John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And when all those kings were met together , etc.] At some certain place, which Jabin had appointed: they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom : Josephus says it was at Berotha; perhaps it should be Merotha, a city of upper Galilee, not far from Cedesa, the same he elsewhere calls Meroth, These waters are the same with the lake Samachonitis, on which Hazor was situated; so that it was near Jabin where the rendezvous was. This lake is thought to have its name from the Arabic word “Samacha”, which signifies high, as Merom does in Hebrew. It was, as Josephus says thirty furlongs broad, and sixty long, and its waters clayish. Jerom says f227 , in his time there was here a village called Merrus, twelve miles from the city Sebaste by Dothaim: here the kings and their armies met to fight against Israel ; so that they were the aggressors, which made the war still more lawful.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The wonders God wrought for the Israelites were to encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the war against Satan's kingdom carried on by preaching the gospel, was at first forwarded by miracles but being fully proved to be of God, we are now left to the Divin grace in the usual course, in the use of the sword of the Spirit. God encouraged Joshua. Fresh dangers and difficulties make it necessary to seek fresh supports from the word of God, which we have nigh unto u for use in every time of need. God proportions our trials to ou strength, and our strength to our trials. Joshua's obedience in destroying the horses and chariots, shows his self-denial in complianc with God's command. The possession of things on which the carnal hear is prone to depend, is hurtful to the life of faith, and the walk with God; therefore it is better to be without worldly advantages, than to have the soul endangered by them. (Jos 11:10-14)
Original Hebrew ויועדו3259 כל3605 המלכים4428 האלה428 ויבאו935 ויחנו2583 יחדו3162 אל413 מי4325 מרום4792 להלחם3898 עם5973 ישׂראל׃3478
