Joshua 12 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
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:
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;
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 Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:
4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
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.
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.
Joshua 12 (Old Testament)
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 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;
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:
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;
Joshua 12 (Old Testament)
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 Shimronmeron, 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 of Carmel, one;
23 The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
24 The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| הִכָּה — hikkah | Verse 1 — “…whom the children of Israel struck…” | “To strike,” defeat. | Hikkah (“to strike”) signifies decisive military victory (“struck”). It reflects divine empowerment in battle. The term introduces the long list of conquered kings. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| יָרַשׁ — yarash | Verse 1 — “…and possessed their land.” | “To inherit,” take possession. | Yarash (“to inherit”) describes covenant receipt (“possess”). It frames conquest as fulfillment rather than aggression. The term reiterates Abrahamic promise. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| מֶלֶךְ — melech | Verse 2 — “Sihon king of the Amorites…” | “King,” ruler. | Melech (“king”) stresses political identity (“king”). It anchors territorial claims in identifiable leaders. The word adds historical concreteness to the narrative. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| גְּבוּל — gevul | Verse 2 — “…from Aroer… even to…” | “Boundary,” border. | Gevul (“border”) describes geographic demarcation (“boundary”). It organizes the conquest information with precision. The term underlines detailed fulfillment. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| מִזְרָח — mizrach | Verse 1 — “On the east side of the Jordan…” | “East,” sunrise. | Mizrach (“east”) conveys directional orientation (“east”). It situates Israel’s victories geographically. The word frames spatial understanding of territory. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| יָם — yam | Verse 3 — “…to the Sea of Chinnereth eastward…” | “Sea,” lake. | Yam (“sea/lake”) denotes large bodies of water (“sea”). It clarifies natural boundaries of conquered regions. The term grounds the narrative in tangible geography. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| עֲרָבָה — arabah | Verse 3 — “…the Arabah to the Sea of the Arabah…” | “Desert plain,” steppe. | Arabah (“plain”) refers to rift-valley terrain (“plain”). It highlights diverse landscapes Israel conquered. The word enhances geographic depth. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| רָאשׁ — rosh | Verse 5 — “…reigned in Mount Hermon…” | “Head,” summit, top. | Rosh (“head/summit”) denotes elevated terrain (“mount/summit”). It underscores strategic highland rule. The term enriches territorial description. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| מִשְׁפָּט — mishpat | Verse 6 — “…Moses… gave it as a possession…” | “Judgment,” allotment. | Mishpat (“judgment/decision”) describes legal allocation (“allotment”). It ties geographic division to divine law. The term reinforces orderliness of tribal inheritance. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| חָזַק — chazak | Verse 7 — “…these are the kings Joshua smote…” | “To strengthen,” prevail. | Chazak (“to be strong”) highlights God’s empowering of Joshua (“prevail”). It frames victories as products of divine strength. The term reminds readers that conquest success was not military genius alone. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, Germany, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Alte Testament | Listing conquered kings underscores historical record-keeping and divine providence. |
| Charles Foster Kent (Yale University, United States, 1867–1925) | The Bible and Modern Scholarship | Kent stresses the cumulative effect of obedience and strategic action in securing the land. |
| William Rainey Harper (University of Chicago, United States, 1856–1906) | Hebrew Bible Studies | The chapter functions as a historical and theological inventory of Israel’s victories. |
| Johann Peter Lange (University of Bonn, Germany, 1802–1884) | Commentarius in Sacram Scripturam | Emphasis is placed on divine sovereignty and faithful execution of God’s commands. |
| Hermann Schultz (University of Göttingen, Germany, 1841–1903) | Die Bücher Mose | The catalog reinforces covenantal fulfillment and communal memory. |
Chapter 12
Verse: "The territory of the Reubenites was from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon." - Joshua 12:2
Lesson: God's plan is specific. In this chapter, we see a list of the kings that the Israelites conquered in the land. It shows us that God had a specific plan for the land, and He guided the Israelites to conquer it according to His plan.
Conclusion: Just like the Israelites, we must trust in God's plan for our lives. He has a specific purpose and direction for us, and if we follow His guidance, we will achieve great things.
Prayer Points: Let us pray for the wisdom to discern God's plan for our lives. Let us ask God to guide us in our decisions and to give us the courage to follow His direction, even when it may be difficult.
