Joshua 11:1

“And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard [these things], etc.] The taking of Jericho and Ai, the defeat of the five kings, and the conquest of the southern part of the land of Canaan; he was alarmed by them, and sent to all the northern kings to join with him against Israel; and he the rather took this upon him, because as Adonizedek king of Jerusalem was the principal king in the southern part of the land, so was he in the northern part; (see <061110>Joshua 11:10); Hazor fell to the tribe of Naphtali, (<061936>Joshua 19:36). It was situated, as Josephus f211 says, on the lake Samachonitis, the same with the waters of Merom, (<061105>Joshua 11:5). According to Adrichomius…”

“DIVERS KINGS OVERCOME AT THE WATERS OF MEROM. (Jos 11:1-9) And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things--The scene of the sacred narrative is here shifted to the north of Canaan, where a still more extensive confederacy was formed among the ruling powers to oppose the further progress of the Israelites. Jabin ("the Intelligent"), which seems to have been a hereditary title (Jdg 4:2), took the lead, from Hazor being the capital of the northern region (Jos 11:10). It was situated on the borders of lake Merom. The other cities mentioned must have been in the vicinity though their exact position is unknown.”

“Jabin - Probably the hereditary and official title of the kings of Hazor (see Judges 4:2). The word means literally “he shall understand,” and is equivalent to “the wise” or “intelligent.” Hazor - This name, which means “enclosed or “fortified,” belonged also to two other towns in the south of Judah (compare Joshua 15:23, Joshua 15:25). The Hazor here in question, the head of the principalities of Northern Canaan Joshua 11:10 overlooked the lake of Merom, and was afterward assigned to the tribe of Naphtali Joshua 19:36. It doubtless was one of the strongest fortresses in the north, both by nature and art. It is mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions of an early date. Its situation in the midst…”

“Hazor - The chief city of those parts, Jos 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 not all unanimously join their counsels and forces together to oppose the Israelites at their first entrance, but quietly suffered the destruction of their brethren, thereby preparing the way for their own. Joshua 11:2”

“11:1-16 Through the more detailed accounts of Joshua’s campaign in southern Canaan (chs 6-10), the narrator established firmly that the Israelites needed God’s help to succeed. Because what had been true in the southern campaign would also be true in the northern campaign (ch 11), those details were unnecessary here. 11:1-3 Hazor lay along the international trade route and was by far the largest and most important inland city of Canaan (see 11:10). • Virtually all of northern Canaan joined the coalition of King Jabin against Israel. This region stretched from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the desert in the east and from the borders of Phoenicia in the north to the hill country and the…”

“Jabin: Jos 11:10, Jos 12:19, Jos 19:36; Jdg 4:2, Jdg 4:17 he sent: Jos 10:3, Jos 10:4; Psa 2:1-4, Psa 83:1-3; Isa 26:11, Isa 43:2, Isa 43:5-7 Madon: The LXX read Μαρων, which, if legitimate, Calmet thinks may be the same as Maronia or Marath, in Phoenicia, to the north of mount Lebanon, Jos 12:19, Jos 12:20; Jos 19:15, Jos 19:25. Shimron: Supposed to be the same with Symira, in Coele-Syria, joined to Maron or Marath by Pliny and Pomponius Mela. Achshaph: Supposed by some to be the same as Achzib or Ecdippa; from which, however, it is distinguished in Jos 19:25, Jos 19:29. It was in the northern part of the tribe of Asher. Joshua 11:2”

“The War in Northern Canaan. - Jos 11:1-3. On receiving intelligence of what had occurred in the south, the king of Hazor formed an alliance with the kings of Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph, and other kings of the north, to make a common attack upon the Israelites. This league originated with Jabin the king of Hazor, because Hazor was formerly the head of all the kingdoms of northern Canaan ( Jos 11:10). Hazor, which Joshua conquered and burned to the ground ( Jos 11:10, Jos 11:11), was afterwards restored, and became a capital again ( Jdg 4:2; Sa1 12:9); it was fortified by Solomon ( Kg1 9:15), and taken by Tiglath-Pileser ( Kg2 15:29). It belonged to the tribe of Naphtali ( Jos 19:36), but…”