Chapter 48—The Division of Canaan
This chapter is based on
Joshua 10:40-43
;
11
;
14-22
.
The victory at Beth-horon was speedily followed by the conquest
of southern Canaan. “Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and
of the south, and of the vale.... And all these kings and their land did
Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for
Israel. And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp at
Gilgal.”
The tribes of northern Palestine, terrified at the success which had
attended the armies of Israel, now entered into a league against them.
At the head of this confederacy was Jabin, king of Hazor, a territory to
the west of Lake Merom. “And they went out, they and all their hosts
with them.” This army was much larger than any that the Israelites
had before encountered in Canaan—“much people, even as the sand
that is upon the seashore in multitude, with horses and chariots very
many. And when all these kings were met together, they came and
pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.” Again
a message of encouragement was given to Joshua: “Be not afraid
because of them: for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up
all slain before Israel.”
Near Lake Merom he fell upon the camp of the allies and utterly
routed their forces. “The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel,
who smote them, and chased them ... until they left them none remain-
ing.” The chariots and horses that had been the pride and boast of the
Canaanites were not to be appropriated by Israel. At the command of
God the chariots were burned, and the horses lamed, and thus rendered
unfit for use in battle. The Israelites were not to put their trust in
chariots or horses, but “in the name of the Lord their God.”
One by one the cities were taken, and Hazor, the stronghold of the
confederacy, was burned. The war was continued for several years,
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but its close found Joshua master of Canaan. “And the land had rest
from war.”
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