The drama of battle continues for the Israelites. They may think that the worst was over with the defeat of Jericho and Ai, but now the word of their reputation has spread and it puts fear in the hearts of all the kings in the territory that has been promised to them by the Lord God. But just like when they left Egypt, if he has to harden the hearts of the people in charge, he will do so in order for his glory to be made manifest.
Of all the tribes in the land, only the Gibeonites saw the futility of going up against the chosen people of the Lord God. Instead of presenting a powerful force, they approach the Israelites poverty stricken and so get a promise of immunity.
Not so for the other tribes. The five kings on the western side of the Jordan band together thinking they can defeat Gibeon, the weak link in Israel's side, but they are all killed, their towns destroyed and no survivors are left. What a battle, as Israel pursues them, God sends giant hailstorms on the enemy and causes the sun to stand still so the carnage can continue. "The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!' - Joshua 10:13-14 NIV
When the Northern Kings hear of this, they band together in a dramatic show of force. But it's to no avail. They are destroyed by the same power that destroyed the other kings, "For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses." - Joshua 11:20 NIV
When it is all over, Joshua has defeated thirty-one kings. God's purpose will not be thwarted, and if he has to harden hearts to accomplish his plan, he will do so. Now finally, the Israelites have reached the end of their journey from captivity. They have reached their destiny. "So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war." - Joshua 11:23 NIV
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