# Day 71

# The War for Canaan

Joshua 10:1–11:23

The largest city near Israel’s camp was Jerusalem. There the people worshiped idols which are false gods. The king of Jerusalem joined with four nearby cities to destroy Gibeon. “They made peace with our enemy, Israel,” he said.

Soon the people of Gibeon heard this. They went to Joshua and said, “Come quickly and help us. Hurry before it is too late. The whole country is coming to kill us.”

Joshua moved swiftly. He called out his army. All night they marched up the mountains. Suddenly, they came upon the five kings at Bethhoron. There they fought a great battle. The enemy panicked, and the Lord rained hailstones on their armies.

Israel destroyed the armies of the five kings. Then Joshua turned north to fight the kings there. At the lake of Merom, he defeated the northern kings.

There were six great marches and six battles in Israel’s war for Canaan. Three were east of the Jordan River while Moses was alive. Joshua won the battles of Jericho, Bethhoron, and Merom west of the river. But many years passed before Israel won all the land.

Questions: What did the people of Jerusalem worship? Why did Jerusalem want to attack Gibeon?