Today we will conclude Chapter 12 with the list of kings defeated by the Israelites in the promised land. Yesterday we talked about the kings they defeated on the east side of the Jordan River. That land went to the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. Today we'll talk about the kings defeated on the west side of the Jordan.
"Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions. The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev. These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites." (Joshua 12:7-8a) These nations of the promised land are those which have been on the Lord's list for a long time throughout the Old Testament, nations He commanded the Israelites to destroy.
"These were the kings: Jericho---one," (Joshua 12:8b-9a) Jericho is where we find Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46, Luke 18:35. It's also where He met the tax collector named Zacchaeus who repented of his sins and became a follower of the Lord.
"The king of Ai (near Bethel)---one," (Joshua 12:9b) It was in this area that Abraham built an altar to the Lord in Genesis 12:8, not long after he answered the Lord's call to leave his homeland and strike out for the land the Lord would give to his descendants.
"The king of Jerusalem---one," (Joshua 12:10a) There's not enough space or time to discuss all the things that happened at Jerusalem on the pages of the Holy Bible. To me, Jerusalem is an especially holy place because Jesus taught there, healed there, died there for my sins, and rose there from the grave.
"The king of Hebron---one," (Joshua 12:10b) Hebron is where David was anointed as king over Judah in 2 Samuel 5.
"The king of Jarmuth---one, the king of Lachish---one, the king of Eglon---one, the king of Gezer---one," (Joshua 12:11-12) Gezer was a very important location on the road between Joppa and Jerusalem. It was later recaptured by the Egyptians but the father of King Solomon's Egyptian wife gave it to his daughter and Solomon rebuilt it in 1 Kings 9.
"The king of Debir---one, the king of Geder---one, the king of Hormah---one, the king of Arad---one, the king of Libnah---one, the king of Adullam---one," (Joshua 12:13-15) Debir was a stronghold of the Anakim (the giants) of the Old Testament. Libnah was a city Joshua assigned to the priests of Israel. It was from Libnah that Sennacherib, king of Assyria, kept sending threatening messages to Jerusalem. It was at Libnah that the angel of the Lord destroyed the Assyrian army camp during the night so the Assyrians could not attack Jerusalem. We find this account in the book of 2 Kings.
"The king of Makkedah---one, the king of Bethel---one, the king of Tappuah---one, the king of Hepher---one, the king of Aphek---one, the king of Lasheron---one, the king of Madon---one, the king of Hazor---one," (Joshua 12:16-19) Bethel was not only a place Abraham set up an altar, but Jacob had his vision there of a ladder ascending to heaven and it was at Bethel he set up a pillar to the Lord. He later returned to Bethel and built an altar.
"The king of Shimron Meron---one, the king of Akshaph---one, the king of Taanach---one, the king of Megiddo---one," (Joshua 12:20-21) It is in the area of Megiddo that man's final rebellion against the Lord will take place, according to Revelation 16. This is what is commonly called "Armageddon", from the words "Har Megiddo" which means "Mountain of Megiddo".
"The king of Kedesh---one, the king of Jokneam in Carmel---one, the king of Dor (in Naphoth Dor)---one, the king of Goyim in Gilgal---one, the king of Tirzah---one, thirty-one kings in all." (Joshua 12:22-24) Israel defeated thirty-one kings on the west side of the Jordan with the help of the Lord. This list of defeated kings is actually a list of the Lord's victories.
You and I could make a list of the Lord's victories in our own lives! As we said yesterday, it's helpful to us to regularly think back on all the things the Lord has done for us. It strengthens our faith and it strengthens our praise. It gives us confidence in the Lord regarding our current situation and regarding anything that comes against us in the future. The Israelites must have been greatly encouraged in the Lord anytime they read back over the list we've studied today. They must have comforted themselves with the fact that the Lord had given them victory over the kingdoms of thirty-one kings in the promised land. The Lord had given them victory over armies bigger than theirs, armies with more technology than they had, and armies that sometimes contained men of extraordinary physical stature. Can a God like this not fight future battles also? Of course He can! And He will!
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