Joshua 12ASV
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Joshua12

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising, from the valley of the Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward:

2Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;

3and the Arabah unto the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and unto the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:

4and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

5and ruled in mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

6Moses the servant of Jehovah and the children of Israel smote them: and Moses the servant of Jehovah gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

7And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel smote beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir (and Joshua gave it unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

8in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite):

9the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth-el, one;

10the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

11the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

12the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

13the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;

14the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

15the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;

16the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Beth-el, one;

17the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;

18the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lassharon, one;

19the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;

20the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;

21the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;

22the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

23the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;

24the king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 12.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The two kings conquered by Moses. (1–6). The kings whom Joshua smote. (7–24).

vv1-6

Fresh mercies must not drown the remembrance of former mercies, nor must the glory of the present instruments of good to the church diminish the just honour of those who went before them, since God is the same who wrought by both. Moses gave to one part of Israel a very rich and fruitful country, but it was on the outside of Jordan. Joshua gave to all Israel the holy land, within Jordan. So the law has given to some few of God's spiritual Israel worldly blessings, earnests of good things to come; but our Lord Jesus, the true Joshua, provided for all the children of promise spiritual blessings, and the heavenly Canaan.

vv7-24

We have here the limits of the country Joshua conquered. A list is given of the kings subdued by Israel: thirty-one in all. This shows how fruitful Canaan then was, in which so many chose to throng together. This was the land God appointed for Israel; yet in our day it is one of the most barren and unprofitable countries in the world. Such is the effect of the curse it lies under, since its possessors rejected Christ and his gospel, as was foretold by Moses, De 29:23. The vengeance of a righteous God, inflicted on all these kings and their subjects, for their wickedness, should make us dread and hate sin. The fruitful land bestowed on his chosen people, should fill our hearts with hope and confidence in his mercy, and with humble gratitude.

Cross References

Joshua 12
v1Numbers 21:24thematic

Records the initial defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites, boundary at the river Arnon.

Supported by JFB

v2Psalms 135:11thematic

Celebrates Yahweh's victory over Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan.

Supported by Matthew Henry

The original victory of Israel under Moses over Og, the giant king of Bashan.

Supported by JFB

Details Og as the remnant of the giants, specifically referencing his massive iron bedstead.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Moses' command to cross the river Arnon to possess the land of Sihon.

Supported by JFB

v6Joshua 13:8-32thematic

Elaborates on Moses' division of the Transjordan lands to the two and a half tribes.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Joshua 11:17thematic

Identical geographic markers (Baal-gad to mount Halak) defining the boundaries of Joshua's conquests.

Supported by JFB

Parallels the geographic description of the sea of Chinnereth down to the Salt Sea.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Joshua 10:3thematic

Names the southern kings (Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish) defeated by Joshua.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v19Joshua 11:1thematic

Names the northern kings (Madon, Hazor, Shimron, Achshaph) who coalesced against Joshua.

Supported by Matthew Poole