Joshua 12 

Joshua 12:1 The Israelites struck down these kings of the land and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan to the east and from the Arnon River to Mount Hermon, including all the Arabah eastward:

Joshua 12:2 King Sihon of the Amorites lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon River, along the middle of the valley, and half of Gilead up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites),

Joshua 12:3 the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

Joshua 12:4 King Og of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

Joshua 12:5 He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all Bashan up to the Geshurite and Maacathite border, and half of Gilead to the border of King Sihon of Heshbon.

Joshua 12:6 Moses Yahveh’s slave and the Israelites struck them down. And Moses Yahveh’s slave gave their land as an inheritance to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

Joshua 12:7 Joshua and the Israelites struck down these kings of the land beyond the Jordan to the west, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which ascends toward Seir (Joshua gave their land as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their allotments:

Joshua 12:8 the hill country, the Judean foothills, the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev – the lands of the Hethites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites):

Joshua 12:9 the king of Jericho one the king of Ai, which is next to Bethel, one

Joshua 12:10 the king of Jerusalem one the king of Hebron one

Joshua 12:11 the king of Jarmuth one the king of Lachish one

Joshua 12:12 the king of Eglon one the king of Gezer one

Joshua 12:13 the king of Debir one the king of Geder one

Joshua 12:14 the king of Hormah one the king of Arad one

Joshua 12:15 the king of Libnah, one the king of Adullam one

Joshua 12:16 the king of Makkedah one the king of Bethel one

Joshua 12:17 the king of Tappuah one the king of Hepher one

Joshua 12:18 the king of Aphek one the king of Lasharon one

Joshua 12:19 the king of Madon one the king of Hazor one

Joshua 12:20 the king of Shimron-meron one the king of Achshaph one

Joshua 12:21 the king of Taanach one the king of Megiddo one

Joshua 12:22 the king of Kedesh one the king of Jokneam in Carmel one

Joshua 12:23 the king of Dor in Naphath-dor one the king of Goiim in Gilgal one

Joshua 12:24 the king of Tirzah one. The total number of all kings: thirty-one.

Joshua 12 quotes:

“An introduction describes the conquered area west of the Jordan before listing defeated kings (12:7-8). Thirtyone kings (12:24) conquered west of the Jordan are listed by the name of their city, not by a personal name. A list of six (not seven) ethnic groups on the western side of the Jordan appears in verse 8 (see the list also in 9:1). The narrative here does not divide the area into ethnic enclaves. The passage contrasts the work of Joshua as conqueror of the western area and thirty-one kings with that of Moses, the conqueror of two. The impressive list elevates Joshua’s role in defeating enemy rulers. Both passages state that Moses (12:6) and Joshua (12:7) gave Israel the land as a possession or inheritance. Surprisingly, the introduction to each section stresses that the tribes conquered the enemy kings and omits any reference to the Lord’s part in the victories (12:1, 7). The entire passage points out the importance of leadership and praises the fighting of the people as keys to defeating enemy leaders.”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 74.

“This section recalls the victories won by the Israelites under the leadership of Moses in the land east of the Jordan. The two kings, Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan, were defeated and their land was given to the two and one-half tribes that settled in the east.”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 169.

Joshua 12 links:

31 kings
missions and conflict #2
taking the land
what land belongs

The JOSHUA shelf in Jeff’s library