Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XI.

Vers. 1. ANd it came to passe, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, &c.] Called Shimron-meron, chap. 12.10. Very observable was the pro∣vidence of God in that which is here related, to wit, that he did not suffer all the kings of the Canaanites, at once to joyn their forces together and set upon the Israe∣lites, but some at one time, and some at another; which the Lord doubtlesse did out of his fatherly indulgence towards his people, and the tender respect he had to their weaknesse. Had these kings here mentioned joyned with the other five, whom the Israelites had before vanquished, the Israelites must needs be stricken with great terrour and fear: And therefore the Lord was pleased so to infatuate and stupifie these, that they were quiet, and moved not till their neighbours were destroyed; by which means the Israelites were heartned with the conquest of the first, ere the other set upon them, and they had leisure to refresh themselves in their camp at Gilgal, ere they were called forth to go upon another service.

Vers. 2. And to the kings that were on the North of the mountains, and of the

plains, south of Cinneroth, &c.] That is, the plains that lay southward of the countrey called Cinneroth, and Deut. 3.17. Chinnereth, afterward Gennesareth; of which see the note upon Numb. 34.10.

Vers. 3. And to the Hivite under Hermon, in the land of Mizpeh.] It is thought by some, that the Hivites here mentioned, to whom the king of Hazor sent that he might draw them into this confederacy against Israel, are described by the place of their habitation, the Hivite under Hermon, in the land of Mizpeh, pur∣posely to distinguish them from the Gibeonites, who were also Hivites, that we might not think, that they were now sollicited to break the league which they had made with the Israelites.

Vers. 6. Be not afraid because of them, for to morrow about this time will I de∣liver them up all slain before Israel.] It may be that Joshua was at this time some∣what the more distressed not onely because of the great number of the enemie, who were as the sand of the sea-shore for multitude, vers. 5. but also because the greatest strength of their armie consisted in horse and chariots, of which in the battels fought hitherto with the Canaanites there is no mention made, and before whom, how the Israelites should be able to stand that were all foot, he might perhaps doubt; and therefore the Lord doth now again assure Joshua that he should overcome and de∣stroy them all, and that he might not question the promise made to him, he tells him particularly the very time when this should be done; To morrow, saith he, about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel.

Thou shalt though their horses and burn their chariots with fire.] Thou shalt not think to reserve these for thine own use, and therefore shalt altogether make the one unserviceable, and burn up the other. In future times the Israelites made use both of horse and chariots in warre, and that no doubt without sinne. Now God would not allow it; that the worse provided they were for the conquest of these na∣tions, the more evident it might be that God had thrust out these nations before them, and the lesse cause they might have to glory in themselves.

Vers. 8. And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them and chased them unto great Zidon.] Zidon so called from Sidon the eldest sonne of Canaan, Gen. 10.15. is here styled great, not to distinguish it from any other lesser city of that name, but onely because it was indeed a very great city, and in great fame in those times, partly by reason the inhabitants were excellent artificers for all kind of workmanship, but especially, because there was there a goodly haven, and so they had of all other cities the greatest store of ships and sea-men; and in∣deed, that it was the Metropolis of that countrey, afterward called Phenicia, we may the rather think, because Tyrus a great citie too, not farre from Zidon is called the daughter of Zidon▪ Isaiah 53.12.

Vers. 10. And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor and smote the king thereof with the sword.] Either Jabin the king of Hazor mentioned vers. 1. escaped in the fight and fled into Hazor, and so was slain there when they took the citie; or else, hearing that their king was slain, they had presently made another king for the better preservation of their city, the rather, because it was the head of all those kingdomes in those parts; or else, it may be the king was slain in the battell,

onely his death is related here where the story relates how his city was taken, as is noted before upon a like passage, chap. 10.37. which last seems the most probable, because the like is said afterward concerning all the kings that were confederate with Jabin in this warre, verse 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. For it is not probable, that all those kings did escape to their cities, and were taken and slain there, or that there were new kings chosen in the room of those that were slain in all those cities. As concerning the rebuilding & repeopling again of this Hazor, whose kings were happely called by the name of Jabin, as those of Egypt were called Pha∣raohs, see what is noted upon Judges 4.2. where we reade of another Jabin that reigned in Hazor, that did mightily oppresse Gods people.

Vers. 13. But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor onely, &c.] That is, that were not beaten down burnt and ruined in the taking of them. Some it seems in the taking put the Israelites to more work, and were burnt and destroyed ere they could be wonne; but those that could be taken otherwise, the Israelites reserved for their own use: Onely Hazor, though after it was taken it stood still in its strength, was burnt down to the ground, because the king thereof was the first and chief in raising these forces, which were now overthrown, against the Israelites.

Vers. 15. As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, &c.] See the note, chap. 10.40.

Vers. 16. So Joshua took all that land, the hills, &c. and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same.] Expositours guesse severally what mountain it was, that is here called the mountain of Israel: But the best and most probable opinion is, that it is not meant of any one particular mountain, but that it is meant generally of all the mountainous parts of the land of Canaan which the Israelites inhabited, considered apart from the tribe of Judah.

Vers. 18. And Joshua made warre a long time with all those kings.] Because the warres which Joshua had made with the kings of Canaan mentioned in the for∣mer chapter are succinctly related in a few words, it might therefore be thought that they were dispatched in a few dayes, and therefore to prevent this mistake, it is here expressely said that these warres lasted a long time, though they be here brief∣ly related one immediately after another. How many years were spent in subduing these nations we cannot say; onely it is evident that when Caleb required of Joshua that part of the land which Moses had promised him chap. 14.6. the warres had lasted about seven years; for that was five and fourtie years, as Caleb saith there, vers. 10. after he with others were sent from Kadesh-barnea to search the land of Canaan; out of which if we take eight and thirtie yeares, which were after that spent in the wandring of the Israelites through the wildernesse, there will remain seven years, which were spent in the warres of Joshua, from the time that they passed over Jordan unto the time that Caleb desired of Joshua that peculiar portion of the land which had been promised him. We know well that God could many wayes have driven or rooted out these kings and their people in a shorter time: But God would have it thus done by degrees, first, That the more opposition and

difficultie they found in the work, the more the power and the love of God and his provident care over them might be magnified, who did at last carrie them through all these difficulties. Secondly, that he might hereby exercise their faith and pati∣ence, and teach them whenever they met with great opposition in any thing God enjoyned them, not to despair, but to wait upon God, as knowing that in the con∣clusion God would not suffer their hope to make them ashamed. Thirdly, that the obstinacy of the Canaanites might be the more clearly discovered to render them in∣excusable. and Fourthly, that he might prevent hereby the encrease of wild beasts in the land, according to that which Moses had said to them, Deut. 7.22. The Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little, thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field encrease upon thee.

Vers. 19. There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, &c.] This is added as a reason why the warres with the Canaanites lasted so long, as it is said in the foregoing verse, it was because the inhabitants did all so obstinately stand it out against the Israelites, none of them attempting to procure conditions of peace from them, save onely the Gibeonites.

Vers. 20. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, &c.] See the note up∣on Exod. 7.13.

Vers. 21. And at that time came Joshua and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, and from Debir, &c.] Concerning these Anakims, see what is noted before upon Numb. 13.22. where it is also expressely said, that the Is∣raelites that were at first sent to search the land of Canaan, saw these Anakims about Hebron, from whence Joshua did now drive them. It is evident that Hebron, (yea and Debir too, or else another city of the same name) was formerly taken by Joshua and the Israelites, in that their expedition against those five kings that had joyned their forces together to besiege Gibeon, as we may see chap. 10.36 37.38. That there∣fore which is said here, that Joshua cut off the Anakims from Hebron, from Debir, &c. must be understood of his cutting them off from the mountains that were about Hebron and Debir. It seems that these gyants, being a kind of wild salvage men, monsters rather then men, did chiefly abide in dens and caves that were in the moun∣tains, or at least, that when Joshua had prevailed in that part of the land, and had ta∣ken the severall towns and cities there, and destroyed the inhabitants, many of these monsters had withdrawn themselves to those their fastnesses and strong holds, from whence afterwards they brake forth into the countreys adjoyning, and so thereupon Joshua went out against them with his forces, and cut them off, some at one time and some at another, from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, that is, the mountains adjoyning to those cities, and from all the mountains of Ju∣dah, and from all the mountains of Israel, that is, the mountains in that porti∣on of the land which fell to the tribe of Judah, and indeed from all the moun∣tains throughout the land of Canaan which fell to the rest of the Israelites: for Judah, by reason of their dignity, is often mentioned as distinct from the other tribes; and in this regard I conceive this expression is used, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel, and not with reference to that di∣vision of the land betwixt the kingdome of Judah and the kingdome of Israel in Je∣roboams

revolt, it being most probable that this book was written before that time, even before David had cast out the Jebusites out of Jerusalem, as may be gathered from that place, chap. 15.63. As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the chil∣dren of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day. The greatest difficulty in this place is this, that here it is said, that Joshua cut off the Anakims from Hebron, from Debir, &c. cities that he had taken before from the inhabitants, chap. 10.36. &c. and yet af∣terwards, chap. 15.14. it is said, that Caleb took Hebron and drove the Anakims thence. To this some answer, That though Joshua took Hebron, and afterwards cut off the Anakims from the mountains about Hebron, as it is here said; yet in processe of time the inhabitants, and especially these Anakims did again seise upon Hebron and possesse it, and so were after Joshuas death driven out thence by Caleb: (for though this be related chap. 15.14. yet that it was not done till after the death of Jo∣shua, is evident (they say) in the first chapter of Judges, vers. 9. where the same sto∣ry is again related.) But because it is evident in the fourteenth chapter of this book vers. 12. that Caleb whilest Joshua was yet living desired Hebron and the moun∣tainous countrey about it to be given him for his inheritance, as Moses had promised it should be, undertaking withall, that with Gods help he would drive out the Ana∣kims thence, Give me (saith he) this mountain, &c. If so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said: nor is it probable that ever the Lord suffered the Canaanites to recover one foot of that land, out of which Joshua had expelled them, till after the death of Joshua, when by their sinnes they provoked the Lord against them; nor that the valourous Caleb would suffer the Ca∣naanites to roost so long in that place which was given him for his inheritance, as till after the death of Joshua: therefore I conceive, that the truer answer for the re∣solving of this difficulty is this, That it was Caleb that did drive out the Anakims out of the mountains about Hebron, as is related chap. 15.14. onely it is here ascri∣bed to Joshua, because Joshua was their chief Generall, and so it was done under his government and command, though it were done by Caleb. However the destroying the Anakims throughout the land of Canaan is here particularly recorded, that in Gods goodnesse and power in cutting them now off, they might see the folly of their forefathers infidelity, who were so scared with the sight and report of the formidable stature of these giants, that they would not enter the land notwithstanding all that Moses, Joshua, and Caleb could say to them.

Vers. 22. There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Is∣rael; onely in Gaza, in Gath, &c.] These were cities of the Philistims, whose land was also within the compasse of the promise made to the Israelites, Exod. 23.31. And I will set thy bounds from the red sea, even unto the sea of the Philistims, though because of their sinnes they prevailed not as yet so farre. In these cities there were of these Anakims, these giants still remaining many years after: for Goliath was of Gath: see 1. Sam. 17.4. &c. and those foure huge giants mentioned 2. Sam. 21.16. &c. were all of the Philistims.

Vers. 23. And Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses, &c.] That is, he vanquished the whole land before mention••d; or he

is said to have taken the whole land, because he had so far subdued it, that none of the inhabitants durst take up arms against them, or any way molest them; so that they might now peaceably make a division of it amongst the tribes, though there were some places which the Canaanites had yet in their possession, as is largely ex∣pressed in the beginning of the 13. chapter, yet they durst not stirre against the Isra∣elites; and therefore is that clause added in the last words of this chapter, and the land rested from warre.