What happensPermalink
The northern kingdoms ally against Israel, but God makes Israel victorious, and Israel’s counterattack results in the conquest of “the whole land” of Canaan.
Why it mattersPermalink
God provokes the inhabitants of Canaan not to pursue peace with Israel (except Gibeon) so that Israel can defeat them and conquer their territory, giving God’s chosen people God’s chosen land. The campaign likely took years despite its short description.
Key versePermalink
For it was the Lord’s doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses.