K.  Victory over the Hazor alliance (chapter 11)

1.    The Hazor alliance (1-4).

 a.      Hazor was the leader of the numerous kings in the North; these kings of the alliance gathered at the waters of Merom.

(a)     Jabin (the wise one) king of Hazor might only be a title.

 b.      All the kings including those from the north, the south, the highlands, and the mountains gathered together as the sand on the seashore to put up a stubborn fight against the Israelites.

2.    Joshua led the army to battle these enemies (5-14).

 a.      God promised that it would be a victorious battle (6).

 b.      Hamstring their horses and burn their chariots (6, 9).

(a)     Neither rely on the horses nor the weapons, but rely wholly on the Lord (Ps 20:7; Deut 17:16-20; Isa 31:1, 3, 8).

 c.      Burning of Hazor (10-14).

(a)     Hazor was the leader of all the kings; it was also the largest city. To ensure that it would never be revived, it had to be completely destroyed. During the period of the Judges, Jabin the king of Hazor oppressed the Israelites. Deborah led the people to war and was victorious (Judg 4:24).

 d.      All the rest of the cities were completely destroyed, with none remaining.

(a)     Battle between the Holy Spirit and fleshly desires (Gal 5:22, 23; Jas 1:15; 1 Jn 2:15-17).

3.    Joshua abided by the will of God (15).

 a.      Moses instructed Joshua regarding the commandments of God, and Joshua abided by them completely.

 b.      Passing on of the faith: 1) Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience (1 Tim 3:9; 2 Tim 1:13, 14); 2) Good tradition (teachings, the spirit, Jer 6:16; Lam 3:21-25).

4.    The lands attacked and captured by Joshua (16-23).

 c.      Joshua captured the entire land. Save for Gibeon, all the land was captured through battles (19, 20).

(a)     Destroyed the Anakites (21, 22).

(b)     The land rested from war (23).

Seven years of victorious battles, enjoyed rest (Mt 11:28, 29).