Once again, an alliance was formed to attack the Israelites. We have Jabin, king of Hazor, who called for the muster of armies. Jobab, king of Madon, is mentioned by name, the cities of Shimron and Acshaph are listed, but beyond that the list of kings to whom the call went is pretty vague:
...to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; to the Cannanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. - Josh 11:2 -3
Once more, the kings banded together, turning what might have been a long, tedious series of battles into one big, high-stakes battle. If Israel won, all that territory would be under their control. If they lost...well, the kings of the '-Ites' were doing their best to see that Israel lost.
They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots -- a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. (v.4-5).
They had horses, they had chariots...Israel had foot soldiers. BUT...Israel had something else -- the support of the God of all heaven and earth.
The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots." - vs. 6
The whole army, slain...the advantage of horses and chariots totally nullified. Joshua and his army of roughly 600,000 foot soldiers, confident in God's promise, burst upon the larger, better equipped but not unified army in a surprise attack. Without time to hitch up the horses and prepare for battle, with allies they did not know well, the assembled army could not stand against the veterans of Israel.
...and the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. Joshua did to them as the LORD had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. (v. 8)
Jabin was put to the sword, and his city, Hazor, was burned to the ground. All the kings who were in the alliance were killed, all their cities emptied and plundered. But only Hazor, the principle city in the region, was burned.
As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. (v. 15)
Striking the first blow against that massive army was certainly not expected. But...the Israelites knew they had God's promise of victory. 'This time tomorrow...., ' God had said.
Have you ever stood on the brink of a challenge...a dreaded task...an ordeal to be endured...and thought 'This time tomorrow it will all be over.' Somehow, that makes the onerous event more endurable...knowing that the clock is running and that it will pass quickly. Focusing on the other side and not the event itself helps get through it.
Look at that massive, intimidating threat against you. Do you hear God say, 'Don't be afraid. I will hand it to you. This time tomorrow...or next week or next month or next year...the victory is yours.' Do as He commands in your situation and He will do the rest.
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