Joshua12
New International Version
1These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah:
2Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead.
3He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.
4And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei.
5He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maakah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
6Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession.
7Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions.
8The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev. These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These were the kings:
9the king of Jericho onethe king of Ai (near Bethel) one
10the king of Jerusalem onethe king of Hebron one
11the king of Jarmuth onethe king of Lachish one
12the king of Eglon onethe king of Gezer one
13the king of Debir onethe king of Geder one
14the king of Hormah onethe king of Arad one
15the king of Libnah onethe king of Adullam one
16the king of Makkedah onethe king of Bethel one
17the king of Tappuah onethe king of Hepher one
18the king of Aphek onethe king of Lasharon one
19the king of Madon onethe king of Hazor one
20the king of Shimron Meron onethe king of Akshaph one
21the king of Taanach onethe king of Megiddo one
22the king of Kedesh onethe king of Jokneam in Carmel one
23the king of Dor (in Naphoth Dor) onethe king of Goyim in Gilgal one
24the king of Tirzah onethirty-one kings in all.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 12.
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.
Key Words
מֶלֶךְ: a king
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
נָכָה: to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
יָרַשׁ: to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin
עֵבֶר: properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the Jordan; ususally meaning the east)
יַרְדֵּן: Jarden, the principal river of Palestine
נַחַל: a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
אַרְנוֹן: the Arnon, a river east of the Jordan, also its territory
Cross References
Joshua 12Records the initial defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites, boundary at the river Arnon.
Supported by JFB
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
Elaborates on Moses' division of the Transjordan lands to the two and a half tribes.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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
Names the southern kings (Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish) defeated by Joshua.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Names the northern kings (Madon, Hazor, Shimron, Achshaph) who coalesced against Joshua.
Supported by Matthew Poole