Conquest of the Northern Cities

1Now when Jabin (whom God observes) king of Hazor (castle) heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab (a desert) king of Madon (strife); to the kings of Shimron (watch-height) and Achshaph (I shall be bewitched); 2to the kings of the north in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Chinnereth (harps), in the foothills {Shephelah},a and in Naphoth-dor (in the heights of Dor)b to the west; 3to the Canaanites (merchants) in the east and west; to the Amorites (sayers), Hittites, Perizzites (villagers), and Jebusites (Jerusalemites) in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon (a sanctuary) in the land of Mizpah (watchtower).

4So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots. 5All these kings joined forces and encamped at the waters of Merom (high place) to fight against Israel (he wrestles with God).

6Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Joshua (YHWH saves), “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel (he wrestles with God). You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”

7So by the waters of Merom (high place), Joshua (YHWH saves) and his whole army came upon them suddenly and attacked them, 8and the LORD {YHWH} delivered them into the hand of Israel (he wrestles with God), who struck them down and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon (hunting) and Misrephoth-maim (burnings of water), and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh (watchtower). They struck them down, leaving no survivors. 9Joshua (YHWH saves) treated them as the LORD {YHWH} had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.

10At that time Joshua (YHWH saves) turned back and captured Hazor (castle) and put its king to the sword, because Hazor was formerly the head of all these kingdoms. 11The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction {cherem}.c Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself (castle).

12Joshua (YHWH saves) captured all these kings and their cities and put them to the sword. He devoted them to destruction, as Moses (drawn out) the LORD’s {YHWH} servant had commanded. 13Yet Israel (he wrestles with God) did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor (castle), which Joshua (YHWH saves) burned.

14The Israelites (God prevails) took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed. 15As the LORD {YHWH} had commanded His servant Moses (drawn out), so Moses commanded Joshua (YHWH saves). That is what Joshua did, leaving nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

Joshua Takes the Whole Land

16So Joshua (YHWH saves) took this entire region: the hill country, all the Negev (southland), all the land of Goshen (drawing near), the western foothills, the Arabah, and the mountains of Israel (he wrestles with God) and their foothills, 17from Mount Halak (smooth), which rises toward Seir (shaggy), as far as Baal-gad (lord of fortune) in the Valley of Lebanon (whiteness) at the foot of Mount Hermon (a sanctuary). He captured all their kings and struck them down, putting them to death.

18Joshua (YHWH saves) waged war against all these kings for a long period of time. 19No city made peace with the Israelites (God prevails) except the Hivites (villagers) living in Gibeon (hill city); all others were taken in battle. 20For it was of the LORD {YHWH} to harden (stiffen)d their hearts to engage Israel (he wrestles with God) in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses (drawn out).

21At that time Joshua (YHWH saves) proceeded to eliminate the Anakim (long-necked) from the hill country of Hebron (association), Debir (sanctuary), and Anab (fruit), and from all the hill country of Judah (praised) and of Israel (he wrestles with God). Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities. 22No Anakim (long-necked) were left in the land of the Israelites (God prevails); only in Gaza (the strong), Gath (winepress), and Ashdod (powerful) did any survive.

23So Joshua (YHWH saves) took the entire land, in keeping with all that the LORD {YHWH} had spoken to Moses (drawn out). And Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel (he wrestles with God) according to the allotments to their tribes. Then the land had rest from war.