Joshua 12:1-12

Jos 12:1

Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:

 

The first six verses of this chapter gives the names of all the kings which were subdued by Israel under the leadership of Moses.  These were the conquests which were east of the Jordan as Israel crossed over under the leadership of Joshua because Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land.  From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. (Numbers 21:13)  The river Arnon was the border of Moab which was between the Moabites and Amorites.  The River Arnon to Mount Hermon was about 140 miles (226 KM) north.  And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon; (Deuteronomy 3:8)  The plains on the east was the plains of Moab.

 

Jos 12:2

Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

 

Sihon ruled from both Heshbon and Aroer because they were both royal cities and he had palaces in both places.  He ruled from the river Arnon to the river Jabbok which was about 50 miles (80 KM) north.  He had taken Heshbon from the Moabites.  For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. (Numbers 21:26)  Heshbon was about 13 miles (21 KM) north of the river Arnon.  Sihon refused to let the people of Israel pass through their land and had come out to fight against them.  And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. (Numbers 21:23) 

 

Jos 12:3

And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:

 

His kingdom was east of the Sea of Chinneroth which is the Sea of Galilee.  The salt sea was the Dead Sea.  Beth-jeshimoth was on the northeastern tip of the Dead Sea.  Ashdoth-pisgah was about 8 miles (13 KM) southeast of Beth-jeshimoth.  It refers to the springs found under Mt. Pisgah.

 

Jos 12:4

And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

 

As you recall Joshua had slain many of the Anakim but here are listed the remnant which lived under Og the king of Bashan.  After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei: (Deuteronomy 1:4)  Og had also refused the Israelites passage through his country and came out and fought against the Israelites.  Ashtaroth was about 22 miles (35 KM) east of the Sea of Chinneroth.  Edrei was 17 miles (27 KM) southeast of Ashtaroth.

 

Jos 12:5

And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

 

Salcah was about 70 miles (113 KM) east of the Sea of Chinneroth.  All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. (Deuteronomy 3:10)  The Geshurites and the Maachathites were located east of the Sea of Chinneroth just north of Bashan. Half Gilead belonged to Sihon and the other half belonged to Og.

 

Jos 12:6

Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

 

Reuben was located east of the Dead Sea.  Gad was located north of Reuben to the east of the Jordan River.  Manasseh was located north of Gad to the east of the Sea of Galilee.


Jos 12:7

And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

 

The rest of the chapter gives the names of the kings which Joshua had smitten on the western side of the Jordan.  Baal-gad was up north in the valley of Lebanon unto Mt. Seir which was in the south by the Dead Sea.  The distance between the two was about 160 miles (257 KM).

 

Jos 12:8

In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:

 

This verse describes the whole land of Canaan and the general battles which Joshua had to fight and the terrain in which he fought them.  It described the land from the northernmost to the southernmost conquests of Joshua. The six people groups listed here were the principal groups which fought against the Israelites when they came into the land. 

 

Jos 12:9

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

 

The King of Jericho was the first king to be taken in battle and then the king of Ai after Joshua had cleansed the camp of Israel from Achan’s sin.  Bethel was considered a neighbor city to Ai because of its proximity.

 

Jos 12:10

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

 

The king of Jerusalem whose name was Adonizedek was one of the five kings which Joshua hung.  Then King Hoham of Hebron was defeated and was one of the five kings which Joshua hung.

 

Jos 12:11

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

 

Then there was King Piram of Jarmuth and King Japhia of Lachish.  These were also two of the five kings which were hung when they made an alliance to try and destroy Israel.

 

Jos 12:12

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

 

The King of Eglon whose names was Debir was also one of the kings which were hung in their attempted alliance against Joshua.  Then King Horam of Gezer had come and attempted to help King Japhia of Lachish but was killed by Joshua in his attempt to aid him.

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