Yehoshua 12

1 2 Now these are the melachim HaAretz, which the Bnei Yisroel conquered, and possessed their land beyond the Yarden toward the rising of the shemesh, from the Arnon Valley unto Mt Chermon, and kol HaAravah on the east;

2 Sichon Melech HaEmori, who reigned in Cheshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the rim of the Arnon Valley, and from the middle of the valley, and from half Gil‘ad, even unto the River Yabbok, which is the border of the Bnei Ammon;

3 And from the Aravah to the Yam Kinnerot on the east, and unto the Yam HaAravah, even the Yam HaMelach [i.e., Dead Sea] on the east, derech to Beit-HaYeshimot; and from the south, below Ashdot-HaPisgah;

4 And the territory of Og Melech HaBashan, from the last of the Repha’im, that reigned at Ashtarot and at Edre’i,

5 And reigned in Mt Chermon, and in Salkhah, and in kol HaBashan, unto the border of the Geshuri and the Maachati, and half Gil‘ad, the border of Sichon Melech Cheshbon.

6 These did Moshe Eved Hashem and the Bnei Yisroel conquer; and Moshe Eved Hashem gave it for a possession unto the Reuveni, and the Gadi, and the half shevet HaMenasheh.

7 And these are the melachim of HaAretz which Yehoshua and the Bnei Yisroel conquered on the west side of the Yarden, from Baal-Gad in the valley of Levanon even unto the Har HeChalak, that goeth up to Seir; which Yehoshua gave unto the Shivtei Yisroel for a yerushah (possession) according to their divisions;

8 In the har, and in the Shefelah, and in the Aravah, and in the slopes, and in the midbar, and in the Negev; the Chivi, HaEmori, and the Kena’ani, the Perizzi, the Chivi, and the Yevusi;

9 The Melech Yericho, one; the Melech Ai, which is near Beit-El, one;

10 The Melech Yerushalayim, one; the Melech Chevron, one;

11 The Melech Yarmut, one; the Melech Lachish, one;

12 The Melech Eglon, one; the Melech Gezer, one;

13 The Melech Devir, one; the Melech Geder, one;

14 The Melech Chormah, one; the Melech Arad, one;

15 The Melech Livnah, one; the Melech Adullam, one;

16 The Melech Makkedah, one; the Melech Beit-El, one;

17 The Melech Tapuach, one; the Melech Chepher, one;

18 The Melech Aphek, one; the Melech Lasharon, one;

19 The Melech Madon, one; the Melech Chatzor, one;

20 The Melech Shimron-Meron, one; the Melech Achshaph, one;

21 The Melech Taanach, one; the Melech Megiddo, one;

22 The Melech Kedesh, one; the Melech Yokne’am in Carmel, one;

23 The Melech Dor in the heights of Dor, one; the Melech Goyim of Gilgal, one;

24 The Melech Tirtzah, one: kol melachim sheloshim v’echad.

Yehoshua 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

The two kings conquered by Moses. (1-6) The kings whom Joshua smote. (7-24)

Verses 1-6 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.

Verses 7-24 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, ( Deuteronomy 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 12

This chapter gives a short account of the conquests made by the Israelites, both in the times of Moses and of Joshua, and first of the kingdom of Sihon and Og on the other side Jordan, in the times of Moses, and which he gave to the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and which are particularly described, Jos 12:1-6; and then of the kings and the countries on this side Jordan whom Joshua conquered, Jos 12:7,8; and the names of the thirty one kingdoms are recited, that so it might be exactly known and observed what were afterwards divided among the tribes and possessed by them, Jos 12:9-24.