Joshua 11: The North, The Final Campaign Series

Introduction: The last several verses of Joshua 10 describe briefly how Israel, with God’s help, swept through southern Canaan. Once that was done, Joshua and all Israel returned to Gilgal (see Joshua 10:29-43). There was still a great deal for Israel to claim, however, and this chapter gives some information about how they did that. One way this happened took place when a large group of kings and their armies decided to fight against Israel!

1 The Enemies Came To Fight Against Israel

Text, Joshua 11:1-5, KJV: 1 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, 2 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, 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. 4 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. 5 And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

Israel was about to face a greater challenge than before; especially during the southern campaign (the southern part of Canaan). Israel had defeated Jericho (actually, the LORD did this) and Ai, single cities. They had also defeated a multi-king combined force who had basically camped around Gibeon, waiting for Israel’s new allies to either surrender or starve (Joshua 9-10). With the LORD’s help, Israel had won every battle except the first battle of Ai—and that was due to the sin of Achan (Joshua 7).

Now there was a lot more territory and a lot more of the enemy to face as these groups gathered together against Israel, Joshua, and, we need to remember, the God of Israel. Battles between just about any group weren’t only about “I want your land! No, you can’t have it”, or, “You need to pay me tribute or else I’ll attack you! Go ahead—make my day” or something similar. These battles were religious and spiritual: if Group A defeated Group B, then the basic thought was “the gods of Group A were stronger than those of Group B”, and, of course, reversed if Group B fought Group A and won.

This group of enemies came from just about every region of northern Canaan: Hazor was located in a valley and level place between The Sea of Chinneroth (Galilee) and Lake Huleh, Madon was about 20 or so miles, nearly due south of Hazor. Shimron was a good ways to the southwest of Hazor, not too far from Mount Hermon. The atlas feature of BibleHub.com did not give a location for Achsaph and there is some disagreement among various commentators where these cities were located.

Dor is located very close to the Mediterranean coast south of Mount Carmel. Jebusites originally lived near Jebus, of course, which is Jerusalem but why they migrated north, so far from their home, is not known. What is known is that there were plenty of enemies, with plenty of the latest and greatest, apparently, in weaponry, all united to destroy Israel.

But they seem to have forgotten one thing: the LORD was going to protect Israel at all costs.

2 Israel Fought Against Those Enemies

Text, Joshua 11:6-15, KJV: 6 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. 7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. 8 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. 9 And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

6:10 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. 11 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. 12 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. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn. 14 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. 15 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.