Josué 12

Josué 12

Utley - “Arnon” This means “rushing stream”. It runs into the Dead Sea, approximately in the middle. It was the border between Moab and the Amorites and later the southern boundary of Reuben (cf. Deut. 3:12). Joseph Parker has an interesting comment (applies to both Joshua 11 and Joshua 12) - These two chapters contain a good deal of hard reading. They are studded with unfamiliar and difficult words and names, so that reading them is like reading the writing upon gravestones in a foreign land . Still, there is much for our instruction here . For example, we are called to behold how good a thing it is to keep a detailed record of life. These chapters are in a certain sense diaries or journals. The men of the ancient time wrote down what they did--that is to say, they kept their story freshly before their memories: they lost nothing; they wrote their accounts up to date; and at any given moment they could peruse the record and derive from it the advantage of stimulus which such an exercise could not fail to supply. (Joshua 12 Commentary) Keil and Delitzsch - In the historical account of the wars of Joshua in the south and north of Canaan, the only kings mentioned by name as having been conquered and slain by the Israelites, were those who had formed a league to make war upon them; whereas it is stated at the close, that Joshua had smitten all the kings in the south and north, and taken possession of their towns (Josh 10:40, Josh 11:17). To complete the account of these conquests, therefore, a detailed list is given in the present chapter of all the kings that were slain, and not merely of those who were defeated by Joshua in the country on this side of the Jordan, but the two kings of the Amorites who had been conquered by Moses are also included, so as to give a complete picture of all the victories which Israel had gained under the omnipotent help of its God . (Joshua Commentary 12) This is my Father's world, O let me ne'er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world, The battle is not done, Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heav'n be one Woudstra - The purpose of this chapter is obvious. Structurally it is closely related to Josh 11:16-17, especially Josh 11:17 . By enumerating the kings conquered by Joshua and Israel , the writer gives eloquent testimony to the fact that Israel's enemies, who had banded together with hostile intent (Josh 11:19-20); cf . Josh 9:1-2; 11:1-5) , had been unable to stand against Israel and its God. Thus seen, this ist is a song of praise to the Lord's honor. If Israel was to carry out its God-given task of being God's people in Canaan, it was necessary that those who could seduce it by their pagan practices should be eliminated from the land. Joshua was the man destined by God to carry out this program. He is not to be blamed for the severity with which he acted. Not only did he show exemplary faithfulness to the divine command, but he also remained true to his given word in the case of Rahab and the Gibeonites, and with partiality applied the curse to Achan, one of Israel's own. (The Book of Joshua The New International Commentary) J