Story 63: The Conquest Of Northern Ca'naan; Ca'leb Wins Honor l

   following the victory of Is'ra-el over the united kings of southern Ca'naan, and the conquest of all their cities and towns, Josh'u-a turnt his attention to the vast mountain regions of northern Ca'naan and the plains of the Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an. Only one year was needed in the conquest of southern Ca'naan, beginning with the overthrow of Jer'i-cho, but it took about five years to subdue the northern part of the Promised Land. We come now to the close of this period.

   On the way the LORD appeared to Josh'u-a in a vision, saying, "Tomorrow about this time I will deliver this great army into thy hands." It was the largest and best equipped army which Is'ra-el had been forced to meet, and for the first time they were to encounter cavalrymen and war chariots. It was only natural for the Is'ra-el-ites to be alarmed by these new dangers, so the LORD said to Josh'u-a, "Thou shalt smite their horses and burn their chariots with fire."

   In the battle on the plains of the waters of Me'rom, Josh'u-a and his army made the attack.

Aided by the LORD they descended upon the mighty army of northern Ca'naan with such force that the allied heathen soldiers were completely defeated. Thousands were killed, their horses were slain, and the war chariots were either captured or destroyed. The army of Ca'naan was driven from the field, and forced to retreat eastward toward the coastal city of Zi'don, and into the valley of Miz'peh. Is'ra-el pursued the Ca'naan-ites, burning their cities and slaying their kings. The entire country was conquered, and the heathen people were destroyed.

   On his return from these victories Josh'u-a paused long enough to destroy the city of Ha'zor and to slay its king. Even the giant-like people of the city of He'bron and the mountains of Ju'dah, who had been so terrifying to ten of the twelve spies who were sent out forty years before, were conquered and slain. Except for a few scattered towns, the entire land was brought under conquest.

   When seven years of continuous warfare had finally brought these victories to Is'ra-el, the LORD said to Josh'u-a, "Thou art old and stricken in strength, and their remaineth yet many isolated sections of the country to be conquered. These shall be given to Is'ra-el under My providence and by My power. But before you reach the end of your way, it is to be your privilege and duty to divide the land of Ca'naan among the twelve tribes." So Josh'u-a allotted certain territory to each tribe, and set the boundary lines. Towns and areas yet unconquered within any of the allotted territories were to be taken by the tribes to which they had been assigned.