JOSHUA 12 COMME TARYEDITED BY GLE PEASE

List of Defeated Kings

1 These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah:

BAR ES, "All the plain on the east - i. e. the Arabah or depressed tract along the east bank of Jordan, the modern El-Ghor (see Num_22:1).

Jos_12:2

From the middle of the river - i. e. as appears from Jos_13:9, Jos_13:16, “from the city that is in the midst of the river;” namely,, Ar Moab (see Deu_2:36).

Jos_12:3

From the plain - Render “over the plain;” for the words describe not one of the boundaries of Sihon’s kingdom, but part of the territory included in it, i. e. the eastern portion of the Ghor, between the Sea of Tiberias and the Dead Sea.

CLARKE, "From the river Arnon unto Mount Hermon - Arnon was the boundary of all the southern coast of the land occupied by the Israelites beyond Jordan; and the mountains of Hermon were the boundaries on the north. Arnon takes its rise in the mountains of Gilead, and having run a long way from north to south falls into the Dead Sea, near the same place into which Jordan discharges itself.

And all the plain on the east - All the land from the plains of Moab to Mount Hermon.

GILL, "Now these are the kings of the land which the children of Israel smote,.... In the days of Moses, as Jarchi remarks, and as it clearly appears from what follows:

and possessed, their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun; on the east of the land of Canaan:

from the river Arnon unto the mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east; Arnon was the border of Moab between them and the Amorites, Num_21:13; and from hence to Hermon, a mountain adjoining to Lebanon, lay the country of the two kings of the Amorites after mentioned, Deu_3:8; and the plain on the east were the plains of Moab, which lay to the east of Jordan.

HE RY 1-6, "Joshua, or whoever else is the historian before he comes to sum up the new conquests Israel had made, in these verses receives their former conquests in Moses's time, under whom they became masters of the great and potent kingdoms of Sihon and Og. Note, Fresh mercies must not drown the remembrance of former mercies, nor must the glory of the present instruments of good to the church be suffered to eclipse and diminish the just honour of those who have gone before them, and who were the blessings and ornaments of their day. Joshua's services and achievements are confessedly great, but let not those under Moses be overlooked and forgotten, since God was the same who wrought both, and both put together proclaim him the Alpha and Omega of Israel's great salvation. Here is, 1. A description of this conquered country, the measure and bounds of it in general (Jos_12:1): From the river Arnon in the south, to Mount Hermon in the north. In particular, here is a description of the kingdom of Sihon (Jos_12:2, Jos_12:3), and that of Og, Jos_12:4, Jos_12:5. Moses had described this country very particularly (Deu_2:36; Deu_3:4, etc.), and this description here agrees with his. King Og is said to dwell at Ashtaroth and Edrei (Jos_12:4), probably because they were both his royal cities; he had palaces in both, and resided sometimes in one and sometimes in the other; one perhaps was his summer seat and the other his winter seat. But Israel took both from him, and made one grave to serve him that could not be content with one palace. 2. The distribution of this country. Moses assigned it to the two tribes and a half, at their request, and divided it among them (Jos_12:6), of which we had the story at large, Num. 32. The dividing of it when it was conquered by Moses is here mentioned as an example to Joshua what he must do now that he had conquered the country on this side Jordan. Moses, in his time, gave to one part of Israel a very rich and fruitful country, but it was on the outside of Jordan; but Joshua gave to all Israel the holy land, the mountain of God's sanctuary, within Jordan: so the law conferred upon some few of God's spiritual Israel external temporal blessings, which were earnests of good things to come; but our Lord Jesus, the true Joshua, has provided for all the children of promise spiritual blessings - the privileges of the sanctuary, and the heavenly Canaan. The triumphs and grants of the law were glorious, but those of the gospel far exceed in glory.

JAMISO , "Jos_12:1-6. The two kings whose countries Moses took and disposed of.

Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan — This chapter contains a recapitulation of the conquests made in the promised land, with the additional mention of some places not formerly noted in the sacred history. The river Arnon on the south and mount Hermon on the north were the respective boundaries of the land acquired by the Israelites beyond Jordan (see Num_21:21-24; Deu_2:36; Deu_3:3-16 [and see on Deu_2:24]).

K&D 1-6, "List of the kings whom the Israelites smote, and whose land they took, on the other side of the Jordan, - namely, the land by the brook Arnon (Mojeb; see Num_21:13) to Hermon (Jebel es Sheikh, Deu_3:8), and the whole of the eastern Arabah (the valley of the Jordan on the eastern side of the river).

Jos_12:2-3

On Sihon and his kingdom, see Num_21:24; Deu_2:36; Deu_3:16-17. “Aroër on the Arnon:” the present ruins of Araayr, on the northern bank of the Mojeb (see Num_

ה�חל .(32:34 and (from) the middle of the valley onwards:” i.e., according to the“ ,ותוך�

parallel passages in Jos_13:9, Jos_13:16, and Deu_2:36, from the town in the Arnon valley, the city of Moab mentioned in Num_22:36, viz., Ar or Areopolis (see at Num_21:15) in the neighbourhood of Aroër, which is mentioned as the exclusive terminus a quo of the land taken by the Israelites along with the inclusive terminus Aroër. “Half-Gilead,” i.e., the mountainous district on the south side of the Jabbok (see at Deu_3:10), “to the river Jabbok,” i.e., the upper Jabbok, the present Nahr Ammân (see at Num_21:24).

Jos_12:3

“And (over) the Arabah, etc., Sihon reigned,” i.e., over the eastern side of the Ghor, between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea (see at Deu_3:17). “By the way to Bethjeshimoth, and towards the south below the slopes of Pisgah” (see at Num_21:15and Num_27:12), i.e., to the north-eastern border of the desert by the Dead Sea (see at Num_22:1).

Jos_12:4-5

“And the territory of Og,” sc., they took possession of (Jos_12:1). On Og, vid., Deu_3:11; and on his residences, Ashtaroth (probably to be seen in Tell Ashtereh) and Edrei(now Draa or Dêra), see at Gen_14:5 and Num_21:33. On his territory, see Deu_3:10, Deu_3:13-14.

Jos_12:6

These two kings were smitten by Moses, etc.: vid., Num_21:21., and Num_32:33.

CALVI , "1. OW these are the kings, etc This chapter does not need a lengthened exposition, as it only enumerates the kings of whose territories the Israelites gained possession. Two of them are beyond the Jordan, Og and Sihon, whose rule was extensive; in the land of Canaan there are thirty-one. But though each of those now summarily mentioned was previously given more in detail, there is very good reason for here placing before our eyes as it were a living picture of the goodness of God, proving that there had been a complete ratification and performance of the covenant made with Abraham as given in the words, “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:18) This living image of the grace of God is here set before us as if the reality were actually present. (123) Joshua was eighty years of age when he entered the land. In this aged man how could there be so much vigor (124) as to fit him for carrying on so many wars and enduring the fatigues of warfare, had not celestial virtue furnished him with more than mortal strength? And were not his uninterrupted career of victory, his success under all circumstances, the ease, free from doubt and uncertainty, with which he stormed cities, the rapidity of his movements, and his inflexible firmness — were not all these

clear evidences of the hand of God, just as if it had appeared from heaven?

The object of defining the countries by their boundaries was to give a better display of the divine power by setting forth their extent; but this of course was only for those to whom their site was known. Hence, for any one not acquainted with the geography to dwell upon the names, would be vain and foolish curiosity. I admit, indeed, that it is useful to pay attention to the places with which, from their being often mentioned in Scripture, our knowledge ought to be somewhat more familiar, as when the boundaries are fixed by the brook Jabok, in the district of Lebanon and the lake of Gennesaret, here called the Sea of Cineroth, and elsewhere Cinereth. For a slight attention will help us to understand the narrative. If we cannot go farther, let us leave those who are better skilled to give a more searching discussion of what is beyond our reach. (125) But although the dominions of these petty kings were narrow and not very populous, we shall however see that many towns were annexed to their principal cities; their number may be ascertained especially from what is said of the lot of the Levites. On the other hand, if we reflect how one small territory could receive and maintain old men, women, and children, nay, a great part of the people with their domestic animals, we cannot fail to admire the inestimable goodness of God which prevented all things from being thrown into complete and irremediable confusion. (126)

DUMMELOW, "A Review of the Victories of Moses and Joshua

This chapter concludes the whole section of the book which deals with the conquest of Canaan. The following chapters narrate the partition of the conquered and some unconquered land. The original account of these conquests is to be found in umbers 21:21-35, and of the assignment to the 2½ tribes in umbers 3:2. A fuller description of the territory is given in chapter umbers 13:1-33;where see notes.

1-6. Moses' conquests E. of Jordan. Kingdoms of Sihon and Og.

3. Sea of Chinneroth] the OT. name for the Sea of Galilee. Salt sea] the Dead Sea.

7-24. Joshua's conquests W. of Jordan—thirty-one kings.

7. The . and S. limits are given as in Joshua 11:17, only in reverse order. On this side Jordan on the west] RV 'beyond Jordan westward.'

9. One] i.e. one king.

21. Taanach.. Megiddo] see on Judges 5:19.

23. The nations] RV 'Goiim.'

24. Tirzah] (probably=Teiasir) E. of Shechem. It was afterwards the capital of the orthern Kingdom, from the time of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:17) till the 6th year of Omri, who moved the centre of government to Samaria (1 Kings 16:23).

BE SO , ". These are the kings of the land — This summary account of Israel’s conquests comes in here not only as a conclusion of the history of the wars of Canaan, that we might at one view see what they had gotten; but as a preface to the history of the dividing of Canaan, that all those territories might be placed together before the reader’s view, which they were now to make the distribution of. All the plain on the east — That is, on the east of Jordan, called the plain, Deuteronomy 1:1. From the middle of the river — Ar, which was no part of Sihon’s dominions, but belonged to the Moabites, (Deuteronomy 2:9-18,) appears to have been situated in the middle of the river Arnon, (Deuteronomy 2:36; Deuteronomy 3:16,) and therefore the middle of the river is properly here mentioned as the bound of Sihon’s dominion on that side. But it is not unusual even among us for a river to be divided between two lords, and for their territories or jurisdictions to meet in the middle of the river. Some, however, prefer rendering הנחל Rתו, tock hannachal, between the river; namely, that he reigned over some territory which was situated between different streams of that river. Half Gilead — Hebrew, And the half Gilead; that is, half the country of Gilead, over which Sihon’s dominion, which began at Arnon, extended, ending at Jabbok, beyond which river was the other half of Gilead, which belonged to Og.

COKE,"Verse 1Ver. 1. ow these are the kings, &c.— Having concluded the relation of the wars of Joshua, the sacred historian, now about to enter into a detail of the division made of the conquered country among the tribes, lays in some measure before the reader a map of that country, beginning with those places which the Israelites took under the conduct of Moses. The country extended from the river Arnon on the south, to mount Hermon on the north, and included all the plain, i.e. all the plains of Moab, on the east of Jordan.

ote; On this side Jordan, the people of God have possession of some blessings, as pardon, peace, comfort, &c.; but their chief inheritance lies beyond the grave, where the fulness of the promises shall be accomplished in the glory which shall be revealed.

COFFMA , "Verse 1With this chapter the first half of the Book of Joshua is completed, and appropriately enough, this first section is concluded with a broad summary of the Conquest of Canaan. This conquest required a long war of at least seven years duration, and the Book of Joshua does not present any thorough history of that war, but rather confines its report to those events of particular bearing upon Israel's relation to God, and to His redemptive purpose for mankind. This first half of the book deals principally with Israel's taking of the land of the Canaanites, and the second half of it is concerned chiefly with the division of the territory of Canaan among the individual tribes. "The first part of the book closes with Joshua's triumph, and the second ends with the record of his death."[1]

This chapter begins with a description of the Trans-Jordanian (eastward) conquests of Sihon and Og by Moses and Israel and the settlement of the two and one half tribes east of Jordan, as allowed by Moses. The author here evidently had two purposes in view by his placement of Joshua 12:1-6, as suggested by Woudstra, as follows: (1) "To draw a parallel between Moses and Joshua, and (2) to stress the unity of all Israel."[2]

In the second division of this chapter (Joshua 12:7-24); (1) "The kings in Southern Canaan are listed first (Joshua 12:9-16); and (2) the kings in orthern Canaan are listed last."[3]

Longacre attributed this chapter, indeed the first half of Joshua, to, "JE, RD, and P;"[4] and Morton thought this chapter came from "D."[5] Our own opinion is that it came from JOSHUA! We cannot believe that P, or D, or J, or E, or R, or any of the rest of those imaginary writers were eye-witnesses or participants in the events here outlined. More recent scholarship is beginning to see the impossibility of receiving such allegations regarding the source of Biblical books. Boling, for example, writes: "It must be admitted, however, that there is no direct evidence to show that the label `P' (or any other label, J.B.C.) must be placed on this chapter."[6] The death of all allegations of various sources for Biblical books is in three simple words: O DIRECT EVIDE CE! Furthermore, we declare unequivocally that "there are no prior documents that were copied to make up the holy Bible." If Biblical enemies want to get their "prior sources" accepted by believers, let them produce the documents! Joshua is simply not a piecemeal kind of book. As Lilley put it, "The overall effect (of merely reading it) emphasizes the unity of the book."[7]

" ow 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: Sihon 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; and the Arabah unto the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and unto the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah: and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who dwelt at Ashteroth and at Edrei, and 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. Moses 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."

"Chinneroth ..." (Joshua 12:3). This body of water is called Chinneroth, Tiberias, Gennessereth, and Galilee in the Bible, also with variations of "Sea of ..." or "Lake ..." in each instance. The "Sea of the Arabah" is the Dead Sea. Pisgah was a dramatic promontory overlooking the Arabah, which is the great rift in the earth in which the whole Jordan and the Dead Sea are found. "Pisgah lay near the

northeastern corner of the Dead Sea."[8] "`Beth-jeshimoth' means `house of wastes,'"[9] an appropriate name indeed for a strip of land lying northeast of the Dead Sea and adjacent to it; "It is described by travelers as the most arid portion of the whole land."[10]

As for the scope of the territories that belonged to Sihon and Og, they may be described thus: between them, they controlled all of the Trans-Jordan eastward from the Jordan Valley, with the Jabbok river lying between their territories. Og controlled the northern area as far as mount Hermon, and Sihon controlled the southern sector south of the Jabbok. The mention of "half of Gilead," indicates that the rather indefinite area called "Gilead" was divided about equally between Sihon and Og. (For further details regarding the conquest of Transjordania eastward, see notes, above on Deuteronomy, chapters 2,3. Also, see Vol. 3 in this series of commentaries, under umbers 21.)

"The Rephaim ..." (Joshua 12:4). "These were one of the various tribes of giants, like the Anakims, Zuzims, Emims, of whom we read in the land of Canaan."[11] It is of interest here that Og had two palaces, living both at Ashtaroth and Edrei. Matthew Henry commented that, "Israel took both from him, and made one grave to serve him that could not be content with one palace!"[12]

TRAPP, "Joshua 12:1 ow 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:

Ver. 1. ow these are the kings.] Here we have the epilogue of Israel’s wars under Moses and Joshua; together with a catalogue of the countries which they conquered, and the kings whom they slew.

WHEDO , "Verse 11. The river Arnon — This stream is now called Wady el-Mojeb. It runs circuitously for some eighty miles through a romantic rocky valley, and empties into the Dead Sea near the center of its eastern shore. It became the southern boundary of Reuben, but was originally the border between Moab and the Amorites. See on umbers 21:13.

Mount Hermon — See on Joshua 11:3.

The plain on the east — The Jordan valley east of the river.

Verses 1-6LIST OF THE TRA S-JORDA IC CO QUESTS, Joshua 12:1-6.

This chapter concludes the general history of the conquests, and is a resume of the triumphs under Moses and Joshua. For the historical facts referred to in the first six verses see umbers 21:21-35, and Deuteronomy 2:26-37; Deuteronomy 3:1-17.

ELLICOTT, "SUMMARY OF THE CO QUERED TERRITORY.

(a) According to kings.

(2) Sihon king of the Amorites . . .—For a description of his territory see Deuteronomy 2:31-37.

(4) Og king of Bashan.—See Deuteronomy 3:11.

(6) Them did Moses the servant of the Lord . . . smite.—The continuity of the work of Moses and Joshua should be noticed. The land which God gave to Israel is made up of two portions: (1) a territory on the east of Jordan conquered by Moses, and given by him to two and a half tribes, as the “portion of the law-giver;” (2) a territory on the west of Jordan, of larger extent, conquered by Joshua, and given to nine and a half tribes. But the conquest of Canaan is one enterprise, begun by Moses and finished by Joshua. And the land of Israel is one country, though divided by Jordan into two portions. The analogy between the work of Moses and Joshua in this literal conquest, and the work of Moses and the true Joshua in respect of the inheritance of the Church of God, which was partly won before the passage of Jordan—i.e., before the death of Christ—but much more afterwards, is too plain to be overlooked.

(7) And these are the kings of the country which Joshua . . . smote.—There are two kings reckoned to Moses, and thirty-one to Joshua; making a total of thirty-three. Yet the two slain by Moses are individually represented as far greater than any who are named in this book. And in the Psalms, in more than one place, we have “Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Bashan” expressed by name, and the rest only summarised, as “all the kingdoms of Canaan” (Psalms 135:11-12; Psalms 136:19-20.).

From Baal-gad . . . unto the mount Halak.—See Joshua 11:17.

(9-24) These verses give a list of the thirty-one kings defeated by Joshua. The order of the conquest is followed. We have first the kings of Jericho and Ai; (2) the kings overcome in the southern campaign (Joshua 10) from the king of Jerusalem (Joshua 12:10) to the king of Makkedah (Joshua 12:16). Among these, the kings of Geder, Hormah, Arad, and Adullam have not been previously mentioned in Joshua, nor is the capture of Jarmuth mentioned. The names Hormah and Arad both occur in umbers 21:1; umbers 21:3, where the town of Arad is, after its destruction by Israel, called Hormah. As the cities of the king of Arad are mentioned in that place, it is possible that the Hormah and Arad of this chapter may both be of the number. Or they may be different places. It is also just possible that the capture of those cities may be mentioned in umbers 21 by anticipation, and that the attack of Arad on Israel was not fully avenged until the conquest of Canaan by Joshua. (3) We next read of the kings conquered in the rest of the country, whose cities ranged from Bethel on the south to Hazor on the north. Of the capture of these cities we have no details, with the exception of Hazor (Joshua 11:10). And it should be carefully

noticed how very few of them are in the centre of the country.

The cities mentioned in Joshua 12:9-16 have all been mentioned before, with the exception of Geder, Joshua 12:13 (the Geder of Joshua 15:58), which is identified as Jedûr, in the Hebron mountains.

(16-24) The town of Bethel, on the borders of Benjamin and Ephraim, which passed from the one tribe to the other (Joshua 18:22 and 1 Kings 12:29), seems to mark the geographical transition in this list from the territory conquered in the southern campaign of Joshua, to that which he conquered in his northern campaign.

(17) Tappuah.—There were two cities of this name—viz., one in Judah (Joshua 15:34) and one in Ephraim (Joshua 16:8; Joshua 17:8). The latter is probably intended here. This town was on the borders of Ephraim and Manasseh, and nearly all the towns that follow, so far as identified, lie in a northerly direction. This confirms the opinion already expressed, that a large portion of the centre of Palestine was comparatively uncleared and unoccupied at the time of the conquest.

Hepher is not identified, unless it could be the same as Gath-hepher or Gittah-hepher in Zebulun (Joshua 19:13).

(18) Aphek is a name belonging to six different towns, according to Conder, who does not, however, profess to identify this one. Three of those which he does identify lie in the northern districts.

Lasharon.—Rather, perhaps, Sharon (the first syllable seems to be the Hebrew prefix “to the”). Sharon, in every place (except one) where the name occurs in the Old Testament, has the definite article, and appears as Hassharon; and so in the critical text of Acts 9:35, Assaron rather than Saron. It is the Sharon, or plain; and the king of Lasharon seems to mean the king of that district. Madon, Hazor, and Shimron-meron have been identified as northern towns in Joshua 11

(20) Achshaph is thought to be El-Yasif, in the tribe of Asher.

(21) Taanach is Tânah, in the territory of Issachar, but belonging to Manasseh (Joshua 17:11). Megiddo, though famous in Old Testament history, is not yet identified with certainty, though it appears to survive in Mujedd’a, in the plain of Jezreel, near Beisan (Bethshan).

(22) Kedesh is probably Kedesh- aphtali, and survives in Kedes. There are two others, according to Conder. 1 Chron. (1 Chronicles 6:72 and 1 Chronicles 6:76) proves that there are two places of the name; but is he right in supposing that the Kedesh of Judges 4:11 differs from Kedesh- aphtali in Judges 4:6? Jokneam of Carmel is identified as Tell Keimûn.

(23) Dor—i.e., Tantûra.

Gilgal (there are three places of this name also) is probably Jiljilieh, in the plain of Sharon.

(24) Tirzah is thought to be Teiasîr, in the territory of Manasseh.

PULPIT, "THE EXTE T OF JOSHUA'S CO QUESTS.

Joshua 12:1

ow these are the kings. The historian now enters upon a complete description of the whole territory which had, up to this date, fallen into the hands of the Israelites. First he traces out the border of the trans-Jordanic possessions of Israel, which he describes as bounded on the south by the river Arnon, on the west of course by the Jordan, and as extending from Hermon, past the Sea of Chinneroth, to the borders of the Dead Sea. The eastern border is not clearly defined, but the boundary extended far further eastward in the north than in the south, since the territory of Og was much more extensive than that of Sihon. On the west of Jordan the territory is described as extending "from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon (i.e; Baalbec or Caesarea Philippi; see note on Joshua 11:17) unto the Mount Halak which goeth up to Seir, which we have seen to be a range of mountains extending southward from near the south point of the Dead Sea. The border of the Israelitish possessions is more accurately defined in the succeeding chapters, but it was, after all, a slip of territory not more than 180 miles in length by about 100 in breadth. Its influence upon the history of the world, like that of Athens and Sparta, must not be measured by its size, but by its moral energy. As the former city has attained undying fame by its intellectual power, the second by its mihtary capacity, so Palestine has derived her title to fame from her indestructible national life—indestructible because built alone, of all the religious systems of the ancient world, upon the foundations of the unity and Fatherhood of God; indestructible, moreover, because it came by revelation from God. There is no greater argument for the Divine origin of the Mosaic law than the unique spectacle of a national life like that of the Jews, subsisting for nearly two thousand years after their expulsion from their land. From the river Arnon (see umbers 21:24). The word Arnon Signifies the swift stream (see Gesenius,'Thesaur.' s.v). It is now called by the Arabs, El-Mujeb. Seetzen represents the region round its mouth to be naturally most fertile, but as abandoned now to a few wild plants. Unto Mount Hermon. ow Jebel-es-Sheikh. We have a vivid description of the scenery of Hermon in Psalms 42:1-11; with the noise of its foaming torrents, the "deep calling unto deep" from the recesses of its dark ravines, where the infant Jordan rushed along its rocky bed. The Psalmist pictures to himself his troubles as overwhelming him like the billows of the numerous streams that streaked the mountain sides. And yet again Hermon is introduced as the image of peace and plenty and brotherly love. The refreshing dews which distilled from the side of the giant mountain were the source of blessing to those who dwelt afar off, and even the dry and parched sides of Mount Zion were cooled by their delicious influence. In Psalms 42:6 the Psalmist speaks of Hermon in the plural. Some have regarded this (e.g; Ritter) as referring to the double peak of the mountain. The phrase most probably refers to the region, though Hermon has really three peaks

(see note on Joshua 11:3). And all the plain on the east. The Arabah (see Joshua 3:16). The depression of the Jordan, which lay eastward, of course, of Palestine. This is much insisted on in the following verses.

PULPIT, "The extent of the conquest.

A few detached considerations occur to us here.

I. GOD WELL OT BE WORSE THA HIS WORD. The reduction of the whole land had not yet been effected, but it had been rendered possible if Israel were disposed to follow up his advantage. The list of cities captured covers nearly the whole extent of Palestine, and Canaan had been deprived of all capacity of resistance. So it is with the Christian who has entered into covenant with God. The mastery over sin has been placed in his power. "Sin shall have no more dominion over him," unless he pleases. Every part of his nature is under the dominion of Jesus. Satan and his angels can but cower and submit, unless the Christian prefer accommodation to warfare, and allow himself to be led into alliance or fellowship with evil. It is the making marriages with Canaan, entering into amicable relations with the enemies he has subdued, that betrays Israel to his ruin. God has placed everything in his power. If he will not destroy his enemies when he can, he has but himself to blame.

II. ISRAEL'S POSSESSIO IS A VARIOUS O E. The land of Israel had various characteristics. Mountains and fertile plains, strange deep depressions, declivities, desert, dry arid ground, all formed part of the land flowing with milk and honey. So in the Christian life there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. The heights of rank and intellect, the fertile soil of usefulness and energy, the depths of poverty, ignorance, and absence of mental power, the various inequalities of fortune, the trials of sorrow and adversity, the dryness of soul in prayer, the privation of sympathy and consolation—all these are various elements of the spiritual life, regions on the map of the spiritual Canaan; but all are subject to the power of Jesus, and may, if we will, be made useful in His cause. As the most arid or the most rocky soft in Palestine became, by man's industry, highly productive, so the oil, olive, and honey, the figs, and pomegranates, and vines of our spiritual Israel, may be raised, if we will but be fellow-workers with God, out of the most unpromising natural disposition.

III. JOSHUA'S VICTORIES WERE CAREFULLY KEPT I REMEMBRA CE. So may the Christian, at the end of a long career under the guidance of God's Spirit, look back to the former triumphs he has achieved by His aid, provided he does so in no spirit of Pharisaical boasting, but in gratitude to Him who "has done so great things for him." Many a victory over enemies without and within, many a recollection of a hard fought field, will occur to the veteran in Christ's army when, in the evening of life, he turns his thoughts backward to review the past. And so will the student of history as he reflects on the manifold difficulties encountered by God's Church, and the number and power of the confederacies arrayed against her, enumerate with loving pride the cities she has destroyed, and look forward with

confidence to her final triumph.

PARKER, "Joshua 12 , Joshua 13

THESE two chapters contain a good deal of hard reading. They are studded with unfamiliar and difficult words and names, so that reading them is like reading the writing upon gravestones in a foreign land. Still, there is much for our instruction here. For example, we are called to behold how good a thing it is to keep a detailed record of life. These chapters are in a certain sense diaries or journals. The men of the ancient time wrote down what they did—that is to say, they kept their story freshly before their memories: they lost nothing; they wrote their accounts up to date; and at any given moment they could peruse the record and derive from it the advantage of stimulus which such an exercise could not fail to supply. The twelfth chapter deals with the slaughter of many kings. Their names are given, or the names of their cities. Men were not slain, and forgotten. This was not a heedless fight, wherein the soldiers on the victorious side struck in the dark and knew not what men they slew or what progress they made. The whole matter is detailed, put down—simply, clearly, and definitely. Moses seems to figure but poorly in the record of slaughter. He killed but two kings; and Joshua killed thirty-one kings. But who are the kings that Joshua killed, compared with the kings slain by Moses? The two which Moses slew have famous names; they were great and mighty men. The thirty-one slain by Joshua did not add up to the two slain by Moses. Thus work is estimated by quality. We do not reckon by number in the sanctuary, but by quality and by relation, by just standards, and the weighing is done in scales of gold. The poor woman who gave all she had gave more than all the rich: for they gave out of the margin, out of the abundant and all but unreckonable profit, the surplus of their earnings or savings; but she plucked out her whole heart and cast it into God"s treasury, the only donation she could give; said the Treasurer, It is more than they all. This shall be the law of judgment: according to what we have, according to the quality of our work. The fire shall try every man"s work of what sort it is. He who has killed many kings, and he who has killed but two, shall be judged, not according to the number, but according to the difficulty, the dignity, the quality involved in the tremendous exercise. Do we keep a record of life? How few men write their own story: in truth, there seems in many cases to be nothing to write. But this is quite a mistake. It is better to write the little nothing there Isaiah , than to omit the inscription altogether. A man may be shamed by the very nothingness of his entries to go out and do something worth putting down on paper and leaving as a record. We do not know what we do until we detail it. o man knows how much money he spends unless he puts down every coin. That is the difference between the wise man and the fool. The fool knows nothing as to what he is doing: he goes out in the dark, works in the dark, returns in the dark, and he cannot tell what he has made of the trust which was put into his hands. The wise man is his own Judges , his own scribe and secretary; and many a page he peruses which his hands wrote long ago with tears and penitence, with the difficulty of self-conviction. o man knows how much he gives in charity unless he puts it down. But who dare put that down? Who can say how little paper would be required for the record in many cases? Yet, on the

other hand, who can say how much paper would be required by other men? But there is a deadly sophism which relates, not only to the giving of money, but to the giving of service, which expresses itself in this form: I am always giving. If you think Song of Solomon , you are never giving. Have you put down what you have done, and added it up? ow add up the other page on which the luxuries are written, the adornments of the house, the decorations of the person, the indulgences of appetite, the tribute paid to social ambition. Add up the figures: recite them if you dare! Yet it is well to write down the story—the story of discipline and battle and sorrow: the story of spiritual kings that have been slain, of enemies that have been conquered by love, and of positions that have been seized by prayer.

GUZIK, "Joshua 12 - List of the Conquered Kings

A. Kings defeated by Moses.

1. (1) Introduction: kings conquered by Israel under the leadership of Moses.

These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern Jordan plain:

a. These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated: The land of these kings comprised Israels land on the eastern side of the Jordan river, on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun.

b. Why do we have such an exhaustive, and seemingly tedious list? It only seems tedious to us because we do not live in the land. For those who really had their inheritance there, these were essential matters that touched every day life, answering the question: What land belongs to Israel?

2. (2-3) The defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites and his land that Israel possessed.

One king was Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, which is the border of the Ammonites, and the eastern Jordan plain from the Sea of Chinneroth as far as the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), the road to Beth Jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

3. (4-5) The defeat of Og, kind of Bashan, and his land that Israel possessed.

The other king was Og king of Bashan and his territory, who was of the remnant of the giants, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, and reigned over Mount Hermon, over Salcah, over all Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

4. (6) The eastern lands are deeded to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

These Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the LORD had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

a. Half the tribe of Manasseh: Half of the tribe of Manasseh lived east of the Jordan River, and half of the tribe lived west of the Jordan River.

B. Kings defeated by Joshua.

1. (7-8) A broad description of the lands and Canaanite nations conquered by Israel under the leadership of Joshua.

And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered on this side of the Jordan, on the west, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon as far as Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions, in the mountain country, in the lowlands, in the Jordan plain, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:

a. Again, this only seems tedious to us because it is not our land. If it were our land, we would read each line with great interest.

2. (9-24) A specific recounting of the 31 kings conquered by Joshua.

The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of

Lachish, one; the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; the king of Shimron Meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; the king of Dor in the heights of Dor, one; the king of the people of Gilgal, one; the king of Tirzah, one; all the kings, thirty-one.

a. These descriptions are also important because they make it clear that these things happened in real time, and in real space. These are not fairy tales that begin with once upon a time, this is history that begins with specific places and people and rulers.

b. As well, it was a way that Israel could forever remember the great things God had done for them. Sometimes in the course of human experience it is good to sit down and reflect on what has been conquered by the grace of God. (Redpath)

c. With all these kings conquered - with every one of these principalities and powers over the land defeated - there is no doubt that the land belongs to Israel, but the individual tribes still have much to possess for their own.

LA GE, "EXEGETICAL A D CRITICAL

This twelfth chapter forms a separate section, the third of the first part of our book, and contains a list of all the kings conquered by Moses and Joshua in East and West Palestine. It falls into two subdivisions: (1) a catalogue of the kings conquered east of the Jordan ( Joshua 12:1-6); (2) a catalogue of the kings conquered in Palestine proper ( Joshua 12:7-24).

1. Catalogue of those Conquered East of the Jordan ( Joshua 12:1-6). From the water-course of Arnon unto Mount Hermon, and all the plain [Arabah or Jordan valley] on the East. The Arnon (ארנון for רנון the rushing), umbers 2:13; Deuteronomy 3:8; Deuteronomy 3:12; Deuteronomy 3:16; Deuteronomy 4:48; Isaiah 16:2; Jeremiah 48:20, now the Wady Modscheh, formed the southern boundary of the territory governed by Sihon the king of the Amorites, afterwards the southern boundary of Reuben, as of all Eastern Palestine, against Moab. It flows, in part, through a deep rocky bed, into the Dead Sea. Its source, at least that of the main branch of the Arnon, the Wady el-Safijeh, lies near Kutraneh (Katrane) on the route of the pilgrims from Mecca to Damascus.

To Mount Hermon. According to the Arab. חרמון means a prominent mountain

ridge, “perhaps prop, nose” (Gesen.). According to Deuteronomy 3:9, it was called by the Amorites שניר, by the Sidonians, שריון (but comp. 1 Chronicles 5:23), and according to Deuteronomy 4:48, it was also the same as שיאן. Plur. תרמנים. Psalm 42:7, because it consists of several mountains. In the Psalm referred to, we have a vivid description of the mountain landscape on Hermon; but “the land of splendor, of heaven-towering mountains, and of glorious streams, offers no compensation to the heart of the Psalmist, for the humbler hills of Zion where his God abides (Hitzig, Psalm 68:17). At the present time the mountain is called Jebel Esther -Scheikh. Its height reaches over9,000 feet. The summit is covered with eternal snow (von Raumer p33; Robinson, iii344, 357),[F 3] carefully to be distinguished from this Hermon proper, is the “little Hermon,” so called, which is not mentioned in the Bible. The name originated with Jerome, who misunderstood the plural תרמנים, in Psalm 42:7. He gave that name to the Jebel ed-Duhy (Robinson u. s171, 172).

All the plain (הערבה) on the East. By the Arabah ( Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 2:8; 2 Samuel 4:7; 2 Kings 25:4,) where it has the article, as in these passages, is meant not, in general, a dry steppe, a wilderness, as in Isaiah 33:9; Jeremiah 50:12; Jeremiah 51:43, but, as Robinson (ii599, 600) has shown, the whole of the great valley from the sea of Galilee to the Ælanitic Gulf. It is now (see above on Joshua 11:17) called the Ghor, northward from the. “bald mountain,” and el-Arabah only from that mountain to its southern extremity. This great valley has again different parts which are designated as ערבות, e.g. in our book, Joshua 5:10 the ערבות of Jericho; 2 Kings 25:5, the ערבות of Moab. Here also we have to do with a portion of the Arabah, the portion namely “on the east,” that is on the eastern bank of the Jordan. In general, this valley is a “solitary desert” (Rob. ii265), particularly horrid, south of the Dead Sea. The only exceptions are the small places in the northern part, “over which the Jordan and occasional springs spread an extraordinary fertility” (Rob. ii265, 266).

BI 1-24, "These axe the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote.

The goodness and severity of God

This chapter is a short summary of the work that has been done. In this resume of the conquest Moses is not forgotten. He is named as well as Joshua. The Holy Ghost delights to point out how God causes many instruments to work out His designs, and thus takes all praise from man. Thus the chapter is a miniature, suggesting all the victories that Israel won, and all the defeats which overwhelmed the Canaanites. Accordingly it is valuable as a demonstration that both the promises and the threatenings of God will be fulfilled to the letter. Here as in a glass we see on the one hand the course and the end of those who follow God, and on the other the course and the end of those who resist. Or, we have pointed out to us the narrow way that leads to life, and the broad road that leads to destruction. May we ponder these things and learn the way wherein we should walk.

I. The different roads. That of Israel was the path of obedience. Everything was done by Divine command. But it was not always easy work for Israel to obey. The commands of God not only led along a narrow way, but often brought them up to a strait gate. They had just to go right on, according to the command of God. Obedience was their watchword. To stop and parley was to be lost. Patient endurance characterised them all through. When an old general was asked why he picked out the old veterans for a forced

march he replied, “Because they have the most staying power.” For hard work of any kind this is what tells in the long run; and from the first encounter with Sihon and Og to the last wrestle with the Anakim Israel exhibited this quality both in things physical and things spiritual. Obedience was the path: patient endurance was the characteristic of those who walked therein. On the part of the Canaanites their course was marked by rebellion. They said, “Who is Lord over us?” Thus they hardened themselves against God’s will, and fought it out to the bitter end, learning no lesson and yielding no submission. These two paths of obedience and rebellion have not ceased to be trodden. Neither of them is grass-grown. Thank God there are many who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality. If there must be patient continuance on the part of those who walk the narrow way, there must be constant contention on the part of those who hurry down the broad road. There must be the resistance of the Holy Ghost, of the warnings of conscience, of the light of truth. There must be at times the fear of death and judgment and eternity.

II. The different objects placed before each. That placed before Israel was something very definite and tangible, viz., the sure promise of Jehovah. To them that promise was the title-deed of the Holy Land; therefore all through this war they had in their eye a Divine inheritance, and all the glory and honour which this implied. Can we find any similar incitement on the part of the Canaanites? Nay. Theirs was a hopeless struggle. They were without God and therefore without hope. They obeyed unrighteousness, and were therefore filled with unrest. So is it now. They who walk in the obedience of faith have a glorious object before their eyes to stimulate and encourage them. They seek for glory and honour and immortality. And they have good hope through grace of obtaining it. Yea, they have God’s faithful promise, and therefore glorious assurance of the result. But where is the hope of the rebellious? It is but a vague, unsatisfying dream. At the very best they have no certainty of a happy issue. When they pass hence it is “A leap in the dark.” What a miserable plight is this l Notwithstanding their vast coalitions, their imposing armies, their formidable weapons, their notable leaders, they go forward with fear. The Sihon and Og of materialism, the Adoni-zedek of sacerdotalism, the Jabin of false philosophy, can inspire no true and blessed hope in the hearts of their faltering followers.

III. The different ends. We see the Israelites marching on from victory to victory; entering into Canaan, enjoying the smile of God, and reaping the fruit of their labours. We see the Canaanites swept with the besom of destruction, and all that is left of their mightiest kings is the chronicle of their tombstones as given here. The ends are different because the beginnings are different. Of Israel it might be said, “These all fought in faith.” Of the Canaanites it might be said, “These all died in unbelief.” Paul has laid plainly before us in the Epistle to the Romans these two ends, as we must know them. On the one hand he places eternal life, glory, honour, peace. On the other he places indignation, wrath, tribulation, anguish. One or other of these is the terminus to which every life is hastening. And he also plainly tells us that without faith it is impossible to walk in the good way or to attain the glorious end. Remember then God’s solemn record of the dead. He marks His own as precious jewels, to be worn in His crown in the day of glory, but He counts His enemies but worthless ashes to be trodden under foot. In the Divine record of the dead there are no omissions, no oversights, and no lies. He counts His enemies and He counts His friends. How will He count you? (A. B. Mackay.).

2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.

He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead.

CLARKE, "From Aroer - Aroer was situated on the western side of the river Arnon, in the middle of the valley through which this river takes its course. The kingdom of Sihon extended from the river Arnon and the city of Aroer on the south to the river Jabbok on the north.

And from half Gilead - The mountains of Gilead extended from north to south from Mount Hermon towards the source of the river Arnon, which was about the midst of the extent of the kingdom of Sihon: thus Sihon is said to have possessed the half of Gilead, that is, the half of the mountains and of the country which bore the name of Gilead on the east of his territories.

River Jabbok - This river has its source in the mountains of Gilead; and, running from east to west, falls into Jordan. It bounds the territories of Sihon on the north, and those of the Ammonites on the south.

GILL, "Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon,.... Which he took from the Moabites, and made his capital city, Num_21:26,

and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river of Arnon; a city of Moab, which never fell into the hands of Sihon, and therefore he is said to rule from it but not over it:

and from the middle of the river; that is, the river Arnon, which being the boundary of the Moabites and Amorites, the king of the Amorites might be said to rule from the middle of it:

and from half Gilead even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; so it is said to be, Deu_3:16; it should be rendered, not "from

half Gilead", but "and half Gilead", as it is in the Hebrew text, and so in the Targum; for half Gilead belonged to the kingdom of Sihon, as the other half did to the kingdom of Og, as in Jos_12:5; and so Jarchi remarks.

WHEDO , "2. Aroer — See on Joshua 13:16.

The middle of the river — The midst of the valley of the Arnon. This is “a more exact definition of the previous clause, since the Arnon, which flowed through the middle of the valley, formed the actual boundary; whereas Aroer stood not upon the river itself, but on the northern slope of the valley.” — Keil. Compare chap. Joshua 13:16, note.

And from half Gilead — The word from should be omitted both here and in the next verse. Sihon ruled over the southern half of Gilead, Og over the northern half. Joshua 12:5. Gilead is the name of the great mountain region of limestone on the east of the Jordan, stretching from Mount Lebanon nearly to the territory of Moab. Jabbok is now the Wady Zurka, which intersects the mountain range of Gilead, and falls into the Jordan about half way between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. See on umbers 21:24. Ammon was a son of Lot, born of incestuous intercourse. Genesis 19:30-38. The Ammonites at one time possessed the whole country between the rivers Arnon and Jabbok, from the Jordan on the west to the wilderness on the east. They were driven out of it by Sihon, king of the Amorites, and he was in turn expelled by the Israelites. Yet long subsequent to these events the country was popularly called the land of the Ammonites, and was even claimed by them. Judges 11:12-22. For this reason the Jabbok is still called the border of the children of Ammon.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:2

The river Jabbok. Literally, the pouring or emptying stream. It is remarkable that, while the LXX. renders here by χείµαρρος, a winter torrent, it steadily renders the same Hebrew word, when referring to Aruon, by φάραγξ. This latter word indicates the rocky cleft through which the water flows; the former, the fact that, though rapid and impetuous in winter, it was usually dried up in summer. Cf. the term χείµαρρος, applied to the Kedron by St. John (Joshua 18:1); a remarkable instance of accuracy, by the way, if, as we are confidently told, the author of that Gospel was an Ephesine Gentile who had never seen Jerusalem and was imperfectly acquainted with Jewish localities and customs. The Jabbok has been identified with the Wady Zerka, or blue stream.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:2. Sihon, king of the Amorites, stands first on the list of Canaanite princes subjugated by Moses and Joshua (see above Joshua 2:10). He dwelt at Heshbon, Joshua 13:26; Joshua 21:39; umbers 21:26 ff, which name properly signifies prudence ( Ecclesiastes 12:25, 27; Ecclesiastes 9:10); now Hesban or Hüsban. The ruins of the old city lie on a hill having a magnificent prospect, towards the Dead Sea, and over toward Bethlehem;[F 4] toward the south and east

with no limit but the horizon. Heshbon belonged originally to the Moabites ( umbers 21:26), then to the Amorites, as is evident from our book, and other places, and was allotted to the trans-Jordanic tribes (see below on Joshua 13:17; Joshua 21:39 comp. with 1 Chronicles 7:31). In the days of Isaiah and Jeremiah, Heshbon belonged again to the Moabites ( Isaiah 15:4; Isaiah 16:9; Jeremiah 48:2; Jeremiah 48:45-47). At a later period, according to Josephus (Ant. xiii15, 4), the Jews once more possessed it. Heshbon appears to have had a very strong position, to which the expressions Jeremiah 48:45-47 refer. The ruins have a compass, according to von Raumer’s authority, of more than a mile.

Joshua 12:2. The territory of Sihon is now described in full accordance with umbers 21:24, as extending from the Arnon to the Jabbok. Here again Aroer is particularly mentioned, which [lies] upon the bank of the brook Arnon, and in the middle of the brook, ערער and ערוער, from ערר (to be bare, naked), lies on the north side of the Arnon, and like Heshbon is indicated by Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 48:19) as a Moabite city. It was allotted to Reuben, Joshua 13:9; Joshua 13:16. The city lay, as our passage shows, partly on and partly in the Arnon, i.e. on an island, now Araayr. Carefully to be distinguished from another city Aroer, Joshua 13:25, and from a third city Aroer ( 1 Samuel 30:26; 1 Samuel 30:28), in the tribe of Judah (Rob. ii618), to which David sent presents after the recovery of the booty taken at Ziklag.

Half Gilead.גלעד according to Genesis 31:48 = גלעד, hill of testimony, perhaps rather an appellative for hard, rough region, as Gesenius thinks, which however does not suit with umbers 32:1; Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11; Jeremiah 50:19; Song of Solomon 4:1; Song of Solomon 6:4. Properly the word denotes a mountain on the south bank of the Jabbok ( Genesis 31:21-48; Song of Solomon 4:1), with a city of the same name, now Jebel Dschelaad, then the immediate vicinity of this mountain ( umbers 32:1; Deuteronomy 2:37), and finally, the whole mountain region between the Arnon and the Jabbok, now called Belka. It was bounded on the north by Bashan, on the south by Moab. The designation “land of Gilead” is used inexactly, Deuteronomy 34:1, where it includes also Bashan, likewise in 2 Kings 10:33; 1 Kings 4:19, and often. In such cases, by Gilead is meant the whole land east of the Jordan, so far as it was possessed by the Israelites, Joshua 22:9; Joshua 22:13; Joshua 22:15; Judges 5:17 (von Raumer, p229 ff.). See Introd. p25.

Even unto the brook Jabbok, now Wady Lerka, then יבק, from בקק, to pour out, gush forth, = gushing-brook. The word Isaiah, according to Simonis, to whom Gesenius assents, the Chald. form for יבק. In Genesis 32:2 there is a play upon the word אבק, to wrestle. The Jabbok is here to be viewed as a twofold boundary, (1) in its lower course, a boundary toward the north, (2) in its upper course ( ahr Ammon) as a boundary toward the east against the children of Ammon. A glance at the map will at once show the actual relations.

[Add Smith’s Bible Dict, art. “Gennesaret, Lake of.”]

And unto the sea of the plain (Arabah), the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth. While this eastern part of the Jordan valley is bounded on the north by

the lake of Gennesaret, it is in like manner bounded on the south by the Salt Sea, i.e. the Dead Sea, near which ( umbers 33:48) Beth-jeshimoth lay. To that point the Israelite camp reached from Shittim. It be longed to Reuben ( Joshua 13:20), later to Moah again, Ezekiel 25:9.

And in the south under the foot-hills of Pisgah. On אשדות פ׳ comp. Joshua 10:40. Mount Pisgah, “a part of the mountain of Abarim,” lies to one looking from Jericho, beyond Beth-jeshimoth, in a southeasterly direction, at the northern end of the Dead Sea. Its highest point is ebo, which is sometimes called “Mount Abarim” ( Deuteronomy 32:49), as though its summit, and again, “the top of Pisgah” ( Deuteronomy 3:27; Deuteronomy 34:1), comp. Knobel on umbers 21:11. The relation between Abarim, Pisgah, and ebo Isaiah, with Knobel, to be conceived of as if Abarim were the whole mountain range lying east of the Dead Sea, Pisgah a part of it, namely, the northeastern, and ebo the highest point of Pisgah. This seems to me more simple than with von Raumer (p72), to separate Abarim and Pisgah, and then assume that ebo belonged to Abarim as its (north) western portion, and to Mount Pisgah as its eastern highest extremity.[F 5] The region which sloped along the foot of Mount Pisgah formed the southern boundary of the kingdom of Sihon.

3 He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee[a] to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

CLARKE, "The sea of Chinneroth - Or Gennesareth, the same as the lake or sea of Tiberias.

The Salt Sea on the east - yam�hammelach, which is here translated the Salt ים�המלח

Sea, is understood by others to mean the sea of the city Melach. Where can we find any thing that can be called a salt sea on the east of the lake of Gennesareth? Some think that the lake Asphaltites, called also the Dead Sea, Sea of the Desert, Sea of Sodom, and Salt Sea, is here intended.

Beth-jeshimoth - A city near the Dead Sea in the plains of Moab.

Ashdoth-pisgah - Supposed to be a city at the foot of Mount Pisgah.

GILL, "And from the plain,.... Or rather, "and the plain", the plains of Moab, which, before possessed by the Israelites, belonged to the kingdom of Sihon; and the plains of Jordan, which reached

to the sea of Cinneroth on the east; the same with the lake of Gennesaret, and sea of Tiberias, mentioned in the New Testament, Mat_14:34,

and unto the sea of the plain; where stood the cities of the plain, Sodom, Gomorrah, &c.

even the salt sea on the east; the same with the dead sea, into which the plain the above cities stood on was converted:

the way to Bethjeshimoth; which was a place in the plains of Moab, Num_33:49,

and from the south under Ashdothpisgah; or the springs of Pisgah, which flowed from the mount of that name, Deu_3:17.

TRAPP, "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:

Ver. 3. And unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea.] Otherwise called the Dead Sea, or Lake Asphaltites; the water whereof is so thick, saith Josephus, than an ox, having all his legs bound, will not sink into it; and so pestiferous, that fowls flying over it fall down dead.

WHEDO , "3. [From the plain — The from here as in the previous verse, is confusing. The sense and connexion will be better seen in the following literal rendering of the Hebrew: And (Sihon ruled) the plain, as far as the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and as far as the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, eastward, on the way toward Beth-jeshimoth, and from the south under the ravines of Pisgah. The plain is the Jordan valley on the east side from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee.] The Salt Sea is so called because of the exceeding saltness of its waters —twenty-six pounds of salt to one hundred of water; and a whole mountain ridge on its southwest shore is composed of rock salt. It is commonly called the Dead Sea because no living thing abides in its waters. It is thirteen hundred feet below the Mediterranean, and has no outlet. The Sea of Chinneroth was afterwards called the Sea of Galilee, Sea of Tiberias, and Lake of Gennesaret. See notes and cut at Matthew 4:13. Beth-jeshimoth means house of desolations. It was a Moabite city in the desert at the northeastern extremity of the Dead Sea. Schwarz mentions a Beth-jisimuth as still existing in that locality, but the spot needs further examination.

Ashdoth-pisgah — The ravines of Pisgah; the gorges at the foot or on the sides of

the mountain through which the torrents flow. Comp. chap. Joshua 10:40, note, and Deuteronomy 3:17. The hill Pisgah was opposite Jericho, on the mountains of Abarim, but no traces of the name have been met with in modern times in that locality. See on Deuteronomy 34:1.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:3

And from the plain. There is no "from" in the original, which here ceases to describe the territories of Sihon, but continues the account of the Israelite dominions, which included the Arabah (not the plain as in our version) up to the sea of Chinneroth. On the east; i.e; the east of Jordan. So also below. The way to Beth-jeshimoth (see umbers 33:48, umbers 33:49). There was a desert tract near the Dead Sea called Jeshimon, or the waste district. It is described by travellers as the most arid portion of the whole land. In this, Beth-jeshimoth (the house of desolations) was situated. It was south of the acacia meadows (see note on Joshua 2:1), and it formed part of the territory of Reuben (Joshua 13:20). As it lay upon Jordan, it must have been near the extreme northernmost point of the Dead Sea. We are to understand, not that Sihon's territory extended to Beth-jeshimoth, but in that direction. Possibly some of the western Cauaanitish tribes here extended their territories across the Jordan. And from the south. The word here is not egeb, but Teman, i.e; the literal south, which lay on the right ( ימין ) to one looking eastward. Ashdoth-pisgah. For Ashdoth see Joshua 10:40. Pisgah was the northernmost point of the Abarim range, of which the well.known ebo was the chief peak. Thither Moses went up to view the land which he was not permitted to enter. There Balaam built his seven altars and essayed in vain to curse the children of Israel. There were the watchmen (Zophim) stationed to protect the land, in the days before the Israelitish invasion, from the incursions of the tribes on the other side of Jordan ( umbers 23:14). The position of Pisgah has not been precisely identified, but the range extended on the eastern side of Jordan to a point nearly opposite Jericho. See Deuteronomy 34:1.

4 And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

CLARKE, "Coast of Og king of Bashan - Concerning this person see the notes on Deu_3:11, and on Num_21:35, etc.

The remnant or the giants - Or, Rephaim. See the notes on Gen_6:4; Gen_14:5, and Deu_2:7, Deu_2:11.

GILL, "And the coast of Og king of Bashan,.... The country that he reigned over, who was another king of the Amorites, smitten by Israel in the times of Moses:

which was of the remnant of the giants; See Gill on Deu_3:11,

that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei; of which two places see Deu_1:4; it seems as if Og had a palace in each of those cities, and sometimes was at one and sometimes at another, as is usual with kings.

TRAPP, "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,

Ver. 4. Which was of the remnant of giants.] Slain by the Ammonites. [Deuteronomy 2:20; Deuteronomy 3:11] Raphaims, they called themselves, that is, Physicians or Preservers; but indeed they were Zamzummims, that is, boisterous and abominable. omen inane, crimen immane.

WHEDO , "4. The coast of Og — The territory of this king, with its boundaries.

Remnant of the giants — Or, of the Rephaim. A race of giants who once peopled Eastern Palestine. Genesis 14:5. On Og’s gigantic stature see at Deuteronomy 3:11. On Ashtaroth and Edrei see note at Joshua 13:31.

[5. Salcah — A city in the eastern border of Bashan, now called Sulkhad. It stands on a conical hill at the southern extremity of Jebel Hauran. J.L. Porter, writing in 1868, says: “It has long been deserted, and yet, as nearly as I could estimate, five hundred of its houses are still standing, and from three to four hundred families might settle in it at any moment without laying a stone, or spending an hour’s labour on repairs. The circumference of the town and castle together is about three miles.” The Geshurites were the inhabitants of Geshur, a district on the borders of Bashan and Syria, probably embracing, as Porter concludes, the northern section of the wild and rocky region now known as el-Lejah. The Maachathites occupied a region on the north of Palestine, and apparently extending from near the fountains of the Jordan under Hermon eastward to the plain of Damascus and the defiles of the Argob. Both the Geshurites and the Maachathites were warlike peoples, and were not expelled from their coasts by the warriors of Israel. Joshua 13:13. On the tribal divisions of this trans-Jordanic territory see notes on Joshua 13:15-33.]

LA GE, "Joshua 12:4-6, follow the borders of the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan. Ashtaroth, and Ashtaroth karnaim (קרנים), Genesis 14:5, where were giants; according to Joshua 9:10, the residence of Og; now Tel Ashtareh. The hill (Tel) rises, according to von Raumer (p243), to a height of from fifty to a hundred feet above the plain, in which ruins lie scattered. At the foot of the hill are ancient wall-foundations and copious springs.

Edrei. Here Og was slain, umbers 21:33-35; Deuteronomy 3:1-3. By the Greeks it was called Adraa; by the Crusaders, Adratum, also Civitas Bernardi de Stampis; by Abulfeda, Adsraat; now Draa, a desert basalt city without inhabitants, on a height (von Raumer, p247).

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:4

The giants. Hebrew, Rephaim cf. Genesis 14:5; Genesis 15:20; also Joshua 17:15). The word, according to Ewald, is equivalent to "stretched out." It was also applied to the dead. The Rephaim were one of the various tribes of giants, like the Anakims, Zuzims, and Emims, of whom we read in the land of Canaan. They occupied the land of Bashan and "half Gilead"—that is, its northern portion (see Deuteronomy 3:13). The term "remnant" would imply that they had suffered some reverses at the hands of the other tribes, though they still remained in possession of their populous territory in the north. This view is confirmed by Genesis 14:5. Ashtaroth (see note on Joshua 9:10). Edrei. Or "the strong city," "the city of the arm," according to Gesen; 'Thes.,' s.v. This name, together with the immense number of ruined cities which have been found of late years in a marvellous state of preservation in this region, shows that Og was a powerful monarch. The ease with which he was overcome bears witness to the enervating effects of luxury and licentiousness upon a people of strong physique, vast numbers, and high civilisation.

5 He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maakah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

CLARKE, "The border of the Geshurites - The country of Bashan, in the days of Moses and Joshua, extended from the river Jabbok on the south to the frontiers of the Geshurites and Maachathites on the north, to the foot of the mountains of Hermon.

GILL, "And reigned in Mount Hermon,.... That is, over all the people that inhabited that mount or dwelt under it, Jos_11:17, and adjacent to it, of which mountain; see Gill on Deu_3:8 and See Gill on Deu_3:9,

and in Salcah: which was a city belonging to the kingdom of Og, Deu_3:10,

and in all Bashan; or Batanea, a country famous for pasturage, Mic_7:14, and for fat cattle, Eze_39:18, and for oaks, Isa_2:13, frequently mentioned in Scripture:

unto the border of the Geshurites, and the Maachathites; which were two nations the Israelites never expelled, Jos_13:13; of which see Deu_3:14,

and half Gilead; which belonged to Og, as the other half did to Sihon, before observed, which was as follows:

the border of Sihon king of Heshbon; here the two kingdoms joined, even in the midst of Gilead, which was divided between them, but now wholly fell into the hands of Israel.

TRAPP, "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.

Ver. 5. In mount Hermon.] Which is conceived to be the utmost part of mount Gilead, joining mount Lebanon and Gilead together.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:5

The Geshurites. See Joshua 13:2, Joshua 13:11, Joshua 13:13; and Deuteronomy 3:14; also 2 Samuel 13:37, where we find the principality of Geshur still in possession of its independence. It was in the northeast corner of Bashan, abutting upon Syria, and is called "Geshur in Syria" (2 Samuel 15:8). It is perhaps an instance of undesigned coincidence that Maachah, the mother of Absalom and the daughter of the king of Geshur, was so named, since she probably derived her name from the adjoining territory of Maachah (see note on Joshua 13:2).

LA GE, "Joshua 12:5. Salcah, conquered by the Israelites, Deuteronomy 3:10. ow Szalthat, with eight hundred houses and a castle on basalt rocks, on the southern border of Hauran; uninhabited, like Edrei. Porter saw from the castle of Salcha fourteen [“upwards of thirty,” Giant Cit. of Bash. p76] villages, in part appearing to be newly built, but entirely deserted (ii183, ap. von Raumer).

Over all Bashan unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites. The Maachathites dwelt on the southwest slope of Hermon, at the sources of the Jordan.

“Maachati urbs Amorrhœorum�super�Jordanem�(orum�super�Jordanem�(orum�super�Jordanem�(orum�super�Jordanem�(פפפפ�!�!�!�!נוסנוסנוסנוס#### ןסהןסהןסהןסה’’’’ם�ם�ם�ם� ��Euseb.)�juxta�,�Euseb.)�juxta�,�Euseb.)�juxta�,�Euseb.)�juxta,םחםםחםםחםםחם&&&&

montem�Hermon.”�The�Geshurites�also�are�to�be�sought�on�Mount�Hermon,�near�the�montem�Hermon.”�The�Geshurites�also�are�to�be�sought�on�Mount�Hermon,�near�the�montem�Hermon.”�The�Geshurites�also�are�to�be�sought�on�Mount�Hermon,�near�the�montem�Hermon.”�The�Geshurites�also�are�to�be�sought�on�Mount�Hermon,�near�the�

present�Jedur,�on�the�eastern�fall�of�the�mountain.�See�Ton�Raumer,�ppresent�Jedur,�on�the�eastern�fall�of�the�mountain.�See�Ton�Raumer,�ppresent�Jedur,�on�the�eastern�fall�of�the�mountain.�See�Ton�Raumer,�ppresent�Jedur,�on�the�eastern�fall�of�the�mountain.�See�Ton�Raumer,�p227227227227,�and�,�and�,�and�,�and�

Menke’s�Bibelatlas,�plateMenke’s�Bibelatlas,�plateMenke’s�Bibelatlas,�plateMenke’s�Bibelatlas,�plate3333.�Here�was�the�north�boundary�of�Bashan.�The�east�border�is�.�Here�was�the�north�boundary�of�Bashan.�The�east�border�is�.�Here�was�the�north�boundary�of�Bashan.�The�east�border�is�.�Here�was�the�north�boundary�of�Bashan.�The�east�border�is�

denoted�(see�above)�by�Salcah,�the�south�by�the�half�Gilead,�where)�the�border�(was)�denoted�(see�above)�by�Salcah,�the�south�by�the�half�Gilead,�where)�the�border�(was)�denoted�(see�above)�by�Salcah,�the�south�by�the�half�Gilead,�where)�the�border�(was)�denoted�(see�above)�by�Salcah,�the�south�by�the�half�Gilead,�where)�the�border�(was)�

of�Sihon�king�of�Heshbon,�i.e.�by�the�Jabbok�(�Joshua�of�Sihon�king�of�Heshbon,�i.e.�by�the�Jabbok�(�Joshua�of�Sihon�king�of�Heshbon,�i.e.�by�the�Jabbok�(�Joshua�of�Sihon�king�of�Heshbon,�i.e.�by�the�Jabbok�(�Joshua�12:212:212:212:2).�Toward�the�west�it�).�Toward�the�west�it�).�Toward�the�west�it�).�Toward�the�west�it�

extended�to�the�sea�of�Tiberias;�see�von�Raumer,�pextended�to�the�sea�of�Tiberias;�see�von�Raumer,�pextended�to�the�sea�of�Tiberias;�see�von�Raumer,�pextended�to�the�sea�of�Tiberias;�see�von�Raumer,�p226226226226�ff.�Bashan�and�Batan�ff.�Bashan�and�Batan�ff.�Bashan�and�Batan�ff.�Bashan�and�Batanזזזזa�are�by�a�are�by�a�are�by�a�are�by�

no�means�identical,�as�von�Raumer�has�shown�(ubi�sup.).�Bashan�was�famous�for�its�no�means�identical,�as�von�Raumer�has�shown�(ubi�sup.).�Bashan�was�famous�for�its�no�means�identical,�as�von�Raumer�has�shown�(ubi�sup.).�Bashan�was�famous�for�its�no�means�identical,�as�von�Raumer�has�shown�(ubi�sup.).�Bashan�was�famous�for�its�

oak�forests�(�Isaiah�oak�forests�(�Isaiah�oak�forests�(�Isaiah�oak�forests�(�Isaiah�2:132:132:132:13;�Ezekiel�;�Ezekiel�;�Ezekiel�;�Ezekiel�27:627:627:627:6),�and�fat�cattle;�hence�the�bullocks,�the�rams�of�),�and�fat�cattle;�hence�the�bullocks,�the�rams�of�),�and�fat�cattle;�hence�the�bullocks,�the�rams�of�),�and�fat�cattle;�hence�the�bullocks,�the�rams�of�

Bashan�(�Deuteronomy�Bashan�(�Deuteronomy�Bashan�(�Deuteronomy�Bashan�(�Deuteronomy�32:1432:1432:1432:14;�Amos�;�Amos�;�Amos�;�Amos�4:14:14:14:1;�Psalm�;�Psalm�;�Psalm�;�Psalm�22:1322:1322:1322:13).�The�waters�descending�from�).�The�waters�descending�from�).�The�waters�descending�from�).�The�waters�descending�from�

the�Hauran�fertilize�the�level�land�in�its�northeastern�part,�which�was�afterwards�the�Hauran�fertilize�the�level�land�in�its�northeastern�part,�which�was�afterwards�the�Hauran�fertilize�the�level�land�in�its�northeastern�part,�which�was�afterwards�the�Hauran�fertilize�the�level�land�in�its�northeastern�part,�which�was�afterwards�

inhabited�by�the�tribe�of�Manasseh.inhabited�by�the�tribe�of�Manasseh.inhabited�by�the�tribe�of�Manasseh.inhabited�by�the�tribe�of�Manasseh.

6 Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession.

GILL, "Them did Moses the servant of the Lord, and the children of Israel, smite,.... That is, the inhabitants of those kingdoms they smote with the edge of the sword, and took possession of them, the history of which see in Num_21:1,

and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it; the whole dominion of the two kings before mentioned:

for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh: of which grant, and the conditions of it, see Num_32:1.

BE SO , "Joshua 12:6. Them did Moses and the children of Israel smite — Fresh mercies must not drown the remembrance of former mercies: nor must the glory of the present instruments of good to the church, diminish the just honour of those that went before them. Joshua’s services were confessedly great. But let not those under Moses be forgotten. Both together proclaim God to be the Alpha and Omega of his people’s salvation.

LANGE,�"Jos�LANGE,�"Jos�LANGE,�"Jos�LANGE,�"Jos�12121212::::6666.�Comp.�Numbers�.�Comp.�Numbers�.�Comp.�Numbers�.�Comp.�Numbers�32323232....

2222.�Catalogue�of�the�Kings�vanquished�in�the�Country�West�of�the�Jordan�(�Joshua�.�Catalogue�of�the�Kings�vanquished�in�the�Country�West�of�the�Jordan�(�Joshua�.�Catalogue�of�the�Kings�vanquished�in�the�Country�West�of�the�Jordan�(�Joshua�.�Catalogue�of�the�Kings�vanquished�in�the�Country�West�of�the�Jordan�(�Joshua�12:712:712:712:7----

24242424).�Verses).�Verses).�Verses).�Verses7,87,87,87,8,�coinciding�with�Joshua�,�coinciding�with�Joshua�,�coinciding�with�Joshua�,�coinciding�with�Joshua�11:1611:1611:1611:16;�Joshua�;�Joshua�;�Joshua�;�Joshua�10:4010:4010:4010:40----42424242,�introduce�the�narrative.�,�introduce�the�narrative.�,�introduce�the�narrative.�,�introduce�the�narrative.�

The�Plain�(The�Plain�(The�Plain�(The�Plain�(ערבה) is the western part of the Ghor ( Genesis 13:10); the wilderness

;lies in the province of Judah, and Benjamin ( Joshua 15:61; Joshua 18:11 (מדבר)Matthew 3:3; Matthew 4:1; Matthew 11:7; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4.)

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:6

Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave. Theodoret makes the tribes which received their inheritance through Moses the types of the believing Jews, and those who received it through Jesus (Joshua) the types of the believing Gentiles. Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were the first born of their respective mothers, and were thus types of the Jews, who were God's firstborn. As they passed over armed before their brethren, so we received the good tidings of salvation from the lips of Jews. This is a characteristic specimen of the allegorical interpretation of the early fathers. But it will be observed that the children of Bilhah, who might have been selected more naturally than those of Zilpah, are entirely omitted.

7 Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal

divisions.

BAR ES, "The names of the kings are given in the order of their actual encounter with Joshua. Those enumerated in Jos_12:10-18 either belonged to the league of the southern Canaanites (Jos_10:1 ff), the power of which was broken in the battle of Beth-horon, or were at any rate conquered in the campaign following that battle. Those mentioned in Jos_12:19-24 were in like manner connected with the northern confederates (Jos_11:1 ff), who were defeated at the Waters of Merom.

CLARKE, "From Baal-gad - A repetition of what is mentioned Jos_11:17.

GILL, "And these are the kings of the country,.... After particularly named, Jos_12:9,

which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west; that is, on the west of Jordan:

from Baalgad, in the valley of Lebanon, even unto the mount Halak,

that goeth up to Seir; of which see Jos_11:17,

which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession,

according to their divisions; as after related in this book.

HE RY, "We have here a breviate of Joshua's conquests.

I. The limits of the country he conquered. It lay between Jordan on the east and the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and extended from Baal-gad near Lebanon in the north to Halak, which lay upon the country of Edom in the south, v. 7. The boundaries are more largely described, Num_34:2, etc. But what is here said is enough to show that God had been as good as his word, and had given them possession of all he had promised them by Moses, if they would but have kept it.

JAMISO , "Jos_12:7-24. The one and thirty kings on the west side of Jordan, which Joshua smote.

Baal-gad ... even unto ... Halak — (See on Jos_11:17). A list of thirty-one chief towns is here given; and, as the whole land contained a superficial extent of only fifteen miles in length by fifty in breadth, it is evident that these capital cities belonged to petty and insignificant kingdoms. With a few exceptions, they were not the scenes of any important events recorded in the sacred history, and therefore do not require a particular notice.

K&D 7-8, "List of the thirty-one kings of Canaan whom Joshua smote on the western side of the Jordan, “from Baal-gad, in the valley of Lebanon, to the bald mountain that goeth up towards Seir” (see Jos_11:17). This land Joshua gave to the other tribes of Israel. (On the different parts of the land, see at Jos_9:1; Jos_10:40, and Jos_11:2.)

COFFMA , "Verse 7"And 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; in 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):"

These verses are the beginning of a very long sentence running through Joshua 12:24, in which are recorded the 31 kings and their cities which were destroyed by Joshua and their land given to Israel. The first thing one encounters in the study of this is that there are a number of kings, along with their cities, which are not mentioned in the previous chapters, where is found a more detailed account of the overthrow of the majority of these. Cook explained this thus:

"Those cities mentioned in Joshua 12:10-18 either belonged to the league of the Southern Canaanites, the power of which was broken in the battle of Beth-horon, or were at any rate conquered in the campaign following the battle. Those mentioned in Joshua 12:19-24 were in like manner connected with the northern confederates who were defeated at the Waters of Merom."[13]Significantly, Bethel is among the cities not previously mentioned as having been conquered by Joshua; but it will be recalled that in our study of the destruction of Ai, the defense outpost associated with Bethel, and located almost adjacent to it, that we speculated that it was at that very same time that Bethel and its king were also destroyed, the whole narrative of Joshua existing in the form of a general summary, rather than as a detailed account of everything that happened. This chapter confirms the probability of that being indeed the character of this book, a general summary, not a detailed account of everything.

COKE, "Ver. 7, 8. And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote, on this side Jordan— The author wrote in the country of Canaan, properly so called; and this region was, with respect to him, on this side Jordan, to the west of that river. With respect to the limits which he describes of this conquered land, he specifies them as in ver. 17 of the foregoing chapter. Here Calmet is of opinion, that instead of translating even unto the mount Halak, &c. we should render it, even to the mountains of separation, which serve as limits betwixt the land of Canaan and that of Seir, and rise towards Idumea. othing can better suit with those mountains which lay to the south of Judaea, than this name mountains of separation; to be convinced, we need only cast our eyes over any

accurate map of the country.

TRAPP, "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;

Ver. 7. Which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel.] A spacious and fruitful tract of ground, a country, which if God had fashioned the world like a ring, as he did like a globe, might have been the gem of it. But what was Canaan in its flourish in comparison of heaven, and of that city of pearl, the new Jerusalem, whither the Lord Christ will certainly bring all his people in despite of their enemies! they shall surely and safely sail, through Christ’s blood, into the bosom of the Father, and unto those mountains of spices. [Song of Solomon 8:14]

WHEDO , "Verses 7-137-13. For Baal-gad and Halak see Joshua 11:17. For the Canaanitish tribes see Joshua 3:10.

Jericho — See Joshua 2:1.

Ai and Bethel — See Joshua 7:2.

Jerusalem — See Joshua 10:1.

Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon — See Joshua 10:3.

Gezer — See Joshua 10:33.

Debir — See Joshua 10:38. Geder is now unknown.

14. Hormah — The name of this city was originally Zephath, (Judges 1:17,) and a trace of this latter name Dr. Robinson found in the rocky pass es-Sufah in the mountain barrier which completes the plateau of Southern Palestine; but the true identification is with Sebaita, some twenty-five miles south-west of Beer-sheba. See note on Judges 1:17. The name Hormah commemorates the execution of the ban or curse of utter destruction which Moses pronounced on all the dependencies of Arad, ( umbers 21:2,) and which Judah and Simeon fulfilled. Judges 1:17. Arad still exists in Tell Arad, twenty miles south of Hebron. Dr. Robinson describes it as “a barren-looking eminence rising above the country around.” Its king troubled Israel in their desert journey, umbers 21:1.

Verses 7-24LIST OF THE KI GS SUBDUED BY JOSHUA, Joshua 12:7-24.

[This list is acknowledged by the most rationalistic critics to be a very ancient

document. Ewald speaks of it as “a record of remarkable interest in many ways. Its distinctive antiquity would be sufficiently evident from its enumeration of cities which in those early days were great and powerful, but which afterwards sank into absolute insignificance, or were never heard of again.” It was not improbably composed by Joshua himself. A number of the kings here mentioned are not otherwise known, but so far as the previous history throws light on it this list follows mainly the order of the conquest. On the apparent exceptions see note on Joshua 12:16.

From the fulness of this list as compared with the previous history we at once see that it was no object of the compiler of the Book of Joshua to record a complete history of all the wars and conquests of Joshua. He has given a detailed account of only the most important, but enough to show, together with this list, that under the administration of the great captain the whole land was subdued.]

CO STABLE, "Verses 7-24The slaughter of the western kings12:7-24

The writer identified31kings in the essential order in which Joshua defeated them.

"Many of the same names appear in the Amarna letters, thus confirming the historicity of our text." [ ote: Davis and Whitcomb, p75.]

"The description was not complete. Shechem is not mentioned, and the hills of Ephraim are sparsely represented, as is the territory north of Hazor. Completeness is not the object. The writer seeks to compile a list that will impress the readers with the greatness of the feat of God in working for Israel and of the greatness of the leadership of Joshua in following the example of Moses and completing the task first given to Moses. Still, the writer is aware that much remains to be done." [ ote: Butler, p139.]

This summary concludes the record of the conquest of the land (chs1-12), Joshua"s first major responsibility. He was now able to divide the land among the Israelites (chs13-21), his second great work ( Joshua 1:6).

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:7

And these are the kings of the country. We now proceed to the enumeration of the kings whom Joshua had overcome on the western side of Jordan. And the first thing that strikes us is their immense number, as compared to the two potentates who alone occupied the large tract of country subdued on the other side of Jordan. Such a divided territory could hardly have maintained itself in the face of the powerful monarchs Sihon and Og to the eastward of Jordan. We are thus led to the conclusion that the smaller kings must have been tributary to some more powerful monarch who was the head of the confederacy. Such Bretwaldas, to borrow a term from our own history, the kings of Jerusalem and Hazor appear to have been, the one the head of the northern, the other of the southern tribes of Palestine, while

possibly the five Philistine cities may have constituted another league, as they appear to have successfully defied the power of the Israelites from the first. That such confederacies existed at a much earlier time, we find from Genesis 14:1-5, where the king of Elam, or Persia, appears as the head of such an one, though of a more extensive character. The resistance to his power organised by the kings in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea is another case in point. Possibly in later times Persia and Babylon found their hands full in their conflict with one another, and with Egypt under Thothmes III; as afterwards under the all-conquering Rameses II; better known as Sesostris, and they had to leave the tribes of Palestine awhile to themselves. Or the rulers of the central power at Carchemish (see Introduction) may have exercised a kind of suzerainty over all. The next point to be observed is that, in the list of kings that follows, a good many are mentioned beside those enumerated in Genesis 10:1-32. o doubt, as in the earlier history of this island, there were not only heads of leagues, and their tributary monarchs, but under kings also, who were actually subject to the reigning monarchs, and involved in their fall. Compare the other cities mentioned in connection with Gibeon, Joshua 9:17. Baal-Gad, in the valley of Lebanon. See for this whole passage note on Joshua 11:16, Joshua 11:17.

PULPIT, "HOMILIES BY R. GLOVERJoshua 12:7-24

The catalogue of the vanquished.

A melancholy document, meaning little more to us than a column in a directory, but meaning much to multitudes. Many of these kings would be lamented in elegies as sweet as David's song over Saul and Jonathan. Some, doubtless, were noble, perhaps some devout, but implicated in a national fate to the deserving of which they had not contributed. Linger over these a little and observe—

I. ALL ARMIES WILL FI D THEIR PLACE I O E OF TWO CATALOGUES—THAT OF VICTORS, OR THAT OF VA QUISHED. We lament that to place Israel God must displace others. That heroism conquering a home assumes also heroism fighting in vain to keep one. Life in its deepest action must always be a struggle, ending in victory or defeat. Every foolish life ends in failure, and in a consciousness like that of a beaten general, of plans unwisely formed and forces unhappily employed. Those who follow God's guidance in all the affairs of life are fighters in a combat in which their success confers blessings on themselves and on society at large. All who refuse God's guidance in their general affairs are fighters in a combat in which their success, if achieved, would damage others still more than their failure would hurt themselves. Those who choose wrongly thus find life a losing game, a disastrous battle. It would be well if all realised that not to win a victory with life is to suffer a terrible defeat, is to be left with loss of power, and with infinite damage. In one or other list we all shall be. Crowned as victors, humiliated and discredited as failures.

II. MOST OF THOSE I THAT LIST EVER EXPECTED TO BE I IT. Why should they? They had theories like ours today of the superiority of training in

arms, of fortifications, of what they called their civilisation, to any rude force which nomadic hordes could bring. But they are beaten. Pride goeth before destruction. Many reliant in their strength of purpose are destroyed by temptations they despised. Youth dreams of only bright and golden issues to its life. Too often the only issues are deplorable. Do not assume your life is going to be a grand success. Victory is desert—not drift, achievement—not accident. Even to retain requires energy. These men could not transmit to others what had been transmitted to them.

III. THEY WERE OT SAVED BY PROFESSIO OF SA CTITY. Some of the cities here had already had a long reputation for sanctity. "Jerusalem" had been Melchizedek's seat; "Bethel," the old name of the locality (though the city was Luz), means "the house of God." "Kedesh" means "a holy place." These all seem to have been spots consecrated to the service of the true God. Consecrated peoples have God's protection; consecrated places go without. "Judgment" does not spare, it "begins with the house of God." Later inhabitants of Jerusalem may say, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord axe these." But the sanctity of the site increases, it does not avert the punishment of those profaning it. There is something very solemn in this removal of the candlesticks which had served the Pre-Abrahamic Church. England is today a great Bethel, a sublime Kedesh. May we have grace to act worthily of, and so retain, our eminence.

IV. THE I DIVIDUAL SHARES THE FATE OF THE COMMU ITY. Some of these kings and their people, doubtless, were worthy of a better fate. But implicated in the fortunes of the general community, leaguing with it for its defence, they come in for its fate. It is strange how the individual has to share the lot of the community. The accident of our birth may determine our calling, our fortune, even our creed, and our character. Advantages for which others have wrought, disabilities which others have transmitted, are inherited by us. "Other men have laboured, and we have entered into their labours." Sometimes other men have sinned, and we have entered into their penalty. There is, indeed, an inner realm whose fortunes depend only on ourselves. But we are members one of another, and must participate the general fortune. We should therefore cherish more patriotism, more religious interest in our country's politics and action. The welfare of those yet unborn depends on the wisdom of the generation today existent. Let us not leave to our successors a "heritage of woe," such as was left to these kings of Canaan. Look on them with pity, with modest humility, asking of your soul, "Who maketh thee to differ?" It may be some Canaanitish bard lamented the dead at the waters of Merom, as the Scottish bard did those who fell at Flodden, and sang tenderly of" the flowers of the forest being a' wede away." Let us be thankful that in the past we have been spared such a doom, and careful in the future to avoid it.—G

8 The lands included the hill country, the western

foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the egev. These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These were the kings:

GILL, "In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country,.... Which is a description of the whole land of Canaan; some parts of which were hills and mountains, others vales and champaign fields; others were dry and barren, and others well watered; some part of it lay to the north, as towards Lebanon, and others to the south, towards Seir:

the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; which were the nations that inhabited the land of Canaan before it was taken and possessed by the Israelites.

HE RY, " The various kinds of land that were found in this country, which contributed both to its pleasantness and to its fruitfulness, Jos_12:8. There were mountains, not craggy, and rocky, and barren, which are frightful to the traveller and useless to the inhabitants, but fruitful hills, such as put forth precious things (Deu_33:15), which charmed the spectator's eye and filled the owner's hand. And valleys, not mossy and boggy, but covered with corn, Psa_65:13. There were plains, and springs to water them; and even in that rich land there were wildernesses too, or forests, which were not so thickly inhabited as other parts, yet had towns and houses in them, but served as foils to set off the more pleasant and fruitful countries.

BE SO , "Joshua 12:8. In the wilderness and in the south country — These are joined together because the wilderness was southerly, in the hottest and driest part of the land: but we are not to suppose that the wilderness was a country without people, but only such as was thinly inhabited, in comparison with other parts of the land: for we read of houses and towns in the wilderness, 1 Kings 11:34; 1 Kings 9:18.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:8

The mountains. "Which, as the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15:48), Ephraim (Joshua 16:1), and aphtali (Joshua 19:32), ran through the midst of the land" (Knobel). See Joshua 11:16, Joshua 11:21, and note.

9 the king of Jericho onethe king of Ai (near Bethel) one

CLARKE, "The king of Jericho, etc. - On this and the following verses see the notes on Jos_10:1-3 (note).

GILL, "The king of Jericho, one,.... Who was first taken, and so named first, Jos_6:21,

the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; who was next taken and though Bethel was so near Ai, it had a king of its own, after mentioned, see Jos_7:1.

HE RY, "The several nations that had been in possession of this country - Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, etc., all of them descended from Canaan, the accursed son of Ham, Gen_10:15-18. Seven nations they are called (Deu_7:1), and so many are there reckoned up, but here six only are mentioned, the Girgashites being either lost or left out, though we find them, Gen_10:16 and Gen_15:21. Either they were incorporated with some other of these nations, or, as the tradition of the Jews is, upon the approach of Israel under Joshua they all withdrew and went into Africa, leaving their country to be possessed by Israel, with whom they saw it was to no purpose to contend, and therefore they are not named among the nations that Joshua subdued.

IV. A list of the kings that were conquered and subdued by the sword of Israel, some in the field, others in their own cities, thirty-one in all, and very particularly named and counted, it should seem, in the order in which they were conquered; for the catalogue begins with the kings of Jericho and Ai, then takes in the king of Jerusalem and the princes of the south that were in confederacy with him, and then proceeds to those of the northern association. Now, 1. This shows what a very fruitful country Canaan then was, which could support so many kingdoms, and in which so many kings chose to throng together rather than disperse themselves into other countries, which we may suppose not yet inhabited, but where, though they might find more room, they could not expect such plenty and pleasure: this was the land God spied out for Israel; and yet at this day it is one of the most barren, despicable, and unprofitable countries in the world: such is the effect of the curse it lies under, since its possessors rejected Christ and his gospel, as was foretold by Moses, Deu_29:23. 2. It shows what narrow limits men's ambition was then confined to. These kings contented themselves with the government, each of them, of one city and the towns and villages that pertained to it; and no one of them, for aught that appears, aimed to make himself master of the rest, but, when there was occasion, all united for the common safety. Yet it should seem that what was wanting in the extent of

their territories was made up in the absoluteness of their power, their subjects being all their tenants and vassals, and entirely at their command. 3. It shows how good God was to Israel, in giving them victory over all these kings, and possession of all these kingdoms, and what obligations he hereby laid upon them to observe his statutes and to keep his laws, Psa_105:44, Psa_105:45. Here were thirty-one kingdoms, or seigniories, to be divided among nine tribes and a half of Israel. Of these there fell to the lot of Judah the kingdoms of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Debir, Arad, Libnan, and Adullam, eight in all, besides part of the kingdom of Jerusalem and part of Geder. Benjamin had the kingdoms of Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem, Makkedah, Beth-el, and the nations of Gilgal, six in all. Simeon had the kingdom of Hormah and part of Geder. Ephraim had the kingdoms of Gezer and Tirzah. Manasseh (that half-tribe) had the kingdoms of Tappuah and Hepher, Taanach and Megiddo. Asher had the kingdoms of Aphek and Achshaph. Zebulun had the kingdoms of Lasharon, Shimron-meron, and Jokneam. Naphtali had the kingdoms of Madon, Hazor, and Kedesh. And Issachar had that of Dor. These were some of the great and famous kings that God smote, for his mercy endureth for ever; and gave their land for a heritage, even a heritage unto Israel his servant, for his mercy endureth for ever, Psa_136:17, etc.

K&D 9-18, "The different kings are given in the order in which they were defeated: Jericho (Jos_6:1); Ai (Jos_7:2); Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Jos_10:3); Gezer (Jos_10:33); and Debir (Jos_10:38). Those given in Jos_12:13 and Jos_12:14 are not mentioned by name in Josh 10. Geder, possibly the same as Gedor upon the mountains of Judah (Jos_15:58), which has been preserved under the old name of Jedur (Rob. Pal. ii. p. 186, and Bibl. Res. p. 282). Hormah (i.e., banning) was in the south of Judah (Jos_15:30), and was allotted to the Simeonites (Jos_19:4). It was called Zephath by the Canaanites (Jdg_1:17; see at Num_21:3), was on the southern slope of the mountains of the Amalekites or Amorites, the present ruins of Sepâta, on the western slope of the table-land of Rakhma, two hours and a half to the south-west of Khalasa (Elusa: see Ritter, Erdk. xiv. p. 1085). Arad, also in the Negeb, has been preserved in Tell Arad (see at Num_21:1). Libnah (see at Jos_10:29). Adullam, which is mentioned in Jos_15:35 among the towns of the plain between Jarmuth and Socoh, was in the neighbourhood of a large cave in which David took refuge when flying from Saul (1Sa_22:1; 2Sa_23:13). It was fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch_11:7), and is mentioned in 2 Macc. 12:38 as the city of Odollam. The Onomast. describes it as being ten Roman miles to the east of Eleutheropolis; but this is a mistake, though it has not yet been discovered. So far as the situation is concerned, Deir Dubbân would suit very well, a place about two hours to the north of Beit Jibrin, near to a large number of caves in the white limestone, which form a kind of labyrinth, as well as some vaulted grottos (see Rob. Pal. ii. p. 353, and Van de Velde, Reise, pp. 162-3). Makkedah: possibly Summeil (see at Jos_10:10). Bethel, i.e., Beitin (see Jos_8:17). The situation of the towns which follow in Jos_12:17and Jos_12:18 cannot be determined with certainty, as the names Tappuach, Aphek, and Hefer are met with again in different parts of Canaan, and Lassaron does not occur again. But if we observe, that just as from Jos_12:10 onwards those kings'-towns are first of all enumerated, the capture of which has already been described in Josh 10, and then in Jos_12:15 and Jos_12:16 certain other towns are added which had been taken in the war with the Canaanites of the south, so likewise in Jos_12:19 and Jos_12:20 the capitals of the allied kings of northern Canaan are given first, and after that the other towns that were taken in the northern war, but had not been mentioned by name in Josh 11: there can be no doubt whatever that the four towns in Jos_12:17 and Jos_12:18 are to be classed among the kings'-towns taken in the war with the king of Jerusalem and his

allies, and therefore are to be sought for in the south of Canaan and not in the north. Consequently we cannot agree with Van de Velde and Knobel in identifying Tappuachwith En-Tappuach (Jos_17:7), and looking for it in Atûf, a place to the north-east of Nablus and near the valley of the Jordan; we connect it rather with Tappuach in the lowlands of Judah (Jos_15:34), though the place itself has not yet been discovered. Hefer again is neither to be identified with Gath-hepher in the tribe of Zebulun (Jos_19:13), nor with Chafaraim in the tribe of Issachar (Jos_19:19), but is most probably the capital of the land of Hefer (1Ki_4:10), and to be sought for in the neighbourhood of Socoh in the plain of Judah. Aphek is probably the town of that name not far from Ebenezer (1Sa_4:1), where the ark was taken by the Philistines, and is most likely to be sought for in the plain of Judah, though not in the village of Ahbek (Rob. Pal. ii. p. 343); but it has not yet been traced. Knobel imagines that it was Aphek near to Jezreel (1Sa_29:1), which was situated, according to the Onom., in the neighbourhood of Endor (1Sa_29:1; 1Ki_20:25, 1Ki_20:30); but this Aphek is too far north. Lassaron only occurs here, and hitherto it has been impossible to trace it. Knobel supposes it to be the place called Saruneh, to the west of the lake of Tiberias, and conjectures that the name has been contracted from Lassaron by aphaeresis of the liquid. This is quite possible, if only we could look for Lassaron so far to the north. Bachienne and Rosenmüller imagine it to be the village of Sharon in the celebrated plain of that name, between Lydda and Arsuf.

COFFMA , "Verse 9Due to the nature of the remaining material in this chapter, we shall rely upon a different method of presenting it. Woudstra, and others, have also utilized this manner of reporting it:[14]

the king of Jericho.....................one

the king of Ai, beside Bethel...........one

the king Jerusalem......................one

the king of Hebron......................one

the king of Jarmuth.....................one

the king of Lachish.....................one

the king of Eglon.......................one

the king of Gezer.......................one

the king of Debir.......................one

the king of Geder.......................one

the king of Hormah......................one

the king of Arad........................one

the king of Libnah......................one

the king of Adullam.....................one

the king of Makkedah....................one

the king of Bethel......................one

the king of Tappuah.....................one

the king of Hepher......................one

the king of Aphek.......................one

the king of Lasharon....................one

the king of Madon.......................one

the king of Hazor.......................one

the king of Shimron-meron...............one

the king of Achshaph....................one

the king of Taanach.....................one

the king of Megiddo.....................one

the king of Kedesh......................one

the king of Jokneam in Carmel...........one

the king of Dor in aphath-dor..........one

the king of Goiim in Gilgal.............one

the king of Tirzah......................one

Together - thirty-one kings

A number of scholars refer to the Septuagint (LXX) in connection with this list, but we can see no reason for this. "The Septuagint says, `twenty-nine kings,' and then sets down only twenty-eight, omitting the kings of Bethel, Lasharon, and Madon."[15] It would be impossible to find a more interesting list of names in ancient Palestine than the one here.

"Jericho ..." This was the place of Israel's entry into Canaan. The name of the place probably signifies some ancient moon god, and its history reaches back some 5,000 years![16] It owes its existence to a marvelous spring that supplies an abundance of fresh water. Here Jesus Christ himself healed the blind beggar Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46ff). Here Jesus ate with the chief tax-collector Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). And the memory of a palace in Jericho was still in Jesus' mind when he spoke the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-27). (See my comment under these references in the .T. series of commentaries.)

"Ai ..." In Hebrew, the name is always written with the definite article, "The Heap, or the Ruin. It is identified with the modern `Et Tell' (Arabic: tall heap), two miles east of Bethel (Tell Beitin)."[17] Here the events regarding Achan occurred.

"Jerusalem ..." Called by Jesus himself, "The City of the Great King," from the days of the Monarchy, Jerusalem and its history are indeed the history of Israel. Here the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ occurred.

"Hebron ..." (See my notes on this under Joshua 10:1.)

"Jarmuth ..." (See my notes on this place under Joshua 10:3.)

"Lachish ..." (See my notes on Lachish under Joshua 10:3.)

"Eglon ..." (See my notes regarding Eglon under Joshua 10:3.) It is of interest that a king of Moab by the name Eglon was assassinated by Ehud (Judges 3:12ff).

"Gezer ..." From the earliest times Gezer was an important city on the road between Joppa and Jerusalem. The Egyptians recaptured Gezer following the Conquest (about 1224 B.C.); and the place did not again become a possession of Israel until the times of Solomon, when Pharaoh gave it to his daughter, one of the wives of Solomon. Solomon fortified the place and rebuilt it; and it figured extensively in the Maccabean wars.[18]

"Debir ..." Kiriath-sepher was an ancient name of this place which was a stronghold of the Anakim, located possibly a few miles from Hebron ( oth). It is unmentioned in later history.[19]

"Geder ..." This is a southern town of Canaan, the location of which is unknown.

"Hormah ..." This place was the farthest south to which the victorious Israelites chased the defeated Canaanites following the battle of Beth-horon. The ancient name of it was Zephath. Judges 1:17 mentions it in the episode of its defeat by Judah and Simeon.[20]

"Arad ..." The battle that destroyed this place and its king took place in Hormah (the ancient Zephath, as described in Judges 1:17). Way identified the place as the

modern Tell es Seriah, 15 miles southeast of Gaza.[21]

"Libnah ..." This was a fortified city on the Shephelah (the plateau-like area between the high mountains of central Palestine and the seacoast). Joshua assigned it to the priests. It withstood a siege by Sennacherib; and it was here that Sennacherib's army was destroyed on a single night by an angel of the Lord (2 Kings 19:8).[22]

"Adullam ..." "We first hear of this place in Genesis 38, where Hiram the Adullamite is the friend of Judah. David hid there from king Saul (1 Samuel 22:1ff). Psalms 52 and Psalms 142 were written here, and it was one of the places occupied by the returnees from Babylon ( ehemiah 11:30)."[23]

"Makkedah ..." Makkedah means "the cave," and was the place chosen by the five kings of Hazor's confederacy for a hiding place from Joshua. They were executed and buried in that same cave. The location of the place is not certainly known, but it is supposed to be some seven or more miles from the Mediterranean coast in the vicinity of Aijalon.[24]

"Bethel ..." Bethel is located at the modern Tell Beitin 12 miles north of Jerusalem on the high ridge road. Abraham built an altar here; Jacob had his vision of the ladder here, and set up a pillar. He returned to Bethel after the disaster at Shechem; Jeroboam set up pagan worship at Bethel; and the place figured prominently in the writing of the Minor Prophets.[25]

"Tappuah ..." This means "Apple-city." It was apparently near Lasharon and seems to have been an important city.[26]

"Hepher ..." This appears from 1 Kings 4:10 to have been near to Socoh, but nothing more is known of it."[27]

"Aphek ..." There were several towns of this name ... There is no certainty about which is meant."[28]

"Lasharon ..." "Sarona, between Mount Tabor and the Sea of Tiberias 6.5 miles southwest of Tiberias may be the Biblical La-Sharon."[29]

"Madon ..." (See my notes under Joshua 11:5.)

"Hazor ..." (See my notes above, under Joshua 11:5.)

"Shimron-meron ..." This is probably identical with the Shimron in the territory assigned to Bethlehem (Joshua 19:15), about 3 miles south-southeast of Bethlehem, but this is disputed."[30]

"Achshaph ..." (See my notes under Joshua 11:5.)

"Taanach ..." The Israelites defeated this city and executed its king; the place was assigned to Manasseh, but they were unable to take possession of it and keep it (Joshua 12:21; 17:11; and Judges 1:27)."[31] It was located on the southern edge of the valley of Jezreel and guarded a pass over Mount Carmel. It is right here that we begin to see the need of Israel for those troops that were in Trans-Jordania eastward. Half of Manasseh was there, instead of here; and so the choice of those two and one half tribes was indeed a terrible hindrance to Israel in the subjugation of Canaan.

"Megiddo ..." This city was associated with Taanach; the name means "Stronghold." Together these two places, assigned to Manasseh, controlled the southern flank of the valley of Esdraelon and the most heavily traveled route through the Carmel range to the plain of Sharon. Manasseh was also unable to hold on to this.[32]

"Kedesh ..." This place must not be confused with a Kedesh in the north. This one was located between Taanach and Megiddo, in the neighborhood of Tell Abu Qudeis.[33]

"Jokneam ..." This place was assigned to Zebulun near the border with Manasseh.[34]

"Dor in aphath-dor ..." This name has the meaning of "The Dune of Dor," and is a reference to the famous sea coast town south of Carmel. "It was the capital of Solomon's fourth administrative district (1 Kings 4:11), and was important enough to be governed by one of Solomon's sons-in-law."[35]

"Goiim in Gilgal ..." The meaning of these words is "nations in Gilgal," and most of the commentators cannot understand any meaning at all in the expression. Blair said, "The expression is unintelligible."[36] There is probably a textual problem here. The LXX has, "king of Goiim of Galilee," and later translations prefer this. Woudstra probably has the best solution, proposing that, "This may be the same as Galilee of the Gentiles (Gentiles and nations have the same meaning)."[37]; Matthew 4:15 has this very expression, "Galilee of the Gentiles." This indeed may refer to a place which had a king and which is mentioned here. Besides that, the use of "nations" in the titles of some of those ancient kings was nothing unusual, for example, "Tidal, king of nations" (Genesis 14:1).

"Tirzah ..." This place was the capital of the kings of Israel for a time during the events related in 1Kings. Jeroboam's wife went there after her interview with Ahijah (1 Kings 14:17); Baasha dwelt there (1 Kings 15:21); Elah was slain there by Zimri (1 Kings 16:9,10); and it remained the capital until Omri built Samaria.[38]

Here concludes the summary of the mighty victories of Joshua. "This list is a song of praise to the Lord's honor."[39] If Israel was to be protected against the seduction to the sensuous debaucheries of paganism, it was absolutely necessary that the inhabitants of Canaan be destroyed.

"Joshua was the man destined by God to carry out his program. He is not to be blamed for the severity with which he acted. ot only did he show exemplary faithfulness to the Divine command, but he also remained true to his given word in the case of Rahab and the Gibeonites, and without partiality applied the curse to Achan, one of Israel's own."[40]

These great victories under Joshua are a pledge that God will always fight upon the side of, and in the interests of those who truly love him. "And we know that to them that love God, all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

TRAPP, "Joshua 12:9 The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which [is] beside Bethel, one;

Ver. 9. The king of Jericho, one.] In this one country of Judea - which was not above two hundred miles long, and sixty miles broad: not near the half of England, as good authors compute it - what abundance of kings find we, and what a huge multitude of inhabitants! So here in England of old, were so many cities, so many kings almost. When Caesar entered this island, Kent had four kings that ruled in it: viz., Cingentorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus, and Segonax. Hence Jerome calleth this island Fertilem tyrannorum, full of tyrants.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:9

The list of the cities subdued. The king of Jericho, one. Here follows a list of the royal cities of the Canaanites, the remainder being daughter, or dependent cities, or else, perhaps, like Gibeon, cities whose government was not regal. See Joshua 9:3, and Introduction.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:9. The kings are enumerated generally in the order in which they were conquered. First, accordingly, the kings of Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, and Gezer, in regard to which Joshua 6:2 ff; Joshua 8:29; Joshua 10:1-5; Joshua 10:33 may be compared. Then follows Joshua 12:13, the king of Debir, Joshua 10:39, after him still in the same verse the king of Geder. גדר is called also גדרה, and belonged to the lowland of Judah. ot hitherto recognized.

10 the king of Jerusalem onethe king of Hebron one

GILL, "The king of Jerusalem, one,.... Whose name was Adonizedek, and was one of the five kings taken and hanged, Jos_10:1,

the king of Hebron, one; another of the five kings, whose name was Hoham, Jos_10:3.

11 the king of Jarmuth onethe king of Lachish one

GILL, "The king of Jarmuth, one,.... Whose name was Piram, a third of the five kings before observed, Jos_10:3,

the king of Lachish, one; another of them, whose name was Japhia, Jos_10:3.

12 the king of Eglon onethe king of Gezer one

GILL, "The king of Eglon, one,.... The last of the five kings, and his name was Debir, Jos_10:3,

the king of Gezer, one; who came up to help Lachish, and his name was Horam, Jos_10:33.

13 the king of Debir onethe king of Geder one

BAR ES, "Jos_12:13-20The identification of several of these places is still uncertain: the same name (e. g.

Aphek, Jos_12:18) being applied to various places in various parts of Palestine. Geder, or Gedor Jos_15:58, a city in the mountain district in the south of the territory of Judah, is no doubt the modern “Jedur”.

CLARKE, "The king of Geder - Probably the same with Gedor, Jos_15:58; it was situated in the tribe of Judah.

GILL, "The king of Debir, one,.... The same with Kirjathsepher, of which place; see Gill on Jos_10:38,

the king of Geder, one: Jerom (h) seems to confound this with the tower of Eder, beyond which Jacob pitched his tent, Gen_35:21; and he speaks of a Gaddera in the tribe of Judah, in his time a village belonging to the country about Aelia or Jerusalem, and of Gahedur in the tribe of Judah, a large village, ten miles from Diospolis or Lydda, as you go to Eleutheropolis: it seems to be the same with Gederah, Jos_15:36, or Gedor, Jos_15:58.

COKE, "Ver. 13. The king of Geder— This is the first and only time that mention is made of a king of Geder. This city is in all probability the same as Gedera, Gederothaim, Gederoth or Geder, in the tribe of Judah, mentioned chap. Joshua 15:36; Joshua 15:41; Joshua 15:58 and 2 Chronicles 28:18. We cannot tell the exact situation of it; but it seems not to have been far distant from Jamnia. Strabo calls it Godara, and places it within the territory of Joppa and Jamnia. Bochart says, that all these names carry the idea of cities inclosed with hedges. See Can. lib. 1: cap. 34.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:13

The king of Geder. Perhaps the same as Gederah in Joshua 15:36. If so, it is the Gedor of the Onomasticon, ten miles from Beit-Jibrin, or Eleutheropolis, now Jedireh. Conder, however, with whom Vandevelde seems to agree, places Geder in the mountain region, and identifies it with Gedor (Joshua 15:58) and the modern

Jedur, in the Hebron mountain. So Keil and Delitzsch, Robinson, and others. The Gedor in 1 Chronicles 4:39 may be the same place. It is described as on the east side of the "gai," or ravine, but no clearer indication of the place is given. It is, however, unlikely that the Simeonites would have found the children of tiara undisturbed in the mountains of Hebron in the reign of Hezekiah (see 1 Chronicles 4:40, 1 Chronicles 4:41). The LXX. reads Gerar, and this is very probably the true reading. There was a " ahal," or winter torrent, there (Genesis 26:17, Genesis 26:19), and therefore possibly a "gal." The whole passage in 1 Chronicles should be consulted.

14 the king of Hormah onethe king of Arad one

CLARKE, "The king of Hormah - Supposed to be the place where the Israelites were defeated by the Canaanites see Num_14:45; and which probably was called

Hormah, הרמה chormah, or destruction, from this circumstance.

GILL, "The king of Hormah, one,.... Which was formerly called Zephath, Jdg_1:17; see Jos_15:3,

the king of Arad, one; perhaps the same with Arath, which, Jerom (i) says, is the border of the land of Judah, and is twenty miles distant from Hebron to the south; see Num_21:1.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:14

Hormah, Arad. Cities in the egeb, near the border of Edom (see umbers 14:45; umbers 21:1, umbers 21:3; umbers 33:40). Hor-mah was originally known as Zephath (see 1:16, 1:17, where the fullest description of the locality is given). It was in the wilderness of Judaea, in the arid country ( egeb) of Arad. Mr. Palmer identifies it with Sebaita, in the centre of the egeb, in the Magrah-el-Esbaita, a mountain valley sloping down into the Wady-el-Abyadh. Other explorers prefer Sulifat, and Rowlands and G. Williams, Sepata.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:14. Hormah, earlier Zephat ( Judges 1:17). Robinson (ii616, .) seeks the city near the pass Esther -Sufeh, W. S. W. of the Dead Sea, where the

Israelites were defeated by the Canaanites ( umbers 14:44-45; Deuteronomy 1:44), and subsequently the Canaanites by the Israelites ( umbers 21:1-3; Judges 1:17). Perhaps it stood, as von Raumer suspects, on the adjacent Mount Madurah, of which the saying goes, that a city stood upon it at which God became angry so that He destroyed it. To this it suits that the city of Zephath was later called Hormah .(חרם i.e. devoted to destruction, cognate with ,חרמה)

Arad, named also umbers 21:1-3, and Judges 1:16-17, near the wilderness of Kadesh, twenty Roman miles south of Hebron. Robinson (ii473) saw from a distance the hill Arad. He also rightly refers Joshua 10:41 to the subjugation of Arad, whose Inhabitants had previously ( umbers 21:1-3), like those of Hormah, driven back the Israelites.

15 the king of Libnah onethe king of Adullam one

CLARKE, "Adullam - A city belonging to the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:35. In a cave at this place David often secreted himself during his persecution by Saul; 1Sa_22:1.

GILL, "The king of Libnah, one,.... Taken at the same time as the kings of Makkedah, Debir, and of other places were, Jos_10:29,

the king of Adullam, one; a city in the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:35; Jerom says (k)there was a village in his time, not a small one, called by this name, ten miles to the east of Eleutheropolis: near to this place was a cave where David hid himself when he fled from Saul, 1Sa_22:1; See Gill on Mic_1:15.

COKE, "Ver. 15. The king of Adullam— A city of Judah, chap. Joshua 15:35 well known for the retreat of David, who, during his disgrace, often concealed himself in the caves of Adullam, 1 Samuel 22:1. Eusebius says, that it was a very large city in his time, about ten miles from Eleutheropolis; and St. Jerome, that it was not a small city. See de. Loc. Heb.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:15

Adullam. In the Shephelah (valley in our version. See Joshua 15:33-35). Canon Tristram in his 'Bible Lands,' as well as Conder in his 'Handbook,' identify this with Aid-el-Me, or Mich. In the Quarterly Paper of the Palestine Exploration Fund for July, 1875, Lieut. Conder details a visit to this place, previously identified by M. Clermont-Ganneau. These explorers reject the idea approved by Vandevelde and others, that this Deir Dabban is the ancient Adullam. The place he prefers fulfils all requirements. It is in the Shephelah. It is near Jarmuth and Socoh. It is an ancient site with "rock cut tombs, good water supply, and main road, and communications from different sides, and it is moreover a strong military position. It contains no remarkable cave, but a number of small ones, now used as habitations by the peasantry." Keilah, which David saved from the Philistines (1 Samuel 23:1-5), was within a reasonable distance. The present name, Aid-el-Me or Mieh, the feast of the hundred, may be a misapprehension of the word Adullam similar to that which converts the Welsh "yr eifel," in Carnarvonshire, into the English "the rivals," or which identifies in many English names the English burn (brook) with the French borne (boundary). One of the greatest objections to the theory is that the Hebrew so frequently speaks of the place as Cave-Adullam (Ma'arah-Adullam), as though some special cave existed there. Adullam plays a somewhat important part in Scripture history. We hear of it as early as Genesis 38:1-30; where Hirah the Adullamite is spoken of as a friend of the patriarch Judah. It is well known as the refuge of David and his mighty men (1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13-17). It was the place where David composed two of his psalms, the 57th and the 142nd. Rehoboam fortified it (2 Chronicles 11:7). It seems to be regarded as a refuge in Micah 1:15. And it is mentioned among the cities re-occupied after the return from the captivity in ehemiah 11:30.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:15. Libnah, Joshua 10:29-30; Joshua 15:42. Adullam, Joshua 15:35, fortified by Rehoboam (2 Joshua 11:7); famous for its cave, David’s refuge ( 1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13; 1 Chronicles 12:15). In a.d1138, the inhabitants of Tekoah took refuge there from the Saracens, Will. Tyr. Joshua 15:6 (von Raumer, p169).

16 the king of Makkedahonethe king of Bethel one

GILL, "The king of Makkedah, one,.... In a cave near to which five kings hid themselves, and were taken out and hanged, and the city afterwards was taken by Joshua, Jos_10:16; which fell to the lot of the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:41,

the king of Bethel, one; a city near to Ai, about a mile from it, and yet had a king over it: it was taken at the same time that Ai was, Jos_7:2; and fell to the lot of Benjamin, Jos_18:22.

WHEDO , "16. Makkedah — See Joshua 10:10.

Beth-el — See Joshua 7:2. [Whether the kings of Beth-el and Makkedah here mentioned were slain at the taking of Ai (compare Joshua 8:17, note) and the battle of Beth-horon (Joshua 10:28) is somewhat doubtful. It is expressly said that Joshua took Makkedah and destroyed its king in connexion with the great battle of Beth-horon, and it is also said that the men of Beth-el fought against Israel with the men of Ai. But the order of this list would seem to indicate that these kings fell after Joshua had conquered Southern Palestine and was returning northward. It is possible, however, that Beth-el and Makkedah may have recovered somewhat from their fall while Joshua was in the far south, and when he returned northward gave him battle again.

The same may be said of Libnah in the preceding verse compared with Joshua 10:30. But on the whole it seems more probable that this list does not mean to chronicle the names of the cities in the exact order of their conquest.]

LA GE, "Joshua 12:16. Makkedah, Joshua 10:10; Joshua 10:16-17; Joshua 10:21. Bethel, earlier Luz (לוז), sufficiently known; to the right of the road from Jerusalem to Shechem; the place where Jacob saw in his dream the ladder from earth to heaven ( Genesis 28:11-19; Genesis 31:13; Hosea 12:5); rendered infamous subsequently by the worship of the calves ( 1 Kings 12:28; 1 Kings 12:33; 1 Kings 13:1), hence called Beth-aven (different from Beth-aven in Joshua 7:2; Joshua 18:12), by the prophets ( Amos 5:5; Hosea 4:15, and often). The missionary icolayson discovered Bethel, 1836. According to Robinson (ii127) it is now called Beitin, three and three-quarter hours from Jerusalem. See more in Robinson ubi sup, von Raumer, pp178, 179 [Tristram, Stanley].

17 the king of Tappuah onethe king of Hepher one

CLARKE, "Tappuah - There were two places of this name: one in the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:34, and another in the tribe of Ephraim on the borders of Manasseh; but which of the two is meant here cannot be ascertained. See the note on Jos_15:53.

Hepher - The same, according to Calmet, as Ophrah in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos_18:23.

GILL, "The king of Tappuah, one,.... Which Jerom calls (l) Thaffu; it signifies an apple, and perhaps had its name from plenty of that fruit that grew there: a city of this name fell to the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:34; where also was another place called Bethtappuah, Jos_15:53; and both different from another Tappuah on the border of Manasseh, which belonged to the tribe of Ephraim, Jos_17:8; by some thought to be meant here:

the king of Hepher, one; mention is made of Gittahhepher as on the border of Zebulun, Jos_19:13; the same with Gathhepher, of which place was the Prophet Jonah, 2Ki_14:25; and of the land of Hepher in 1Ki_4:10; which is said by Jerom to be in the same tribe, and not far from Diocaesarea or Zippore; and we read of a Chepher or Hepher in the Jewish writings (m), which, according to the account of it there given, could not be far from the same place, at least it must be less than twelve miles from it.

COKE, "Ver. 17. The king of Tappuah— It seems that there were two cities of this name; one in the tribe of Judah, chap. Joshua 15:34, Joshua 16:8, Joshua 17:8 the other belonging to that of Ephraim, on the borders of Manasseh. It is difficult to say which of the two is here spoken of; perhaps the last: what would incline to this opinion is, that the king of Tappuah is named immediately after the king of Beth-el, a city placed on the confines of Ephraim and Benjamin, and before the king of Hepher, a city of the tribe of Zebulun, not far from Beth-el. Calmet places Tappuah in the tribe of Judah.

The king of Hepher— The land of Hepher is spoken of, 1 Kings 4:10. St. Jerome places it in the tribe of Zebulun, near Sephorim or Diocesarea.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:17. Tappuah, comp. Joshua 15:34; Joshua 15:53; Joshua 17:7. Hepher, in the plain of Jezreel in Issachar, Joshua 19:19 (Knobel).

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:17

Tappuah. Literally "apple city." It is difficult say whether this was Tappuah in Judah (Joshua 15:34; cf. Joshua 15:53), or in Manasseh (Joshua 16:8; Joshua 17:7,

Joshua 17:8). The mention of Aphekah in Joshua 15:53, and of Aphek here, would suggest the former, or the mention of Socoh in Joshua 15:34 (see below on Hepher). But the mention of Lasharon, the fact that there is more than one other Aphek, that Tappuah on the borders of Ephraim and Manasseh seems to have been an important city, and that the cities of the south are mentioned first, those of the north afterwards, and that Tappuah seems to lie about midway, suggest the more northern city. This is Knobel's opinion. Gesenius inclines to the southern Tappuah. Conder identifies it with Yassfif, at the head of the Wady Kanah, southeast of Shechem. Vandevelde with Atuf, four hours northeast by east from Shechem. Keil prefers the former site. Hepher. This appears, from 1 Kings 4:10, to have been near to Socoh, but nothing more is known of it. Aphek. Literally, fortress, though some think it comes from a Syriac root kindred to the Hebrew, signifying to hold fast, to embrace, and that it has reference to the sensual worship of Ashtaroth and Thammuz. There were several towns of this name (see notes on Joshua 13:4; Joshua 15:53; Joshua 19:30). Lasharon is probably the same as Sharon, or Hasharon (Isaiah 33:9). This is the plain between Joppa and Carmel (Vandevelde). Conder and Kuobel identify with Sarona, or Saroneh, a place near the sea of Tiberias. See, however, Acts 8:32-38. Madon is mentioned in Joshua 11:1, and has been conjecturally identified with Madin, near the sea of Galilee. Shimron-meron is also mentioned in Joshua 11:1. It appears among the cities assigned to Zebulun in Joshua 19:15. Ewald ('Hist. Israel,' Joshua 2:2 c) remarks on 'the antiquity of this list, referring as it does to cities which are never heard of again. Achshaph lay within the borders of Asher (Joshua 19:25). It has been supposed to be the modern Yasif, near the shores of the Mediterranean (see note on Joshua 11:1). Taanach and Megiddo are frequently mentioned together (see Joshua 17:11; 1:27; 5:19). The former became a Levitical city. The latter, being in the great plain of Jezreel, or Esdraelon, lay in the way of most Eastern conquerors. Hence we find it mentioned in the Karnak inscription by the name of Magedi in the victorious expedition of Thothmes III; in which "the whole of the Syrian, Palestinian, and Arabian nations were overcome and forced to pay tribute.". The great battle on the slopes of Mount Tabor was carried on as far as Megiddo ( 5:19). ot far from this were the Midianites pitched, who fell victims to the valour of Gideon ( 7:1-25). Another and a disastrous battle of Megiddo, against the king of Egypt, weakened Judaea, and caused it to fall an easy victory to the power of ebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 23:29, 2 Kings 23:30; 2 Chronicles 35:20-24. The valley of Megiddo, or Megiddon, is mentioned in Zechariah 12:11. Solomon fortified Megiddo (1 Kings 9:15), assigned it to Baana, the son of Ahilud, with Taanach, as one of the cities required to provide food for the royal household (1 Kings 4:12) And the Jewish writer of the Apocalypse makes this great battlefield of his race the scene of the battle of the great day of the Almighty (Revelation 16:14, Revelation 16:16). For Armageddon is Har Mageddon, the mountain of Mageddon, or Megiddo. Megiddo and Taanach are also found in later periods of Egyptian history. The Mohar mentioned above (Joshua 1:4) notices the former among the places he visited ('Records of the Past,' vol. 2), while the latter is among the places captured by Shishak, as an inscription testifies. The latest explorers reject the identification with Lcgio, or Lejjun, and suggest Mejedda, at the foot of Gilboa, near Beth-shean. See Palestine Exploration Fund, Quarterly Paper, January, 1877.

18 the king of Aphekonethe king of Lasharonone

CLARKE, "Aphek - There were several cities of this name: one in the tribe of Asher, Jos_19:30, another in the tribe of Judah, 1Sa_4:1; 1Sa_29:1; and a third in Syria, 1Ki_20:26, and 2Ki_13:17. Which of the two former is here intended cannot be ascertained.

Lasharon - There is no city of this name known. Some consider the ל lamed in the

word לשרון lashsharon to be the sign of the genitive case, and in this sense it appears to

have been understood by the Vulgate, which translates rex Saron, the king of Sharon. This was rather a district than a city, and is celebrated in the Scriptures for its fertility; Isa_33:9; Isa_35:2. Some suppose it was the same with Saron, near Lydda, mentioned Act_9:35.

GILL, "The king of Aphek, one,.... There was a place called Aphekah in the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:53; and an Aphek that was on the border of the Amorites, Jos_13:4; and another in the tribe of Asher, Jos_19:30; but Adrichomius (n) places this Aphek in the tribe of Issachar, whose king Joshua smote, and takes it to be the same place where the Philistines in the times of Samuel and David brought their armies against Israel, 1Sa_4:1; and where the king of Syria fought against Israel, 1Ki_20:26; and says that its ruins were now shown in the great plain not far from Gilboa to the east of Mount Carmel, and five miles from Tabor:

the king of Lasharon, one; which, according to the Vulgate Latin version, is the same with Saron, which, in Act_9:35, in some copies is called Assaron; so Adrichomius (o), who places it in the tribe of Ephraim, and takes it to be the same Sharon Isaiah speaks of, Isa_33:9; and of which Jerom says (p), to this day there is a country between Tabor and the lake of Tiberias called Saronas, and also that from Caesarea of Palestine to the town of Joppa, all the land that is seen bears that name.

COKE, "Ver. 18. The king of Aphek— In the country conquered by Joshua, there were at least two cities of this name; one in the tribe of Judah, chap. Joshua 15:53 the other in the tribe of Asher, chap. Joshua 19:30. But we cannot venture to determine which of the two is here spoken of.

The king of Lasharon— There is no city of this name now known. Modern interpreters, following the Vulgate, consider the letter ל l, in the Hebrew, as a mark of the genitive, and translate of Sharon, as it stands in the margin of our Bibles. The place now in question, we should apprehend to be that city of Saron which was near Lydda, (Acts 9:35.) and whose delightful and fertile plains are so often celebrated in other parts of Scripture. Isaiah 33:9; Isaiah 35:2. There was also a Sharon to the east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad, which some think to be mentioned, Isaiah 65:10. Eusebius and St. Jerome say, that the whole country from Cesarea to Joppa went by the name of Joppa, as well as the plains which extended from mount Tabor to the lake of Gennesareth. Perhaps it is this district, not a city, that is here intended by the sacred writer. Reland asserts, that the name of Sharon was given only to the country situated between Joppa and Cesarea, and that there was no city of this name in the tribe of Gad; but that the people of this tribe sent their flocks to the rich pastures of Sharon. Indeed, in 1 Chronicles 5:16 it is only said, that the children of Gad dwelt in all the suburbs of Sharon; but why in the suburbs, and not in the cities, if the country had belonged to them? It was in the suburbs that the beasts were lodged; umbers 35:3. Joshua 14:4. And the law allowed the sending them from one place to another, in the pastures belonging to the suburbs dependant on cities of a tribe to which they did not belong.

WHEDO , "18. Aphek — This can hardly be the Aphek of the tribe of Asher (Joshua 19:30) which is mentioned in Joshua 13:4, but it was probably identical with the Aphek not far from Jezreel, where the Philistines gathered their forces before the fearful battle of Gilboa. 1 Samuel 29:1. Its site has not been certainly identified. Lasharon is mentioned here only and is now unknown. Some think the first syllable is not an integral part of the name, but would read king of Sharon. But this is unlikely.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:18. Aphek, Joshua 13:4. Lassaron, mentioned only in this place. The site has not been discovered.

19 the king of Madon onethe king of Hazor one

GILL, "The king of Madon, one,.... Whose name was Jobab, Jos_11:1,

the king of Hazor, one; whose name was Jabin, and of him and his city; see Gill on Jos_11:1.

WHEDO , "19, 20. On the cities mentioned in these verses see Joshua 11:1.

[21. Taanach — In the Scripture Taanach and Megiddo are generally mentioned together. They were the two most distinguished cities in that rich tract of land which forms the western portion of the great Plain of Esdraelon. Taanach is still found in the ruins of Taanuk, which are on an elevated mound near the base of the hills of Manasseh, the southeastern part of the Carmel range, and about six miles southwest of the city of Jezreel. Megiddo also is identified with the modern el-Lejjum, four or five miles northwest of Taanach. Both these places were chiefly famous for their association with the wars of Israel. Taanach was assigned to the Levites. Joshua 21:25.

LA GE, "Jos 12:19. Madon, Jos 11:1. Hazor, Jos 11:1-10; Jos 19:37.

20 the king of Shimron Meron onethe king of Akshaph one

GILL, "The king of Shimronmeron, one,.... See Jos_11:1, this place fell to the tribe of Zebulun, Jos_19:15,

the king of Achshaph, one; see Jos_11:1; this city fell to the lot of Asher, Jos_19:25.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:20. Shimron-meron, Joshua 11:1; Joshua 19:37. Achshaph, Joshua 11:1; Joshua 19:25.

21 the king of Taanach onethe king of Megiddo one

BAR ES, "Jos_12:21Taanach - A Levitical town Jos_21:25 in the territory of Issachar, but assigned to the

Manassites (Jos_17:11; Compare 1Ch_7:29), is identified with “Taanuk”. It was here that Barak encountered the host of Sisera Jdg_5:19. Megiddo was near it, and is thought to have been “el Lejjun” (the Roman Legion), (or Mujedd’a (Conder)).

CLARKE, "Taanach - A city in the half tribe of Manasseh, to the west of Jordan, not far from the frontiers of Zebulun, Jos_17:11. This city was assigned to the Levites, Jos_21:25.

GILL, "The king of Taanach, one,.... It was in the tribe of Manasseh, Jos_17:11; Jerom says (q), in his time it was a large village, distant from Legion on the plain of Esdraelon three miles:

the king of Megiddo, one; which belonged to the same tribe, Jos_17:11; near this place were some waters where the Canaanites fought with the Israelites, Jdg_5:19; and a valley where Josiah was slain, 2Ch_35:22.

K&D, "Taanach, which was allotted to the Manassites in the territory of Issachar, and given up to the Levites (Jos_17:11; Jos_21:25), but was not entirely wrested from the Canaanites (Jdg_1:27), is the present Tell Taënak, an hour and a quarter to the south-east of Lejun, a flat hill sown with corn; whilst the old name has been preserved in the small village of Taânak, at the south-eastern foot of the Tell (see Van de Velde, i. p. 269, and Rob. Pal. iii. p. 156). - Megiddo, which was also allotted to the Manassites in the territory of Issachar, though without the Canaanites having been entirely expelled (Jos_17:11; Jdg_1:27), was fortified by Solomon (1Ki_9:15), and is also well known as the place were Ahaziah died (2Ki_9:27), and where Josiah was beaten and slain by Pharaoh Necho (2Ki_23:29-30; 2Ch_35:20.). Robinson has shown that it was preserved in the Legio of a later time, the present Lejun (Pal. iii. pp. 177ff.; see also Bibl. Res. p. 116).

COKE, "Ver. 21. The king of Taanach—The king of Megiddo— Taanach, a city assigned to the Levites, chap. Joshua 21:25 in the half tribe of Manasseh, to the west of Jordan, chap. Joshua 17:11 was not far from the frontiers of Zebulun. Eusebius and St. Jerome place it four miles from Legion; but this latter city, well known in the book of the Laws of Palestine, written by the first, and translated by the second of these learned men, being now unknown, cannot help us to fix the precise distances. Cellarius places Taanach between mount Tabor and the Mediterranean sea, fifteen miles from azareth westward. Taanach seems to have been not far from the river Kishon, and the city of Megiddo. Judges 5:19-21. We should add that the Canaanites were not entirely driven from thence: probably, they seized upon it after

the death of Joshua: see Judges 1:27-28. Megiddo, situate near the Kishon, belonged as well as Taanach, to the half tribe of Manasseh; Judges 5:19. The Canaanites held it a long time; ch. Joshua 17:11-13. Solomon rebuilt it; 1 Kings 9:15 and in its neighbourhood Josiah was defeated by the king of Egypt, 2 Chronicles 25:22.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:21. Taanach in Samaria, within the circuit of Issachar, but belonging to Manasseh ( Joshua 17:11), although not conquered by him ( Judges 1:27). A city of the Levites, Joshua 21:25. Here Barak conquered ( Judges 5:19). Robinson (ii156, 157), and Schubert (iii164), saw Taanach (now Ta’ann)k) from the neighborhood of Jennin (Ginnהa), von Raumer, p165.

Megiddo, likewise in Samaria, belonging to Manasseh but beyond his border ( Joshua 17:11), and likewise unconquered by that tribe ( Judges 1:27). Here Ahaziah died in his flight from Jehu ( 2 Kings 9:27), and here Josiah was fatally wounded in the battle against echo king of Egypt ( 2 Chronicles 35:20; 2 Chronicles 35:25; 2 Chronicles 23:29-30).

22 the king of Kedesh onethe king of Jokneam in Carmel one

BAR ES, "Jos_12:22Kedesh - i. e. Kedesh Naphtali, a city of refuge, a Levitical city, and the home of Barak

Jdg_9:6.

Jokneam - A Levitical city in the territory of Zebulon Jos_19:11; perhaps the modern “Kaimon”. “Tell Kaimon” is a conspicuous and important position, commanding the main pass across the ridge of Carmel from Phoenicia to Egypt. This famous mountain range (about 15 miles long) no doubt received the name Carmel (the word means “a fruitful field” as opposed to “wilderness”) as descriptive of its character; and thus the name became an emblem of beauty and luxuriance (Isa_35:2; Son_7:5, etc.). Its highest part, about 4 miles from Tell Kaimon, is nearly 1,750 feet above the sea. Its modern name, “Jebel Mar Elias”, preserves still that association with the great deeds of Elijah, from which Carmel derives its chief Biblical interest. Mount Carmel was probably, like Lebanon, from very ancient Canaanite times, regarded as especially sacred; and since the altar of the Lord repaired by Elijah 1Ki_18:30 was an old one which had been broken down, Carmel was probably no less esteemed by the Israelites also. In later times the caves which abound toward the western bluffs of the range have been frequented by Christian, Jewish, and Mussulman anchorites. The order of Carmelite or barefooted

friars took its rise from the convent founded by Louis, which still crowns the western headland.

CLARKE, "Kedesh - There was a city of this name in the tribe of Naphtali, Jos_19:37. It was given to the Levites, and was one of the cities of refuge, Jos_20:7.

Jokneam of Carmel - This city is said to have been at the foot of Mount Carmel, near the river Belus, in the tribe of Zebulun, Jos_19:11. It was given to the Levites, Jos_21:34.

GILL, "The king of Kedesh, one,.... Which afterwards fell to the tribe of Naphtali, and was one of the cities of refuge, Jos_19:37; it was situated in upper Galilee on Mount Naphtali, four miles from the city of Sephet, and as many from Capernaum, and twenty miles from Tyre (r):

the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one; a city that came to the lot of the tribe of Zebulun, Jos_19:11; and was given to the Levites, Jos_21:34; it was not far from Mount Carmel, from whence it is described.

K&D, "Kedesh, a Levitical city and city of refuge upon the mountains of Naphtali (Jos_19:37; Jos_20:7; Jos_21:32), the home of Barak (Jdg_4:6), was conquered and depopulated by Tiglath-Pileser (2Ki_15:29), and was also a well-known place after the captivity (1 Macc. 11:61ff.) It is now an insignificant village, still bearing the ancient name, to the north-west of the lake of Huleh, or, according to Van de Velde (Reise. ii. p. 355), nothing but a miserable farmstead upon a Tell at the south-west extremity of a well-cultivated table-land, with a large quantity of antiquities about, viz., hewn stones, relics of columns, sarcophagi, and two ruins of large buildings, with an open and extensive prospect on every side (see also Rob. Bibl. Res. pp. 367ff.). Jokneam, near Carmel, as a Levitical town in the territory of Zebulun (Jos_19:11; Jos_21:34). Van de Velde and Robinson (Bibl. Res. p. 114) suppose that they have found it in Tell Kaimôn, on the eastern side of the Wady el Milh, at the north-west end of a chain of hills running towards the south-east; this Tell being 200 feet high, and occupying a very commanding situation, so that it governed the main pass on the western side of Esdraelon towards the

southern plain. Kaimôn is the Arabic form of the ancient Καµµωνά, Cimana, which

Eusebius and Jerome describe in the Onom. as being six Roman miles to the north of Legio, on the road to Ptolemais.

COKE, "Ver. 22. The king of Kedesh— There were two cities of this name; one in the tribe of Judah; chap. Joshua 15:23 the other in the tribe of aphtali, chap. Joshua 19:37. The king of the latter is thought to be here meant; 1st, Because it was at the same time a considerable city, a city of the Levites, and a city of refuge; chap. Joshua 20:7. 2nd, Because Kadesh is named in this chapter among other places which were all situated in orth Canaan. Calmet thinks Kedesh might be the Kadytis of Herodotus.

The king of Jokneam of Carmel— The city of Jokneam was at the foot of Carmel, near the river Belus, in the tribe of Zebulun, chap. Joshua 19:11. It was given to the Levites, chap. Joshua 21:34. Bochart derives its name from the beauty of its situation. Canaan, lib. 1: cap. 28.

WHEDO , "22. Kedesh — This city is commonly called Kedesh- aphtali, because it was in the territory of that tribe. It was both a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7) and a Levitical city. Joshua 21:32. Hence, as the name indicates, it was the holy place of aphtali, a sanctuary and asylum for all orthern Palestine. Here the tribes assembled, at the call of Barak, to war with Jabin’s hosts. Judges 4:10. From its exposed position on the northern frontier it was among the first to fall into the hands of the Assyrian invaders. 2 Kings 15:29. Its ruins, still bearing the name Kedes, lie on the top and slopes of a round hill in a little plain among the mountains a few miles northwest of Lake Merom.] Jokneam was also a Levitical city in the tribe of Zebulun, (Joshua 19:11; Joshua 21:34,) and was identified by Robinson with Tell Kaimon, an eminence close to the northern base of Mount Carmel, and on the south bank of the Kishon, a mile from the river. On Carmel, see note on Joshua 19:26.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:22. Kedesh on the mountain of aphtali (Jebel el-Safed), Joshua 19:37, in Galilee. A city of refuge, Joshua 20:7, of the Levites, Joshua 21:32. Birth-place of Barak ( Judges 4:6), discovered by Smith on a hill, in a well-watered region ( otes on Bibl. Geog. in Biblioth. Sac, May, 1849, p374, ap. von. Raum. p132); by Robinson on his second journey, not “visited” indeed, as von Raumer states, but yet seen from a short distance and described (Later Bibl. Res. p366 ff.).

Jokneam on Carmel. Belonging to Zebulun, Joshua 19:11. A city of the Levites, ch Joshua 21:34. Perhaps, Tel Kaimפn (Robinson, Later Bibl. Res. p115). The place is called, in 1 Kings 4:12, יקמעם, out of which Kaimפn appears to have sprung (comp. Robinson, ubi sup.). Carmel appears elsewhere in our book only Joshua 19:26, to mark the south border of the tribe of Asher. Rightly does the mountain bear its name “orchard” (comp. Isaiah 10:8; Isaiah 16:10 and often), being covered below with laurels and olive-trees, above with pines and oaks (hence the comparison Song of Solomon 7:6), and full of the most beautiful flowers. These are the glory of Carmel which shall be given to the wilderness ( Isaiah 35:2). The view over the sea as well as of the coast is magnificent. Compare the different descriptions of travellers, von Raumer, p 43 ff.[F 6] Since1180 there has stood on Carmel, although only at a height of578 feet, and therefore far below the summit, a cloister to commemorate Elijah ( 1 Kings 18:17-39; 1 Kings 18:42-45) and bearing his name; rebuilt in1833. The mountain reaches an altitude of1700 feet.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:22

Kedesh, i.e; Kedesh- apbtali (see Joshua 19:7). Jokneam of Carmel. This city is mentioned as one of the cities of purveyance to Solomon's court (1 Kings 4:12), with Beth-shean, Taanach, and Megiddo. It has been identified by explorers, from Robinson downwards, with Tell-el-Kaimun, on the southern slopes of Mount Carmel. It is the Cammona, or Cimana, of the Onomasticon, the "Cyamon over against Esdraelon" of Judith 7:3. It was a Levitical city (Joshua 21:34), but in the list in Chronicles 6. we miss it in its proper place, and find it taking the place of Kibzaim in Ephraim. But, as the margin of our version remarks in the latter chapter

(verse 68), the names of the cities in the two lists very frequently do not correspond.

23 the king of Dor (in aphoth Dor) onethe king of Goyim in Gilgal one

BAR ES, "Jos_12:23The king of the nations - See Gen_14:1 and note. It means king of certain mixed

and probably nomadic tribes, which regarded Gilgal Jos_9:19 as their center and capital.

CLARKE, "The king of Dor - The city of this name fell to the lot of the children of Manasseh, Jos_17:11. Bochart observes that it was one of the oldest royal cities in Phoenicia. The Canaanites held it, Jdg_1:27. Antiochus Sydetes besieged it in aftertimes, but could not make himself master of it. See Bochart, Canaan, lib. i., c. 28, and Dodd.

The king of the nations of Gilgal - This is supposed to mean the higher Galilee,

surnamed Galilee of the Gentiles or, nations, as the Hebrew word גוים goyim means. On

this ground it should be read king of Galilee of the nations. Others suppose it is the same country with that of which Tidal was king, see Gen_14:1. The place is very uncertain, and commentators have rendered it more so by their conjectures.

GILL, "The king of Dor, in the coast of Dor, one,.... Of which see Jos_11:2; it fell to the lot of Manasseh, but never was possessed by them, as were not Taanach and Megiddo, before mentioned, Jos_17:11 Jdg_1:27,

the king of the nations of Gilgal, one; not the place where Joshua encamped after he had passed Jordan, for that was then no city; the Septuagint version renders it the land of Galilee; and Dr. Lightfoot (s) is of opinion that Galilee is meant, and in the Apocrypha:"Who went forth by the way that leadeth to Galgala, and pitched their tents before Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won it, they slew much people.'' (1 Maccabees 9:2)Galgala is spoken of as near to Arbel, a city in Galilee: Jerom (t) takes this to be the same with Glagulis, which in his time was a village six miles from Antipatris to the north.

K&D 23-24, "Dor: see Jos_11:2. Gilgal: the seat of the king of the Goyim (a proper name, as in Gen_14:1), in all probability the same place as the villa nomine Galgulismentioned in the Onom. (s. v. Gelgel) as being six Roman miles to the north of Antipatris, which still exists in the Moslem village of Jiljule (now almost a ruin; see Rob.Bibl. Res. p. 136), although this village is only two miles E.S.E. of Kefr Sâba, the ancient Antipatris (see Ritter, Erdk. xvi. pp. 568-9). Thirza, the capital of the kings of Israel

down to the time of Omri (1Ki_14:17; 1Ki_15:21, 1Ki_15:33; 1Ki_16:6.), is probably the present Talluza, an elevated and beautifully situated place, of a considerable size, surrounded by large olive groves, two hours to the north of Shechem (see Rob. Bibl. Res. p. 302, and Van de Velde, ii. p. 294).

BE SO , "Joshua 12:23. The king of Gilgal — This Gilgal is not the place where Joshua encamped when he came over Jordan; for there was no city there, nor any king of that country, but the king of Jericho. That place had also its name from the circumcision of the Israelites there, chap. Joshua 5:9.

COKE, "Ver. 23. The king of Dor, in the coast of Dor— The city of this name fell to the lot of the children of Manasseh; chap. Joshua 17:11. It appears to have commanded a great territory; and Bochart observes, that it was one of the oldest royal cities in Phoenicia. The Canaanites held it; Judges 1:27. Antiochus Sydetes besieged it in after times, but could not make himself master of it. See Boch. Can. lib. 1: cap. 28.

The king of the nations of Gilgal— The LXX have it, the king of Gei of Galile, or rather, as Dr. Hammond renders it, of Galilee; for so he thinks it should be read: by which Galilee, he understands the Galilee of the nations, the same country whose king was Tidal, Genesis 14:1. See Hamm. on Matt. note e. The Gilgal here mentioned cannot be the place where Joshua had his camp; there was no city at that time, and Joshua gave the spot the name of Gilgal for the reason mentioned, chap. Joshua 5:9. Several learned men understand, by the king of the nations of Gilgal, a king who ruled over some district of Galilee of the Gentiles or nations; but, as St. Jerome remarks, this name, Galilee of the nations, was unknown in Joshua's time; and we should fix its rise in the time of Solomon, when that prince gave Hiram the twenty cities spoken of 1 Kings 9:11-13. St. Jerome further observes, that there was, in his time, a city named Gelgel, near the sea, not far from Joppa, and six miles from Antipatris. Perhaps this is the city we are looking for. Trade bringing people from all nations into these parts, perhaps the petty king of Gelgel might from thence have been called the king of the nations settled in the territories of this place. We must confess however, notwithstanding what Bishop Patrick mentions to the contrary in his notes on Genesis 14:1., that there seems to be a more plausible opinion respecting the matter; for, first, it is certain that the name Gojim, which we find here in the Hebrew, is the same that we read of in Genesis 14:1 where Tidal is called king of Gojim, or the nations. It is also as certain that the kingdom of this Tidal was neither near the sea, nor in the neighbourhood of Joppa: thus the conjecture of St. Jerome, approved by the Bishop of Ely, is not easily supported; on the contrary, the kingdom of Tidal may very naturally be supposed to be in north Galilee. It is strongly asserted, that the name of Galilee of the nations commenced in the time of Solomon; but it is more easy to assert than to prove. The name constantly implies a country much more extensive than the twenty cities which Solomon gave to Hiram. We do not see why it might not be anterior to that offer, and as old as Tidal. Though in the passage of Genesis the LXX render Gojim as a name appellative, they render

it here as a proper name, and in all probability it should be so translated. Our historian, therefore, signifies to us, a king of Gojim of Galilee. See Wells's Paraphrase. and notes; Calmet and Le Clerc.

WHEDO , "23. Dor — See Joshua 11:2.

[King of the nations of Gilgal — This intimates that Gilgal was a capital whose sovereign ruled several surrounding tribes. This Gilgal must be distinguished both from that in the Jordan valley and that in the hills of Ephraim. It was probably the Galgulis of Eusebius and Jerome, on the Mediterranean plain, about eighteen miles northeast of Joppa, and near to Antipatris. It is supposed by Robinson and others to be the same as the modern village of Jiljulieh, two miles southeast of the site of Antipatris.]

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:23

The nations of Gilgal. Or the nations that belong to Gilgal. This is identified by Yandevelde and Conder with Jiljulieh in the plain of Jordan, north of Antipatris, and is therefore, if this identification be correct, a third Gilgal. The word "nations" most probably signifies a diversity of tribes of various races gathered together under the headship of the king of Gilgal, much in the same way that the kingdom of Mercia arose in England from a confused mass of various tribes, gathered together on the marches, or military frontiers, between Britons, Saxons and English, or in the same way that the Austrian and Turkish empires have been formed out of a congeries of various nationalities. So we read of "Tidal king of nations" in Genesis 14:1. But others regard the "nations" (Goim) mentioned there as equivalent to the Gutinm of the Babylonian tablets—i.e; Semitic tribes imperfectly organised, then dwelling in Babylonia, and prefer the LXX. reading, טבסדבכ, in Genesis 14:1, which Sir Henry Rawlinson considers equivalent to the Accadian Tur Gal, or "great chief." So Sayce, 'Babl. Lit.,' p. 23; Tomkins, 'Studies on the Time of Abraham.' See Introduction III.

LA GE, "Joshua 12:23. aphoth-dor, Joshua 11:2; Joshua 17:11. The king of the nations of Gilgal, as Genesis 14:1, Tidal king of the nations. Similarly, Genesis 10:5, Gilgal, not on the Jordan, but, according to Robinson iii47, in the plain .גליל הגויםalong the Mediterranean sea, now Jiljuleh, corresponding to the old Galgala, which Eusebius and Jerome place six Roman miles north of Antipatris. Probably the Gilgal of ehemiah 12:29 and 1 Maccabees 9:2 was, as he supposes, the same. With this falls in the proximity of aphoth-dor.

24 the king of Tirzahone

thirty-one kings in all.

BAR ES, "Jos_12:24Tirzah - This place, the capital of Jeroboam and his successors until the clays of Omri

(1Ki_14:17; 1Ki_15:21, etc.), is identified by some with “Tulluzah”, a town 3 miles northeast of Nablous, (by others with Teiasir).

CLARKE, "King of Tirzah - This city appears to have been for a long time the capital of the kingdom of Israel, and the residence of its kings. See 1Ki_14:17; 1Ki_15:21, 1Ki_15:33. Its situation cannot be exactly ascertained; but it is supposed to have been situated on a mountain about three leagues south of Samaria.

All the kings thirty and one - The Septuagint say εικοσι�εννεα, twenty-nine, and yet

set down but twenty-eight, as they confound or omit the kings of Beth-el, Lasharon, and Madon.

So many kings in so small a territory, shows that their kingdoms must have been very small indeed. The kings of Beth-el and Ai had but about 12,000 subjects in the whole; but in ancient times all kings had very small territories. Every village or town had its chief; and this chief was independent of his neighbors, and exercised regal power in his own district. In reading all ancient histories, as well as the Bible, this circumstance must be kept constantly in view; for we ought to consider that in those times both kings and kingdoms were but a faint resemblance of those now.

Great Britain, in ancient times, was divided into many kingdoms: in the time of the Saxons it was divided into seven, hence called the Saxon heptarchy. But when Julius Caesar first entered this island, he found four kings in Kent alone; Cingetorix, Carnilius, Taximagulus, and Segonax. Hence we need not wonder at the numbers we read of in the land of Canaan. Ancient Gaul was thus divided; and the great number of sovereign princes, secular bishops, landgraves, dukes, etc., etc., in Germany, are the modern remains of those ancient divisions.

GILL, "The king of Tirzah, one,.... To what tribe this place fell is nowhere said: Adrichomius (u) places it in the tribe of Manasseh; and so does Bunting (w), who says of it, that it was a fair and beautiful city, situated on a high and pleasant mountain, in the tribe of Manasseh, twenty four miles from Jerusalem to the north: here Jeroboam had his royal seat, and so his successors unto Omri, 1Ki_14:17; and Dr Lightfoot (x) seems to suspect as if Shechem in Mount Ephraim and Tirzah were the same; for, he says, if Shechem and Tirzah were not one and the same town, it appears that Jeroboam had removed his court, when his son died, from where it was when he first erected his idols; compare 1Ki_12:25, with 1Ki_14:17; and so it may argue that there was some space between: it was, no doubt, a very pleasant and beautiful city, as not only appears from its name, but from the allusion to it in Son_6:4,

all the kings thirty and one: it may seem strange that, in so small a country as Canaan was, there should be so many kings in it, since the length of it from Dan to

Beersheba was scarce an hundred sixty miles, as Jerom (y) says; who further observes, that he was ashamed to give the breadth of it, lest it should give occasion to Heathens to blaspheme; for, adds he, from Joppa to our little village Bethlehem (where they then were) were forty six miles, to which succeeded only a vast desert: but it may be observed, that in ancient times, in other countries, there were a great many kings, as here in Britain, and in France, Spain, and Germany, as Bishop Patrick has observed from several writers; and Strabo (z) testifies the same of the cities of Phoenicia or Canaan, that they had each of them separate kings, as Joshua here describes them.

WHEDO , "24. Tirzah is chiefly famous for having become at a later period the royal residence of the first kings of Israel. See 1 Kings 14:17, note. Robinson identifies it with the modern Telluzah, a large village a few miles north of Shechem, in a sightly and commanding position, and surrounded by immense groves of olive trees.

PULPIT, "Joshua 12:24

Tirzah meets us as the residence of the kings of Israel for a time in the narrative in 1 Kings. Jeroboam's wife went thither after her interview with Ahijah (Joshua 14:1-15 :17). Baasha dwelt there (Joshua 15:21, Joshua 15:33; Joshua 16:6), Elah was slain there by Zimri (Joshua 16:9, Joshua 16:10), and it. remained the capital until Omri built Samaria (Joshua 16:1-10 :23, 24). Thenceforward we hear no more of it till the time of Menahem (2 Kings 15:14, 2 Kings 15:16), when it disappears from history. It has been variously identified—by Robinson and Yandevelde (whom Knobel follows) with Talluza, two hours journey north of Shechem; by Conder with Teiasu, where there are numerous rock sepulchres. It was a place of great beauty, if we may judge from So 1 Kings 6:4, "Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem."

LA GE, "Joshua 12:24. Tirzah in Samaria, three miles from the city of Samaria, on the east. Here at a later period the kings of Israel dwelt; Jeroboam I, Baasha, Elah, and Shimri, and here the last-named burned himself in his palace, 1 Kings 14:17; 1 Kings 15:33; 1 Kings 16:8-18. Robinson (Later Bibl. Res. p 302 ff.) takes Tulluzah for Tirzah, being beautifully situated like the ancient city ( Song of Solomon 6:4). The name signifies delight, from רצה.

COKE, "Ver. 24. All the kings thirty and one— The LXX reckon and specify but twenty-nine, and of them too they disfigure the names. We must not be surprised at seeing so many kings in so small a country. Each city and its territory had its own. What was the king of Beth-el? He and the king of Ai together had hardly twelve thousand subjects. Such were kingdoms in their first state everywhere. Caesar, in his Commentaries, speaks of four kings in the single county of Kent. How many then must there have been in all Great Britain? Tacitus says, that the Silures and Brigantes had each of them their own king. Caesar tells us, that among the Gauls there were as many kings as princes. Livy says the same thing of Spain; and Vopiscus introduces the emperor Probus writing to the senate, that he had subdued Germany, and saw at his feet nine kings of different nations, &c.

REFLECTIO S.—The conquered countries of Canaan are here described, and the cities with their kings, no less than thirty-one: a proof of the vast fertility of the land, which could maintain such a number of populous cities with their villages. But as God's blessing made it thus fruitful for his people's sake, their sin has long since brought down a curse of barrenness upon it, so that there is hardly a town of importance left; and the land is so desolate, that it scarcely maintains the few wretched inhabitants which remain.