Josué 12
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Josué 12
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS A. There are several accounts of the same events of conquest in Joshua. A list of the cities and their kings helps to put them all together. CITY KING CHAPTER 12 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Jericho, 6:1-27 Ai/Bethel, 7:1-8:29 Gibeon, 9:3-27 Jerusalem, 10:1 Hebron, 10:3-27,36-37 Jarmuth, 10:3-27 Lachish, 10:3-27 Eglon, 10:3-27,34-35 Makkedah, 10:28 Libnah, 10:29-30 Lachish, 10:31-32 Debir, 10:38-39 Hazor, 11:1-5 Madon, 11:1-5 Shimron, 11:1-5 Achshaph, 11:1-5 6:2 8:29 --- 10:3,23 10:3,23,37 10:3,23 10:3,23 10:3,23 10:28 10:30 ---- 10:39 11:1 11:1 11:1 11:1 12:9 12:9,16 --- 12:10 12:10 12:11 12:11 12:12 12:16 12:15 ---- 12:13 12:19 12:19 12:20 12:20 Summary statements Jos. 9:1-2 Jos. 10:3-5,40-43 Jos. 11:10-15 Jos. 11:21-23 (Anakim) B. The kings and cities mentioned in chapter 12 are not mentioned earlier. 1. Gezer, Jos. 12:12 2. Geder, Jos. 12:13 3. Hormah, Jos. 12:14 4. Arad, Jos. 12:14 5. Adullam, Jos. 12:15 6. Tappuah, Jos. 12:17 7. Hepher, Jos. 12:17 8. Aphek, Jos. 12:18 9. Lasharon, Jos. 12:18 10. Taanach, Jos. 12:21 11. Megiddo, Jos. 12:21 12. Kedesh, Jos. 12:22 13. Jokneam, Jos. 12:22 14. Dor, Jos. 12:23 15. Guiim, Jos. 12:23 16. Tirzah, Jos. 12:24 Verse 24 has, "thirty-one kings." Apparently all were Greek type city-states, like the five Philistine cities.
Josué 12:1-6
12:1 "Arnon" This means "rushing stream" (BDB 75). 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). ▣ "Arabah" See note at Jos. 11:2. 12:2 "which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead" "and ruled half of Gilead, from the Aroer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, from the middle of the river" "which is on the edge of the Wadi Arnon, and from the middle of the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, that is, half of Gilead" "His kingdom included half of Gilead: from the Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon valley) and from the city in the middle of the valley" "ruled from Aroer which is on the edge of the Arnon valley, including the bottom of the valley, half Gilead" The Hebrew text is uncertain at this point (i.e., Jos. 12:2-3, cf. Jewish Study Bible, p. 485). ▣ "the brook Jabbok" This trans-Jordan river flows into the Jordan, just north of the city of Adam. It was the site of Jacob's encounter with the angel (cf. Gen. 32:22). It was the boundary between the allotments of Manasseh and Gad (cf. Deut. 3:12,16). 12:3 "Pisgah" This mountain (BDB 820) is in the trans-Jordan area east of the mouth of the Jordan. It is also known as "Nebo" (BDB 612 I). They might be two peaks close together, or Pisgah may refer to the entire mountain range and Nebo the highest peak. This is the mountain where Moses was allowed to see the Promised Land. He is buried somewhere on its heights (cf. Deuteronomy 34). 12:4 "Rephaim" The Septuagint identifies them as "giants." See note at Jos. 11:21. SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS USED FOR TALL/POWERFUL WARRIORS OR PEOPLE GROUPS (giants) ▣ "Ashtaroth" This was a city named after the female fertility goddess of Canaan, worshiped in a wooden symbol of the tree of life (carved stake or live tree). See note at Jos. 9:10. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE 12:6 The three Israeli tribes that settled on the eastern side of the Jordan were Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh.
Josué 12:7-24
12:7-24 This is a repetitive summary of Joshua's conquest recorded earlier. 12:7 "Baal-gad" See note at Jos. 13:5. 12:8 "the slopes" This term (BDB 78) is used of a different area in Jos. 10:40. 12:9-24 "the king of" The Canaanites had city-states, as their form of government, as did the Philistines and the Greek peoples. 12:23 NASB, JPSOA "the king of Goiim in Gilgal" "the king of the people of Gilgal" NRSV, LXX, REB "the king of Goiim in Galilee" "Goiim (in Galilee)" "the king of the nations in Galilee" "the king of the low country and Gilgal" The Septuagint has "in Galilee." The MT has "the king of the nations in Gilgal" or "the foreign king at Gilgal," which does not make sense. The UBS Text Porject, p. 27, shows the ambiguity of the MT by giving the LXX's version a C rating (considerable doubt).