The Book of
Joshua 11
23 verses≈ 5 min2 peopleBSB
Images are artistic interpretations.
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In this chapter
Where we are
- 1–5Crossing overInto the land
- 6–12Taking the landThe LORD fights for IsraelChapter 11
- 13–21Dividing the landAn inheritance for each tribe
- 22–24Choose this dayServe the LORD
Conquest of the Northern Cities
Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph; to the kings of the north in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Chinnereth, in the foothills, and in Naphoth-dor to the west; to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
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So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots. All these kings joined forces and encamped at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”
So by the waters of Merom, Joshua and his whole army came upon them suddenly and attacked them, and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who struck them down and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. They struck them down, leaving no survivors.
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
Joshua treated them as the LORD had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.
Stylised map · locations approximate
On the map
The northern campaign
Jabin of Hazor called the kings of the whole north: Madon, Shimron and Achshaph, the hills, “the Arabah south of Chinnereth” (the Sea of Galilee), the foothills, and Naphoth-dor on the coast by Dor. They camped “at the waters of Merom.” Israel struck suddenly and chased them northwest past Misrephoth-maim toward Greater Sidon on the coast (north of this map), and east to the Valley of Mizpeh, probably below Mount Hermon. Then Joshua turned back and burned Hazor. The sites of Merom, Madon, Shimron, Achshaph and Misrephoth-maim are uncertain.
Question
Quick question
The northern kings brought the strongest weapon of their age. The LORD told Joshua what to do with it.
What did the LORD tell Joshua to do with the enemy’s chariots?
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. The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself.
Joshua captured all these kings and their cities and put them to the sword. He devoted them to destruction, as Moses the LORD’s servant had commanded. Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua burned.
The Israelites took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed. As the LORD had commanded His servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. That is what Joshua did, leaving nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.
As the LORD had commanded His servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. That is what Joshua did, leaving nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.
Joshua 11:15
Reflect
Nothing undone
Joshua did what he was told “leaving nothing undone,” right down to the chariots he might have wanted to keep. Is there something God has made plain to you that you have only half done? Write it down, and write the next step you will take.
Joshua Takes the Whole Land
No city made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites living in Gibeon; all others were taken in battle. For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.
At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim from the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities. No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.
So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to the allotments to their tribes. Then the land had rest from war.
The LORD fought for Israel
Whiteboard
Three chapters, one pattern. Peace with Gibeon brought the kings of the south against Israel; the LORD sent hail and held the sun, and the south fell. Then the kings of the north gathered at Merom with horses and chariots, and the LORD said, “Do not be afraid of them.” Hazor, “the head of all these kingdoms,” was burned. Each time the victory was the LORD’s, and Joshua’s part was to obey. It ends where the LORD had promised it would: “Then the land had rest from war.”
Pray
Rest from war
Thank God for the rest He gives, and for keeping every word He has spoken. “So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the LORD had spoken to Moses.” Lord, You did all You said You would. Where I am still fighting, help me not to be afraid, and teach me to trust You and not my own strength. Amen.
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Joshua 11
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A verse to carry with you
As the LORD had commanded His servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. That is what Joshua did, leaving nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.
Joshua 11:15
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