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;

And these are the kings {H4428} of the country {H776} which Joshua {H3091} and the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} smote {H5221} on this side {H5676} Jordan {H3383} on the west {H3220}, from Baalgad {H1171} in the valley {H1237} of Lebanon {H3844} even unto the mount {H2022} Halak {H2510}, that goeth up {H5927} to Seir {H8165}; which Joshua {H3091} gave {H5414} unto the tribes {H7626} of Israel {H3478} for a possession {H3425} according to their divisions {H4256};

Following are the kings of the land whom Y'hoshua, with the people of Isra'el, defeated in the area west of the Yarden, between Ba'al-Gad in the L'vanon Valley and the bare mountain that goes up to Se'ir. Y'hoshua gave this land, inhabited by the Hitti, Emori, Kena'ani, P'rizi, Hivi and Y'vusi, to the tribes of Isra'el to possess, according to their divisions, in the hills, the Sh'felah, the 'Aravah, the mountain slopes, the desert and the Negev:

And these are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered beyond the Jordan to the west, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (according to the allotments to the tribes of Israel, Joshua gave them as an inheritance

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;

Commentary

Joshua 12:7 serves as a concise summary of the vast territory and numerous kings that Joshua and the children of Israel successfully conquered on the west side of the Jordan River. This verse marks the conclusion of the military campaigns described in previous chapters, highlighting the extent of Israel's dominion and the beginning of the land's distribution among the tribes.

Context

Chapter 12 of Joshua provides a comprehensive overview of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. Verses 1-6 detail the victories achieved under Moses on the east side of the Jordan, while verses 7-24 enumerate the thirty-one kings defeated by Joshua and the Israelites on the west side. Verse 7 specifically sets the geographical boundaries of this western conquest, stretching from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon in the north to Mount Halak, which goes up to Seir, in the south. This extensive list underscores the monumental task completed and the divine power behind Israel's success in claiming the Promised Land.

Key Themes

  • Fulfillment of God's Promises: This verse powerfully demonstrates the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His ancient promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning the land of Canaan. The conquest was not merely a human endeavor but a divine orchestration, allowing Israel to finally possess the inheritance.
  • Divine Victory and Sovereignty: The defeat of so many kings and the vast territorial gains emphasize that the Lord Himself fought for Israel (Joshua 10:42). This was a testament to His sovereignty over nations and His power to grant victory to His people.
  • Inheritance and Division: The phrase "which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions" points directly to the next major phase of the book of Joshua: the detailed allotment of the land to each tribe. This division was not arbitrary but followed divine instruction and established the tribal territories.

Linguistic Insights

The geographical names mentioned—Baalgad, the valley of Lebanon, Mount Halak, and Seir—are crucial for understanding the full extent of the conquered territory. "Baalgad" (meaning "lord of fortune") likely refers to a northern border point near the source of the Jordan River. "Mount Halak" (meaning "bald mountain") and its connection to "Seir" (associated with Edom) indicate the southern reach of Israel's control, demonstrating a comprehensive conquest from north to south, encompassing the core of the land God had promised.

Practical Application

Joshua 12:7 reminds us that God is a promise-keeping God. Just as He faithfully brought Israel into their physical inheritance, He also fulfills His spiritual promises to believers today. We are called to step into the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ, which includes salvation, peace, and purpose. This verse encourages us to trust in God's power to overcome obstacles and to receive the blessings He has prepared for us, understanding that our spiritual battles are won through His strength, much like Israel’s physical conquest was through His hand. It also highlights the importance of recognizing the completion of God's work in our lives before moving on to the next phase of our spiritual journey, much as Israel completed the conquest before settling the land.

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 11:17

    [Even] from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.

  • Joshua 11:23

    So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

  • Joshua 12:1

    ¶ Now 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:

  • Genesis 32:3

    ¶ And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

  • Genesis 36:8

    Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau [is] Edom.

  • Deuteronomy 2:1

    ¶ Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

  • Genesis 14:6

    And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which [is] by the wilderness.
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