יהושע, פרק י״א, פסוק א׳

Following the crushing victories of the Israelites in their earlier campaigns, a massive new military coalition begins to take shape in the north. News of the recent battles sends shockwaves throughout the region, prompting local leaders to rethink their strategy against the approaching threat. The reports reaching Jabin, the king of Hazor, contain two deeply unsettling pieces of information. First, the conquered cities were completely destroyed, leaving no survivors. Second, the defeated kings suffered immense humiliation when the Israelite commanders stepped on their necks. These shocking details drive the northern kings to unite [חומת אנך]. In response to the news, Jabin sends out an urgent call to the neighboring kings, urging them to join forces and prepare for war [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary goal behind forming this vast alliance is to avoid repeating the fatal errors of the kings who fought before them. By combining all their troops into one enormous army, they hope to avoid being defeated by the Israelites one by one [רלב״ג]. Beyond their sheer numbers, the northern kings place their confidence in advanced military technology, namely horses and chariots. They assume that the earlier kings were defeated simply because they lacked this heavy equipment, and they firmly believe these weapons will guarantee their survival. This mindset explains why God later commands Joshua to cripple the enemy's horses and burn their chariots. Destroying the advanced weaponry serves a dual purpose: it clearly shows that victory comes directly from God rather than military power, and it prevents the Israelites from taking the weapons as loot and eventually depending on them for their own security [אברבנאל].