Joshua's Northern Campaign

When Jabin king of Hazor heard what had happened, he sent to other northern kings and peoples. They came out with large armies, so many that they were compared to sand on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. They camped together by the waters of Merom to fight Israel.

Yahweh told Joshua not to be afraid. He said that by the next day he would give these enemies over to Israel, and Joshua was to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots. So Joshua and all his warriors came suddenly against them at the waters of Merom and attacked.

Yahweh delivered the northern armies into Israel's hand. Israel struck them and chased them as far as Great Sidon, Misrephoth Maim, and the valley of Mizpah eastward, until none of that force remained. Joshua then did what he had been told, hamstringing the horses and burning the chariots.

Joshua then turned back and took Hazor, whose king was struck down. Hazor had been the head of those kingdoms, and Joshua burned it. He captured the other cities and their kings as well. Israel burned none of the cities standing on their mounds except Hazor, and they took plunder and livestock from the captured cities.

The chapter says Joshua left nothing undone of what Yahweh had commanded Moses. It summarises that Joshua took all that land, from the hill country, the South, Goshen, the lowland and the Arabah, from Mount Halak toward Seir to Baal Gad under Mount Hermon. The war lasted a long time.

No city made peace with Israel except the Hivites of Gibeon. The passage says Yahweh hardened the hearts of the others so that they came to battle and were destroyed, as Yahweh had commanded Moses. Joshua also cut off the Anakim from the hill country, though some remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. Then Joshua gave the land to Israel as an inheritance by tribes, and the land had rest from war.