Joshua 11
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Jabin king of Hazor - It is probable that Jabin was the common name of all the kings of Hazor. That king, by whom the Israelites were kept in a state of slavery for twenty years, and who was defeated by Deborah and Barak, was called by this name; see Jdg 4:2, Jdg 4:3, Jdg 4:23. The name signifies wise or intelligent. The city of Hazor was situated above the Lake Semechon, in Upper Galilee, according to Josephus, Antiq. lib. v., c. 6. It was given to the tribe of Naphtali, Jos 19:36, who it appears did not possess it long; for though it was burnt by Joshua, Jos 11:11, it is likely that the Canaanites rebuilt it, and restored the ancient government, as we find a powerful king there about one hundred and thirty years after the death of Joshua, Jdg 4:1. It is the same that was taken by Tiglath-pileser, together with Kadesh, to which it is contiguous; see Kg2 15:29. It is supposed to have given name to the Valley or Plain of Hazor or Nasor, situated between it and Kadesh, where Jonathan and Mattathias defeated the armies of Demetrius, and slew three thousand of their men, 1 Maccabees 11:63-74. It was in ancient times the metropolitan city of all that district, and a number of petty kings or chieftains were subject to its king, see Jos 11:10; and it is likely that it was those tributary kings who were summoned to attend the king of Hazor on this occasion; for Joshua having conquered the southern part of the promised land, the northern parts seeing themselves exposed made now a common interest, and, joining with Jabin, endeavored to put a stop to the progress of the Israelites. See Calmet Jobab king of Madon - This royal city is nowhere else mentioned in Scripture except in Jos 12:19. The Vatican copy of the Septuagint reads Μαρων, Maron, which, if legitimate, Calmet thinks ma…
Open source ↗DIVERS KINGS OVERCOME AT THE WATERS OF MEROM. (Jos 11:1-9) And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things--The scene of the sacred narrative is here shifted to the north of Canaan, where a still more extensive confederacy was formed among the ruling powers to oppose the further progress of the Israelites. Jabin ("the Intelligent"), which seems to have been a hereditary title (Jdg 4:2), took the lead, from Hazor being the capital of the northern region (Jos 11:10). It was situated on the borders of lake Merom. The other cities mentioned must have been in the vicinity though their exact position is unknown.
Open source ↗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 took this upon him, because as Adonizedek king of Jerusalem was the principal king in the southern part of the land, so was he in the northern part; see Jos 11:10; Hazor fell to the tribe of Naphtali, Jos 19:36. It was situated, as Josephus (n) says, on the lake Samachonitis, the same with the waters of Merom, Jos 11:5. According to Adrichomius (o), it was four miles from the castle Theron to the north, six miles from Caesarea Philippi to the southwest, and nine miles from the great sea to the east; and was, in the times of Christ, one of the ten principal cities of the region of Decapolis, in which he preached, Mat 4:25; and is now called Antiopia; and in the Arabic version here it is called Caesarea, and, according to Bunting (p), it lay eighty miles from Jerusalem to the north: that he sent to Jobab king of Madon; of which place we nowhere else read but in Jos 12:19; though Brocard (q) finds a place near Dan, called Madan by the Turks at this day: and to the king of Shimron; not Samaria, as many think, for that was built by Omri, king of Israel, and had its name from Shemer, the owner of the hill on which it was built some hundreds of years after this; besides Samaria was in the tribe of Ephraim, this in the tribe of Zebulun, Jos 19:15; and is called Shimronmeron, Jos 12:20; and in the Jerusalem Talmud (r) Simoniah, and here in the Septuagint version Symoson: and to the king of Achshaph: a city which fell to the lot of the tribe of Asher, Jos 19:25. The Septuagint cal…
Open source ↗The War in Northern Canaan. - Jos 11:1-3. On receiving intelligence of what had occurred in the south, the king of Hazor formed an alliance with the kings of Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph, and other kings of the north, to make a common attack upon the Israelites. This league originated with Jabin the king of Hazor, because Hazor was formerly the head of all the kingdoms of northern Canaan (Jos 11:10). Hazor, which Joshua conquered and burned to the ground (Jos 11:10, Jos 11:11), was afterwards restored, and became a capital again (Jdg 4:2; Sa1 12:9); it was fortified by Solomon (Kg1 9:15), and taken by Tiglath-Pileser (Kg2 15:29). It belonged to the tribe of Naphtali (Jos 19:36), but has not yet been discovered. According to Josephus (Ant. v. 5, 1), it was above the Lake of Samochonitis, the present Bahr el Huleh. Robinson conjectures that it is to be found in the ruins upon Tell Khuraibeh, opposite to the north-west corner of the lake of Huleh, the situation of which would suit Hazor quite well, as it is placed between Ramah and Kedesh in Jos 19:35-36 (see Bibl. Res. p. 364). On the other hand, the present ruins of Huzzur or Hazireh, where there are the remains of large buildings of a very remote antiquity (see Rob. Bibl. Res. p. 62), with which Knobel identifies Hazor, cannot be thought of for a moment, as these ruins, which are about an hour and a quarter to the south-west of Yathir, are so close to the Ramah of Asher (Jos 19:29) that Hazor must also have belonged to Asher, and could not possibly have been included in the territory of Naphtali. There would be more reason for thinking of Tell Hazr or Khirbet Hazr, on the south-west of Szafed (see Rob. Bibl. Res. p. 81); but these ruins are not very ancient, and only belong to an ordinary village, and not to a town at a…
Open source ↗We are here entering upon the story of another campaign that Joshua made, and it was a glorious one, no less illustrious than the former in the success of it, though in respect of miracles it was inferior to it in glory. The wonders God then wrought for them were to animate and encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the war carried on by the preaching of the gospel against Satan's kingdom was at first forwarded by miracles; but, the war being by them sufficiently proved to be of God, the managers of it are now left to the ordinary assistance of divine grace in the use of the sword of the Spirit, and must not expect hail-stones nor the standing still of the sun. In this story we have, I. The Canaanites taking the field against Israel. They were the aggressors, God hardening their hearts to begin the war, that Israel might be justified beyond exception in destroying them. Joshua and all Israel had returned to the camp at Gilgal, and perhaps these kings knew no other than that they intended to sit down content with the conquest they had already made, and yet they prepare war against them. Note, Sinners bring ruin upon their own heads, so that God will be justified when he speaks, and they alone shall bear the blame for ever. Judah had now couched as a lion gone up from the prey; if the northern kings rouse him up, it is at their peril, Gen 49:9. Now, 1. Several nations joined in this confederacy, some in the mountains and some in the plains, Jos 11:2. Canaanites from east and west, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, etc. (Jos 11:3), of different constitutions and divided interests among themselves, and yet they here unite against Israel as against a common enemy. Thus are the children of this world more unanimous, and therein wiser, than the children of light. The…
Open source ↗11:1-16 Through the more detailed accounts of Joshua’s campaign in southern Canaan (chs 6-10), the narrator established firmly that the Israelites needed God’s help to succeed. Because what had been true in the southern campaign would also be true in the northern campaign (ch 11), those details were unnecessary here. 11:1-3 Hazor lay along the international trade route and was by far the largest and most important inland city of Canaan (see 11:10). • Virtually all of northern Canaan joined the coalition of King Jabin against Israel. This region stretched from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the desert in the east and from the borders of Phoenicia in the north to the hill country and the Jordan Valley in the south. • The term Jebusites typically refers to the people of Jerusalem and surrounding towns under its control. Perhaps men from Jebus were mercenaries to Jabin. • Mizpah means “watchtower” or “lookout.” Several places had this name; this one was the extensive region of the lower slopes of Mount Hermon, the highest peak of the Promised Land.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יָבִין (Yâbîyn, H2985) — Jabin, the name of two Canaanitish kings מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king חָצוֹר (Châtsôwr, H2674) — Chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine and of one in Arabia שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יוֹבָב (Yôwbâb, H3103) — Jobab, the name of two Israelites and of three foreigners מָדוֹן (Mâdôwn, H4068) — Madon, a place in Palestine שִׁמְרוֹן (Shimrôwn, H8110) — Shimron, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine אַכְשָׁף (ʼAkshâph, H407) — Acshaph, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) עֲרָבָה (ʻărâbâh, H6160) — a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the… נֶגֶב (negeb, H5045) — the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah,… כִּנְּרוֹת (Kinnᵉrôwth, H3672) — Kinneroth or Kinnereth, a place in Palestine שְׁפֵלָה (shᵉphêlâh, H8219) — Lowland, i.e. (with the article) the maritime slope of Palestine נָפָה (nâphâh, H5299) — a height; also a sieve דּוֹר (Dôwr, H1756) — Dor, a place in Palestine יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the…
Open source ↗כְּנַעַנִי (Kᵉnaʻanîy, H3669) — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing… מִזְרָח (mizrâch, H4217) — sunrise, i.e. the east יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… אֱמֹרִי (ʼĔmôrîy, H567) — an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes חִתִּי (Chittîy, H2850) — a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth פְּרִזִּי (Pᵉrizzîy, H6522) — a Perizzite, one of the Canaanitish tribes יְבוּסִי (Yᵉbûwçîy, H2983) — a Jebusite or inhabitant of Jebus הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) חִוִּי (Chivvîy, H2340) — a Chivvite, one of the aboriginal tribes of Palestine חֶרְמוֹן (Chermôwn, H2768) — Chermon, a mount of Palestine אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִצְפָּה (Mitspâh, H4709) — Mitspah, the name of two places in Palestine
Open source ↗יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… מַחֲנֶה (machăneh, H4264) — an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… חוֹל (chôwl, H2344) — sand (as round or whirling particles) יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a… רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect) סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) רֶכֶב (rekeb, H7393) — a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the… מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,…
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יָעַד (yâʻad, H3259) — to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication, to meet (at a stated time), to… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מֵרוֹם (Mêrôwm, H4792) — Merom, a lake in Palestine לָחַם (lâcham, H3898) — to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מָחָר (mâchâr, H4279) — properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely,… עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) חָלָל (châlâl, H2491) — pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עָקַר (ʻâqar, H6131) — to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to… סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) שָׂרַף (sâraph, H8313) — to be (causatively, set) on fire מֶרְכָּבָה (merkâbâh, H4818) — a chariot
Open source ↗יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מֵרוֹם (Mêrôwm, H4792) — Merom, a lake in Palestine פִּתְאוֹם (pithʼôwm, H6597) — instantly נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) רָדַף (râdaph, H7291) — to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by) רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) צִידוֹן (Tsîydôwn, H6721) — Tsidon, the name of a son of Canaan, and of a place in Palestine מִשְׂרְפוֹת מַיִם (Misrᵉphôwth mayim, H4956) — Misrephoth-Majim, a place in Palestine בִּקְעָה (biqʻâh, H1237) — properly, a split, i.e. a wide level valley between mountains מִצְפֶּה (Mitspeh, H4708) — Mitspeh, the name of five places in Palestine מִזְרָח (mizrâch, H4217) — sunrise, i.e. the east שָׁאַר (shâʼar, H7604) — properly, to swell up, i.e. be (causatively, make) redundant שָׂרִיד (sârîyd, H8300) — a survivor
Open source ↗יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עָקַר (ʻâqar, H6131) — to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to… סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) שָׂרַף (sâraph, H8313) — to be (causatively, set) on fire מֶרְכָּבָה (merkâbâh, H4818) — a chariot אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… לָכַד (lâkad, H3920) — to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by… חָצוֹר (Châtsôwr, H2674) — Chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine and of one in Arabia נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… מַמְלָכָה (mamlâkâh, H4467) — dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
Open source ↗נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… חָרַם (châram, H2763) — to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction);… יָתַר (yâthar, H3498) — to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left;… נְשָׁמָה (nᵉshâmâh, H5397) — a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely)… שָׂרַף (sâraph, H8313) — to be (causatively, set) on fire חָצוֹר (Châtsôwr, H2674) — Chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine and of one in Arabia אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader לָכַד (lâkad, H3920) — to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by… נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… חָרַם (châram, H2763) — to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction);… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Open source ↗עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) תֵּל (têl, H8510) — a mound יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity שָׂרַף (sâraph, H8313) — to be (causatively, set) on fire זוּלָה (zûwlâh, H2108) — probably scattering, i.e. removal; used adverbially, except חָצוֹר (Châtsôwr, H2674) — Chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine and of one in Arabia יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader
Open source ↗שָׁלָל (shâlâl, H7998) — booty עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בָּזַז (bâzaz, H962) — to plunder אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… שָׁמַד (shâmad, H8045) — to desolate שָׁאַר (shâʼar, H7604) — properly, to swell up, i.e. be (causatively, make) redundant נְשָׁמָה (nᵉshâmâh, H5397) — a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely)…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword, because Hazor was formerly the head of all these kingdoms.
So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
Meanwhile, Sisera had fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.