Key Verse Spotlight
Joshua 12:1 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" 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: "
Joshua 12:1
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
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:
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Joshua, or whoever wrote this history before listing Israel’s later victories, now also records what Moses had won for them. Under Moses, Israel became masters of the strong kingdoms of Sihon and Og. We should not let fresh blessings make us forget earlier ones, and we should not let the work of newer servants hide the honor of those who went before them. Joshua’s achievements were great, but Moses’ victories should not be overlooked, since the same God worked through both. Together they show that God was the beginning and the end of Israel’s great salvation.
First, the writer describes the conquered land and its borders, from the Arnon River in the south to Mount Hermon in the north (Joshua 12:1). He then gives the kingdom of Sihon in more detail (Joshua 12:2-3), and then the kingdom of Og (Joshua 12:4-5). Moses had already described this land carefully (Deuteronomy 2:36; Deuteronomy 3:4, and following), and this account matches his.
King Og is said to have lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei (Joshua 12:4), likely because both were his royal cities. He may have kept palaces in both places, staying in one during part of the year and in the other at another time. But Israel took both cities from him, and he ended up with one grave, though he had not been satisfied with one palace.
Second, the writer notes how this land was given out. Moses divided it among the two tribes and a half, at their request, as recorded in Numbers 32 (Joshua 12:6). This division is mentioned here as a model for Joshua, now that he had conquered the land west of the Jordan.
Moses gave part of Israel a rich and fruitful land, but it was on the far side of the Jordan. Joshua gave all Israel the holy land, the mountain where God was worshiped, inside the Jordan. In the same way, the law gave some of God’s people outward, earthly blessings, and these were signs of better things to come. But our Lord Jesus, the true Joshua, has given all the children of promise spiritual blessings, the gifts of God’s house and the heavenly Canaan. The victories and gifts connected with the law were glorious, but those of the gospel are greater in glory.
From This Chapter
Joshua 12:2
"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;"
Joshua 12:3
"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:"
Joshua 12:4
"And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,"
Joshua 12:5
"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."
Joshua 12:6
"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 12:7
"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;"
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