of our Alfred, “ _Si modo victor eras, ad crastina bella pavebas;_ Si modo rictus eras (as at Ai) ad crastina bella paraba... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all [other] they took in battle._ Ver. 19. _There was not a city that made peace._] Hence the war held out so long: they generally stood out to the last man. There is nothing more pertinac... [ Continue Reading ]
For 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. Ver. 20. _For it was of the Lord._] Punishing them with a judiciary h... [ Continue Reading ]
And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims 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. Ver. 21. _And cut off all the Anakims._] Whom the spies had once... [ Continue Reading ]
There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. Ver. 22. _Only in Gaza, &c._] Three Philistine cities. See 2 Samuel 21:15,22 .... [ Continue Reading ]
So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. Ver. 23. _And the land rested._] Peace is the daughter of war; a fair and happy daughter of an... [ Continue Reading ]