JABIN - Probably the hereditary and official title of the kings of Hazor (see Judges 4:2). The word means literally “he shall understand,” and is equivalent to “the wise” or “intelligent.” HAZOR - This name, which means “enclosed or “fortified,” belonged also to two other towns in the south of Judah... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE NORTH OF THE MOUNTAINS - Rather, “northward in the mountains.” The reference is to the mountain district of Galilee, called Joshua 20:7 “mount Naphtali.” ON THE PLAINS SOUTH OF CHINNEROTH - literally, “in the Arabah south of Chinneroth.” The words describe the northern portion of the “Arabah... [ Continue Reading ]
HERMON - See Deuteronomy 3:9 note. THE LAND OF MIZPEH - or Mizpah,” the land of the watch-tower” The locality is probably identified as a plain stretching at the foot of Hermon southwestward, from Hasbeya, toward the Bahr el Huleh. In a land abounding in striking points of view like Palestine, the n... [ Continue Reading ]
WATERS OF MEROM - i. e. “the upper waters,” the modern Bahr el Huleh, the lake Semechonitis, or Samochonitis of Josephus. This lake occupies the southern half of the Ard el Huleh, a depressed basin some 15 miles long and 3 or 4 miles wide lying between the hills of Galilee on the west and the lower... [ Continue Reading ]
HOUGH THEIR HORSES - i. e. cut the sinews of the hinder hoofs. This sinew once severed cannot be healed, and the horses would thus be irreparably lamed. This is the first appearance of horses in the wars with the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 17:16 and note).... [ Continue Reading ]
SUDDENLY - As before, at Gibeon Joshua 10:9, so now Joshua anticipates his enemies. Taken by surprise, and hemmed in between the mountains and the lake, the chariots and horses would have no time to deploy and no room to act effectively; and thus, in all probability, the unwieldy host of the Canaani... [ Continue Reading ]
One portion of the defeated host fled north-westward toward Zidon; the other northeastward up the Ard el Huleh. Zidon, as the metropolis of various subject towns and territories, appears Joshua 19:28 to have been afterward assigned to Asher, but was not, in fact, conquered by that tribe Judges 1:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
Render: “But the cities standing each on its own hill” (compare Jeremiah 30:18). The meaning is simply that, with the exception of Hazor, Joshua did not burn the cities, but left them standing, each on its former site. This site is spoken of as a hill, because such was the ordinary site chosen for c... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOUNT HALAK - See the margin and reference. The name serves to mark the southern limit of Joshua’s conquests. It suits equally well several of the ranges near the south border of Palestine, and it is uncertain which of them is the one here indicated. Baal-gad Joshua 12:7; Joshua 13:5 is probably... [ Continue Reading ]
A LONG TIME - At least five years; according to others, seven years (see Joshua 14:10, and Introduction). This and the preceding chapter contain a very condensed account of the wars of Joshua, giving particulars about leading events only.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the marginal references.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME - i. e. in course of the “long time” mentioned in Joshua 11:18. THE ANAKIMS - See Numbers 13:22. As it was the report of the spies respecting the Anakims which, above all, struck terror into the Israelites in the wilderness, and caused their faithless complaining and revolt, so the sac... [ Continue Reading ]
GAZA, GATH, ASHDOD - See the Joshua 13:3 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
These words import that Joshua had overcome all overt resistance. There were, however, many districts by no means thoroughly and finally subdued Joshua 13:1.... [ Continue Reading ]