CONQUEST OF NORTHERN ENEMIES
(vs.1-15)
Israel's returning for the time being to Gilgal gave time for the nations in the north to mobilize. In this God's wisdom is evident, for He brought these nations together so that Israel could defeat them enmasse, and not have to spend weeks or months in going from one city to another to wage war. In defeating their armies first, the taking of their cities would be simple.
In the tremendous gathering of this northern confederacy only two kings are mentioned by name, Jabin king of Hazor and Jobab king of Madon. Jabin means "discerning" and Hazor means "inclosed." Jabin therefore represents "the wisdom of this world" (1 Corinthians 1:20) which has its own inclosed stronghold, keeping out anything that does not conform to its proud claims. But God knows how to render the wisdom of this world "foolish." This attack by "philosophy and empty deceit" (Colossians 2:8) can appear most formidable so that many are deceived by it, but the energy of faith in the living God can fully overcome it.
Jobab, meaning "shouter" was king of Madon which means, "contention." Philosophy needs its advertising agent who, with a loud voice and confident tone can contend against every effort to expose and refute its claims. Tercullus the orator was such a man (Acts 24:1-8), a man of contention. Also, Paul tells Titus, "There are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped" (Titus 1:10-11).
Such leaders are well able to influence large numbers to unite together in resisting the work of God. Indeed, they will point to their superior numbers as being proof that God is really on their side. This is one of Satan's most effective arguments. The numbers gathered from all that northern area were "as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude" (v.4), with large numbers of horses and chariots. God allowed them to be well prepared, so that from a military point of view they had the advantage, but in this way they would learn the lesson that God is greater than all the wisdom and organization and power of all His enemies put together, and Israel would learn too that God's power alone was to be the deciding factor
The Lord told Joshua, "Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about-this --, time I will deliver all of them stain before Israel" (v 6). Their horses were to be hamstrung and their chariots burned. Why were these not taken as spoil? Psalms 20:7 gives a most satisfactory answer, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."
Joshua and his armies therefore, without any maneuvering of any kind, directly attacked this great company (v.7). The Lord gave them the victory immediately, so that the enemy fled in total disarray, in contrast to their previous united front. Israel pursued them, killing them with such slaughter as to leave none remaining. Would Israel then not be thankful they had returned to Gilgal to be in the presence of God before rushing to engage in battle?
After defeating the northern armies, Joshua returned and attacked the city of Hazor, which was the head of all the other kingdoms that had mustered themselves against Israel. The king Jabin was killed and all the inhabitants of the city, and also the city was burned (vs.10-11). The city was not simply captured by Israel, for it means "enclosure," implying independent sectarianism in the land, and Israel was not to have any of this.
The other cities and their kings Joshua took, killing the kings and the people of the cities, but did not burn those cities. Hazor alone was burned, the other cities possessed by Israel, for their spiritual significance was no doubt valuable when no longer perverted by the enemies of God (vs.12-13). Therefore, Israel took the livestock and other spoil for themselves (v.14).
Thus we are told that Joshua fulfilled the commandments of the Lord given to him by Moses (v.15). He was a leader of remarkable faith and God-given ability. These two great victories over the south and the north of the land gave Israel undisputed domination over all the land, though they had not as yet destroyed all their enemies, as chapter 13:1-6 shows. Does this not tell us also that, though we may have in general taken possession of our heavenly inheritance, yet there are many details of that inheritance that we have failed to apprehend or enjoy?
SUMMARY OF JOSHUA'S CONQUESTS
(vs.16-23)
All the land from south to north, whether mountainous or plain, Joshua conquered, from Mount Halak in the south to the Valley of Lebanon in the north, below Mount Hermon (vs.16-17). To accomplish this, it was necessary to continue warfare for a long time (v.1,8). No other city besides Gibeon made peace with Israel: all were taken in battle (v.19).
The Lord had hardened the hearts of their enemies so that they should fight against Israel. This is judicial hardening which is the result Of their having for a long time hardened themselves against God. They had come to the point of no return, stubbornly refusing their only avenue of hope, a genuine straightforward repentance. Thus they were devoted to total destruction (v.20).
In verse 21 the Anakim are specifically mentioned. These were giants (Numbers 13:33), and were found in the area of Hebron and Debir. We have before seen that Hebron (meaning "communion") and Debir ("the speaker") were taken by Joshua (ch.10:36-39), but there were Anakim still in the area, determined to have some possession at least of Hebron and Debir, for Satan wants to encroach on these things - that are rightly the possession of believers. The enemy would like to claim a place of communion with God in order to "speak" his evil doctrine as though it was God's message. King Ahab employed such deceivers to prophecy to him and Jehoshaphat insisted on hearing a prophet of the Lord (1 Kings 22:3-7).
At this time in Joshua's history, however, the Anakim were cut off from the land of the children of Israel and left only in the Philistine cities, Gaza, Gath and Ashdod (vs.21-22). Philistines are "wallowers," typical of mere formal religion, which really wallows. as in mud, not free of the fleshly entanglements that keep people from knowing the liberty of the Spirit of God in Christ. The Philistines remained in their area, but a constant source of trouble for Israel. Their successors today, the Palestinians, continue in the same role.
Joshua, having subdued the whole land, gave it as an inheritance to Israel, dividing it according to the needs of each tribe. Then finally the land rested from war. This rest was in general complete, though it did not mean that Israel would have no more conflict in possessing all that actually belonged to them.