Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. XI.

AND it came to pass when Jabin king of Ha∣zor a 1.1 had heard those things b 1.2, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shim∣ron c 1.3, and to the king of Achshaph d 1.4,

2 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains e 1.5, and of the plains, south of Cin∣neroth f 1.6, and in the vale, and in the borders of Dor g 1.7, on the west,

3 And to the Canaanite on the east, and on the west h 1.8, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the moun∣tains, and to the Hivite under Hermon i 1.9, in the land of Mizpeh k 1.10.

4 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 charets very many.

5 And when all these kings were † met together,* 1.11 they came and pitched together at the Waters of Merom l 1.12, to fight against Israel.

6 ¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not a∣fraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses m 1.13, and burn their charets with fire.

7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly n 1.14, and they fell upon them.

8 And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them un∣to* 1.15 † great Zidon o 1.16, and unto † * 1.17 Misrephoth-main p 1.18,* 1.19 and unto the valley of Mispeh q 1.20 eastward, and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.

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

10 ¶ And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof r 1.21 with the sword: for Hazor before time was the head of all those kingdoms s 1.22.

11 And they smote all the souls •…•…hat were there∣in with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not * 1.23 any t 1.24 left to breathe, and he burnt Hazor with fire.

12 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 destroy∣ed them, * 1.25 as Moses the servant of the LORD com∣manded.

13 But as for the cities that stood still † in their strength u 1.26, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor* 1.27 onely x 1.28, that did Joshua burn y 1.29.

14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cat∣tel, the children of Israel took for a prey unto them∣selves: but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.

15 ¶ * 1.30 As the LORD commanded Moses his ser∣vant, so * 1.31 did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua: † he left nothing undone of all that the* 1.32 LORD commanded Moses.

16 So Joshua took all that land z 1.33, the hill a 1.34, and all the south countrey b 1.35, and all the land of Goshen c 1.36, and the vale d 1.37, and the plain e 1.38, and the mountain of Israel f 1.39, and the vale of the same g 1.40:

17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up* 1.41 to Seir h 1.42, unto Baal-Gad i 1.43, in the valley of Leba∣non under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.

18 Joshua made war along timek 1.44 with all those kings.

19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel: save* 1.45 the Hivites the inhabi∣tants of Gibeon, all otherl 1.46 they took in battel.

20 For it was of the LORD to harden their heartsm 1.47, that they should come against Israel in battel, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour: but that he might destroy them, * 1.48 as the LORD commanded Moses.

21 And at that time* 1.49 came Joshua, and cut off the Anakimsn 1.50 from the mountaino 1.51, from Hebron, from Debirp 1.52, from Anabq 1.53, and from all the moun∣tain of Judah, and from all the mountain of Is∣raelr 1.54: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their citiess 1.55.

22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod t 1.56 there remained.

23 So Joshua took the whole land u 1.57, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel, * 1.58 according to their divisions by their tribes: and the land rest∣ed from war x 1.59.

Notes

• a 1.1

  The chief City of all those parts, v. 10.
• b 1.2

  This was a remarkable instance of the Wisdom and Goodness of divine Providence, which so governed the minds and hearts of the Canaanites, that they were not at all united under one King, but divided amongst many petty Kings; and next, that these did not all unanimously joyn their Counsels and Forces together to oppose the Israelites at their first en∣trance, which their own Wisdom and Interest obliged them to do, but quietly suffered the destruction of their Brethren, thereby preparing the way for their own.
• c 1.3

  Called Shimron∣meron, Josh. 12. 10.
• d 1.4

  A place in the Tribe of Aser, the furthest part of the land toward the North and West.
• e 1.5

  Heb. on the North, (which may be the general designa∣tion of all the particular places following, that they were in the Northern parts of Canaan, as those mentioned Iosh. 10. were in the Southern parts) in the mountain, either in or near the famous mountain of Lebanon, called the Mountain by way of eminency; or in the mountainous Coun∣trey.
• f 1.6

  Heb. in the plain lying Southward from Cinneroth, or the Lake of Genesareth; See Deut. 3. 17. Luke 5. 1.
• g 1.7

  A place upon the coast of the Midland-sea.
• h 1.8

  The Canaanites properly so called, lived part of them on the East near Iordan, and part on the West near the Sea, and both are here united.
• i 1.9

  That dwelt under Mount Her∣mon in the North of Canaan, whereby they are differenced from those Hivites who lived in Gibeon, of which before.
• k 1.10

  That Mizpeh which was in the Northern part of Gilead, of which Gen. 31. 49. Iudg. 11. 29. But there were other Cities called by that name, which signifying a Watching∣place, might be easily applied to several places of good pros∣pect. Besides this, there is one Mizpeh of Iudah, Josh. 15. 38. another of Benjamin, Josh. 18. 26. a third in Moab, 1 Sam. 22. 3.
• * 1.11

  ‡ Heb. •…•…∣bled by ap∣pointment.
• l 1.12

  A lake made by the River Iordan in the Northern part of it, which was in the Territory of the King of Schimron, or Schimron-Meron, and near Hazor, Iabins royal City, and almost in the middle of these confederate Kings.
• m 1.13

  i. e. Cut their Hamstrings that they may be unfit for War. For God forbad them to have, or keep many Horses, Deut. 17. 16. now especially, that they might not trust to their Horses, as men are apt to do, nor distrust God for want of so necessary an help in Battel; nor ascribe the Con∣quest of the land to their own strength, but wholly to God, by whose power alone a company of raw and unexperienced Footmen were able to subdue so potent a people, which be∣sides their great Numbers, and Giants, and walled Cities, had the advantage of many thousands of Horses and Cha∣riots.
• n 1.14

  When they least expected them, intending there to refresh, and prepare, and order themselves for the offen∣sive War which they designed.
• * 1.15

  ‡ Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• o 1.16

  A great and famous City in the Northwest part of Ca∣naan, and upon the Sea.
• * 1.17

  Heb. •…•…∣ings of 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• p 1.18

  A place not far from Zidon, supposed to be so called from the Salt or Glass which they made there.
• * 1.19

  ‡ Or▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• q 1.20

  Under Mount Hermon, as appears by com∣paring this with v. 3. and 17. where it seems to be cal∣led the valley of Lebanon. This lay on the East, as Sidon did on the West; and so it seems they fled several ways, and the Israelites also divided themselves into two Bodies, one pursuing East, and the other West.
• r 1.21

  Either in the former Battel, though it be mentioned here: or rather, in his Royal City, to which he fled out of the Battel.
• s 1.22

  Not of all Canaan, but of all those who were confederate with him in this Expedition.
• * 1.23

  Heb. any breath.
• t 1.24

  i. e. No Humane Person.
• * 1.25

  Numb. 33. 52. Deut. 7. 2. and 20. 16, 17.
• u 1.26

  Heb. with (for so this Preposition is oft used, as Exod. 35. 12. Levit. 2. 2. Ezek. 16. 37. &c.) their Fence or Fences, Walls or Bulwarks, i. e. which were not utterly ruined to∣gether with their Walls in the taking of them.
• * 1.27

  ‡ Heb. on their beap.
• x 1.28

  Which though taken by the Israelites, was not so much destroyed as other places were.
• y 1.29

  Because this City began the War, and being the chief and Royal City, might renew the War if the Canaanites should ever seize upon it.
• * 1.30

  Exod. 34. 11.
• * 1.31

  Deut. 7. 2.
• * 1.32

  ‡ Heb. he re∣moved no∣thing.
• z 1.33

  Of Canaan, whose parts here follow.
• a 1.34

  Or, the Moun∣tain, i. e. the Mountainous Country, to wit, of Iudea, as may seem, 1. Because in the following enumeration he begins in the South parts, where there was an eminent Moun∣tain, Numb. 13. 17. 2. Because a considerable part of Iudea was called the Hilly or the Mountainous Country, Luke 1. 39, 65. which is not likely to be omitted in this particular description of the Land; the rather because Hebron, one of the places taken by Ioshua, chap. 10. 36, 37. was in the mountain of Judah, Jos. 20. 7. 3. Because this is here distin∣guished from the Mountain of Israel, and therefore most likely to be the Mountain of Judah, especially if you com∣pare this with v. 21. where having mentioned the Mountain in general, from which Ioshua cut off the Anakims, he comes to particularize, and names only two, all the Mountain of Judah, and all the Mountain of Israel.
• b 1.35

  i. e. Not onely the Mountainous part, but all the Country of Iudea, which lay in the Southern part of Canaan, and oft comes under the name of the South, as Numb. 13. 22, 29. and 21. 1. Ios. 10. 40. and 18. 5. &c.
• c 1.36

  Of which see Ios. 10. 41.
• d 1.37

  The low Countries.
• e 1.38

  The Fields or Champion grounds.
• f 1.39

  Ei∣ther 1. Some one particular and eminent Mountain, possi∣bly the Hill of Samaria, mentioned 1 Kings 16. 24. or rather 2. The Mountains or Mountainous Country of Israel. See the second note on this verse.
• g 1.40

  i. e. Of Israel.
• * 1.41

  •…•… Or, the smooth Moun∣tain.
• h 1.42

  i. e. To the country of Seir or Edom; to wit, that part of it which was South from Iudea, not that which was Eastward from it, as appears from hence, that here, as al∣so Ios. 12. 7. is mention of the two extream bounds of the Land conquered by Ioshua; whereof the other which follows being in the North, this must needs be in the South of the Land.
• i 1.43

  A part of Mount Lebanon.
• k 1.44

  For divers years together, as is evident by the follow∣ing History, and by comparing Deut. 2. 14. with Ios. 14. 7, &c. And this is here expressed, lest it should be thought that as all these Wars are here recorded in a short Narration, so they were dispatched in a short time. And God would have the Land to be Conquered gradually, for many weighty rea∣sons; 1. Lest the sudden extirpation of those Nations should have made a great pa•…•…t of the Land Desert, and thereby have encreased the Numbers of Wild Beasts, Deut. 7. 22. 2. Lest being done suddenly and easily, it should soon be for∣gotten and despised, as the nature of man is apt to do in those cases. 3. That by long exercise the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 might grow skilful in the Art of War, which was very useful an•…•… needful for them in that Land. 4. For the trial and exercise of their Patience and Courage, and Trust in God. 5. •…•…o oblige them to the greater care to please and obey God, whom they yet needed for their help against their Enemies.
• * 1.45

  Chap. 9. 3.
• l 1.46

  To wit, all that were taken by Ioshua, were taken by the Sword; and therefore it is no wonder that the War was long, when the Enemy was so obstinate.
• m 1.47

  It was the design of Gods Providence not to soften their hearts to a compliance with the Israelites, but to give them up to their own Animosity, Pride, Confidence and Stubbornness; that so both their abominable and incorri∣gible wickedness might be severely punished, and that the Israelites might not be mixed with them, but be inti•…•…e among themselves in the possession of the Land. Compare Deut. 2. 30. and for the Phrase Exod. 7. 13. and 9. 12. and 14. 17.
• * 1.48

  Deu. 2•…•…. 16, 17.
• * 1.49

  i. e. In that War, for it cannot be meant of any particu∣lar and short time, because the work here related was done in divers times and years.
• n 1.50

  A race of Giants, of which see Numb. 13. 33.
• o 1.51

  Or, Mountains, the Singular Number for the Plural; These Barbarous and Monstrous persons ei∣ther chose to live in the Dens or Caves, which were frequent in the Mountains of those parts; or else they were driven thither by the Arms and Success of the Israelites.
• p 1.52

  Ei∣ther, 1. From the Territories belonging to these Cities, as we have oft seen in this History, Cities mentioned for the Country subject to them, for the Cities were taken before by Ioshua, chap. 10. 36, 37, 38. or 2. From the Cities themselves; and so either the Cities were re-taken by the Giants, which it is not probable that God would permit in Ioshua's time; or he speaks here of that time when he took those places mentioned here, and chap. 10. which Hi∣story he here in part repeats and enlargeth with this me∣morable circumstance, That, together with the rest, he de∣stroyed also the Giants which were in those places.
• q 1.53

  A place in the Tribe of Iudah, Jos. 15. 50.
• r 1.54

  It doth not follow from hence, which some conclude, that this Book was written by some other person long after Ioshua's Death, even after the division of the Israelites into two Kingdoms, of Israel and Iudah; but only that this was one of those clauses which were added or altered, and suited to the stile of the pre∣sent times by Ezra, or some other Prophet; though that be not necessary: for since it was evident to Ioshua, from Gen. 49. 10, &c. That the Tribe of Iudah was to be the chief of all the Tribes, and some dawnings of its Eminency ap∣peared in that time, in their having the first Lot in the Land of Canaan, Ios. 15. 1. and the largest inheritan•…•…e, Ios. 19. 9. It is no wonder that it is mentioned apart, and distinguished from the rest of the Tribes of Israel, though that also be one of them; even as the Daughter of Phara•…•…h is distinguished from the Strange Women, 1 King. 11. 1. and Saul from all Davids Enemies, Psal. 18. title. and Peter from the Disciples, Mark 16. 7. though they were each of the same nature and quality with the rest.
• s 1.55

  Q•…•…. How could Ioshua utterly destroy these, when Ca•…•…eb and Othoniel de∣stroyed some of them after Ioshua's Death? Ios. 14. 12. Iudg. 1. 10, 11, 12. Ans. This might be, either 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these places being in part destroyed and neglected by the Israelites, might be re-possessed by the Giants, either in Ioshua's time, or after his Death, and by them kept till Ca∣leb dispossessed and destroyed them. Or rather 2. Because this work, though done by the particular valour and indu∣stry of Caleb, is ascribed to Ioshua as the General of the Army, according to the manner of all Historians; and there∣fore it is here attributed to Ioshua, though afterwards, that Caleb might not lose his deserved Honour, the History is more particularly described, and Caleb owned as the great Instrument in the atchievement of it. Ios. 14. and Iudg. 1.
• t 1.56

  Three Cities of the Philistines, to which they retired, and where we find some of them afterwards, 1 Sam. 17. 4. and 2 Sam. 21. 16. Which may be one reason why the Is∣raelites durst not make an attempt upon these places, though they were a part of their Possession.
• u 1.57

  Synecdochically, i. e. the greatest and the best part of it, for some parts and places are expresly excepted in the fol∣lowing History.
• * 1.58

  Numb. 26. 53.
• x 1.59

  From actual War, so far that they could now quietly survey, and distribute, and possess the Land.