Joshua 11:1 kjv
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,
Joshua 11:1 nkjv
And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard these things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph,
Joshua 11:1 niv
When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph,
Joshua 11:1 esv
When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
Joshua 11:1 nlt
When King Jabin of Hazor heard what had happened, he sent messages to the following kings: King Jobab of Madon; the king of Shimron; the king of Acshaph;
Joshua 11 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 22:3-4 | "And Moab was sorely afraid of the people... So Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up..." | Fear of Israel's numbers. |
| Deut 2:25 | "This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven..." | God instills fear in enemies. |
| Josh 2:9-11 | "for we have heard how the LORD dried up the water... and as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt..." | Rahab's testimony of widespread fear. |
| Josh 5:1 | "And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites... and all the kings of the Canaanites... heard..." | Earlier widespread fear among kings. |
| Josh 6:2 | "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor." | God's promise of victory over kings. |
| Josh 9:24 | "And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded Moses..." | Gibeonites knew of God's command. |
| Josh 10:1-5 | "Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard... that he sent unto Hoham king of Hebron..." | Prior Southern coalition in response to fear. |
| Josh 10:40-42 | "So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south... and all their kings he took..." | Immediate context of recent major victories. |
| Deut 7:1-2 | "When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land... and hath cast out many nations... thou shalt utterly destroy them..." | God's command to conquer and destroy. |
| Deut 20:16-17 | "But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breath..." | Divine mandate for utter destruction. |
| Psa 2:1-4 | "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD..." | Kings' futile resistance against God's plan. |
| Psa 33:10 | "The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect." | God frustrates plans of enemies. |
| Psa 83:3-8 | "They have taken crafty counsel against thy people... the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites..." | Example of nations conspiring against God's people. |
| Prov 21:30 | "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD." | Human wisdom futile against God. |
| Isa 8:9-10 | "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces... take counsel together, and it shall come to nought..." | Futility of nations opposing God's plan. |
| Rom 9:17 | "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee..." | God uses even wicked rulers for His purposes. |
| Acts 4:27-28 | "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus... both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." | Rulers conspiring, yet fulfilling God's plan. |
| Rev 16:14 | "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." | Final earthly coalition against God. |
| Rev 19:19 | "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." | Kings waging war against Christ. |
| Josh 11:4 | "And they went out, all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand which is upon the sea shore in multitude..." | Describes the immense scale of this coalition. |
| Judg 4:2-3 | "And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor..." | Later account of a King Jabin of Hazor oppressing Israel. |
| 1 Sam 4:8 | "Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues..." | Nations aware of the LORD's power. |
Joshua 11 verses
Joshua 11 1 Meaning
Joshua 11:1 signals the start of the Northern Campaign, describing how Jabin, king of Hazor, hearing of Israel's prior victories in the south, initiates a grand alliance with other powerful Canaanite kings to confront Israel's advance. This verse sets the stage for a final, massive unified resistance against God's people, gathering numerous forces against them.
Joshua 11 1 Context
Joshua 11:1 initiates the climactic northern campaign, immediately following Israel's decisive victories against the southern Canaanite kings detailed in Joshua chapter 10. The destruction of Jericho, Ai, and the defeat of the southern coalition sent shockwaves throughout Canaan. This verse reveals the immediate, logical consequence: a strategic reaction by the remaining powerful city-states in the north. Hazor, led by King Jabin, was the preeminent northern kingdom, controlling crucial trade routes and significant territory. Its leadership in forming this broad alliance underscores the desperate final effort of the Canaanite nations to halt Israel's divinely commanded conquest. This context emphasizes that Israel was facing a united, formidable, and desperate enemy, validating the scale of the impending divine intervention and victory. Historically, Hazor was one of the largest and most significant cities in the ancient Near East, with a massive complex of fortifications, reinforcing the strategic importance of this confrontation.
Joshua 11 1 Word analysis
And it came to pass (וַיְהִי, vayhi): A common Hebrew narrative introductory phrase. It often signals a new, significant event or development, suggesting a transition in the unfolding story of God's redemptive history. It subtly points to divine providence, indicating that these events are unfolding according to God's purpose.
when Jabin (יָבִין, Yavin): The personal name or dynastic title of the king of Hazor. The name means "He will discern" or "the intelligent one." It can be seen as ironic, as his "intelligence" led him to oppose God, resulting in his ultimate destruction. This name reappears later in Judges with another Jabin.
king of Hazor (חָצוֹר, Hatsor): Hazor was the most prominent and powerful Canaanite city-state in the north, described as the "head of all those kingdoms" (Josh 11:10). Its immense size and strategic location in ancient Israel are well-documented by archaeology, signifying its vast influence and military might, making this king's initiative crucial.
had heard thereof: This refers to Jabin having received intelligence regarding Israel's previous decisive victories, particularly the rapid and miraculous destruction of Jericho, Ai, and the defeat of the Southern kings (Joshua 6-10). The fear of Israel's God and their conquering power had spread throughout Canaan (cf. Josh 2:9-11). This fear, rather than leading to repentance, prompted a hardened resistance.
that he sent: This indicates Jabin's initiative and leadership. As the most powerful king, he acted as the primary convener, gathering other rulers in a desperate, unified military action. This demonstrates a sophisticated military and political strategy, though one doomed to fail against divine power.
unto Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph: These are other significant city-states in the northern region, demonstrating the extensive network of the Canaanite political and military powers. Their willingness to join Jabin shows the pervasive alarm among the local rulers. Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph were all part of the Canaanite confederacy mentioned in later verses as well.
Jabin king of Hazor had heard thereof: This phrase emphasizes the ripple effect of God's actions. The divine acts of conquest were not hidden but became widely known, inciting both fear and defiance among the pagan nations. It highlights the divine revelation through judgment.
sent unto [other kings]: This act signifies the formation of a unified front against God's people. This confederacy represents the combined might of human resistance against the divine will, an illustration of "the kings of the earth set themselves... against the Lord" (Psa 2:2). This strategic alliance against God's people underscores the severity and the ultimate futility of opposition to the sovereign will of the Almighty.
Joshua 11 1 Bonus section
- The naming of "Jabin" may have been a dynastic title for rulers of Hazor, similar to "Pharaoh" for Egyptian kings, as another "Jabin" is mentioned in Judges 4-5 centuries later also ruling from Hazor and oppressing Israel.
- The vast number of combined forces mentioned in subsequent verses (Josh 11:4: "as the sand which is upon the sea shore in multitude") underscores the magnitude of the opposition and, consequently, the magnitude of God's victory. This vast alliance was likely allowed by God to showcase His power and establish Israel's undisputed claim to the land through a comprehensive victory.
- The formation of this unified coalition against Israel can be seen as a fulfillment of ancient prophetic declarations about the nations raging against the Lord and His anointed (cf. Psalm 2). Their gathering demonstrates their futile reliance on military might and pagan gods, highlighting the powerlessness of these against the one true God.
- The subsequent battle at the waters of Merom, stemming from this coalition, led to the destruction of Hazor, effectively dismantling the most significant northern power, which was crucial for Israel's secure control over the northern regions.
Joshua 11 1 Commentary
Joshua 11:1 serves as a critical bridge, concluding the initial conquest narratives and setting the stage for the final, most encompassing military engagement in the land of Canaan. It shows that the victories in the south had not gone unnoticed, and instead of surrender, they provoked a grand, desperate alliance orchestrated by Jabin, the dominant king of Hazor. This confederacy of kings represents the largest and most powerful coalition Israel would face. From a biblical perspective, it highlights God's sovereignty, allowing the nations to gather in their full strength not as a threat, but as an opportunity for His complete judgment and glory. This collective defiance further illustrates the deep-seated idolatry and moral corruption of the Canaanite nations, justifying the divinely commanded judgment. Ultimately, even the enemies' schemes against God's people were providentially orchestrated to fulfill His will for the complete subduing of the land.