Joshua 11:5 kjv
And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
Joshua 11:5 nkjv
And when all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
Joshua 11:5 niv
All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
Joshua 11:5 esv
And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
Joshua 11:5 nlt
The kings joined forces and established their camp around the water near Merom to fight against Israel.
Joshua 11 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 20:1-4 | When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than yourselves...the LORD your God is with you... | God's presence brings victory against larger foes |
| Deut 7:1-6 | When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it...you shall not make a covenant with them or show them mercy. | Divine command for total conquest of Canaanites |
| Josh 10:8 | The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand before you.” | God's promise of victory for Israel |
| Judg 4:7 | I will draw out Sisera...and his chariots and his multitude to the river Kishon and give him into your hand. | God delivering enemies (similar Merom terrain) |
| Ps 2:1-3 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed | Worldly rulers conspire against God's plan |
| Ps 83:5-8 | For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant... Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia... | Nations allied against God's people |
| Zech 14:2 | For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be captured... | Prophetic gathering of nations against Jerusalem |
| Rev 16:14 | For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. | End-time gathering for final battle |
| Rev 19:19 | And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. | Global kings gathered for battle |
| 1 Sam 17:45-47 | David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts...” | God granting victory against powerful enemies |
| 2 Chr 13:3 | Abijah went out to battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men... Jeroboam also drew up an army against him of 800,000 chosen men. | Armies gathering for large-scale battle |
| Joel 3:9-12 | Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war... Let the nations be stirred up and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding | Prophecy of nations gathered for judgment |
| Num 33:50-56 | Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants... | Divine command to conquer and occupy the land |
| Exod 15:9 | The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire shall have its fill of them...’ | Enemies pursuing Israel for destruction |
| Judg 9:44 | And Abimelech and the troops that were with him rushed forward and took a position at the entrance of the gate of the city... | Military encampment for battle |
| Josh 11:6 | Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel..." | God assures Joshua of imminent victory |
| Ps 44:5-7 | Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. For not by my bow do I triumph, nor does my sword save me. | Victory comes from God, not human strength |
| Isa 8:9-10 | Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered... Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted... | Futility of human plans against God |
| Jer 6:4 | “Prepare for war against her... Up, let us go up at noon!” “Woe to us, for the day declines, for the shadows of evening lengthen!” | Call to war and gathering of forces |
| Ezra 8:22 | For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king... | Trusting God for protection from enemies |
Joshua 11 verses
Joshua 11 5 Meaning
Joshua 11:5 describes the formidable alliance of various northern Canaanite kings, having convened at the strategic location of the Waters of Merom, to launch a unified attack against the Israelites. This verse highlights the peak of organized resistance faced by Israel during the northern campaign, portraying a powerful and numerous coalition ready for decisive battle against God's people.
Joshua 11 5 Context
Joshua 11:5 is situated in the broader narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan. Following the significant victories in the southern campaign, which saw the defeat of powerful Amorite kings and the taking of their cities, the focus shifts to the northern region. Verses 1-4 of chapter 11 describe Jabin, the king of Hazor, a prominent northern city-state, organizing a massive coalition of kings from all over the northern territories: the mountainous region, the Arabah, the lowlands, and the coastal plains, along with various ethnic groups (Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Hivites). This formidable alliance, explicitly noted for its "very many horses and chariots," represented the largest and most concentrated opposition Israel had yet faced. Verse 5 sets the stage for the climactic battle against this great confederacy, which posed a severe threat due to its sheer numbers, diversity, and military assets, especially the chariots which Israel lacked. This coalition was the final organized resistance to Israel's advance and God's promise to give them the land.
Joshua 11 5 Word Analysis
- So: Connects this verse to the preceding narrative (Josh 11:1-4), indicating a consequence of Jabin's initiative. The news of Israel's presence and victories provoked a unified response from the Canaanite rulers.
- all these kings: Hebrew: kol hǎmməlaḵîm hāʾēlleh (כָּל־הַמְּלָכִים הָאֵלֶּה). Refers to the numerous specific kings and their peoples listed in Joshua 11:1-4, indicating a wide and diverse geographical representation from the northern land. This emphasizes the broad consensus and united front against Israel.
- met together: Hebrew: wayyiwwāʿădû (וַיִּוָּעֲד֧וּ). Derived from the root יעד (yaʿad), meaning "to appoint," "to meet by appointment," or "to convene." This was not a chance encounter but a deliberate, pre-arranged, and strategic assembly of hostile forces, suggesting coordination and planning among the kings.
- and came and encamped together: Hebrew: wayyāboʾû wayyaḥănû yaḥdāw (וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו).
- Wayyāboʾû (came): Signifies their movement and approach to the designated location.
- Wayyaḥănû (encamped): From חנה (ḥānāh), "to pitch a tent," "to encamp." This refers to establishing a military camp, a base for operation. It implies preparation for battle, indicating their readiness and strategic positioning.
- Yaḥdāw (together): Reinforces the concept of unity and consolidation of their forces, highlighting the combined strength of their armies gathered at one place.
- at the waters of Merom: Hebrew: ʾel mê mêrôm (אֶל־מֵי מֵרוֹם). A specific geographical location in the northern Galilee region. "Waters" (mê) implies a significant body of water (perhaps a lake or large springs) vital for sustaining a large army. This site would offer strategic advantages for assembly and deployment, especially for an army with chariots requiring flat ground. Its precise identification is debated but generally points to an area near the Hula Basin or Lake Hula, north of the Sea of Galilee.
- to fight with Israel: Hebrew: lāḥāleḥēm ʿim yiśrāʾēl (לְהִלָּחֵם עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל). This is the explicit and singular purpose of their gathering. It declares their direct intent of military confrontation and eradication or expulsion of the Israelites from the land, revealing their open hostility and the severity of the threat Israel faced.
Joshua 11 5 Bonus section
The massive scale of this battle, especially involving "very many horses and chariots" (mentioned in Josh 11:4), highlights Israel's significant disadvantage in terms of conventional warfare technology. Chariots were the ultimate weapons platform of the Late Bronze Age, offering speed, striking power, and a psychological impact. Israel, primarily an infantry force, possessed neither horses nor chariots at this time, which amplifies the divine nature of their victory described in the following verses. God's instruction to Joshua to hamstring the horses and burn the chariots after the battle (Josh 11:6, 9) prevented Israel from relying on foreign military might and emphasized that their victories were solely by the Lord's power. This act was a safeguard against future reliance on worldly strength, echoing the prohibition in Deut 17:16 for a king of Israel not to acquire many horses.
Joshua 11 5 Commentary
Joshua 11:5 encapsulates the ultimate challenge to God's plan for His people Israel to inherit the promised land. The verse does not merely state a meeting but describes a highly organized, broad, and formidable military coalition. The northern kings, having learned of Israel's swift victories in the south, recognized the existential threat and, under the leadership of Hazor, strategically united. Their chosen location, the "Waters of Merom," implies a suitable terrain for their numerous forces and chariots, providing a distinct tactical advantage. This unified opposition underscores the desperate, collective attempt by the idolatrous nations to prevent God's purpose from being fulfilled. Spiritually, it serves as a powerful reminder that whenever God's people advance in His will, the forces of opposition often consolidate to resist. However, as the subsequent verses demonstrate, no human or military alliance, however vast or well-equipped, can thwart the sovereign hand of God. The massive assembly, intended to be Israel's undoing, instead becomes the means of their decisive victory, leading to the subjugation of the entire northern region and marking the beginning of the "rest from war" (Joshua 11:23).