ScriptureDepth's study of Joshua 12
“Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward:”
Joshua 12:1
The narrator states that the children of Israel struck the kings of the land, establishing their conquest of 'the land' beyond the Jordan, which reinforces Israel's territorial claims.
What Joshua 12 is about
The kings defeated beyond the Jordan include Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. Sihon ruled over Heshbon and his territory extended from Aroer to the river Jabbok. The land included the Arabah to the Sea of Chinneroth and the Salt Sea. Og was of the remnant of the Rephaim. His kingdom included Mount Hermon and Bashan. Moses, the servant of Yahweh, struck these kings and gave their land to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Joshua and the children of Israel also struck kings in Canaan. They fought from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak. Joshua assigned the land to the tribes. A list of the defeated kings follows, totaling thirty-one. This includes kings like Jericho, Hebron, and Jerusalem, among others.
The report concludes with the total of thirty-one defeated kings, marking a significant military achievement for Israel.
Joshua 12 at a glance
- Joshua 12:1–6Kings Defeated Beyond the Jordan
- Joshua 12:7–8Conquests in Canaan Under Joshua
- Joshua 12:9–24List of Defeated Kings
Key verse: Joshua 12:1
One thing to notice
The chapter lists kings defeated by the Israelites, with a total count provided at the end. Verses 1-6 detail kings defeated beyond the Jordan, while verses 7-24 enumerate those conquered in Canaan, culminating in the total of 'thirty-one' kings in verse 24.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Joshua 12 (WEB)
Kings Defeated Beyond the Jordan Joshua 12:1–6
1Verse 1. Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward: 2Verse 2. Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon; 3Verse 3. and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth Jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:
4Verse 4. and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5Verse 5. and ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6Verse 6. Moses the servant of Yahweh and the children of Israel struck them. Moses the servant of Yahweh gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
Conquests in Canaan Under Joshua Joshua 12:7–8
7Verse 7. These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel struck beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir. Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions; 8Verse 8. 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:
List of Defeated Kings Joshua 12:9–24
9Verse 9. the king of Jericho, one;the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;10Verse 10. the king of Jerusalem, one;the king of Hebron, one;11Verse 11. the king of Jarmuth, one;the king of Lachish, one;12Verse 12. the king of Eglon, one;the king of Gezer, one;13Verse 13. the king of Debir, one;the king of Geder, one;14Verse 14. the king of Hormah, one;the king of Arad, one;15Verse 15. the king of Libnah, one;the king of Adullam, one;16Verse 16. the king of Makkedah, one;the king of Bethel, one;17Verse 17. the king of Tappuah, one;the king of Hepher, one;18Verse 18. the king of Aphek, one;the king of Lassharon, one;19Verse 19. the king of Madon, one;the king of Hazor, one;20Verse 20. the king of Shimron Meron, one;the king of Achshaph, one;21Verse 21. the king of Taanach, one;the king of Megiddo, one;22Verse 22. the king of Kedesh, one;the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;23Verse 23. the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one;the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;24Verse 24. the king of Tirzah, one:all the kings thirty-one.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Joshua 12
God's faithfulness
In this chapter, God's faithfulness is evident in the victory over the kings of the land. The text recounts how 'the children of Israel struck' the kings and 'possessed their land' (v. 1). This victory was a fulfillment of the promises made to the Israelites regarding their inheritance in the land of Canaan. The mention of Moses and Joshua shows the continuity of divine promise through generations.
Divine sovereignty
This chapter illustrates divine sovereignty through the decisive victories of the Israelites over their enemies. The list of defeated kings, including 'Sihon king of the Amorites' (v. 2) and 'Og king of Bashan' (v. 4), demonstrates God’s control over the outcome of battles. The distribution of land to the tribes of Israel, as detailed in vv. 6 and 7, further affirms that the victories were orchestrated by God’s will.
Obedience and victory
Joshua 12 recounts how Israel's obedience to God's commands resulted in military victories. The chapter details the kings defeated beyond the Jordan and in Canaan, highlighting their conquests under Moses and Joshua's leadership. Verses 6 and 7 specifically note that Moses and Joshua struck down kings and divided the land among the tribes, demonstrating their commitment to carrying out God's directives.
Historical remembrance
The chapter serves as a record of Israel's conquests, preserving the history of their victories. The detailed account of 'thirty-one' defeated kings (v. 24) provides a tangible reminder of God’s faithfulness and the Israelites’ struggles. This historical narrative not only memorializes past events but also reinforces the identity of the Israelites as God's chosen people through their shared experiences in battle.
Chapter outline
How Joshua 12 unfolds
Joshua 12:1–6 Kings Defeated Beyond the Jordan
The children of Israel defeated several kings beyond the Jordan, including Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan, who ruled over specific territories (vv. 1-6). Moses allocated these lands to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
Joshua 12:7–8 Conquests in Canaan Under Joshua
Joshua and the children of Israel continued their conquests in Canaan, defeating kings from Baal Gad to Mount Halak, and Joshua distributed these lands among the tribes of Israel according to their divisions (vv. 7-8).
Joshua 12:9–24 List of Defeated Kings
A list details the thirty-one kings defeated by Israel, including key cities such as Jericho, Ai, and Jerusalem, specifying the number of kings from various regions (vv. 9-24).
Key verses
Joshua 12:1The narrator states that the children of Israel struck the kings of the land, establishing their conquest of 'the land' beyond the Jordan, which reinforces Israel's territorial claims.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Joshua 12
- observeIn v6, who is referred to as 'the servant of Yahweh'?
- observeWhat locations are mentioned in vv. 1-3 regarding the land possessed by Israel?
- interpretSihon and Og in vv. 2-5: what do their names represent about Israel's conquest?
- interpretThe mention of 'thirty-one' kings in v24: why is this number significant in the context of Israel's victories?
- applyWhen have you experienced a victory that felt entirely attributed to outside help, like Israel's conquests?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Joshua 12
- Joshua 10Joshua 12:10 and Joshua 10:23Both list kings: Joshua 12:10 names the king of Jerusalem and Hebron, while Joshua 10:23 names these and more.
- Joshua 11Joshua 12:19 and Joshua 11:1Both mention kings: Joshua 12:19 lists the king of Madon and Hazor, while Joshua 11:1 introduces Jabin of Hazor calling Madon.
- Deuteronomy 3Joshua 12:3 and Deuteronomy 3:17Both describe borders: Joshua 12:3 outlines the Arabah and Salt Sea, while Deuteronomy 3:17 reiterates the Arabah and Jordan.
- Joshua 13Joshua 12:3 and Joshua 13:20Both mention locations: Joshua 12:3 includes Beth Jeshimoth, while Joshua 13:20 lists Beth Peor and the slopes of Pisgah.
- Numbers 21Joshua 12:4 and Numbers 21:33Both recount kings: Joshua 12:4 mentions Og of Bashan, while Numbers 21:33 describes Og coming to battle.
- Joshua 15Joshua 12:3 and Joshua 15:2Both outline borders: Joshua 12:3 mentions the Salt Sea, while Joshua 15:2 describes the south border from the Salt Sea.
Related chapters
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Where to go from here
- Joshua: the whole bookJoshua narrates the moment promise becomes geography.
- Full Year Chronological Bible, day 74Day 74 of 365: Joshua 10–12.
- StrengthWhat the Bible says about strength, with verses.
- Common Bible questionsThe questions people bring to Bible study, each answered from the text.
- Today's devotionalOne verse and a short reflection, new every morning.
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