יהושע, פרק כ״ד, פסוק י״א

The crossing of the Jordan River and the initial confrontation at Jericho marked a profound turning point in the Israelites' conquest of the land. Reaching the city and passing over the river were events driven entirely by miracles [מלבי״ם]. Following these miracles, a massive conflict erupted involving the lords and rulers of Jericho [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ] alongside all seven Canaanite nations.

A historical complication arises regarding this confrontation. Earlier accounts indicate that Jericho was tightly sealed, with no active warfare taking place [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Commentators offer several ways to understand how these rulers fought. One approach suggests that Jericho served as a vital border city, acting as the protective lock of the entire land. Due to its strategic value and the fact that it was deeply cherished, each of the seven Canaanite nations held a stake in it. Consequently, the greatest warriors from all these nations gathered inside Jericho's walls to mount a defense against the Israelites [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

Another perspective proposes that the fighting did not occur within the city itself. The leaders of Jericho may have escaped before the city fell to warn the surrounding Canaanite kings, eventually joining them in a unified front [רד״ק]. Alternatively, the conflict refers to a later gathering of kings who united specifically to avenge the fall of Jericho [מלבי״ם]. In this view, the initial triumph was merely the first step that led to the subsequent victories over the rest of the nations [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The united front included all seven nations, but the involvement of the Girgashite people was unique. While they initially assembled for battle, they were overcome with terror and fled to Africa. Therefore, God fulfilled His promise to deliver the enemy into the hands of the Israelites in two ways. Most of the nations were defeated in direct combat, while the Girgashites were successfully removed from the path when God caused them to run away [מלבי״ם].