Joshua 12:7-24 meaning

Joshua 12:7-24 recapitulates Israel’s military victories over the Canaanites.

The Israelites lived in slavery in Egypt for over 400 years, when the LORD called upon Moses to lead them out from bondage. God then established a covenant/treaty relationship with the people and promised to grant them the title of the land of Canaan, a rich and fertile soil located west of the Jordan River, which He had promised their forefather Abraham (Genesis 15:15-21).

The first generation of Israelites were consigned to wander the Sinai wilderness due to unbelief that God would give them victory over the Canaanites. Forty years later, the second generation accepted God's promise by faith. As they approached Canaan, they overcame two powerful kings: Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. Moses gave these lands to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh since these tribes deemed that portion of land was "a place suitable for livestock" (Numbers 32:1).

After the death of Moses, the LORD called Joshua, Moses's protégé, to lead the Israelites. Like his predecessor, Joshua followed divine instructions and performed his duties courageously. Under his leadership, the people crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. They fought many battles and subjugated their foes because the all-powerful God weakened the enemy to fulfill His promises. Seven years after the war for the Promised Land began, the people of Israel begin to divide up their conquered lands. First, the text summarizes their victories: Now these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel defeated beyond the Jordan toward the west (v 7).

The phrase beyond the Jordan toward the west (v 7) refers to the land of Canaan. Since it was a fertile and abundant region, the Bible describes it as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:17, Numbers 14:8, Leviticus 20:24, Deuteronomy 11:9). The LORD had promised to give it to Abraham and his descendants "for an everlasting possession" (Genesis 17:8). Now it was time for the Israelites to subdue their foes and occupy the land to enjoy God's blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

The Israelite success in Canaan was remarkable. They conquered a vast territory, ranging from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even as far as Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (v 7). Baal-gad was in the region of Laish, a beautiful and lush area in the valley of Lebanon. The mountainous region of Lebanon, located north of Israel, was noted for its beauty and cedar forests (Psalm 29:5, Hosea 14:5). The town of Baal-gad marks the northern boundary of the campaign.

Likewise, Mount Halak marks the southern limit of the conquest. It was near Seir, the Edomite territory. It is the modern Jebel Halaq on the northwestern side of the Wâdı̄ Marra. Joshua gave all this territory to the tribes of Israel as a possession (v 7). He did so according to their divisions. That means that each tribe received its share of the land proportionately.

The regions that Joshua divided among the tribes were in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, on the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the Negev (v 8). This list appeared elsewhere in the book: The hill country, the lowland, and the Negev in Joshua 10:40 and 11:16, the Arabah in Joshua 11:16, the slopes in Joshua 10:40, and the wilderness in Joshua 1:4.

The hill country was the central highlands. The lowland ("the Shephelah") was the region of the western foothills. The Arabah refers to the entire rift valley from above the Sea of Galilee to the Gulf of Eilat. The slopes refer to the region between the central highlands and the Dead Sea. The wilderness is the dry country extending from Beersheba to the desert of Sinai and the Gulf of Aqaba. The Negev was the wilderness area in the southern region.

Joshua and the Israelites conquered all these Canaanite regions. They also defeated six people groups: The Hittite, the Amorite and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite (v 8). According to Genesis, the Hittites likely descended from Canaan through Heth (Genesis 10:15). They lived around Hebron (Genesis 23:1-20). The Amorites covered five major kingdoms in the Ancient Near East: Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Joshua 10:5). The Canaanites were a people group living "by the sea and by the side of the Jordan" (Numbers 13:29).

The Perizzites lived in unwalled suburbs both east and west of the Jordan. The mention of this ethnic group extends from the time of Abraham (Genesis 13:7) to the postexilic times (Ezra 9:1). The Hivites were the peoples of Shechem in the days of Jacob (Genesis 34:2). Later, during the conquest by Joshua, they constituted the population of Gibeon (Joshua 9:7). The Jebusites were the occupants of the region later associated with the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 15:63). All these six ethnic groups living in the land of Canaan were non-vassals because they did not have a covenant relationship with God and had resisted God for four generations, practicing grievous sins without repentance (Genesis 15:16, Leviticus 18). Therefore, He dispossessed them to give the land to His covenant people so they could enjoy His blessings if they obeyed their treaty with Him (Leviticus 18:25-30, Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

During the Israelite campaign in Canaan, they subdued many kings. The text listed the territories over which the leaders ruled and added the numeral "one," making it easier for the reader to count them and see the extent of the Israelite victory. The table below will help visualize the list. Additionally, take a look at this map of the region that shows the kings defeated by Joshua.

At the top of the list was the city of Jericho, a secure fortress in the lower Jordan Valley, west of the Jordan River and about ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea. Since it had abundant palm trees, the Bible describes it as the "city of palms" (Deuteronomy 34:3, Judges 1:16, 2 Chronicles 28:15). Its king died with it (Joshua 6:2).

Ai (modern site Et-Tell) was about 15 miles northwest of Jericho. The name means "a ruin." It was the second city attacked in Israel's conquest of the Promised Land. The king of Ai died at its conquering (Joshua 8:29).

Jerusalem was and is in south central Israel, on the edge of one of the country's highest tablelands. It first belonged to the Jebusites. Eventually, King David captured it around 1000 BC and made it the capital of Israel (2 Samuel 5:6-10). The town of Hebron, also known as Kiriath-arba, is 20 miles south of Jerusalem and less than two miles from Mamre, where Abraham once resided (Genesis 23:2). It is 3,000 feet above sea level on the Judean mountain ridge. The city of Jarmuth (modern Jebel Yarmuk) was in the lowlands of Judah. Its site is about 15 miles southwest of Jerusalem, on the crest of a rocky ridge. Lachish lies on a 50-foot-high, steep-sided tell covering approximately 20 acres. It is roughly 30 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Eglon was about 35 miles southwest of Jerusalem. The kings of these five cities formed an alliance and were defeated as one by Israel. They were discovered hiding in a cave, were executed, and were buried in the cave (Joshua 10:23-27).

Gezer (modern Tel Jezer) was a site in the foothills of the Judean range, about 18 miles northwest of Jerusalem. The king of Gezer, Horam, was slain by Israel when he joined battle against them to aid the city of Lacish (Joshua 10:33). Debir was a fortified city just eight miles southwest of Hebron. The king of Debir was slain and the city conquered after the conquest of Hebron (Joshua 10:39).

Geder was in the southern region of Canaan. Its name means "wall," suggesting that it was a fortified town. Hormah is in the southern region of Judah. Arad is eighteen miles northeast of Beer-sheba in the southern region. Libnah was in the tribal allotment of Judah; it was conquered and its king slain after the capture of Makkedah (Joshua 10:29, 15:42). It was the fifth station at which the Israelites encamped on their journey from Sinai (Numbers 33:20-21). Adullam was in the Shephelah of southern Judah, approximately sixteen miles southwest of Jerusalem. Makkedah was also a city in the Shephelah of Judah, about 15 miles southwest of Gibeon. The king of Makkedah was slain soon after the defeat of the five southern kings (Joshua 10:28). Bethel was about ten miles north of Jerusalem, about a mile and a half of Ai (Joshua 8:9).

The city of Tappuah was on the border between the tribal areas of Ephraim and Manasseh (Joshua 16:8, 17:8). Hepher was perhaps within the northeast segment of the tribal allotment of Manasseh. Aphek was a town in the Sharon plain, which lies between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Samarian hills. It was the site of the Battle of Aphek between the Philistines and the Israelites (1 Samuel 4:1-10). Lasharon was a city near the Philistine territory.

Madon was about 2.5 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. Hazor (modern Tell el-Kedah) was a large fortified town in north Galilee. It was about 10 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and a great commercial center on the trade routes between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Jabin, king of Hazor, led an alliance of northern Canaanite kings, and was slain by the Israelites (Joshua 11:1, 10). Other northern kings who were named or listed in this coalition were Jobab, king of Madon, and the unnamed king of Shimron-meron, and the king of Achshaph--all were likewise defeated by Israel, along with the other unnamed northern kings (Joshua 11:12).

Shimron-meron was in the territory of Zebulun, 31 miles southwest of Hazor. Likewise, Achshaph was about 26 miles southwest of Hazor.

Several cities were in the Jezreel Valley, a beautiful and rich plain situated between Mount Carmel, Mount Gilboa, and the hills of lower Galilee. Taanach (modern "Tell Ta ‘annek") was in the southern corner of the Jezreel Valley in the foothills of the Samarian hill country. Megiddo was a city in the Jezreel Valley on the international route between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Kedesh was a small mound in the Jezreel Valley between Taanach and Megiddo. Jokneam in Carmel was also in the Jezreel Valley, just northwest of Megiddo. It is the modern Tell Kaimon, approximately 12 miles southwest of Nazareth.

Finally, the city of Dor was on the Mediterranean coast, about 12 miles south of Mount Carmel. Goiim in Gilgal was perhaps in the eastern quadrant of the Sharon Plain. Finally, Tirzah was a city in the mountains of Manasseh.

The Israelites led a massive conquest in Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. They obeyed the LORD's instructions and relied on Him for guidance and wisdom. Then, they advanced toward their foes and defeated them. They also slaughtered the enemy's leaders: in all, thirty-one kings (v 24). The Israelite campaign was successful because the LORD their God was with them.

The list also sets up the rest of Israel's story. Several of these same cities appear again in Judges 1, where the tribes fail to hold what Joshua won: Jerusalem (Judges 1:21), and Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor (Judges 1:27). A victory won by faith still has to be kept by faith and obedience. Joshua 12 records what God gave; the next generation had to decide whether to abide in God’s words and keep the covenant/treaty.