XI. JOSHUA’S NORTHERN CAMPAIGN. (1) JABIN KING OF HAZOR seems to have been in northern Palestine what Adonizedec, king of Jerusalem, was in the south. For the strength of this monarchy see the story in Judges 4:5. From its formidable character when it recovered strength in the days of the judges,... [ Continue Reading ]
CHINNEROTH — _i.e., Ginizer,_ the Gennesaret of the New Testament. Dor is identified as _Tantûra. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND OF MIZPEH is thought to be the plain El-Bukei’a, west of Hermon.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS OF MEROM. — The most northerly of the three lakes on the course of the Jordan.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT HOUGH THEIR HORSES. — See Note on Joshua 11:9, and observe that the command of Jehovah is the authority for the act.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUDDENLY. — On this occasion, as in the former campaign which began at Gibeon, Joshua surprised his adversaries by the rapidity of his movements.... [ Continue Reading ]
MISREPHOTH-MAIM is thought to be the same with Zarephath or Sarepta, now _Sarafend,_ near Sidon.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HOUGHED THEIR HORSES. — In what particular way this was done we are not informed; we cannot, therefore, be certain whether it was done so as to destroy the lives of the horses, or merely to make them useless for purposes of warfare.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CITIES THAT STOOD STILL IN THEIR STRENGTH. — Literally, _that stood on their mounds_ (“quæerant in collibus et in tumulis sitæ.” — Vulg.). Comp. Joshua 11:20. We may fairly suppose that Jericho and Ai committed themselves to hostile measures against Israel, though they were not able to send fort... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOUNT HALAK is marked as unknown in Conder’s Biblical Gazetteer. But “the smooth hill which goeth up to Seir,” may very possibly be the salt hill now called Khasur-Usdum, which has a glacier-like appearance, and forms a sufficiently striking object to be mentioned as a boundary-mark. BAAL-GAD h... [ Continue Reading ]
A LONG TIME. — See Note on Joshua 14:10. The war seems to have lasted seven years, a long time when compared with the desultory incursions and single campaigns which made up the greater part of ancient warfare, when there were no standing armies.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS OF THE LORD TO HARDEN THEIR HEARTS... THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THEM. — Or rather _to strengthen their heart_ — _i.e.,_ render them obstinate. These words go to prove what has been said elsewhere, that the conquest of Canaan was not intended to be a massacre of the unresisting inhabitants.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANAB is identified with _Anâb,_ west of Debir. The death of Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the three sons of Anak, the chiefs of the Anakim, is recorded in Judges 1:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY IN... GATH.-Goliath of Gath and his gigantic relatives (1 Samuel 17 and 2 Samuel 21) seem to have been a part of this remnant.... [ Continue Reading ]