Jabin

1Jabin was the king of Hazor. He heard what Israel had been doing. So he sent word to Jobab, the king of Madon. He also sent word to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph.

And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,

NoteBack then each city and its farmland had its own king. So a small country could have many kings. Hazor was a large, strong city in the north.

2He also sent word to the kings in the northern hills. He sent to the kings in the flat land south of Chinneroth. He sent to kings in the low hills and in Dor by the sea.

And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,

NoteChinneroth was a big lake in the north of the land. Later people called it the Sea of Galilee.

3He sent word to the Canaanites in the east and the west. He sent to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country. He sent to the Hivites who lived near Mount Hermon, in the land of Mizpeh.

And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.

NoteCanaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Hivites were groups of people already living in that land. Mount Hermon is a tall mountain in the far north with snow on top.

4All these kings came out with their armies. There were as many soldiers as there are grains of sand on a beach. They had many horses and many chariots. A chariot is a cart pulled by horses that soldiers fight from.

And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.

NoteHorses and chariots were the strongest weapons of that time. Israel had none and fought on foot.

5All these kings joined together as one army. They set up camp at the waters of Merom. They were ready to fight against Israel.

And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

NoteThe waters of Merom were streams and wet, marshy ground. Armies camped near water so the men and horses could drink.

6The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand them all over to Israel, killed. Cut the tendons in their horses' back legs. Burn their chariots with fire."

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

NoteJoshua was the leader of Israel. When you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own name. A tendon is a strong cord inside a leg. A horse with a cut tendon could not run or pull a chariot again.

7So Joshua and all his soldiers came to the waters of Merom. They came suddenly, and they attacked.

So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.

8The LORD handed the enemy over to Israel. Israel struck them down. They chased them all the way to Greater Sidon and Misrephoth-maim. They chased them east to the Valley of Mizpeh. No one was left alive.

And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.

NoteSidon was a big city by the sea, far to the north. Chasing an enemy that far means they ran a very long way.

9Joshua did just what the LORD had told him. He cut the tendons in the horses' back legs. He burned their chariots with fire.

And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

10Then Joshua turned back and captured the city of Hazor. He killed its king with the sword. Hazor had been the leading city of all those kingdoms.

And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.

NoteHazor was the leading city because the other kings listened to its king. When a leading city fell, the smaller ones lost their help.

11They killed everyone in Hazor with the sword. Not one person was left alive. Then Joshua burned the city with fire.

And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.

12Joshua captured all those kings and all their cities. He killed them with the sword. He destroyed them completely. This is what Moses, the LORD's servant, had commanded.

And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.

13Many cities stood on top of raised mounds of earth. Israel did not burn any of those cities. Only Hazor was burned, and Joshua burned it.

But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

NoteWhen a city was knocked down, people often built a new one on the ruins. After many years the ground under the city had grown into a hill.

14The people of Israel kept the goods and the animals from these cities for themselves. But they killed all the people with the sword. They left no one alive.

And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.

NoteThe goods were things like pots, cloth, tools, and gold. In those days soldiers who won took such things home.

15The LORD gave his commands to his servant Moses. Moses gave those same commands to Joshua. Joshua did all of them. He left nothing undone.

As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

NoteMoses was the leader who brought Israel out of Egypt. Joshua took his place after Moses died.