約書亞記：第 11 章
- 馬克牧師
- Jan 11
- 9 min read
Updated: Jan 19
約書亞擊敗耶賓和他的盟國
1 夏瑣王耶賓聽見這事，就打發人去見瑪頓王約巴、伸崙王、押煞王， 2與北方山地、基尼烈南邊的亞拉巴高原，並西邊多珥山岡的諸王； 3又去見東方和西方的迦南人，與山地的亞摩利人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人，並黑門山根米斯巴地的希未人。 4這些王和他們的眾軍都出來，人數多如海邊的沙，並有許多馬匹車輛。 5這諸王會合，來到米倫水邊，一同安營，要與以色列人爭戰。
6耶和華對約書亞說：「你不要因他們懼怕。明日這時，我必將他們交付以色列人全然殺了。你要砍斷他們馬的蹄筋，用火焚燒他們的車輛。」 7於是約書亞率領一切兵丁，在米倫水邊突然向前攻打他們。 8耶和華將他們交在以色列人手裏，以色列人就擊殺他們，追趕他們到西頓大城，到米斯利弗‧瑪音，直到東邊米斯巴的平原，將他們擊殺，沒有留下一個。 9約書亞就照耶和華所吩咐他的去行，砍斷他們馬的蹄筋，用火焚燒他們的車輛。
10當時，約書亞轉回奪了夏瑣，用刀擊殺夏瑣王。（素來夏瑣在這諸國中是為首的。） 11以色列人用刀擊殺城中的人口，將他們盡行殺滅；凡有氣息的沒有留下一個。約書亞又用火焚燒夏瑣。 12約書亞奪了這些王的一切城邑，擒獲其中的諸王，用刀擊殺他們，將他們盡行殺滅，正如耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐的。 13至於造在山岡上的城，除了夏瑣以外，以色列人都沒有焚燒。約書亞只將夏瑣焚燒了。 14那些城邑所有的財物和牲畜，以色列人都取為自己的掠物；惟有一切人口都用刀擊殺，直到殺盡；凡有氣息的沒有留下一個。 15耶和華怎樣吩咐他僕人摩西，摩西就照樣吩咐約書亞，約書亞也照樣行。凡耶和華所吩咐摩西的，約書亞沒有一件懈怠不行的。
約書亞佔領的土地
16 約書亞奪了那全地，就是山地、一帶南地、歌珊全地、高原、亞拉巴、以色列的山地，和山下的高原。 17從上西珥的哈拉山，直到黑門山下黎巴嫩平原的巴力‧迦得，並且擒獲那些地的諸王，將他們殺死。 18約書亞和這諸王爭戰了許多年日。 19除了基遍的希未人之外，沒有一城與以色列人講和的，都是以色列人爭戰奪來的。 20因為耶和華的意思是要使他們心裏剛硬，來與以色列人爭戰，好叫他們盡被殺滅，不蒙憐憫，正如耶和華所吩咐摩西的。
21當時約書亞來到，將住山地、希伯崙、底璧、亞拿伯、猶大山地、以色列山地所有的亞衲族人剪除了。約書亞將他們和他們的城邑盡都毀滅。 22在以色列人的地沒有留下一個亞衲族人，只在迦薩、迦特，和亞實突有留下的。 23這樣，約書亞照着耶和華所吩咐摩西的一切話奪了那全地，就按着以色列支派的宗族將地分給他們為業。於是國中太平，沒有爭戰了。
各位弟兄姊妹平安！今天我們來到了《約書亞記》第11章的大決戰。這場戰役比昨天第10章的戰爭規模更大，敵人更為龐大且團結。
故事一開始，我們看到夏瑣王耶賓聽到了以色列人征服周圍民族的消息。他意識到以色列人的威脅，不再像前幾場戰役那樣只是幾個城邦的聯盟，而是動員了整個迦南地的勢力。他聯合了所有的高原地區的王、山地裡的王，以及迦南地各地的所有王，一同聯軍對抗以色列人。
這次的聯軍不僅規模龐大，還裝備齊全。經文描述，他們的人數多如海邊的沙，馬匹和戰車的數量更是驚人。這場大規模的軍事集結，匯聚了當時迦南地區幾乎所有的王國和部隊。他們齊心合力，為的是要共同對抗這群來自曠野的以色列人。
以色列人原本是一個外來的小國，一個曾經在埃及為奴、毫無實力的民族。但在短短的時間內，他們依靠上帝的同在和幫助，從一個不起眼的民族，震動了整個迦南地，讓當地所有的王國不得不聯合起來對抗他們。
這場戰爭雖然規模巨大，但《約書亞記》僅僅用了兩節經文來描述：「耶和華將他們交在以色列人手裡。」
這麼大的戰役，經文沒有詳細記載具體的戰鬥過程或策略，約書亞書的焦點並不在於戰爭的細節，而是將一切榮耀歸給上帝，強調這場勝利完全來自上帝的手。
第18節提到一個很重要的事實：「約書亞和諸王征戰了許多年日。」 雖然經文中看似連續描述了一場接一場的勝利，但實際上，這些戰爭並不是在短時間內完成的，而是經歷了許多年的努力。以色列人一步步攻城略地，將迦南地逐漸納入掌控，這是長期持久戰的結果，而非一蹴而就。
這裡還有一個關鍵點：「除了基遍的希未人之外，沒有一座城與以色列人講和。」 除了基遍人因為看清形式，選擇與以色列講和，保全了自己的性命和家園，其他的迦南城邦選擇了抗拒和爭戰，最終導致滅亡。這表明，基遍人的選擇是極具智慧的，也反映了其他迦南民族的頑固和對上帝能力的藐視。
第11章的最後一節：「約書亞照著耶和華吩咐摩西的一切話奪了那權地，於是國中太平，沒有爭戰了。」這句話為以色列在迦南地的大規模征戰畫上了一個階段性的句號。
總結來看，這場「平定天下」的大勝雖然記載簡短，但其背後的屬靈意義極為深刻：
榮耀歸於上帝：勝利的關鍵不在於以色列人的軍事能力，而在於上帝的帶領和應許的實現。
持久的信心與順服：征服不是一蹴而就
雖然我們看到約書亞的征戰記錄顯得迅速且高效，但經文中提到「約書亞和諸王征戰了許多年日」，這表明過程需要耐心與堅持。上帝的計劃有祂的時間表，我們需要學習像約書亞一樣，耐心等候和持續努力，而不是期望立刻看到結果。
3. 上帝的爭戰需要我們的參與上帝確實為以色列爭戰，從天上降下冰雹，讓日月停住，但祂同時也要求約書亞和以色列軍隊全力以赴參與其中。同樣地，我們在屬靈生命中的得勝，不僅僅是仰望上帝的作為，也需要我們的行動和付出。
今天的靈性反思
在你的生命中，有沒有什麼事情是你正在期待上帝為你爭戰的？這可能是人際關係的修復、身體健康的恢復、工作上的突破，或者屬靈生命的成長。你是否願意耐心等候，並且積極地按照上帝的指引去行動，就像約書亞一樣？接下來，我們將進入《約書亞記》第12章。在進入新的一章之前，我先嘗試回答一個大家可能心中都有的問題：「上帝的旨意真的是要將迦南地的居民全部殲滅嗎？」這是一個帶有挑戰性且值得深入思考的問題。我們將在下一講中詳細探討這一主題。感謝各位的聆聽，願上帝祝福大家，保守你們在新的一周中滿有力量與平安。
Northern Kings Defeated
1When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, 2and 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; 3to the Canaanites 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. 4They 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. 5All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
6The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”
7So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8and 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. 9Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.
10At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) 11Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.
12Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. 13Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 14The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. 15As 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.
16So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. 18Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20For 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.
21At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.
23So 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.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace be with you! Today, we come to Joshua Chapter 11, which records a monumental battle—the largest conflict thus far, surpassing even the scale of the events in Chapter 10. The enemy coalition is more formidable and unified than ever.
At the beginning of the story, we see Jabin, king of Hazor, alarmed by Israel's conquests of surrounding nations. Realizing the threat posed by Israel, he assembles not just a few city-states but mobilizes forces from across Canaan. He unites the kings of the highlands, the hill country, and other regions of Canaan to form a massive alliance against Israel.This coalition is not only vast in numbers but also well-equipped. The text describes their forces as numerous as the sands on the seashore, with an impressive array of horses and chariots. This formidable military alliance represents the combined strength of Canaan, united to resist the seemingly unstoppable Israelites.Initially, Israel was a small, foreign nation—a people who had been enslaved in Egypt with no military power to speak of. Yet, through God’s presence and help, they rose from obscurity to become a nation that shook the entire region, forcing the kingdoms of Canaan to band together against them.
Although this battle was immense in scope, Joshua 11 succinctly describes it in just two verses: “The LORD gave them into the hand of Israel.”Despite the massive scale of the conflict, the text offers no detailed accounts of battle strategies or tactics. Instead, the focus is on giving all the glory to God, emphasizing that this victory came entirely from Him.
Key Insights from the Text
1. Victory is God's Work The brief description of such a large-scale battle underscores that the victory was not Israel’s doing but the work of God. It serves as a reminder to give all glory to Him in our successes.
2. Perseverance and Patience Verse 18 states that “Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time.” While the account may seem like a rapid sequence of conquests, the reality was that these victories were achieved over many years. This highlights the need for perseverance and patience in following God’s plan, as His timing is often different from ours.
3. God’s Battles Require Our Participation God indeed fought for Israel, intervening supernaturally by sending hailstones and halting the sun and moon. However, He still required Joshua and the Israelites to fight with all their might. Similarly, in our spiritual battles, while we rely on God’s power, we are also called to actively participate and exert effort.
Spiritual Reflection for TodayIn your life, is there something you are waiting for God to fight on your behalf? It could be the restoration of a relationship, recovery from illness, a breakthrough at work, or growth in your spiritual journey. Are you willing to be patient, trust God’s timing, and actively follow His guidance, just as Joshua did?As we transition into
Joshua Chapter 12, we will take a moment to address a challenging question many of you may have pondered: “Was it truly God’s will to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan?” This is a deeply thought-provoking topic that deserves careful exploration.
We will dive into this question in our next session. Thank you for listening, and may God bless you and guide you with strength and peace in the week ahead.
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