Ver. 1. When Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things.] In policy he should have done this sooner, before the five southern kings had been destroyed. But Jabin was an Epimetheus, a postmaster, wise after the fact; and sped accordingly. God’s holy hand was in it also, that his people might not be over matched or disheartened. Our temptations are in like sort disposed of by Christ, the great Αγωνοθετης.
Ver. 2. South of Cinneroth.] Afterwards called the lake of Gennesareth, (Luke 5:1) and the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias. (John 6:1)
Ver. 3. In the land of Mizpeh.] Not that Mizpeh of Judah, (Joshua 15:38) nor that of Benjamin, (Joshua 18:26) nor Mizpeh of Moab; (1 Samuel 22:3) but that of Gilead, mentioned in Genesis 31:49 Jud 10:3.
Ver. 4. They and all their hosts.] These were, as one said of Carthage, half destroyed, Morientium ferarum ultimi nixus, et violentiores morsus, the last spruntings and bitings of these dying beasts. And chariots very many.] Chariots armed with scythes and hooks: concerning which Vegetius saith, that at first they were a terror, and afterwards a scorn.
Ver. 5. And when all these kings were met together.] Heb., Assembled by appointment, at a set time. Ducunt volentes fata, nolentes trahunt. See Psalms 37:12,13.
Ver. 6. Be not afraid because of them.] Though many, and mighty, and malicious, and combined. Joshua had his fears and frailties; else what needed this encouragement? I will deliver them.] I am for thee; and how many reckonest thou me at? I am God Almighty; fear not therefore their horses and chariots: I will make thee master of them all. Thou shalt hough their horses.] And thereby make them unserviceable; that ye may trust in mine aid alone. Si modo victor eras, ad crastina bella pavebas.
Ver. 7. By the waters of Merom suddenly.] Like a lightbolt. Bajazet, for like cause, was surnamed Gilderun, or lightning: and of two brave Romans Lucan saith that they were “ duo fulmina belli. ”
Ver. 8. Who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon.] The mother city of Phoenicia: yea, various fled to Africa and there settled, as is gathered by a pillar mentioned by Procopius with this inscription, We are Phoenicians flying from the face of Jesus the son of Nave; as also by the harmony of the Punic dialect with the Hebrew: witness Plautus’s gibberish in “Paenulo,” and various words in Augustine. Misrephothmaim.] Or, Hot waters, where they boiled salt, or made glass, or bathed.
Ver. 9. See Joshua 11:6.
Ver. 10. And smote the king thereof.] The new king. See Joshua 10:37.
Ver. 11. And he burnt Hazor with fire.] Which yet was rebuilt and reigned in by another Jabin, this man’s nephew haply, who therefore might, in revenge, the more cruelly tyrannise over the Israelites. (Judges 4:2,3) Malice is commonly hereditary, and runs in the blood; and, as we used to say of runnet, the older it is, the stronger.
Ver. 12. And all the kings of them.] Herodotus saith of the Thracians, that if they had been all of one mind, or under one king, they had been invincible. “ εις κοιρανος εστω ’’— Homer.
Ver. 13. That stood still in their strength.] Heb., On their heap: i.e., that prepared to have stood out a siege, but yet repented and did not; or that had not their walls and bulwarks yet rased and dismantled in the fury of war. That did Joshua burn.] For example’s sake to the rest; and for that the king thereof was the author of that war. (Joshua 11:1)
Ver. 14. Neither left they any to breathe,] viz., Upon that air which they had so infected while they filled the land from one end to another with their uncleanness. (Ezra 9:11)
Ver. 15. As the Lord commanded.] This is often repeated, to free Joshua from suspicion of inhumanity and cruelty in all these bloody executions. Julius Caesar, and such like conquerors, had no such warrant for his slaughtering a million of men, after three hundred nations vanquished, and three thousand towns taken by him.
Ver. 16. So Joshua took all that land.] Here we have Joshua’s victories summed up: who quickly sheathed his sword, but never laid it off, as Seneca saith of Caesar.
Ver. 17. Even from the mount Halak.] Or, The smooth or bare mountain; not unlike that they call Axylon, by which Manlius marched against the Gallo-Grecians. Non ligni modo quicquam, sed ne spinas quidem habet. -Liv., lib. 38.
Ver. 18. Joshua made war a long time.] Near seven years, though in few words related. Of him it might be said, as was once of our Alfred, “ Si modo victor eras, ad crastina bella pavebas; Si modo rictus eras (as at Ai) ad crastina bella parabas. ” The Romans’ war with the pirates was finished by Pompey with incredible swiftness, and in a very short time, saith Augustine; but so was not this with the Canaanites. “Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down.” (Psalms 59:11) Incredibili celeritate confectum.— Aug., De Civ. Dei.
Ver. 19. There was not a city that made peace.] Hence the war held out so long: they generally stood out to the last man. There is nothing more pertinacious than a strong lust: nothing more obstinate or inexpugnable than those Canaanites.
Ver. 20. For it was of the Lord.] Punishing them with a judiciary hardness, who were before hardened by the deceitfulness of sin and malice of Satan.
Ver. 21. And cut off all the Anakims.] Whom the spies had once represented, and reported insuperable. (Numbers 14:43-45) The lion is not so fierce as he is painted: to faith nothing is impossible.
Ver. 22. Only in Gaza, &c.] Three Philistine cities. See 2 Samuel 21:15-22.
Ver. 23. And the land rested.] Peace is the daughter of war; a fair and happy daughter of a n ugly and direful mother, as the Romans said of Pompey the Great, εχθορον πατρος φιλτατον τεκνον.