JOSHUA LESSON 13
We will begin this lesson in Joshua 12:1 "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:"
Joshua is about to give a complete description of the kings they
had conquered, and the lands they had possessed. This first mention is
of the kings and their lands on the eastern side of Jordan. The land
on the eastern side of Jordan, you remember, was given to Reuben, Gad,
and the half tribe of Manasseh. This was a beautiful land for grazing
animals. The lands on the east side of Jordan had been ruled by the
giants Og and Sihon. The land was bordered on the west by the Jordan
River. It reached from the river Arnon to mount Hermon.
Joshua 12:2 "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;"
Numbers 21:23 "And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through
his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out
against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought
against Israel." Numbers 21:24 "And Israel smote him with the edge of
the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto
the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon [was]
strong."
Joshua 12:3 "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 Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:"
Chinneroth is the same as the Sea of Galilee, and the Salt Sea is
the same as the Dead Sea. These are extremities of the eastern side of
the territory. Beth-jeshimoth is speaking of the desert area near the
Dead Sea. "Beth-jeshimoth" means house of desolations. It perfectly
describes this area, even today. Pisgah was the mountain you could
stand on and see the promised land. This was the mountain Moses
climbed to get his view of the promised land. It was actually across
from Jericho.
Joshua 12:4 "And the coast of Og king of Bashan, [which was] of
the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,"
Ashtaroth was a very evil city worshipping the stars. Og was one
of the last kings of the giants. They were defeated by Moses.
Joshua 12:5 "And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in
all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites,
and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon."
The Geshurites were on the north east corner of Bashan. They
bordered on Aram. They were located east of Jordan. The Maachites were
the inhabitants of a small kingdom near Palestine. Some of these
warriors joined Israel's army. The Geshurites and the Maachites are
mentioned in the time of David, so they are not annihilated here.
Joshua 12:6 "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."
On the eastern side of Jordan Moses was still in charge. The
lands we mentioned in the previous verses here were all east of
Jordan. These were the lands that were such good lands for livestock
that Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh received. They had to
go and help the other tribes fight for their land on the west side of
Jordan, but the LORD gave them time to settle their families here,
before going over the Jordan River.
Joshua 12:7 "And these [are] the kings of the country which
Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the
west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount
Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of
Israel [for] a possession according to their divisions;"
Moses died, and was buried on the eastern side of the Jordan
River. Joshua took over in His place and led their people across the
Jordan River to their promised land. We remember, the lands are
divided by lot after they have won the land from its inhabitants. This
is their inheritance from God. Baal-gad was a city at the foot of
mount Hermon. This borders Lebanon. Seir is the area of the Dead Sea.
Joshua 12:8 "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:"
This is a list of the people who were living there before the
LORD had Joshua to take it for Israel. These were people who knew not
God.
Joshua 12:9 "The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which
[is] beside Beth-el, one;"
In the previous lesson we got into the details of the overthrow
of these kings and their lands. The kings were killed and most of the
cities burned. There were many more cities than the ones listed here.
These are some of the cities that were centers. Jericho and Ai were
two of the more prominent cities.
Joshua 12:10 "The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron,
one;" Joshua 12:11 "The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish,
one;" Joshua 12:12 "The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;"
Joshua 12:13 "The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;" Joshua
12:14 "The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;"
Hormah, and Arad were cities in the Negeb. This was a very dry
area, bordering Edom.
Joshua 12:15 "The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;"
This would later be associated with the Philistines.
Joshua 12:16 " The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Beth-el,
one;" Joshua 12:17 "The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher,
one;" Joshua 12:18 "The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon,
one;" Joshua 12:19 "The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;"
Joshua 12:20 "The king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph,
one;" Joshua 12:21 "The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo,
one;"
Megiddo is in the area where the battle of Armegeddon will be
fought in the end days.
Joshua 12:22 "The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of
Carmel, one;" Joshua 12:23 "The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one;
the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;"
Gilgal was the plain of Jordan.
Joshua 12:24 "The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and
one."
In this group there are 31 kings killed. You can see by all of
these divisions that they would have not been as strong as they would
have been if they were one nation. There are many more cities taken.
These are mentioned specifically because they were the primary city in
their area. Many of the other cities Israel does not burn. They do
kill most of the people, however.
Joshua 13 Questions
1. What is Joshua doing, beginning with verse 1?
2. These first few verses are on which side of Jordan?
3. Who was the land on the eastern side of Jordan given to?
4. Who had this area been ruled by?
5. This area was bordered on the west by the _________ ________.
6. Sihon was king of the ____________.
7. What did Sihon refuse Israel?
8. What were the results of this battle?
9. Chinneroth is the same as what?
10. The Salt Sea is the same as the ________ Sea.
11. "Beth-jeshimoth" means what?
12. What mount did Moses go on to see the promised land?
13. Who were the remnants of the giants?
14. The Geshurites were on the north east corner of _______.
15. Some of the _________ warriors joined Israel's army.
16. On the eastern side of Jordan, _________ was still in charge.
17. Why did Reuben want the land on the east of Jordan?
18. What requirement was made of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh to receive
the land east of Jordan?
19. Where was Moses Buried?
20. Who took his place?
21. How were the lands divided?
22. Who were the people who previously owned the land of promise?
23. What were two of the more prominent cities destroyed?
24. What is Megiddo well known for?
25. How many kings, listed here, died?
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