Chapter 12 provides us with a detailed list of the kings the Israelites defeated and where the territories of these kings were located. This was a very important list to the Israelites who were inheriting the land. It should be an important list to us too, for, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) This list proves that God was able to do what He said He was going to do and that He did do it.
The ten spies back in the book of Numbers who said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are," were wrong. They were wrong because they left God out of the equation. If the Israelites had had to go up alone against the fortified cities, the enormous armies, and the giant warriors of the land, then the spies would have been correct in their assessment. The Israelites were outnumbered. They were outgunned too, because the armies of the land of Canaan had horses and chariots and superior weaponry. But the God for whom nothing is impossible was with Israel. The God who keeps His promises kept His promise to Israel and the list of Chapter 12 is proof of that.
"These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah: Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon." (Joshua 12:1-2a) We read the account of Sihon's defeat in Numbers 21. He was a king who came out against the Israelites while they were still on the east side of the Jordan.
"He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge---from the middle of the Gorge---to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah." (Joshua 12:2b-3) Other than the Dead Sea, the location on this list with which we are probably most familiar is the Sea of Galilee. Jesus spent a lot of time in this region, walking and talking with the people, preaching the word of God and healing the sick along the shores of Galilee.
Also on the east side of the Jordan the Lord gave the kingdom of Og into Israel's hands. "And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maakah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon." (Joshua 12:4-5) The Rephaites were people of large stature who lived among the Ammonites. In Deuteronomy 3:11 Moses told us that Og was so tall that his bed was more than nine cubits long. Translated into feet this means the king required a bed that was about thirteen feet long. He was probably at least ten feet tall to require a bed of this size and perhaps may have been as much as twelve feet tall. Moses encouraged his readers to go see the bed for themselves if they didn't believe him: "It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites." (Deuteronomy 3:11b) But it didn't matter how big the king was or how big his army was, for the Lord fought on the side of Israel.
After conquering these two kings, some of the Israelites fell requested to be allowed to have as their inheritance the land on the east of the Jordan because the land was perfect for grazing their many herds of cattle. The land which formerly belonged to Sihon and Og became the possession of the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. "Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession." (Joshua 12:6)
It behooves us to do the same thing the author of the book of Joshua is doing in Chapter 12: we should take time to think back on the victories the Lord has already given us. Thinking back over and being thankful for everything the Lord has done for us up to this point will strengthen our faith for today and for the future. The God who fought our battles in the past hasn't lost any of His strength. He is still as mighty to save as He ever was. He is still as faithful and true as He ever was.
Join us tomorrow as we take a look at the kings the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan.
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