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Joshua 12

Joshua12

World English Bible · Public Domain

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1 Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward:

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

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

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

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

6 Moses the servant of Yahweh and the children of Israel struck them. Moses the servant of Yahweh gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

7 These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel struck beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir. Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

8 in 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

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

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

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

20 the king of Shimron Meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;

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

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

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

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

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Joshua 12

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 12. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

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