| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
Joshua Chapter
Twelve
Joshua 12
Chapter Contents
The two kings conquered by Moses. (1-6) The kings whom
Joshua smote. (7-24)
Commentary on Joshua 12:1-6
(Read Joshua 12:1-6)
Fresh mercies must not drown the remembrance of former
mercies, nor must the glory of the present instruments of good to the church
diminish the just honour of those who went before them, since God is the same
who wrought by both. Moses gave to one part of Israel a very rich and fruitful
country, but it was on the outside of Jordan. Joshua gave to all Israel the
holy land, within Jordan. So the law has given to some few of God's spiritual
Israel worldly blessings, earnests of good things to come; but our Lord Jesus,
the true Joshua, provided for all the children of promise spiritual blessings,
and the heavenly Canaan.
Commentary on Joshua 12:7-24
(Read Joshua 12:7-24)
We have here the limits of the country Joshua conquered.
A list is given of the kings subdued by Israel: thirty-one in all. This shows
how fruitful Canaan then was, in which so many chose to throng together. This
was the land God appointed for Israel; yet in our day it is one of the most
barren 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, Deuteronomy 29:23. The vengeance of a righteous
God, inflicted on all these kings and their subjects, for their wickedness,
should make us dread and hate sin. The fruitful land bestowed on his chosen
people, should fill our hearts with hope and confidence in his mercy, and with
humble gratitude.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Joshua》
Joshua 12
Verse 1
[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:
Plain on the east — On
the east of Jordan, called the plain, Deuteronomy 1:1.
Verse 2
[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;
Middle of the river — It
is not unusual even among us, for a river to be divided between two lords, and
for their territories or jurisdictions to meet in the middle of the river: and
besides, here is a very particular reason for this expression, because the city
Ar, which was no part of Sihon's dominions, but belonged to the Moabites, Deuteronomy 2:9,18, was in the middle of the
river Arnon, Deuteronomy 2:36; 3:16, and therefore the middle of the river is
properly here mentioned, as the bound of Sihon's dominion on that side.
Half Gilead —
Heb. and the half Gilead, that is, half of the country of Gilead; this doth not
denote the bound from which his dominion began, but the country, over which his
dominion was, which began at Arnon, and took in half Gilead, and ended at
Jabbok, beyond which was the other half of Gilead which belonged to Og.
Verse 3
[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 Bethjeshimoth; and from the
south, under Ashdothpisgah:
On the east —
Which words describe the situation not of the sea of Cinneroth, which was part
of the western border of Sihon's dominion, but of the plain, which is here said
to lie eastward from the sea of Cinneroth, and also eastward from the salt sea.
And this was indeed the situation of the plains of Moab, which are here spoken
of; they lay between the two seas, that of Cinneroth and the salt sea, and
eastward to them both.
Sea of the plain —
The salt sea was a famous plain, pleasant and fruitful, before it was turned
into a sea.
Verse 4
[4] And
the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that
dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Ashtaroth and Edrei —
Sometimes at the one, sometimes at the other city; both being his royal
mansions. But Israel made one grave serve him, who could not be contented with
one palace.
Verse 6
[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.
Smile —
Fresh mercies must not drown the remembrance of former mercies: nor must the
glory of the present instruments of good to the church, diminish the just
honour of those that went before them. Joshua's services were confessedly
great. But let not those under Moses be forgotten. Both together proclaim God
to be the Alpha and Omega of his peoples salvation.
Verse 8
[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:
The wilderness —
This word here and elsewhere in scripture notes not a land wholly desert and
uninhabited, but one thin of inhabitants, as 1 Kings 2:34; 9:18; Matthew . The Gargashites either were now
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 unto
Africk, leaving their land to be possessed by the Israelites, with whom they
saw, it was fruitless to contend.
Verse 23
[23] The
king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
King of Gilgal —
Not of that Gilgal where Joshua first lodged after his passage over Jordan;
where it doth not appear, that there was either king or city; but of a city of
the same name, probably in Galilee towards the sea, where divers people might
possibly resort for trade and merchandise, over whom this was a king, as
formerly Tidal seems to have been, Genesis 14:1.
Verse 24
[24] The
king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
Thirty one —
Each being king only of one city or small province belonging to it, which was
by the wise and singular providence of God, that they might be more easily
conquered. But what a fruitful land must Canaan then be, which could subsist so
many kingdoms! And yet at this day it is one of the most barren and despicable
countries in the world. Such is the effect of the curse it lies under, since
its inhabitants rejected the Lord of glory!
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Joshua》
12 Chapter 12
Verses 1-24
These axe the kings of the land, which the children of Israel
smote.
The goodness and severity of God
This chapter is a short summary of the work that has been done. In
this resume of the conquest Moses is not forgotten. He is named as well
as Joshua. The Holy Ghost delights to point out how God causes many instruments
to work out His designs, and thus takes all praise from man. Thus the chapter
is a miniature, suggesting all the victories that Israel won, and all the
defeats which overwhelmed the Canaanites. Accordingly it is valuable as a
demonstration that both the promises and the threatenings of God will be
fulfilled to the letter. Here as in a glass we see on the one hand the course
and the end of those who follow God, and on the other the course and the end of
those who resist. Or, we have pointed out to us the narrow way that leads to
life, and the broad road that leads to destruction. May we ponder these things
and learn the way wherein we should walk.
I. The different
roads. That of Israel was the path of obedience. Everything was done by Divine
command. But it was not always easy work for Israel to obey. The commands of
God not only led along a narrow way, but often brought them up to a strait
gate. They had just to go right on, according to the command of God. Obedience
was their watchword. To stop and parley was to be lost. Patient endurance
characterised them all through. When an old general was asked why he picked out
the old veterans for a forced march he replied, “Because they have the most
staying power.” For hard work of any kind this is what tells in the long run;
and from the first encounter with Sihon and Og to the last wrestle with the
Anakim Israel exhibited this quality both in things physical and things
spiritual. Obedience was the path: patient endurance was the characteristic of
those who walked therein. On the part of the Canaanites their course was marked
by rebellion. They said, “Who is Lord over us?” Thus they hardened themselves
against God’s will, and fought it out to the bitter end, learning no lesson and
yielding no submission. These two paths of obedience and rebellion have not
ceased to be trodden. Neither of them is grass-grown. Thank God there are many who by patient
continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality. If there
must be patient continuance on the part of those who walk the narrow way, there
must be constant contention on the part of those who hurry down the broad road.
There must be the resistance of the Holy Ghost, of the warnings of conscience,
of the light of truth. There must be at times the fear of death and judgment
and eternity.
II. The different
objects placed before each. That
placed before Israel was something very definite and tangible, viz., the sure promise of Jehovah. To
them that promise was the title-deed of the Holy Land; therefore all through
this war they had in their eye a Divine inheritance, and all the glory and
honour which this implied. Can we find any similar incitement on the part of
the Canaanites? Nay. Theirs was a hopeless struggle. They were without God and
therefore without hope. They obeyed unrighteousness, and were therefore filled
with unrest. So is it now. They who walk in the obedience of faith have a
glorious object before their eyes to stimulate and encourage them. They seek
for glory and honour and immortality. And they have good hope through grace of
obtaining it. Yea, they have God’s faithful promise, and therefore glorious
assurance of the result. But where is the hope of the rebellious? It is but a
vague, unsatisfying dream. At the very best they have no certainty of a happy
issue. When they pass hence it is “A leap in the dark.” What a miserable plight
is this l Notwithstanding their vast coalitions, their imposing armies, their
formidable weapons, their notable leaders, they go forward with fear. The Sihon
and Og of materialism, the Adoni-zedek of sacerdotalism, the Jabin of false
philosophy, can inspire no true and blessed hope in the hearts of their
faltering followers.
III. The different
ends. We see the Israelites marching on from victory to victory; entering into
Canaan, enjoying the smile of God, and reaping the fruit of their labours. We
see the Canaanites swept with the besom of destruction, and all that is left of
their mightiest kings is the chronicle of their tombstones as given here. The
ends are different because the beginnings are different. Of Israel it might be
said, “These all fought in faith.” Of the Canaanites it might be said, “These all died
in unbelief.” Paul has laid plainly before us in the Epistle to the Romans
these two ends, as we must know them. On the one hand he places eternal life,
glory, honour, peace. On the other he places indignation, wrath, tribulation,
anguish. One or other of these is the terminus to which every life is
hastening. And he also plainly tells us that without faith it is impossible to
walk in the good way or to attain the glorious end. Remember then God’s solemn
record of the dead. He marks His own as precious jewels, to be worn in His
crown in the day of glory, but He counts His enemies but worthless ashes to be
trodden under foot. In the Divine record of the dead there are no omissions, no
oversights, and no lies. He counts His enemies and He counts His friends. How
will He count you? (A. B. Mackay.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》