Joshua 12NKJV
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Joshua12

New King James Version

1These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern Jordan plain:

2One king was Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, which is the border of the Ammonites,

3and the eastern Jordan plain from the Sea of Chinneroth as far as the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), the road to Beth Jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

4The other king was Og king of Bashan and his territory, who was of the remnant of the giants, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

5and reigned over Mount Hermon, over Salcah, over all Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

6These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

7And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered on this side of the Jordan, on the west, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon as far as Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions,

8in the mountain country, in the lowlands, in the Jordan plain, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the South—the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:

9the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, 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 Bethel, one;

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

18the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, 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 heights of Dor, one; the king of the people of Gilgal, one;

24the king of Tirzah, one—all the kings, thirty-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