Joshua 11

And those five Kings of the Canaanites were subdued , all the other Kings and Nations of the land of Canaan , gathered themselves together at the waters of Merom , for to fight against Israel , v.1, & c. God encourageth Josua , and promiseth him victorie over them all ,6. Josua suprizeth them unawares , 7. and smiteth them all together , 8. and taketh all their Cities , and plundereth them , slaying the inhabitants thereof , 12. Onely, Gibeon maketh peace with Israelites , 19. The Enakims are also destroyed , 21. Excepting those that dwelt at Gaza , at Gath , and at Asdod , 23.

1. Afterward it came to pass , when Fabon the King of Hazor [The name of a Citie , lying in the upper Galilee, otherwise called the Galilee of the Gentiles , not far from Kades] heard , that he then sent unto Jobab the King of Madon , and unto the King of Simeon , [Joshua 12:20. this Citie is called Simeon Meron] and unto the King of Achsaph.

2. And unto the King which were toward the North of the hills , and on the plain [Oth. in the wilderness] toward the South of Cinneroth , [oth. called Genesareth Luke 5:1. also the Sea of Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee] and in the low grounds , and in Napheth-Dor , [or, in the Coasts , Regions, Countries of Dor] on the Sea [or, toward the West]

3. Unto the Canaanites towards the East and towards the West , and the Amorites , and the Hethites , and the Pherezites , and the Jebusites on the hills , and the Hevites beneath at Hermon in the land of Mizpa. [See Judges 10.verse 17.]

4. These now went forth and all their Hosts with them , much people , as the sand of the Sea-shoar is in multitude ; and very many horses and chariots .

5. All these Kings were gathered together , and came and camped themselves together at the waters of Meron , for to war against Israel .

6. And the LORD said unto Josua , Fear not before their faces , for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all smitten before the face of Israel : thou shalt hough their horses , [i.e. cut their ham-strings , to make them unserviceable either for war , or any other labour .] and burn their charets with fire .

7. And Josua and all the men of War with him , came suddenly upon them at the waters of Meron , and fell upon them .

8. And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel , and they smote them , and they chased them unto great Zidon ; [This is not therefore called great Zidon , as if there were also a little Zidon , but in respect of the greatness or largeness of the Citie , It hath its name of Zidon the first-born son of Canaan , of whom mention is made , Gen.10.15.] and unto Misrephot Maim , [this word is diversly interpreted , Some expound it unto the warme waters . Others, to be grasse furnaces . Others , the salt pits. Heb. unto the burnings of the waters] and unto the valley of Mizpor towards the East , and they smote them untill they left none remaining among them ,

9. Now Josua did unto them according as the LORD had said unto him , he boughed their horses , [See v.6.] and he burnt their chariots with fire.

10. And Josua returned at the same time , and he took Hazor , and he slew the King thereof with the sword : for Hazor was afore-time the head of all these kingdoms [i.e. the Metropolis or chief Citie . Understand this of that part of the land of Canaan , where Josua at that time made war]

11. And they smote every soul [i.e. all mankind , for the cattell they took for prey , and reserved the same for themselves] that was therein with the edge of the sword , banning the same , and there remained nothing that had breath : [i.e. no man was left alive] and he burnt Hazor with fire.

12. And Josua took all the Cities of these Kings , and all these Kings thereof , and he smote them with the edge of the sword , banning them , according as Moseh the servant of the LORD had commanded .

13. Onely the Israelites burned not any cities that stood upon their hills , [Oth. which remained with their walls ( or bulwarks ) i.e. which were not as levelled or unwalled , when the Israelites took them , but continued still fenced and walled ; for the children of Israel left those whole and entire , that themselves might freely and safely dwell therein ,] save Hazor onely , that did Josua burn .

14. And all the prey of these cities , and the cattel, the children of Israel preyed for themselves ; they onely smote all the men with the edge of the sword , untill they destroyed them , they let nothing remained that had breath .

15. According as the LORD had commanded Moseh , so did Moseh command Josua : and so did Josua , he diminished not one word from all that the LORD had commanded Moseh.

16. Thus Josua took all the land , the hills , and all the South-( Countrey ) and all the land of Gosen , [See above chap.10.41.] and the low grounds , and the plains , and the mountain of Israel , [i.e. wherein Israel dwelt or which fell to the lot and portion of the Tribes of Israel ( Juda excepted. ) Those of the Tribe of Juda had their own mountains or hilly countrey , as appeareth v.21.] and the vale thereof .

17. From the bald mountain ; [So is this mountain called , because it was bald , or without trees , grass or herbs . Other retain the Hebrew word Halak , as being a proper name] that goeth up to Seir , unto Baal-Gad, in the valley of Libanon , beneath mount Hermon : he took all their Kings and smote them, and slew them .

18. Many dayes [Somewhat more than six years , as may be gathered from Calbs age , when he requested of Josua a land of inheritance , Jos.14.7.] did Josua make war against all these Kings.

19. There was no Citie that made peace with the children of Israel , save the Hivites inhabitants of Gibeon : they took them all by war . [i.e. all the above named Cities , or all the Cities that Josua approached unto ; otherwise it is certain , that there were yet long after that , viz. in the time of the Judges , many cities which the Israelites had not as yet subdued .]

20. For it was of the LORD , to harden theiir hearts that they went forth to war against Israel , that he might ban them ( or devote them to destruction ) that no favour might be shewed them , but that he might destroy them according as the LORD had commanded Moseh.

21. Now at that time Josua came and destroyed the Enakims ; [See Numbers 13:23. Deut.1.18.] from the mountains , from Hebron , from Debir , from Anob, and from all the mountains of Juda, and from all the mountains of Israel ; Josua banned them with their Cities .

22. There was none of the Enakims left in the land of the children of Israel ; onely they remained at Gaza , at Gath , [There dwelt in after times the giant Goliath , 1 Samuel 17:4.] and at Asdod .

23. So Josua took all that land , [i.e. the greatest and chiefest part thereof ; or all ; i.e. all manner of land , viz. plain, mountainous , pasture lands , heaths , moors , etc.] according to all that the LORD had spoken unto Moseh and josua gave it unto Israel for an inheritance, according to their divisions ; [this division of the land is related Jos. 15. and in the following chapters] according to their Cities : and the land rested from war . [Understand this of open warres when armies took the field one against another]