Joshua 11:1-13 ▼

1 Now when Jabin (whom God observes) king of Hazor (castle) heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab (a desert) king of Madon (strife); to the kings of Shimron (watch-height) and Achshaph (I shall be bewitched);

2 to the kings of the north in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Chinnereth (harps), in the foothills {Shephelah}, and in Naphoth-dor (in the heights of Dor) to the west;

3 to the Canaanites (merchants) in the east and west; to the Amorites (sayers), Hittites, Perizzites (villagers), and Jebusites (Jerusalemites) in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon (a sanctuary) in the land of Mizpah (watchtower).

4 So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots.

5 All these kings joined forces and encamped at the waters of Merom (high place) to fight against Israel (he wrestles with God).

6 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Joshua (YHWH saves), “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel (he wrestles with God). You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”

7 So by the waters of Merom (high place), Joshua (YHWH saves) and his whole army came upon them suddenly and attacked them,

8 and the LORD {YHWH} delivered them into the hand of Israel (he wrestles with God), who struck them down and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon (hunting) and Misrephoth-maim (burnings of water), and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh (watchtower). They struck them down, leaving no survivors.

9 Joshua (YHWH saves) treated them as the LORD {YHWH} had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.

10 At that time Joshua (YHWH saves) turned back and captured Hazor (castle) and put its king to the sword, because Hazor was formerly the head of all these kingdoms.

11 The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction {cherem}. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself (castle).

12 Joshua (YHWH saves) captured all these kings and their cities and put them to the sword. He devoted them to destruction, as Moses (drawn out) the LORD’s {YHWH} servant had commanded.

13 Yet Israel (he wrestles with God) did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor (castle), which Joshua (YHWH saves) burned.