Joshua 12: A List of Conquered Kings
A summary roll of the kings defeated east and west of the Jordan, thirty-one in all, testifying that the Lord faithfully gave the land.
Joshua 12 (WEB)
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:
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;
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:
4 and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
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.
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.
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;
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:
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 Lassharon, one;
19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
20 the king of Shimron Meron, 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 in Carmel, one;
23 the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;
24 the king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty-one.
Joshua 12 (KJV)
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:
2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
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 Beth–jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth–pisgah:
4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
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.
6 Them did Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
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 Baal–gad 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 Beth–el, 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 Beth–el, 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 Shimron–meron, 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.
Joshua 12 (ASV)
1 Now 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:
2 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;
3 and the Arabah unto the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and unto the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:
4 and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
5 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.
6 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.
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;
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):
9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth-el, 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 Beth-el, one;
17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
18 the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lassharon, one;
19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
20 the king of Shimron-meron, 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 in Carmel, one;
23 the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;
24 the king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
Summary
This chapter draws a line under the conquest by listing the kings whose lands Israel took, first east of the Jordan and then west. It begins with the territory conquered under Moses: Sihon, king of the Amorites, who ruled from Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the giants, whose lands Moses gave to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Then it turns to the kings Joshua and Israel defeated west of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, land that Joshua distributed to the tribes as their inheritance. What follows is a roll call, naming each defeated king one by one, the kings of Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Gezer, and many more, each marked simply with the word "one," until the total is given: thirty-one kings in all. The list is more than a battlefield tally; it is a monument to God's faithfulness. Every name represents a promise kept, a stronghold overcome by the Lord who fought for Israel. The plain, almost liturgical repetition invites the reader to count the mercies of God and to see that he completed what he had sworn to the patriarchs. Israel now stands in a land won not by its own strength but by the mighty hand of God.
Key Figures
- Moses — The servant of the Lord under whom Sihon and Og were defeated east of the Jordan, with their lands given to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
- Joshua — Israel's leader who, with the people, defeated the kings west of the Jordan and distributed the land as an inheritance among the tribes.
- The thirty-one kings — The Canaanite rulers, from Jericho and Ai to Tirzah, each one defeated, whose listing testifies to the completeness of Israel's God-given victory.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God of Israel who fought for his people, gave the kings into their hand, and faithfully kept his promise to grant the land.
Key Verse
Joshua 12:7 (WEB)
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;
Lessons Learned
- God keeps a faithful record of his victories on behalf of his people.
- Every defeated enemy testifies to a promise God has kept.
- It is worth pausing to count and remember the mercies God has given.
- The land was won not by Israel's might but by the Lord who fought for them.
- God completes what he begins. The land taken stretches “from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak” (Joshua 12:7, WEB). The list shows God finishing the work he promised.
- Victory becomes inheritance. Joshua “gave it to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions” (Joshua 12:7, WEB). What God conquers, he gives to his people to enjoy.
- Remember the works of the Lord. The roll of thirty-one kings (Joshua 12:24, WEB) is a memorial of grace, inviting Israel to count and recall all that God has done.
- The conquest spans the generations. Both Moses' victories (Joshua 12:6, WEB) and Joshua's are recorded together. God's faithfulness carries through from one leader to the next.
- Why might the writer include a detailed list of conquered kings rather than simply summarizing the victory?
- What does it mean that the chapter records both Moses' and Joshua's conquests together?
- How does this list serve as a memorial to God's faithfulness rather than just a military record?
- What is the significance of Joshua giving the conquered land to the tribes as an inheritance?
- How might keeping your own "list" of God's faithfulness strengthen your trust in him for what lies ahead?
- The detailed list makes God's faithfulness concrete; each named king is a specific promise kept (12:9-24). Rather than a vague claim of success, it offers a countable record of grace. Help the group see how naming particulars magnifies our gratitude.
- Recording Moses' and Joshua's victories side by side shows that God's purpose carried unbroken from one generation and leader to the next (12:6-7). His faithfulness does not depend on any single person. Encourage the group to trust the God who works across time.
- Far from a dry tally, the roll of thirty-one kings is a monument to all the Lord did for Israel (12:24). It invites the people to look back and worship. Help the group treat such lists as occasions for thanksgiving rather than mere history.
- The land was not seized for its own sake but given to the tribes to possess and enjoy as God's gift (12:7). Conquest leads to inheritance, a pattern that points toward the rest and inheritance God gives his people in Christ. Invite the group to see grace as the source of all they receive.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to begin recording specific answers to prayer and deliverances they have known. As leader, gently model gratitude and note how remembering past faithfulness fuels present and future trust in God.