And when Jabin the king of Hazor heard [these things], he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts to go forth to war against Israel, that they might be utterly destroyed, that mercy should not be granted to them, but that they should be utterly destroyed, as the Lord said to Moses.