The defeated kings

12:1 Now these are the kings of the land whom the Israelites defeated and drove from their land on the east side of the Jordan, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern Arabah: 12:2 King Sihon of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) – including the city in the middle of the valley and half of Gilead – all the way to the Jabbok Valley bordering Ammonite territory. 12:3 His kingdom included the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), including the route to Beth Jeshimoth and the area southward below the slopes of Pisgah. 12:4 The territory of King Og of Bashan, one of the few remaining Rephaites, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei 12:5 and ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead as far as the border of King Sihon of Heshbon. 12:6 Moses the Lord’s servant and the Israelites defeated them and Moses the Lord’s servant assigned their land to Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. 12:7 These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the Israelites defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Lebanon Valley to Mount Halak on up to Seir. Joshua assigned this territory to the Israelite tribes, 12:8 including the hill country, the lowlands, the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev – the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites: 12:9 the king of Jericho (one), the king of Ai – located near Bethel – (one), 12:10 the king of Jerusalem (one), the king of Hebron (one), 12:11 the king of Jarmuth (one), the king of Lachish (one), 12:12 the king of Eglon (one), the king of Gezer (one), 12:13 the king of Debir (one), the king of Geder (one), 12:14 the king of Hormah (one), the king of Arad (one), 12:15 the king of Libnah (one), the king of Adullam (one), 12:16 the king of Makkedah (one), the king of Bethel (one), 12:17 the king of Tappuah (one), the king of Hepher (one), 12:18 the king of Aphek (one), the king of Lasharon (one), 12:19 the king of Madon (one), the king of Hazor (one), 12:20 the king of Shimron Meron (one), the king of Acshaph (one), 12:21 the king of Taanach (one), the king of Megiddo (one), 12:22 the king of Kedesh (one), the king of Jokneam near Carmel (one), 12:23 the king of Dor – near Naphath Dor – (one), the king of Goyim – near Gilgal – (one), 12:24 the king of Tirzah (one), a total of thirty-one kings.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Joshua 12 lists the kings Israel defeated east and west of the Jordan. It is a record of the LORD’s victories, not a new battle story. The chapter shows that the land now belonged to Israel because God gave it to them.

Joshua 12 gives a summary list of defeated kings. It looks back at the victories under Moses east of the Jordan and under Joshua west of the Jordan. The point is not to retell every battle. The point is to show that the LORD gave Israel the land.

The first part remembers Sihon and Og. Moses, the LORD’s servant, defeated them and gave their land to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. The second part lists the kings Joshua defeated in Canaan. The repeated phrase, “the king of ___,” shows how complete the victory was. In all, there were thirty-one kings.

This chapter teaches that victory came from the LORD, not from Israel’s own power. It also prepares for the next part of Joshua, where the land is divided among the tribes. The list is a memorial of God’s faithfulness and a record of covenant inheritance.

• The LORD gave Israel victory over the kings east and west of the Jordan.
• Moses and Joshua were servants through whom God acted.
• The land was assigned to the tribes as a gift from God.
• The long list of kings shows the completeness of the conquest.
• This chapter is a memorial of God’s faithfulness.

• The passage warns that kings and strongholds do not stand against the LORD.
• It promises that God keeps his word and gives inheritance to his people.
• It calls readers to remember what God has done and to trust his faithfulness.

Joshua 12 stands in the history of God’s promise to give Abraham’s family the land. The chapter shows that part of that promise has now been fulfilled under Moses and Joshua. It also points forward to the larger biblical hope of rest and inheritance, while remaining first and foremost a record of Israel’s own history.

Believers should remember that true victory comes from the LORD. We should not read this chapter as a model for holy war or modern conquest. Instead, we should learn to trust God’s promises, remember his works, and receive every good gift with gratitude.

• Lite Commentary
• In-depth Commentary