Joshua Chapter 12

List of Kings Defeated by Moses

1Now 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: 2Sihon 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; 3And 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 Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah: 4And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5And 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. 6Them 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.

List of Kings Defeated by Joshua

7And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad 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; 8In 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: 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 Shimronmeron, 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 of Carmel, one; 23The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one; 24The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Kings Defeated East of the Jordan

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.

The Kings Defeated West of the Jordan

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.

The Kings Defeated East of the Jordan

1 Now these are the kings of the land whom the Israelites struck down and whose lands they took beyond the Jordan to the east, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, including all the Arabah eastward:

2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead, 3 as well as the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth a to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea b), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

4 And Og king of Bashan, c one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei. 5 He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

6 Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites had struck them down and given their land as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

The Kings Defeated West of the Jordan

7 And these are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered beyond the Jordan to the west, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (according to the allotments to the tribes of Israel, Joshua gave them as an inheritance 8 the hill country, the foothills, d the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev—the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites):

9 the king of Jericho, one;

the king of Ai, which is near 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 Lasharon, 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 Naphath-dor, e one;

the king of Goiim in Gilgal, f one;

24 and the king of Tirzah, one.

So there were thirty-one kings in all.

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the Sea of Galilee
3 b That is, the Dead Sea
4 c LXX; Hebrew And the territory of Og king of Bashan
8 d Hebrew Shephelah  or lowlands ; that is, the western foothills of Judea
23 e Or in the heights of Dor ; Naphath-dor  is a variant of Naphoth-dor ; see Joshua 11:2.
23 f Hebrew; LXX Goyim in Galilee

List of Kings Defeated by Moses

1And these are kings of the land whom the sons of Israel have smitten, and possess their land, beyond the Jordan, at the sun-rising, from the brook Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain eastward. 2Sihon, king of the Amorite, who is dwelling in Heshbon, ruling from Aroer which is on the border of the brook Arnon, and the middle of the brook, and half of Gilead, and unto Jabok the brook, the border of the Bene-Ammon; 3And the plain unto the sea of Chinneroth eastward, and unto the sea of the plain (the salt sea) eastward, the way to Beth-Jeshimoth, and from the south under the springs of Pisgah. 4And the border of Og king of Bashan (of the remnant of the Rephaim), who is dwelling in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, 5and ruling in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurite, and the Maachathite, and the half of Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6Moses, servant of Jehovah, and the sons of Israel have smitten them, and Moses, servant of Jehovah, giveth it -- a possession to the Reubenite, and to the Gadite, and to the half of the tribe of Manasseh.

List of Kings Defeated by Joshua

7And these are kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel have smitten beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal-Gad, in the valley of Lebanon, and unto the mount of Halak, which is going up to Seir; and Joshua giveth it to the tribes of Israel -- a possession according to their divisions; 8in the hill-country, and in the low country, and in the plain, and in the springs, 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 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 Mekkedah, 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 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 of Carmel, one; 23The king of Dor, at the elevation of Dor, one; The king of the Goyim of Gilgal, one; 24The king of Tirzah, one; all the kings are thirty and one.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Joshua 12?

1.1Introduction to Joshua 12

1.2Context of Joshua 12

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.5Joshua 12 Unique Insights

1.6Joshua 12 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Joshua 12 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Joshua 12 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Joshua 12?

Introduction to Joshua 12

Joshua 12 serves as a pivotal chapter in the book of Joshua, presenting a comprehensive summary of Israel’s military victories under both Moses and Joshua. This chapter functions as a military scorecard, methodically cataloging the defeated kings and conquered territories both east and west of the Jordan River. While it may initially appear as a mere historical record, this chapter carries profound theological significance, demonstrating God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to give the land to His people.

The chapter’s meticulous documentation of victories serves as a testament to יהוה’s sovereign power and His commitment to fulfilling the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It stands as a permanent memorial to God’s faithfulness and Israel’s obedience under faithful leadership.

Context of Joshua 12

Within the immediate context of the Book of Joshua, chapter 12 serves as a strategic transition point. It concludes the first major section of the book (chapters 1-12), which focuses on the military conquest of Canaan, before transitioning to the distribution of the land among the tribes (chapters 13-21). This placement is significant as it provides a comprehensive summary of all the victories God granted to Israel, creating a natural pause in the narrative to reflect on God’s faithfulness before moving forward with the division of the land.

In the broader biblical narrative, Joshua 12 connects several significant theological threads. It serves as the fulfillment of promises made in the Torah, particularly in Deuteronomy 7:1-2 and Deuteronomy 31:3-5, where God promised to deliver the Canaanite kings into Israel’s hands. The chapter also foreshadows future biblical themes of God’s sovereignty over nations and kings, which resurfaces in books like Daniel and Revelation.

Moreover, this chapter bridges the gap between the wilderness wanderings and the settled life in the Promised Land, demonstrating how God’s promises to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21 were being fulfilled through military conquest. It stands as a powerful reminder that God’s promises, though they may take generations to fulfill, are absolutely certain.

Ancient Key Word Study

מְלָכִים (melakim) – “kings”: This Hebrew word appears repeatedly throughout the chapter, emphasizing divine sovereignty over human authority. These kings represented the highest human authority in their regions, yet they fell before Israel’s God, demonstrating His supreme authority over all earthly powers.
נָכָה (nakah) – “struck down”: This verb, used frequently in the chapter, carries the connotation of a decisive victory rather than merely winning a battle. It implies complete defeat and often connects to divine judgment in biblical usage.
יָרַשׁ (yarash) – “took possession”: This key term goes beyond mere conquest to indicate legitimate inheritance and permanent possession, connecting to God’s covenant promises about the land.
גְּבוּל (gevul) – “territory/border”: This word emphasizes the precise nature of God’s promises, showing that He had specific boundaries in mind for each tribe’s inheritance.
עֵבֶר (ever) – “side/region”: Used to distinguish between the territories east and west of the Jordan, this term helps organize Israel’s conquests geographically and historically.
שִׁלְטוֹן (shilton) – “dominion”: This term emphasizes the complete transfer of authority from the Canaanite kings to Israel, representing God’s sovereign redistribution of power.
אֶרֶץ (eretz) – “land”: This fundamental term carries deep theological significance, connecting to God’s original promise to Abraham and the concept of divine inheritance.
נַחֲלָה (nachalah) – “inheritance”: Though not explicitly used in this chapter, this concept underlies the entire listing, pointing to God’s role as the ultimate land-owner who distributes territory to His people.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 1’s opening statement “Now these are the kings…” (וְאֵלֶּה מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ) uses a formulaic introduction similar to genealogical records, suggesting this chapter serves as an official historical document. The choice of וְאֵלֶּה (ve’eleh) rather than אֵלֶּה (eleh) alone indicates continuation from previous narratives rather than a completely new beginning.
The distinction between Moses’ conquests (verses 1-6) and Joshua’s victories (verses 7-24) emphasizes continuity in leadership while highlighting the unique contributions of each leader. The parallel structure validates Joshua’s leadership as a legitimate continuation of Moses’ authority.
The specific counting of thirty-one kings in verse 24 uses the Hebrew construction אֶחָד וּשְׁלשִׁים, emphasizing both the completeness of the conquest and its divinely ordained nature, as numbers in Hebrew often carry symbolic significance.
The repetitive phrase “king of [city name], one” throughout verses 9-24 follows a formal administrative style, suggesting this list served as an official record. The Hebrew echad (“one”) after each king creates a rhythmic pattern that would aid memorization and public recitation.
The geographical organization of the conquered territories moves from south to north, mirroring the actual progression of the conquest and demonstrating strategic military planning under divine guidance.
The inclusion of both Transjordan (east) and Cisjordan (west) conquests presents a complete picture of Israel’s inheritance, using the Jordan River as a natural boundary marker while emphasizing the unity of all twelve tribes despite their geographical separation.
The precise territorial descriptions use boundary markers and geographical features that would have been immediately recognizable to the original audience, showing the text’s historical reliability and practical usefulness for land administration.

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Joshua 12 Unique Insights

The chapter’s systematic listing of defeated kings carries profound theological significance in ancient Near Eastern context. In the ancient world, victory lists were commonly used to glorify the might of human kings and their gods. However, Joshua 12 subverts this convention by attributing all victories to יהוה while presenting both Moses and Joshua as servants rather than sovereign conquerors. This reflects the unique monotheistic worldview of ancient Israel among its polytheistic neighbors.

The Midrash Rabbah provides an interesting insight regarding the number thirty-one (the total kings defeated). It connects this to the thirty-one times the phrase “God said” appears in the creation narrative, suggesting that just as God spoke the world into existence, He also spoke judgment upon these kings who had corrupted His creation. While this interpretation comes from a later period, it reflects the Jewish understanding of God’s sovereign control over both creation and history.

The early rabbinical commentary Mechilta draws a parallel between these victories and the promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21, noting how each defeated king represented the removal of an obstacle to Israel’s inheritance. This connects to the Messianic hope, as these victories prefigure the ultimate victory of the Messiah over all earthly powers opposing God’s kingdom.

Archaeological discoveries have confirmed many of the geographical locations mentioned in this chapter, providing external validation of its historical accuracy. The academic field of biblical archaeology has uncovered evidence of destruction layers at many of these cities dating to the Late Bronze Age, corresponding to the biblical timeline of the conquest.

Joshua 12 Connections to Yeshua

The systematic defeat of Canaanite kings in Joshua 12 prefigures the Messiah’s ultimate victory over all earthly powers. Just as Joshua led Israel to victory over thirty-one kings, Yeshua leads His people to victory over all spiritual opposition. This connection is strengthened by the fact that “Joshua” (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ) and “Jesus” (Ἰησοῦς) are the same name in Hebrew and Greek respectively.

The chapter’s emphasis on complete victory and taking possession of the promised inheritance finds its spiritual fulfillment in the Messiah’s work. As Colossians 2:15 declares, “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” The methodical listing of defeated kings in Joshua 12 foreshadows this ultimate triumph of the Messiah over all opposing spiritual powers.

Moreover, the chapter’s focus on inheritance and possession of the land points to the spiritual inheritance believers receive in the Messiah, as described in Ephesians 1:11-14. The physical conquest under Joshua prefigures the spiritual victory and inheritance secured by Yeshua for His people.

Joshua 12 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous other biblical passages, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected themes. The detailed listing of conquered territories echoes God’s original promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21, demonstrating its fulfillment. The victories recorded here also connect to Moses’ prophecies in Deuteronomy 7:1-2 and 31:3-5.

The theme of God giving victory over kings foreshadows later biblical accounts, such as David’s conquests and the prophetic visions in Daniel. It ultimately points forward to the final victory described in Revelation 19:11-16, where the Messiah defeats all earthly powers opposing God’s kingdom.

The concept of inheritance developed here resonates throughout Scripture, from the original promise to Abraham through to the New Testament’s teaching about spiritual inheritance in Ephesians 1:11-14 and 1 Peter 1:3-4.

Joshua 12 Devotional

In our daily walk with God, Joshua 12 reminds us that victory comes through faithful obedience and trust in God’s promises. Just as Israel needed to physically engage in battle while trusting God for victory, we too must actively participate in spiritual warfare while relying on God’s power. The chapter challenges us to maintain detailed records of God’s faithfulness in our own lives, just as this historical record preserved testimony of God’s faithfulness to Israel.

This passage also teaches us about the importance of completing what God has called us to do. Joshua and the Israelites didn’t stop halfway through their conquest; they persevered until all thirty-one kings were defeated. This encourages us to persist in following God’s calling, even when the task seems overwhelming.

The systematic nature of the conquest reminds us that spiritual growth often requires methodical, persistent effort. Just as Israel had to defeat one king at a time, we too must deal with spiritual obstacles one at a time, trusting in God’s presence and power throughout the process.

Did You Know

Archaeological evidence has confirmed the existence of many cities mentioned in this chapter, with destruction layers dating to the Late Bronze Age (circa 1400-1200 BCE), corresponding to the biblical timeline of the conquest.
The listing of thirty-one kings in this chapter represents one of the most detailed ancient military records from this period in the Holy Land, providing valuable historical and geographical information about the region.
The term “king” (melech) in this context often referred to the ruler of a city-state rather than vast territories, explaining how so many kings could exist in a relatively small geographical area.
The organization of the conquest account moves geographically from south to north, matching the actual historical progression of Israel’s military campaigns.
The Jordan River, mentioned as a major boundary marker in this chapter, has shifted its course several times over history, but archaeological evidence helps identify the ancient route.
The Hebrew text uses a specific literary device called a “summary-expansion” pattern, first giving an overview (verses 1-6) and then providing detailed specifics (verses 7-24).
The systematic recording of victories in this chapter follows similar patterns found in other ancient Near Eastern military documents, particularly in Egyptian and Mesopotamian records.
Several of the cities mentioned in this chapter became important Israelite centers during the monarchy period, showing the long-term strategic significance of these conquests.
The geographical descriptions in this chapter have helped archaeologists locate several previously unknown ancient sites.

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