Hazor — The chief city of those parts, Joshua 11:10. Had heard — This was a remarkable instance of the wisdom and goodness of Divine Providence, which so governed the minds of the Canaanites, that they were not all united under one king, but divided amongst many petty kings; and next, that these did... [ Continue Reading ]
On the north — The general designation of all the particular places following: they were in the northern parts of Canaan, as those mentioned Joshua 10:1, were in the southern parts; in the mountain, either in or near the mountain of Lebanon, called the mountain by way of eminency; or in the mountain... [ Continue Reading ]
The Canaanite — The Canaanites properly so called, lived part of them on the east near Jordan, and part on the west near the sea, and both are here united. The Hivite — That dwelt under mount Hermon in the north of Canaan, whereby they are differenced from those Hivites who lived in Gibeon. Mizpeh —... [ Continue Reading ]
Merom — A lake made by the river Jordan in the northern part of it, which was in the territory of the King of Schimron, near Hazor, Jabin's royal city, and almost in the middle of these confederate kings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hough their horses — Cut their hamstrings that they may my be unfit for war. For God forbad them to keep many horses, now especially, that they might not trust to their horses, nor ascribe the conquest of the land to their own strength, but wholly to God, by whose power alone a company of raw and un... [ Continue Reading ]
Suddenly — When they least expected them, intending there to refresh, and prepare, and order themselves for the offensive war which they designed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Great Zidon — A great city in the northwest part of Canaan, upon the sea. Misrephoth — maim — A place not far from Zidon, supposed to be so called from the salt or glass which they made there. Valley of Mizpeh — Under mount Hermon, as appears by comparing this with Joshua 11:3, and Joshua 11:17. whe... [ Continue Reading ]
The king — In his royal city, to which he fled out of the battle. Head of these kingdoms — Not of all Canaan, but of all those who were confederate with him in this expedition.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not any left — That is, no human person.... [ Continue Reading ]
In their strength — Heb. with their fence, walls or bulwarks, that is, which were not ruined with their walls in taking them. Save Hazor — Because this city began the war, and being the chief and royal city, might renew the war. If the Canaanites should ever seize upon it: which in fact they did, an... [ Continue Reading ]
All that land — Of Canaan, whose parts here follow. The hill — Or, the mountain, that is, the mountainous country, namely, of Judea. A considerable part of Judea was called the hilly or the mountainous country, Luke 1:39, Luke 1:65. The south country — That is, not only the mountainous part, but all... [ Continue Reading ]
To Seir — That is, To the country of Seir or Edom; namely, that part of it which was south from Judea, not that which was eastward from it, as appears from hence, that here is mention of the two extreme bounds of the land conquered by Joshua; whereof the other which follows being in the north, this... [ Continue Reading ]
A long time — For divers years together, as is evident by the following history. And this is here expressed, lest it should be thought that as all these wars are here recorded in a short narration, so they were dispatched in a short time. And God would have the land to be conquered gradually, for ma... [ Continue Reading ]
All other — Namely, all that were taken by Joshua, were taken by the sword, and therefore it is no wonder that the war was long, when the enemy was so obstinate.... [ Continue Reading ]
To harden their hearts — It was the design of God's providence not to soften their hearts to a compliance with the Israelites, but to give them up to their own animosity, pride, confidence and stubbornness; that so their abominable and incorrigible wickedness might be punished, and that the Israelit... [ Continue Reading ]
At that time — In that war, but in divers years. The mountain — Or, mountains, the singular number for the plural; these barbarous and monstrous persons either chose to live in the dens or caves, which were frequent in the mountains of those parts, or else they were driven thither by the arms and su... [ Continue Reading ]
The whole land — That is, the greatest and best part of it, for some parts are expressly excepted in the following history. All that the Lord said unto Moses — God had promised to drive out the nations before them. And now the promise was fulfilled. Our successes and enjoyments are then doubly comfo... [ Continue Reading ]