Joshua — Chapter 12

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1Now these are the kings of the land whom the Israelites struck down and whose lands they took beyond the Jordan to the east, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, including all the Arabah eastward:

2Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead,

3as well as the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

4And Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

5He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

6Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites had struck them down and given their land as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

7And these are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered beyond the Jordan to the west, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (according to the allotments to the tribes of Israel, Joshua gave them as an inheritance

8the hill country, the foothills, the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev—the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites):

9the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is near Bethel, one;

10the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

11the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

12the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

13the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;

14the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

15the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;

16the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

17the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;

18the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;

19the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;

20the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;

21the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;

22the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

23the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;

24and the king of Tirzah, one. So there were thirty-one kings in all.

1Now 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:

2Sihon 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;

3And 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 Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:

4And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

5And 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.

6Them 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.

7And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad 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;

8In 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:

9The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;

10The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

11The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

12The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

13The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;

14The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

15The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;

16The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

17The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;

18The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;

19The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;

20The king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;

21The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;

22The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;

23The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;

24The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.

1Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising, from the valley of the Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward:

2Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and [the city that is in] the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;

3and the Arabah unto the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and unto the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:

4and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

5and ruled in mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

6Moses the servant of Jehovah and the children of Israel smote them: and Moses the servant of Jehovah gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

7And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel smote beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; and Joshua gave it unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

8in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

9the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;

10the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

11the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

12the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

13the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;

14the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

15the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;

16the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

17the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;

18the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lassharon, one;

19the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;

20the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;

21the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;

22the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

23the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;

24the king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.

1Now 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 rift valley:

2King 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.

3His kingdom included the eastern rift valley from the Sea of Kinnereth to the sea of the rift valley (the Salt Sea), including the route to Beth Jeshimoth and the area southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

4The territory of King Og of Bashan, one of the few remaining Rephaites, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei

5and ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all Bashan to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead as far as the border of King Sihon of Heshbon.

6Moses 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.

7These 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 up to Seir. Joshua assigned this territory to the Israelite tribes,

8including the hill country, the foothills, the rift valley, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev—the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites:

9the king of Jericho (one), the king of Ai—located near Bethel—(one),

10the king of Jerusalem (one), the king of Hebron (one),

11the king of Jarmuth (one), the king of Lachish (one),

12the king of Eglon (one), the king of Gezer (one),

13the king of Debir (one), the king of Geder (one),

14the king of Hormah (one), the king of Arad (one),

15the king of Libnah (one), the king of Adullam (one),

16the king of Makkedah (one), the king of Bethel (one),

17the king of Tappuah (one), the king of Hepher (one),

18the king of Aphek (one), the king of Lasharon (one),

19the king of Madon (one), the king of Hazor (one),

20the king of Shimron Meron (one), the king of Acshaph (one),

21the king of Taanach (one), the king of Megiddo (one),

22the king of Kedesh (one), the king of Jokneam near Carmel (one),

23the king of Dor—near Naphath Dor—(one), the king of Goyim—near Gilgal—(one),

24the king of Tirzah (one),a total of thirty-one kings.

1Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward:

2Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;

3and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth Jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:

4and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

5and ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

6Moses the servant of Yahweh and the children of Israel struck them. Moses the servant of Yahweh gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

7These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel struck beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir. Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

8in the hill country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

9the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;

10the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

11the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

12the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

13the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;

14the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

15the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;

16the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

17the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;

18the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lassharon, one;

19the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;

20the king of Shimron Meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;

21the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;

22the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

23the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;

24the king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty-one.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

This chapter closes the conquest narrative with a summary list of defeated kings. It first records the two Amorite kings Moses defeated east of the Jordan—Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan—whose territory was given to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh (vv. 1-6). It then lists thirty-one kings that Joshua and Israel defeated west of the Jordan, from Jericho and Ai through the cities of the south and north (vv. 7-24). The list stands as a record of the LORD's faithfulness in giving Israel the land he promised.

Authorship & Background

Author: Joshua, with possible later editorial additions. Joshua was Moses' assistant and successor, who led Israel into the Promised Land. The book covers approximately 25 years (1406-1381 BC) — from the crossing of the Jordan to Joshua's death. Hebrew title: 'Yehoshua' — 'YHWH saves' (the same name as Jesus in Greek). The book demonstrates God's faithfulness to His land promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) and shows that victory comes through faith and obedience, not human strength.
Historical Context: Chapter 12 is a summary chapter — a catalog of all the kings defeated by Israel, both under Moses (east of the Jordan) and under Joshua (west of the Jordan). It serves as the conclusion to the conquest narrative (chapters 1-12) and the transition to the land distribution narrative (chapters 13-24). The list totals 31 kings defeated west of the Jordan plus 2 kings east of the Jordan (Sihon and Og) — 33 kings in all. This chapter functions as a victory roll call, a permanent record of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise. Each "one" after a king's name is like a check mark — conquered, done, fulfilled. The chapter demonstrates that the land of Canaan was not a unified kingdom but a collection of independent city-states, each with its own king. God defeated them all — not one stood against Israel when Israel walked in obedience. The chapter also connects Moses' conquests (east) with Joshua's conquests (west), showing continuity of God's purpose across both leaders.
Classification: Historical Narrative — Conquest Summary
Key Themes: A ledger of victories rather than a narrative, two campaigns under two leaders, territory described by boundary and terrain, thirty-one kings counted one at a time, and a tally that closes the conquest account
Kings Defeated East of the Jordan — Under Moses (vv.1-6): Two kings are listed: (1) Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled from Heshbon over the territory from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River — half of Gilead (vv.2-3). (2) Og king of Bashan, "of the remnant of the giants" (Rephaim), who ruled from Ashtaroth and Edrei over Mount Hermon, Salcah, and all Bashan (vv.4-5). Moses defeated them and gave their land to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh (v.6). These victories are recorded in Numbers 21:21-35 and Deuteronomy 2-3.
Kings Defeated West of the Jordan — Under Joshua (vv.7-24): The territory: from Baal-gad (north, under Mount Hermon) to Mount Halak (south, toward Seir/Edom) (v.7). The terrain: hill country, lowland, Arabah, slopes, wilderness, Negeb (v.8). The peoples: Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites (v.8). Then the list of 31 kings, each marked with "one" — a tally of individual victories. The order of the list is roughly geographical, working outward from the first conquests: Jericho and Ai (v.9), then the southern coalition of chapter 10 at Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon (vv.10-12), then further southern cities including Gezer, Debir, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam and Makkedah (vv.12-16), the central region around Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek and Lasharon (vv.16-18), the northern coalition of chapter 11 at Madon, Hazor, Shimron-meron and Achshaph (vv.19-20), and additional northern and central conquests from Taanach and Megiddo through to Tirzah (vv.21-24). The chapter closes with the sum rather than a comment on it: "all the kings thirty and one" (v.24).

Map & Geography

  • Summary of conquered territory: East of Jordan (from the Arnon gorge to Mount Hermon) and west of Jordan (from Mount Halak in the south to Baal-gad in the north)
  • 31 kings defeated west of the Jordan — listed south to north, showing the scope of the conquest
  • Two Transjordan kings (Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan) defeated under Moses

Places on this map

  • Jordan RiverIsrael / Jordan borderRuns about 65 miles as the crow flies from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, dropping from 700 to 1,400 feet below sea level. Narrow enough to wade at most fords, it was still the boundary that divided wilderness from inheritance. Wikipedia
  • Mount HermonSyria / Lebanon / Golan borderThe 9,200-foot southern end of the Anti-Lebanon range, snow-covered most of the year and visible from much of Galilee. Its snowmelt feeds the springs that become the Jordan, and it marked the northern limit of Israel's conquests. Wikipedia
  • HeshbonTell Hesban, JordanOn the Transjordan plateau about 15 miles east of the Jordan, near the King's Highway. Taken from Sihon before Israel crossed the river, it became the marker for where the eastern tribes' inheritance began. Wikipedia
  • BashanGolan and Hauran, SyriaThe volcanic tableland north-east of the Sea of Galilee, deep in basalt soil and famous for cattle and oak. The bulls of Bashan in the Psalms are a compliment to the pasture before they are an insult to anyone. Wikipedia
  • ArnonWadi Mujib, JordanA canyon up to 1,700 feet deep cutting west into the Dead Sea, and the border between Moab and the territory north of it. Crossing it meant descending and climbing a mile of switchbacks. Wikipedia
  • Transjordanwestern JordanEverything east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea: the plateau taken before the river was crossed and settled by Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh, who then spent centuries anxious about being counted out. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that this chapter is like a trophy room — each king listed is a monument to God's faithfulness. The repetition of "one... one... one" emphasizes individual victories. He also observes that some cities listed here (like Jerusalem, Gezer, Taanach, Megiddo) were not fully possessed until later — the kings were defeated but the cities not permanently occupied until David's time or later.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Joshua 12 Summary: 5 Minute Bible Study
2BeLikeChrist

Joshua 10-12 | The Sun and Moon Stand Still | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Conquered Kings & the Land Yet to Conquer – Joshua 12 & 13
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Joshua -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • One God, Two Leaders, Continuous Victory (v.6) — The kings Moses defeated east of the Jordan are listed right alongside Joshua's western conquests, showing one unbroken work of God across two leaders. Where have you seen God carry a work forward across a change in leadership or season in your own life?
  • A Complete Inheritance (v.7) — The chapter carefully marks out the full territory God gave Israel west of the Jordan, from Baal-gad to Mount Halak. Are you fully recognizing and walking in everything God has already provided for you, or overlooking parts of it?
  • A Written Record of Faithfulness (v.24) — Thirty-one kings are named and counted, turned into a permanent record that God kept every promise. What has God done in your life that deserves to be written down and remembered rather than forgotten?