A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

THE NORTHERN CAMPAIGN
(Josh. 11:1-12:24)
The defeat of the Canaanites (11:1-14)
When the Canaanite kings heard what Joshua had done to the Amorites in the south, they
too determined an alliance was their best defense against the unbeatable Hebrew army. An
alliance was formed by many of the remaining city-states and tribal groups in the land and
headed by three powerful Canaanite kings.
They were successful in gathering a vast army, “as many people as the sand that is on the
seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots” (11:4). The allied armies gathered “at
the waters of Merom to fight against Israel” (v. 5).
In the face of this immense army gathered against Israel, God assured Joshua he would be
the victor. Joshua led his army in a surprise ambush against the gathered armies and won a
decisive victory. Perhaps because the alliance formed against them had been initiated by Jabin,
king of Hazor, Joshua burned that city with fire. Archeological research at the ancient site of that
city confirms both that Jabin was the dynastic title of the king of Hazor, and that the city was
burned to the ground during the conquest of Joshua.
A summary of the victories of Joshua (11:15-12:24)
“As the Lord had commanded Moses His servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so
Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses” (11:15). Joshua
accomplished a total victory in his attempt to conquer the Promised Land. Recorded in his
memoirs is a listing of the thirty-one kings he met in battle and defeated (12:9-24).
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE LAND
(Josh. 13:1-21:45)
Earlier in this present century, Major General O. O. Howard said of Joshua, “As regard to
his genius for military leadership, he had a great natural talent for organization„ for planning and
the strategic conduct of a campaign; for fighting a battle and keeping the love and confidence of
his soldiers, and with confidence in his own cause, never forgetting to lean on the arm of the
Lord in defeat or victory.” But if Joshua proved himself brilliant as a military leader, he did
something few retired military leaders have accomplished with any degree of success. He also
proved to be brilliant at the fine art of diplomacy when the battles were over. Joshua who
conquered the Promised Land with his army, was also the Joshua who successfully divided the
cities of that land to his army.
The specific territories assigned to each of the tribes was determined by the casting of
lots before the tabernacle. Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had already been given
their possession on the east bank of the Jordan by Moses. The nine and one-half remaining tribes
were assigned territory on the west bank. Joshua also designated six cities as “cities of refuge” as
Moses had commanded in the wilderness. Though the Levites were given no inheritance, forty-