Joshua 12:10

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

The king {H4428} of Jerusalem {H3389}, one {H259}; the king {H4428} of Hebron {H2275}, one {H259};

the king of Yerushalayim, the king of Hevron,

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

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

Commentary

Joshua 12:10 is part of a comprehensive list summarizing the thirty-one kings defeated by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership, marking the successful completion of the initial phase of the conquest of Canaan. This verse specifically names the king of Jerusalem and the king of Hebron among the vanquished rulers.

Context

Chapter 12 of Joshua serves as a historical summary, meticulously listing the kings and territories conquered by Israel on both sides of the Jordan River. Verse 10, in particular, points to key victories during the southern campaign described in Joshua 10. This detailed enumeration underscores the fulfillment of God's promises and the extensive nature of Israel's conquests under divine guidance, demonstrating the scope of the land taken from the Canaanite inhabitants.

Key Themes

  • Divine Faithfulness: The systematic listing of defeated kings powerfully illustrates God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give their descendants the land of Canaan (Genesis 15:18).
  • Conquest and Judgment: The defeat of these powerful Canaanite kings represents God's righteous judgment upon the wicked inhabitants of the land, clearing the way for His chosen people, Israel, to inherit it.
  • Historical Record: The meticulous detail in this chapter provides an irrefutable historical account of Israel's divinely assisted military campaigns, serving as a testament to God's power and sovereignty in history.

Linguistic Insights

  • "The king of Jerusalem": This refers to Adoni-zedek, whose defeat is detailed in Joshua 10:3-27. While Jerusalem itself (then known as Jebus) was not fully conquered by Judah at this time (Judges 1:21), its king was decisively defeated, significantly weakening its power and influence.
  • "The king of Hebron": Hebron was an ancient and strategically important city, a significant place where Abraham had dwelt (Genesis 13:18). Its king, Hoham, was also part of the southern coalition defeated by Joshua (Joshua 10:3). The city of Hebron was later given to Caleb as his inheritance for his faithfulness (Joshua 14:13-15).

Practical Application

Joshua 12:10, though a simple list of names, serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and His ability to fulfill His promises, even when the task seems overwhelming. Just as He enabled Israel to overcome formidable kings and secure their promised land, He equips believers today to face and overcome spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:12). It encourages us to trust in God's power and sovereignty to accomplish His purposes in our lives and the world, knowing that His word will always stand true.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 10:23

    And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, [and] the king of Eglon.

  • Joshua 10:36

    And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:

  • Joshua 10:37

    And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that [were] therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that [were] therein.

  • Joshua 10:3

    Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
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