TRV
Translation
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 6,149 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Joshua 12 verses 7–24
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;
8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:
9 The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;
10 The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
11 The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
12 The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
13 The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
15 The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
16 The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
17 The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
18 The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
19 The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
20 The king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
21 The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
22 The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
23 The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
24 The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
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.
II. 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.
III. 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.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–24. Public domain.
Copy as
Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 6.21-22
And if “a wise man shall understand the words from his own mouth and shall hear knowledge on his lips,” we must either declare rashly that the prophets were not wise, if they have not understood “the words from their own mouth,” or admit that the prophets were wise, because they have received what is correct and true and have understood “the words from their own mouth” and borne knowledge on their lips. It is clear that Moses saw in his mind the truth of the law and the allegorical meanings related to the anagogical sense of the stories he recorded, and that Joshua understood the true distribution of land which took place after the overthrow of the twenty-nine kings, since he could see better than us that the things accomplished through himself were shadows of certain realities.
Ephrem the SyrianAD 373
COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 19.8
Whoever believes in me will also do the works which I do, and will do even greater ones. And where is this word which he said, “The disciple is not greater than his master” [illustrated]? For example, Moses killed only three kings, but Joshua killed thirty. [Moses] persevered in prayer, made supplication, but did not enter [the promised land]. It was Joshua rather who entered and shared out the inheritance. Likewise, Samuel was greater than Eli, and Elisha received a double portion of his master’s spirit after his ascension, like the Lord our Savior, for his disciples effected twice through their signs.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Joshua 12:18 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Joshua 12:18 is a concise yet profoundly significant entry within a comprehensive historical record, meticulously listing two more of the thirty-one kings defeated by the Israelites under Joshua's divinely empowered leadership during the conquest of Canaan. This verse, stating "The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one," serves as a precise tally, underscoring the vastness and thoroughness of Israel's campaign to possess the Promised Land and testifying to God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Joshua 12:18, as an integral part of the larger chapter, primarily employs the literary device of a Catalog or List. This comprehensive enumeration of defeated kings serves as a formal, irrefutable record of God's faithfulness and Israel's success in possessing the land. The Repetition of the numeral "one" after each king's name creates a rhythmic, almost litany-like effect, emphasizing the individual defeat of each sovereign entity and contributing to the cumulative impact of the total number of conquests. This repetition underscores the thoroughness of the campaign and the complete subjugation of the Canaanite powers. Furthermore, the phrase "the king of Aphek" functions as a form of Metonymy or Synecdoche, where "the king" stands in for the entire city-state and its military power, indicating that the defeat of the ruler signified the complete subjugation of his domain, both politically and militarily.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 12:18, though a brief entry in a lengthy list, powerfully reinforces the overarching biblical theme of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. The meticulous record of each defeated king, including those from Aphek and Lasharon, serves as concrete evidence that God was actively working to fulfill His ancient pledge to give the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants. This conquest was not merely a territorial expansion but the execution of divine judgment against the inhabitants of Canaan, whose iniquity had reached its full measure, as precisely foretold in Genesis 15:16. The comprehensive nature of these victories, as detailed in Joshua 12, demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers and His ability to overcome any obstacle to accomplish His purposes. It foreshadows God's ultimate victory over all opposition, both physical and spiritual, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The seemingly dry list in Joshua 12:18 carries profound implications for contemporary believers, offering a rich source of spiritual nourishment. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is meticulously faithful to His word, fulfilling every promise down to the smallest detail. Just as He systematically conquered every king and city-state to secure the Promised Land for Israel, so too does He work with precision and thoroughness in our lives, in the church, and in His unfolding redemptive plan. This passage encourages us to trust implicitly in God's unfailing promises, even when the path to their fulfillment seems long, challenging, or fraught with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It reminds us that our victories, whether over personal sin, difficult circumstances, spiritual strongholds, or the forces of darkness, are ultimately His work, not ours, and are achieved through His power when we walk in humble obedience and faith. The detailed record of these ancient conquests inspires profound confidence that the God who delivered Israel is the same God who will deliver us and bring to completion His purposes for His people today.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is such a detailed list of kings included in the Bible?
Answer: The inclusion of a detailed list of thirty-one defeated kings in Joshua 12, including those from Aphek and Lasharon, serves several crucial purposes. First, it functions as irrefutable historical proof of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham (e.g., Genesis 12:7) and Israel. It demonstrates that God kept His word to give them the land. Second, it underscores the comprehensiveness of the conquest, showing that Israel truly possessed the land God had given them, not just a few scattered territories. The sheer number of conquered city-states emphasizes the totality of the victory and the dismantling of Canaanite power. Finally, the list highlights God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly rulers and kingdoms, reinforcing the profound message that it was the Lord who fought for Israel (Joshua 10:42), not merely their military might or strategic prowess.
Are Aphek and Lasharon significant locations?
Answer: While not as widely known or frequently mentioned as cities like Jericho or Ai, the inclusion of Aphek and Lasharon in this list is indeed significant. Aphek, meaning "fortress" or "strength," likely refers to one of several strategic, fortified cities of that name that served as key military outposts. Its defeat indicates the overcoming of a strong military presence, vital for securing control over a region. Lasharon, possibly connected to the fertile Plain of Sharon, signifies the conquest of agriculturally rich and populous areas, demonstrating the breadth of Israel's dominion. Their defeat, alongside the other twenty-nine kings, showcases the depth and extent of Israel's territorial acquisition over the land of Canaan, fulfilling God's promise to give them the entire territory, from strategic strongholds to fertile plains.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The earthly conquest of Canaan, meticulously cataloged in Joshua 12:18 and the surrounding verses, serves as a powerful and profound foreshadowing of the ultimate spiritual conquest achieved by Jesus Christ. Just as Joshua, whose very name means "Yahweh saves," led Israel to defeat earthly kings and possess a physical land, so Christ, the greater Joshua, leads His people to decisive victory over far more formidable spiritual enemies—sin, death, and the devil. The comprehensive nature of the victories over the kings of Aphek and Lasharon points to the total and decisive triumph of Christ on the cross, where He "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:15). Through His resurrection and ascension, Jesus has been exalted far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, both in this age and in the one to come (Ephesians 1:20-22). Believers, united with Christ by faith, are now heirs to a spiritual kingdom and a heavenly inheritance, a reality that far surpasses the physical land of Canaan in its eternal glory and scope (Ephesians 1:3). The faithfulness of God in delivering the land to Israel is a testament to His unwavering commitment to His ultimate redemptive plan, culminating in the eternal reign of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, who will ultimately subdue all things under His feet.