Joshua 11:1-15, Hazor and the Northern Conquest

Hazor was the leading city of the northern federation (as Jerusalem had been in the south).  Today, Hazor is the largest “Tel” in Israel, and one of three archaeological sites (with Megiddo and Beersheba) designated “World Heritage Sites” by UNESCO.  Solomonic style gates have been found at Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer, which accords with 1 Kings 9:15 that Solomon fortified those three cities. 

Hazor was at its historically largest size in the time of the Canaanites.  We have included photos of Tel Hazor, including two pictures of the water system.  The last photo with Mt. Herman in the distance tells why Hazor was important.  It’s not just the beautiful view; it’s the view that enabled the city to be secure.  Hazor sat in what today is the Hula Valley, and was then and now an extremely prosperous land. 

Archaeology indicates that the Canaanite era came to an end with a huge fire.  Joshua 11:13 tells about that fire, set by Joshua.  A look at the accompanying map of the Northern Conquest will be helpful as we make a few additional comments about the geography.

·       11:1-3: Find these “kingdoms” (city/states) on the map and you will see that this confederation included all of the norther part of Canaan.  Dor and Achsaph are on the Mediterranean; the Chinneroth refers to the Galilee area south of Hazor; the “waters of Merom” (v5) refer to Lake Hula, the smaller lake north of Galilee. 

·       Many connect Mizpah, which means “watchtower,” with modern Metula, which means “lookout.”  Metula is the northernmost city of Israel today.  We have included photos from the Dado Lookout at Metula, a favorite spot for views of the Hula Valley south, the Iyyon valley to the north in Lebanon, and Mt. Hermon to the east.

Joshua 11:21-22 has an interesting bit of information.  Under Joshua, Israel cut off the Anakim (giants).  Remember how impressed the ten spies were with the giants in the land when Israel refused to trust God and enter the land.  So Joshua cut them off from the land, EXCEPT for the Philistine area, particularly Gath, Gaza and Ashdod.  That makes sense.  Ever hear of a giant named Goliath? of Gath?

Lastly, Josh. 11:23 says Joshua took the whole land.  Chapter 12 lists the kings that were defeated and whose land was taken, under Moses (12:1-6) and Joshua (12:7-24).  It is helpful to understand that there were still plenty of Canaanites in the land, and areas that had not yet been brought under submission to Israel.  As we know, Israel had no centralized government for hundreds of years after Joshua.  The book of Judges will tell us a lot about life after Joshua.  But the major work was done; the individual tribes would be responsible to continue to remove the Canaanites.

Map of Joshua's Northern Campaign

Tel Hazor

Water system at Tel Hazor

Water system at Tel Hazor

View from Tel Hazor, across the Hula Valley,
to Mt. Herman in the distance.

Metula looking east toward Mt. Hermon

Metula looking south to the Hula Valley