Joshua 11:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ver. 5. They—pitched—at the waters of Merom— These waters of Merom are generally thought to be nothing but the lake of Semechon, so called from the abundance of fish it contains; Semechon, or Samachon, signifying in the Arabic fishes. Others derive the name of this lake from the word Samaka, which signifies in Arabic, to be elevated. Reland derives it from a word, which, in the Chaldee, denotes muddy waters. See Palaest. Sacr. l. i. c. 40. Joshua calls this lake the waters of Merom, or, the high waters; because, being situated toward the springs of Jordan, it was higher than the lake of Gennesareth, and much more so than the Asphaltic lake, otherwise called the Dead Sea. The general quarters of the confederate kings were there marked out, this whole district being in the kingdom of Jabin; and, according to Josephus, Hazor, his capital, bordered on the lake Semechon. See Hist. Jud. l. v. c. 6. and Calmet. However, this opinion, it must be confessed, is not without its difficulties: for, 1. It is very probable, that the confederate kings marched forward to the frontiers of their country, and did not suffer the army of the Israelites to advance fifteen or twenty leagues within their territories, and to attack them upon the Semechonite lake. 2. Deborah, in her song, praises the men of Zebulun and Naphtali, for having exposed themselves to danger in fighting against the Canaanites upon Merome, (for so the Hebrew imports,) Judges 5:18. Now this battle was certainly fought near the river Kishon, in Tahanac, by the waters of Megiddo, ver. 19. It seems natural, therefore, to suppose, that the kings in league against Joshua came to the same place, viz. to Kishon, in the country of Merom, to dispute with the Israelites an entrance into their territories. Eusebius places Meron, or Merus, at twelve miles distance from Samaria, near Dothaim; which confirms the opinion just advanced. This place was a famous and important passage. There Barak defeated the Canaanites, and there Josias was beaten. Toward the same place stood the town of Legion, mentioned by Eusebius and St. Jerome, which took its name from the troops that the Romans kept there for the security of the province.