יהושע, פרק י״א, פסוק י״א

The conquest of Hazor stands out as a defining moment in the battles of the Israelites, marked by absolute destruction designed to send a powerful message to their enemies. The city and its inhabitants faced total annihilation, as the Israelites completely wiped out the population [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The nature of this destruction was exceptionally thorough. In other conflicts, a few individuals might have managed to slip away unnoticed by the Israelite forces. In Hazor, however, the eradication was so complete that not a single person escaped, even by mere accident or oversight [מלבי״ם].

Following the battle, Joshua took the extraordinary step of burning the city to the ground. Hazor was specifically singled out for this fiery destruction because its king was the mastermind who initiated the war, actively gathering other regional rulers to fight against the Israelites. Burning his capital city served as both a direct punishment and a severe warning for the future. The total ruin of Hazor was intended as a permanent deterrent. By making an example of the city, the Israelites ensured that if any future leader attempted to organize a similar coalition against them, the citizens of that leader's city would remember the ashes of Hazor and stop him out of fear for their own survival [אברבנאל].