Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 11:7
So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
7. So Joshua came ] With the suddenness and rapidity which characterized all his movements, he did not wait for the northern confederacy to attack him at Gilgal, but marched against them with the intention of coming upon them before their army could be got into order.
against them suddenly ] He fell upon them, like a thunderbolt, so the word is to be literally understood as in the corresponding passage in Job 1:15, “the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away.” Without a word of warning he burst upon them in the mountain slopes of the plain, before they had time to rally on the level ground.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Suddenly – As before, at Gibeon Jos 10:9, so now Joshua anticipates his enemies. Taken by surprise, and hemmed in between the mountains and the lake, the chariots and horses would have no time to deploy and no room to act effectively; and thus, in all probability, the unwieldy host of the Canaanites fell at once into hopeless confusion.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. By the waters of Merom suddenly] Joshua, being apprised of this grand confederation, lost no time, but marched to meet them; and before they could have supposed him at hand, fell suddenly upon them, and put them to the rout.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When they least expected them, intending there to refresh, and prepare, and order themselves for the offensive war which they designed.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them,…. Being encouraged by the Lord, they set out with Joshua at the head of them, to fight the kings and their forces. It is highly probable that these were not the whole body of armed men in the camp of Israel, but a select company Joshua took of them, and who would be able to make quicker marches on this expedition:
by the waters of Merom suddenly; the Targum is,
“they lay by the waters of Merom;”
as they were thoughtless and careless, and not on their guard, Joshua and his forces came to them suddenly, unawares, and they not provided for them:
and they fell upon them; at once, which threw them into disorder and confusion.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) Suddenly.On this occasion, as in the former campaign which began at Gibeon, Joshua surprised his adversaries by the rapidity of his movements.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Suddenly Joshua’s victories were achieved by bold and unexpected strokes, appalling and disorganizing the foe by the suddenness of his assault. The Septuagint reads that he fell upon them on the “mountain slopes,” or in the hilly region, before they could deploy upon the plain by the lake and use their war chariots to any good purpose. These would only serve to obstruct their movements and impede their flight when attacked among the hills.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom, suddenly, and fell on them.’
The huge army gathered together, were probably still arranging tactics and leadership, not realising how close the Israelites were, when without warning the Israelite men of war, whom their scouts had probably told them were safely well out of the way, suddenly emerged and swept down on them catching them totally unawares. Their horses and chariots were unready and they panicked. They knew the fearsome reputation of these barbarians, and that they were seemingly invincible, with a God Who could do wonderful things. The alliance was a hotchpotch of armies, without unity, and may well have begun to fight each other, for in the panic they would be strangers to each other. Whatever the situation their unpreparedness resulted in panic and flight.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
If we read these wars with a spiritual eye, (and unless we do this, the mere historical relation will only leave us where it found us) we shall discover much instruction couched under those commands of our God, in the universal destruction of the foe, and all that appertaineth to him. The holy war admits of no accommodation. Our eye cannot spare, neither can we pity, whatever is in enmity with our God, or our own souls. The followers of our Joshua must covet none of the chariots, nor horses of the enemy. That is a sweet testimony the Holy Ghost hath given the church, (the Lord grant that both Writer and Reader may feel the same influence) when he saith that the man of God esteemed the very reproach of Christ, greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt. Heb 11:26 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 11:7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
Ver. 7. By the waters of Merom suddenly. ] Like a lightbolt. Bajazet, for like cause, was surnamed Gilderun, or lightning: and of two brave Romans Lucan saith that they were
“ duo fulmina belli. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
suddenly: Jos 10:9, 1Th 5:2, 1Th 5:3
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 11:7. Joshua came against them When they least expected him, intending there to refresh, and prepare, and order themselves for the offensive war which they designed.