Advanced Commentary

(ex.: John 3:14-18)

Table of Contents Bible Dictionary
Arts
Questions
Resources/Books

Context
11:1 When <01961> King <04428> Jabin <02985> of Hazor <02674> heard <08085> the news, he organized a coalition <07971>, including King <04428> Jobab <03103> of Madon <04068>, the king <04428> of Shimron <08110>, the king <04428> of Acshaph <0407>, 11:2 and the northern <06828> kings <04428> who <0834> ruled in the hill country <02022>, the Arabah <06160> south <05045> of Kinnereth <03672>, the lowlands <08219>, and the heights <05299> of Dor <01756> to the west <03220>. 11:3 Canaanites <03669> came from the east <04217> and west <03220>; Amorites <0567>, Hittites <02850>, Perizzites <06522>, and Jebusites <02983> from the hill country <02022>; and Hivites <02340> from below <08478> Hermon <02768> in the area <0776> of Mizpah <04709>. 11:4 These kings came out <03318> with their armies <04264>; they were as numerous <07227> as the sand <02344> on <05921> the seashore <03220> <08193> and had a large number <07230> of horses <05483> and chariots <03966> <07227> <07393>. 11:5 All <03605> these <0428> kings <04428> gathered <03259> and joined <0935> forces <03162> <02583> at <0413> the Waters <04325> of Merom <04792> to <05973> fight <03898> Israel <03478>. 11:6 The Lord <03068> told <0559> Joshua <03091>, “Don’t <0408> be afraid <03372> of <06440> them, for <03588> about this <02063> time <06256> tomorrow <04279> I <0595> will cause <05414> all <03605> of them to lie dead <02491> before <06440> Israel <03478>. You must hamstring <06131> their horses <05483> and burn <08313> their chariots <04818>.” 11:7 Joshua <03091> and his whole <03605> army <04421> <05971> caught <05973> <0935> them by surprise <06597> at the Waters <04325> of Merom <04792> and attacked <05307> them. 11:8 The Lord <03068> handed <03027> <05414> them over <03027> <05414> to Israel <03478> and they struck <05221> them down <05221> and chased <07291> them all the way <05704> to Greater <07227> Sidon <06721>, Misrephoth Maim <04956>, and the Mizpah <04708> Valley <01237> to the east <04217>. They struck <05221> them down <05221> until <05704> no <01115> survivors <08300> remained <07604>. 11:9 Joshua <03091> did <06213> to them as <0834> the Lord <03068> had commanded <0559> him; he hamstrung <06131> their horses <05483> and burned <08313> their chariots <04818>. 11:10 At that <01931> time <06256> Joshua <03091> turned <07725>, captured <03920> Hazor <02674>, and struck down <05221> its king <04428> with the sword <02719>, for <03588> Hazor <02674> was at that <01931> time <06440> the leader <07218> of all <03605> these <0428> kingdoms <04467>. 11:11 They annihilated <05221> everyone <03605> who <0834> lived <05315> there with the sword <02719>– no <03605> <03808> one who breathed <05397> remained <03498>– and burned <08313> Hazor <02674>. 11:12 Joshua <03091> captured <03920> all <03605> these <0428> royal <04428> cities <05892> and all <03605> their kings <04428> and annihilated <05221> them with the sword <02719>, as <0834> Moses <04872> the Lord’s <03068> servant <05650> had commanded <06680>. 11:13 But <07535> Israel <03478> did not <03808> burn <08313> any <03605> of the cities <05892> located <05975> on <05921> mounds <08510>, except <02108> for Hazor <02674>; it was the only <0905> one Joshua <03091> burned <08313>. 11:14 The Israelites <03478> <01121> plundered <0962> all <03605> the goods <07998> of these <0428> cities <05892> and the cattle <0929>, but they <01992> totally destroyed <08045> all <03605> the people <02719> <06310> <05221> <0120> and allowed no <03808> one <03605> who breathed <05314> to live <07604>.

• Jos 11:1-15 -- Israel Defeats a Northern Coalition

• Jabin

  [ebd] discerner; the wise. (1.) A king of Hazor, at the time of the entrance of Israel into Canaan (Josh. 11:1-14), whose overthrow and that of the northern chief with whom he had entered into a confederacy against Joshua was the ...
  [isbe] JABIN - ja'-bin (yabhin, "one who is intelligent," "discerning." The word may have been a hereditary royal title among the northern Canaanites. Compare the familiar usage of par`oh melekh mitsrayim): (1) "The king of Hazor,"...
  [smith] (whom God observes). King of Hazor, who organized a confederacy of the northern princes against the Israelites. (Joshua 11:1-3) Joshua surprised the allied forces by the waters of Merom, ver. 7, and utterly routed them. (B.C...
  [nave] JABIN, names of two kings of Hazor, Josh. 11:1-14; Judg. 4:2, 7, 17, 23, 24; Psa. 83:9.
  

• Hazor

  [ebd] enclosed; fortified. (1.) A stronghold of the Canaanites in the mountains north of Lake Merom (Josh. 11:1-5). Jabin the king with his allied tribes here encountered Joshua in a great battle. Joshua gained a signal victory, w...
  [isbe] HAZOR - ha'-zor (chatsor; Nasor; Codex Sinaiticus, Asor, 1 Macc 11:67): (1) The royal city of Jabin (Josh 11:1), which, before the Israelite conquest, seems to have been the seat of a wide authority (Josh 11:11). It was take...
  [smith] (castle). A fortified city, which on the occupation of the country was allotted to Naphtali. (Joshua 19:36) Its position was apparently between Ramah and Kedesh, ibid. (Joshua 12:19) on the high ground overlooking the Lake o...
  [nave] HAZOR 1. A fortified city of Naphtali, Josh. 11:1, 10, 11, 13; 12:19; 19:36; Judg. 4:2, 17; 1 Sam. 12:9; 2 Kin. 15:29; Neh. 11:33. 2. A city in the S. of Judah, Josh. 15:23; 1 Kin. 9:15. 3. A place N. of Jerusalem, Neh. 11...
  

• Jebusites

  [smith] (descendants of Jebus), The, were descended from the third son of Canaan. (Genesis 10:16; 1 Chronicles 1:14) The actual people first appear in the invaluable report of the spies. (Numbers 13:29) When Jabin organized his ri...
  [nave] JEBUSITES One of the tribes of Canaan, Deut. 7:1. Land of, given to Abraham and his descendants, Gen. 15:21; Ex. 3:8, 17; 23:23, 24; Deut. 20:17; Ex. 33:2; 34:10, 11. Conquered by Joshua, Josh. 10-12; 24:11; by David, 2 Sa...
  

• Hittites

  [ebd] Palestine and Syria appear to have been originally inhabited by three different tribes. (1.) The Semites, living on the east of the isthmus of Suez. They were nomadic and pastoral tribes. (2.) The Phoenicians, who were merch...
  [nave] HITTITES A tribe of Canaanites. Children of Heth, Gen. 10:15; 23:10. Sell a burying-ground to Abraham, Gen. 23. Esau intermarries with, Gen. 26:34; 36:2. Dwelling place of, Gen. 23:17-20; Num. 13:29; Josh. 1:4; Judg. 1:26...
  

• Salmon

  [ebd] shady; or Zalmon (q.v.), a hill covered with dark forests, south of Shechem, from which Abimelech and his men gathered wood to burn that city (Judg. 9:48). In Ps. 68:14 the change from war to peace is likened to snow on the ...
  

• GALILEE

  [isbe] GALILEE - gal'-i-le (ha-galil, hagelilah, literally, "the circuit" or "district"; he Galilaia): 1. Galilee of the Nations: Kedesh, the city of refuge, is described as lying in Galilee, in Mt. Naphtali (Josh 20:7; compare 21:...
  

• PALESTINE, 2

  [isbe] PALESTINE, 2 - III. Palestine in the Historic Books of the Old Testament. 1. Book of Joshua: Joshua is the great geographical book of the Old Testament; and the large majority of the 600 names of places, rivers and mountains...
  

• Alliances

  [nave] ALLIANCES. Political With idolaters forbidden, Ex. 23:32, 33; 34:12-15; Deut. 7:2; Judg. 2:2; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:37; Isa. 30:2; 31:1; Hos. 4:17; 5:13; 12:1; Ezek. 17:15. Ratification of: By oaths, Gen. 21:23; 26:28-31; Josh....
  

• Joshua

  [nave] JOSHUA 1. Called also Jehoshua, and Jehoshuah, and Oshea. Son of Nun, Num. 13:8; 1 Chr. 7:27. Intimately associated with Moses, Ex. 24:13; 32:17; 33:11. A religious zealot, Num. 11:28. Sent with others to view the promise...
  

• God

  [nave] GOD. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Access to; Compassion of; Creator; Creator of Mankind; Eternity of; Faithfulness of; Fatherhood of; Favor of; Foreknowledge of; Glory of; Goodness of...
  

• Canaanites

  [nave] CANAANITES Eleven nations, descended from Canaan, Gen. 10:15-19; Deut. 7:1; 1 Chr. 1:13-16. Territory of, Gen. 10:19; 12:6; 15:18; Ex. 23:31; Num. 13:29; 34:1-12; Josh. 1:4; 5:1; given to the Israelites, Gen. 12:6, 7; 15:18...
  

• Canaan

  [nave] CANAAN 1. Son of Ham, Gen. 9:18, 22, 25-27. Descendants of, Gen. 10:6, 15; 1 Chr. 1:8, 13. 2. Land of (The history of this region is involved in that of the Israelites. The student is therefore referred to Israel, History ...
  

• Merom

  [ebd] height, a lake in Northern Palestine through which the Jordan flows. It was the scene of the third and last great victory gained by Joshua over the Canaanites (Josh. 11:5-7). It is not again mentioned in Scripture. Its moder...
  [smith] (high place), The waters of, a lake formed by the river Jordan, about ten miles north of the Sea of Galilee. It is a place memorable in the history of the conquest of Palestine. Here Joshua completely routed the confederacy o...
  [nave] MEROM The district near the springs of Jordan. Joshua conquered the confederacy of kings under Jabin, king of Hazor, near, Josh. 11:5-7.
  

• Armies

  [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...
  

• Mizpah

  [ebd] or Miz'peh, watch-tower; the look-out. (1.) A place in Gilead, so named by Laban, who overtook Jacob at this spot (Gen. 31:49) on his return to Palestine from Padan-aram. Here Jacob and Laban set up their memorial cairn of s...
  [smith] and Miz?peh (a watch-tower), the name of several places in Palestine. The earliest of all, in order of the narrative, is the heap of stones piled up by Jacob and Laban, (Genesis 31:48) on Mount Gilead, ver. (Genesis 31:25) t...
  [nave] MIZPAH 1. A city allotted to Benjamin, Josh. 18:26. The Israelites assemble at, Judg. 20:1-3; and decree the penalty to be visited upon the Benjamites for their maltreatment of the Levite's concubine, Judg. 20:10. Assemble...
  

• CRITICISM

  [isbe] CRITICISM - (The Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis) I. PRELIMINARY 1. Thesis 2. Historical Perspective 3. Inspiration and Criticism II. THE LEGISLATION 1. Groups 2. Covenant Code 3. The Sanctuary 4. Kinds of Sacrifice 5. Sacrifice ...
  

• Dor

  [ebd] dwelling, the Dora of the Romans, an ancient royal city of the Canaanites (Josh. 11:1, 2; 12:23). It was the most southern settlement of the Phoenicians on the coast of Syria. The original inhabitants seem never to have been...
  [smith] (dwelling), (Joshua 17:11; 1 Kings 4:11) an ancient royal city of the Canaanites, (Joshua 12:23) whose ruler was an ally of Jabin king of Hazor against Joshua. (Joshua 11:1,2) It appears to have been within the territory o...
  [nave] DOR A town and district of Palestine, Josh. 11:2. Conquered by Joshua, Josh. 12:23; 1 Kin. 4:11. Allotted to Manasseh, although situated in the territory of Asher, Josh. 17:11; Judg. 1:27.
  

• Madon

  [ebd] strife, a Canaanitish city in the north of Palestine (Josh. 11:1; 12:19), whose king was slain by Joshua; perhaps the ruin Madin, near Hattin, some 5 miles west of Tiberias.
  [isbe] MADON - ma'-don (madhon; Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Marrhon; Codex Alexandrinus Madon (Josh 11:1); Codex Vaticanus Marmoth; Codex Alexandrinus Maron (Josh 12:19)): A royal city of the Canaanites named along with Hazor of Ga...
  [smith] (strife) one of the principal cities of Canaan before the conquest, probably in the north. Its king joined Jabin and his confederates in their attempt against Joshua at the waters of Xierom, and like the rest was killed. (Jos...
  [nave] MADON, a Canaanite city, Josh. 11:1; 12:19.
  

• Jobab

  [ebd] dweller in the desert. (1.) One of the sons of Joktan, and founder of an Arabian tribe (Gen. 10:29). (2.) King of Edom, succeeded Bela (Gen. 36:33, 34). (3.) A Canaanitish king (Josh. 11:1) who joined the confederacy against...
  [isbe] JOBAB - jo'-bab (yobhabh, perhaps "howling"; Iobab): (1) "Son" of Joktan (Gen 10:29; 1 Ch 1:23). See TABLE OF NATIONS. (2) An Edomite king (Gen 36:33,14; 1 Ch 1:44,45). (3) King of Madon (Josh 11:1). (4) 1 Ch 8:9; and (5) 1 ...
  [smith] (a desert). The last in order of the sons of Joktan. (Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23) One of the "kings" of Edom. (Genesis 3:34; 1 Chronicles 1:44; 45) King of Madon; one of the northern chieftains who attempted to o...
  [nave] JOBAB 1. Son of Joktan, Gen. 10:29; 1 Chr. 1:23. 2. A king of Edom, Gen. 36:33, 34; 1 Chr. 1:44, 45. 3. A king of Madon, Josh. 11:1. 4. Name of two Benjamites of whom little is known, 1 Chr. 8:9, 18.
  

• Fire

  [ebd] (1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon's templ...
  

• The Northern Kings Defeated

  

• What Was the Sin of the Canaanites?
  The Canaanites were descendants of Ham (Gen. 10:6) and comprised seven distinct nations (Deu. 7:1). Though great and mighty (Num. 73:28) they were idolatrous, superstitious, profane and wicked (Deu. 29:17, Deu. 18:9-11, Lev. ...
• Who Were the Sidonians?
  These people were descendants of Sidoa, a son of Canaan, and were formerly a part of the Phoenician nation (Matt. 15:21,22; Mark 7:24,26). They dwelt on the sea-coast in the cities of Zidon and Zarephath (Josh. 11:8; I Kin. 1...

Back to Commentary Page