Topical Bible: Heart: Hardened Hearts: King of Canaan

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In the biblical narrative, the concept of a "hardened heart" is often associated with resistance to God's will and a refusal to acknowledge His sovereignty. This theme is prominently illustrated in the account of the King of Canaan, particularly in the context of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land.

The King of Canaan, specifically Jabin, the king of Hazor, is a notable figure whose heart was hardened against the Israelites. This hardening is understood as a divine act, where God allows or causes a leader to become obstinate, thereby setting the stage for His purposes to be fulfilled. In the case of Jabin, his hardened heart led to his opposition against Israel, which ultimately resulted in his defeat.

The biblical account in the Book of Joshua provides insight into this event. Joshua 11:20 states, "For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be completely destroyed without mercy and be annihilated, as the LORD had commanded Moses." This verse highlights the divine orchestration behind the hardening of the Canaanite kings' hearts, including Jabin's, to bring about their downfall and fulfill God's promise to Israel.

The hardening of Jabin's heart can be seen as part of a broader pattern in Scripture, where God uses the obstinacy of leaders to demonstrate His power and to accomplish His divine plans. This theme is echoed in other biblical narratives, such as Pharaoh's hardened heart during the Exodus, where God's sovereignty is displayed through the unfolding of events that lead to the liberation of His people.

In Judges 4, the narrative continues with the account of Jabin's oppression of Israel and the subsequent deliverance through Deborah and Barak. Judges 4:2-3 describes how "the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots, and he harshly oppressed them for twenty years." Despite Jabin's military might and his hardened stance against Israel, God raised up leaders to deliver His people, demonstrating His faithfulness and power.

The account of Jabin, the King of Canaan, serves as a reminder of the consequences of a hardened heart and the ultimate futility of resisting God's will. It underscores the biblical principle that God is sovereign over the hearts of rulers and nations, using even their resistance to fulfill His divine purposes and to bring about His plans for His people.

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Joshua 11:20
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
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Library

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... for such cavils: "I," saith the Lord, "will harden his heart," (Exod.4 ... that they
went forth to battle because the Lord had hardened their hearts (Josh.11 ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart
obstinate, that ... For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

Psalm CV.
... many, and in which the secrets of many hearts were revealed ... of honour, until the
opposition of the hardened king was overcome ... "And He turned their heart so, that ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cv.htm

Matt. xv. 21, 22
... to follow Him, but also to make Him a king; [2055] avoiding ... I mean, He brings forward
what they were reasoning in their hearts. ... Have ye your heart hardened? ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lii matt xv 21.htm

Old Revival Hymns.
... shining, O my longing heart, my longing heart is there. ... of war lay me low; Strike,
king of terrors ... in 1842-3, they awoke in many hardened hearts the spiritual ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter vii old revival hymns.htm

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
... of God informing him, or by the actual hardened state of ... being, and the more improving
to our hearts; and because ... we have to do,"to change the heart and will ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ix jeremiah a lesson.htm

Where is the Lord?
... Oh, it is a question that I put to all your hearts! ... 17, 18. O Lord, why hast thou
made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/where is the lord.htm

Sin: Its Spring-Head, Stream, and Sea
... "They understood not his wonders in Egypt", because their hearts were hardened by
their ... sadly common, but it is none the less grievous to the heart of God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/sin its spring-head stream and.htm

Mongrel Religion
... but when there are two deities, it is written, "Their heart is divided ... On the anvil
of a false profession Satan hammers out the most hardened of hard hearts. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 27 1881/mongrel religion.htm

The Sin of Unbelief
... with tears, and to make the most hardened wretch weep ... many a noble enterprise conceived
in the heart has been ... that which we receive into our hearts with true ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the sin of unbelief.htm