What does Joshua 11:7 mean?
"So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them." - Joshua 11:7
In the King James Version, Joshua 11:7 reads, "So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them." This verse is part of the larger narrative in the book of Joshua, which tells the story of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, following the death of Moses.
The context of this verse is the decisive military campaign led by Joshua against the northern kings who had gathered their armies to fight against Israel. The previous verses describe how the kings of the north had heard of the defeat of the southern kings by Joshua and were organizing themselves to resist the Israelites. In response, Joshua and his men marched against them "by the waters of Merom suddenly," indicating that they caught the enemy by surprise with their swift and unexpected attack.
One of the central themes of the book of Joshua is the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land of Canaan to the Israelites. Throughout the book, we see Joshua and the Israelites engaging in battles and military campaigns to take possession of the land that God had promised to their ancestors. The conquest of Canaan is a central theme in the Hebrew Bible, and it is often seen as a demonstration of God's faithfulness to His covenant with the people of Israel.
The military campaign described in Joshua 11:7 is a significant moment in the larger narrative of the book, as it represents a climactic point in the Israelites' conquest of Canaan. The sudden and decisive nature of Joshua's attack against the northern kings reflects the idea that the Israelites were not ultimately successful because of their military prowess, but because of God's intervention on their behalf. This theme of divine intervention and assistance runs throughout the book of Joshua, highlighting the importance of trusting in God and relying on His strength rather than their own.
In addition to its historical and theological significance, Joshua 11:7 also contains symbolic elements. The "waters of Merom" may symbolize the boundary between the enemies of God and His people. The sudden and unexpected attack by Joshua and the Israelites can be seen as a symbol of God's ability to deliver His people from their enemies and to bring about victory in seemingly impossible situations.
This verse also provides an example of the Israelites' obedience to God's command to take possession of the Promised Land. Throughout the book of Joshua, we see Joshua and the Israelites faithfully carrying out the instructions that God had given them, even when it involved engaging in difficult and potentially dangerous military campaigns. Their obedience serves as a model for the reader, demonstrating the importance of trusting and obeying God's guidance in all circumstances.
Overall, Joshua 11:7 is a pivotal verse in the broader narrative of the book of Joshua, reflecting the themes of God's faithfulness to His promises, the importance of obedience and trust in Him, and the idea that victory ultimately comes from God. It also serves as a reminder that, even in the midst of challenging circumstances, God is able to bring about His purposes and deliver His people from their enemies.
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Joshua 11:7 - "So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them."
"So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them." - Joshua 11:7
Joshua 11:18 - "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings."
Joshua 7:11 - "Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff."
Joshua 11:9 - "And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire."
Joshua 11:15 - "¶ As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses."
Joshua 7:16 - "¶ So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:"
Joshua 11:13 - "But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn."
Joshua 7:22 - "¶ So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it."
Joshua 11:23 - "So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war."
Joshua 7:10 - "¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?"
Joshua 10:7 - "So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour."
Joshua 11:10 - "¶ And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms."
Joshua 1:7-9
Joshua 11:16 - "So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;"
Joshua 5:7 - "And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way."
Joshua 11:21 - "¶ And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities."
Joshua 12:11 - "The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;"
"Joshua made war a long time with all those kings." - Joshua 11:18
Joshua 7:20 - "And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:"
Joshua 7:7 - "And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!"
Joshua 7:23 - "And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD."
Joshua 3:7 - "¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee."
Joshua 11:12 - "And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded."
Joshua 11:11 - "And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire."
Joshua 19:7 - "Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:"
Joshua 12:7 - "¶ And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;"
Judges 2:7 - "And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel."
Joshua 7:6 - "¶ And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads."
Joshua 22:7 - "¶ Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,"