11:1 Jabin This chapter is sometimes connected with the story of Deborah and Barak, which also refers to Jabin (Judg 4). However, the biblical narrative presents them as two distinct events. Jabin may have been a hereditary title borne by successive kings of Hazor (compare “Abimelech,” Gen 20–21; 26).

Jobab king of Madon Possibly identified with Qarn Hattin, west of Tiberias.

11:2 in the north in the hill country Having mentioned some specific kings and cities, the writer now refers more generally to several regions to the north, south, and west who take a “last stand” against Israel.

11:3 to the Canaanites The peoples named here frequently appear in lists of enemies targeted for destruction in the conquest (see note on Josh 3:10; compare Exod 3:8; Deut 7:1).

11:4 the sand on the seashore Describes a large number of people.

11:5 the waters of Merom Often identified as Lake Huleh.

11:6 tomorrow at this time The promise is noteworthy given the size of the army confronting Israel.

you will hamstring their horses A crippled horse could not be used for cavalry purposes.

11:8 Yahweh gave them into the hand of Unlike Joshua 10, this chapter does not describe the battle in detail.

11:10 Hazor formerly was the head of After defeating the coalition in battle, Joshua moved against the city of its leader (see v. 1).

11:11 utterly destroying According to the cherem principle. See note on 6:17.

11:12 he utterly destroyed them with the edge of the sword Revisits and summarizes the results of the northern campaign.

Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded See Deut 20:16–17.

11:13 Israel did not burn the cities standing on their mounds May indicate that the Israelites only needed to utterly destroy Hazor to ensure no resistance in the future. It may also point to retaliation, since Hazor had led the opposition alliance.

11:14 all the spoil and livestock of these cities The text apparently makes some distinction between certain items allowed for plunder and what was considered cherem (see note on Josh 6:17; compare 8:2).

11:16 all the land of Goshen Not the Goshen in Egypt. Possibly the region between the hill country of Judah and the Negev.

11:18 many days Joshua made war See note on 10:40.

11:19 the inhabitants of Gibeon See note on 9:3; compare 9:1–27 and note.

11:20 it was Yahweh A theological summary of the conquest, which casts the events as Yahweh’s will.

11:21 exterminated the Anakites This verse may summarize the demise of the Anakim giant clan in connection with the southern campaign of ch. 10, or it describes a separate campaign.

Giant Clans in the Old Testament

Joshua utterly destroyed them See note on Josh 6:17.

11:22 in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod Philistine cities (see 13:3). This side comment is noteworthy in regard to the later accounts of Philistine giants (also associated with the Rephaim; see 13:12).

11:23 their tribal divisions See chs. 14–19; Num 26:52–56.