New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Joshua 12
1
The people of Israel took over the territory east of the Jordan River. The land they took reached from the Arnon River valley to Mount Hermon. It included the whole east side of the Arabah Valley. Israel won the battle over the kings of that whole territory. Here are the lands Israel took from the kings they won the battle over.
Reference
2
They took the land of Sihon. He was the king of the Amorites. He ruled in Heshbon. The land he ruled over begins at Aroer. Aroer is on the rim of the Arnon River valley. He ruled from the middle of the valley to the Jabbok River. The Jabbok is the border of Ammon. Sihon's territory included half of Gilead.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 32:22
3
He also ruled over the east side of the Arabah Valley. That land begins at the Sea of Galilee. It goes to the Dead Sea and over to Beth Jeshimoth. Then it goes south, below the slopes of Pisgah.
Reference
📍 Sea of Chinneroth
4
Israel also took the territory of Og. He was the king of Bashan. He was one of the last of the Rephaites. He ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei.
Reference
5
He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah and the whole land of Bashan. He ruled all the way to the border of Geshur and Maacah. He ruled over half of Gilead. His land reached the border of Sihon. Sihon was the king of Heshbon.
Reference
6
Moses was the servant of the Lord. Moses and the people of Israel won the battle over those two kings. He gave their land to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh. He gave it to them as their share.
Reference
References Moses
Numbers 32:33
7
Joshua and the people of Israel won the battle over the kings who ruled west of the Jordan River. The lands of the kings reached from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands to the tribes of Israel as their very own. He divided them up and gave each tribe its share.
Reference
Kingdom
Joshua 11:17
8
Those lands included the central hill country, the western hills and the Arabah Valley. They also included the mountain slopes, the Desert of Judah and the Negev Desert. Those lands belonged to the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Here are the kings Israel won the battle over.
Reference
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
Reference
Kingdom
Joshua 10:23
11
the king of Jarmuth one the king of Lachish one
12
the king of Eglon one the king of Gezer one
Reference
Kingdom
Joshua 10:33
17
the king of Tappuah one the king of Hepher one
Reference
📍 Locations
People
Parallel theme
1 Kings 4:10
19
the king of Madon one the king of Hazor one
Reference
Kingdom
Joshua 11:1
20
the king of Shimron Meron one the king of Acshaph one
Reference
📍 Shimron-meron
Kingdom
Joshua 11:1
21
the king of Taanach one the king of Megiddo one
Reference
📍 Locations
People
Parallel theme
Joshua 17:11
23
the king of Dor in Naphoth Dor one the king of Goyim in Gilgal one
Reference
📍 Locations
People
Kingdom
Joshua 11:2
Summary of Joshua 12
Joshua chapter 12 provides a record of the kings and territories Israel had defeated in order to acquire the land before and under Joshua’s leadership. The chapter looks back over the victories which had gained Israel possession of the land. It begins with the kings defeated under Moses on the east side of the Jordan and then lists the kings defeated under Joshua on the west. Rather than a further narration of events, the chapter acts as a summary of Israel’s victories and the land which had been gained from its enemies.
The chapter begins with the territory on the eastern side of the Jordan. Moses had led Israel in victories over two key kings here: the king of the Amorites and the king of Bashan.
The former ruled from Heshbon and the boundaries of his land were “the valley of Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the brook of Damascus,” or the territory east of the Jordan River.
The second king, Og, is described as the “last of the giants,” with his dominions stretching out “from Bashan unto Galaad,” or the territory east of the Jordan River, and included the region of Argob. Moses and the children of Israel defeated Og at Edrei.
These victories brought Israel a vast territory, and Moses presented it as a gift to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh who had requested it on the grounds that it could “well sustain their multitude of cattle,” although they agreed to send their fighting men over the Jordan to assist the rest of Israel in taking possession of Canaan.
Joshua chapter 12 turns from the victories won under Moses to the victories achieved under Joshua. The territory west of the Jordan River was conquered under Joshua’s leadership. The chapter then proceeds to list the kings defeated during this campaign.
The list includes thirty-one kings, with each king associated with a specific city or region. Some of these kings had been defeated during the southern campaign described earlier in Joshua, while others were defeated during the northern campaign.
The first kings in the list came from the central and southern regions of Canaan. Jericho is mentioned first — its king was defeated after the Israelites had crossed the Jordan and gone around the walls of the city as God had commanded them to do.
The king of Ai is also included — Israel had suffered defeat at his hands because of the sin of Achan, but later they returned and captured the city after God had given Joshua the strategy for the victory.
The king of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were also included in the list — they were the leaders of the five Amorite kings who had banded together to oppose Gibeon when they made the fateful covenant with Israel and were defeated during the southern campaign led by Joshua.
Other kings defeated during the southern campaign are also mentioned, including the kings of Gezer, Debir, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam, Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek, and Lasharon.
The kings from the northern regions are then mentioned. The king of Hazor, the king of the northern alliance, and who had been the linchpin of the confederation which gathered to oppose Israel, with an army described as “as great as the sand that is upon the face of the earth.”
The king of Madon, the king of Shimron, and the king of Achshaph are also mentioned, as well as other kings from the northern and central regions.
The last entry is the king of Tirzah. Altogether, the chapter records thirty-one kings defeated by Joshua.
The list may seem superfluous, but it serves an important function within the book of Joshua. It creates a record of the victories which had been achieved. Rather than leaving the conquest as a vague enterprise, the chapter names the kings and their cities.
Joshua 12 also serves to distinguish the work of Moses from that of Joshua. Moses had defeated Sihon and Og on the eastern side of the Jordan. Joshua then conquered west of the Jordan. Together, they paved the way for Israel to possess the land promised to their ancestors by God.
The chapter also demonstrates Israel’s possession of the land. Israel did not receive the whole territory at once — different regions were conquered through a number of campaigns directed against different kings and cities.
There is also a sense of transition between the events recorded in Joshua and chapter 12. The details of Jericho, Ai, Gibeon, the southern and northern campaigns are now summarized as a record of the kings defeated by Israel.
The events are not elaborated on — the purpose of the chapter is more about recording what had happened than it is narration. The names serve to highlight the extent of the victories and to preserve the memory of the kingdoms which had been defeated.
The difference between the two sections is also notable. Moses’ victories were in the east of the Jordan while Joshua’s victories were primarily west of the Jordan. This illustrates the transition from the wilderness period to the period of Israel’s possession of Canaan.
The chapter also serves to remind Israel of the promise which God had made to them. Israel had been told that God would give them a land of their own. The victories recorded in the chapter were a sign that the promise was being fulfilled — the people now had a territory which could be parceled out among the tribes.
At the same time, Joshua 12 should be read in conjunction with the chapters which follow. The list of the kings defeated does not suggest that every part of Canaan had been conquered or every enemy defeated — the next chapter clarifies that there was still land to be possessed. The campaigns which had been waged had brought Israel to the land, but the conquest and possession were yet to come.
The chapter is also a reminder of the different generations which had taken part in Israel’s journey through the wilderness and into Canaan. Moses had led the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness, defeating Sihon and Og just before his death. Joshua then led the next generation across the Jordan and into Canaan. Both leaders played important parts in realizing God’s promise to Israel.
Joshua chapter 12, therefore, acts as a record of victory rather than a further narration of events. It looks back at the kingdoms which had been defeated by Moses and Joshua and identifies thirty-one kings which had been overcome west of the Jordan by Joshua. The eastern territory had already been given to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, while the western territory would now be divided among the remaining tribes.
The chapter ends a major section of Joshua. The battles have been recorded and the defeated kings have been named. The extent of Israel’s victories has been documented, and the story turns to the division of the land and the responsibilities of the individual tribes as they take possession of their inheritance.
The chapter begins with the territory on the eastern side of the Jordan. Moses had led Israel in victories over two key kings here: the king of the Amorites and the king of Bashan.
The former ruled from Heshbon and the boundaries of his land were “the valley of Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the brook of Damascus,” or the territory east of the Jordan River.
The second king, Og, is described as the “last of the giants,” with his dominions stretching out “from Bashan unto Galaad,” or the territory east of the Jordan River, and included the region of Argob. Moses and the children of Israel defeated Og at Edrei.
These victories brought Israel a vast territory, and Moses presented it as a gift to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh who had requested it on the grounds that it could “well sustain their multitude of cattle,” although they agreed to send their fighting men over the Jordan to assist the rest of Israel in taking possession of Canaan.
Joshua chapter 12 turns from the victories won under Moses to the victories achieved under Joshua. The territory west of the Jordan River was conquered under Joshua’s leadership. The chapter then proceeds to list the kings defeated during this campaign.
The list includes thirty-one kings, with each king associated with a specific city or region. Some of these kings had been defeated during the southern campaign described earlier in Joshua, while others were defeated during the northern campaign.
The first kings in the list came from the central and southern regions of Canaan. Jericho is mentioned first — its king was defeated after the Israelites had crossed the Jordan and gone around the walls of the city as God had commanded them to do.
The king of Ai is also included — Israel had suffered defeat at his hands because of the sin of Achan, but later they returned and captured the city after God had given Joshua the strategy for the victory.
The king of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were also included in the list — they were the leaders of the five Amorite kings who had banded together to oppose Gibeon when they made the fateful covenant with Israel and were defeated during the southern campaign led by Joshua.
Other kings defeated during the southern campaign are also mentioned, including the kings of Gezer, Debir, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam, Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek, and Lasharon.
The kings from the northern regions are then mentioned. The king of Hazor, the king of the northern alliance, and who had been the linchpin of the confederation which gathered to oppose Israel, with an army described as “as great as the sand that is upon the face of the earth.”
The king of Madon, the king of Shimron, and the king of Achshaph are also mentioned, as well as other kings from the northern and central regions.
The last entry is the king of Tirzah. Altogether, the chapter records thirty-one kings defeated by Joshua.
The list may seem superfluous, but it serves an important function within the book of Joshua. It creates a record of the victories which had been achieved. Rather than leaving the conquest as a vague enterprise, the chapter names the kings and their cities.
Joshua 12 also serves to distinguish the work of Moses from that of Joshua. Moses had defeated Sihon and Og on the eastern side of the Jordan. Joshua then conquered west of the Jordan. Together, they paved the way for Israel to possess the land promised to their ancestors by God.
The chapter also demonstrates Israel’s possession of the land. Israel did not receive the whole territory at once — different regions were conquered through a number of campaigns directed against different kings and cities.
There is also a sense of transition between the events recorded in Joshua and chapter 12. The details of Jericho, Ai, Gibeon, the southern and northern campaigns are now summarized as a record of the kings defeated by Israel.
The events are not elaborated on — the purpose of the chapter is more about recording what had happened than it is narration. The names serve to highlight the extent of the victories and to preserve the memory of the kingdoms which had been defeated.
The difference between the two sections is also notable. Moses’ victories were in the east of the Jordan while Joshua’s victories were primarily west of the Jordan. This illustrates the transition from the wilderness period to the period of Israel’s possession of Canaan.
The chapter also serves to remind Israel of the promise which God had made to them. Israel had been told that God would give them a land of their own. The victories recorded in the chapter were a sign that the promise was being fulfilled — the people now had a territory which could be parceled out among the tribes.
At the same time, Joshua 12 should be read in conjunction with the chapters which follow. The list of the kings defeated does not suggest that every part of Canaan had been conquered or every enemy defeated — the next chapter clarifies that there was still land to be possessed. The campaigns which had been waged had brought Israel to the land, but the conquest and possession were yet to come.
The chapter is also a reminder of the different generations which had taken part in Israel’s journey through the wilderness and into Canaan. Moses had led the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness, defeating Sihon and Og just before his death. Joshua then led the next generation across the Jordan and into Canaan. Both leaders played important parts in realizing God’s promise to Israel.
Joshua chapter 12, therefore, acts as a record of victory rather than a further narration of events. It looks back at the kingdoms which had been defeated by Moses and Joshua and identifies thirty-one kings which had been overcome west of the Jordan by Joshua. The eastern territory had already been given to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, while the western territory would now be divided among the remaining tribes.
The chapter ends a major section of Joshua. The battles have been recorded and the defeated kings have been named. The extent of Israel’s victories has been documented, and the story turns to the division of the land and the responsibilities of the individual tribes as they take possession of their inheritance.