Joshua 11 - 13 Joshua and the Israelites continue to defeat the people in Canaan. 2 and ½ tribes inherited land on the east side of the Jordan River.

Joshua 11
 

Joshua and the Israelite army continue to defeat the people in Canaan.


Jabin was the king of the place called Hazor. He heard about the Israelites defeating many kings. He sent messages to other kings:

The king of Madon who was named Jobab
The king of Shimron
The king of Achshaph
Kings who lived in the mountains in the north of Canaan
Kings who lived in the flat land south of the place called Chinneroth (area of the Sea of Galilee)
Kings who lived in the valley and near the place called Dor by the Mediterranean Sea
Kings of the other groups of people: the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites (lived in the mountains), and the Hivites (lived near Mt. Hermon in the place called Mizpeh).
[1] And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
[2] And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,
[3] And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.
 

All of these kings and their armies met together and camped at a lake called Merom.  There were many, many soldiers, horses, and chariots.  There were as many soldiers, horses, and chariots as there are grains (pieces) of sand on the seashore (beach).
[4] And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
[5] And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.


God told Joshua that he should not be afraid. The next day, God will give the other army to the Israelites. He will help the Israelites defeat the other army. The Israelites should hurt the other army's horses. The Israelites should burn the other army's chariots.
[6] And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

 

Joshua and the Israelite army attacked the kings and their armies at the lake, Merom.
[7] So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.


The Israelites defeated the big army. They chased the other soldiers to many other places --to Zidon, to Misrephoth, and to Mizpeh. They killed all of the other army's soldiers.
[8] And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.


Joshua did what God told him to do. He hurt the other army's horses and burned their chariots.
[9] And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.


Then Joshua went back and caught the king of Hazor who was named Jabin.  Joshua killed Jabin. Jabin's kingdom, Hazor, was the leader of all the other kingdoms. 
[10] And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.


After the Israelite army killed everyone, they burned the city of Hazor.
[11] And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
 

They killed the other kings and burned many of the cities. They did what Joshua told them to do.
[12] And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.


Some of the cities were very strong. They were built on hills.  The Israelites did not burn those cities.
[13] But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.


The Israelites took everything from the cities, including the cattle.  But they killed every person. They left no person alive.
[14] And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.


In the past, God told Moses what to do. Then Moses told Joshua what God said.  Now Joshua did everything that God told Moses. 
[15] As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

 

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A list of the areas that the Israelites now controlled.


Joshua and the Israelite army now controlled many parts of Canaan. They controlled the part that had hills in the north and south. They controlled the smaller hills in the west of Canaan. They controlled the part called Goshen (this is not the same Goshen that was in Egypt). They controlled the flat land by the Jordan River.
[16] So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;


The Israelites controlled the land near the mountain Halak that is near the country of Edom.  They controlled the area of Baal-Gad in the Lebanon Valley near Mt. Hermon.
[17] Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.


Joshua had wars with the kings of those places for a long time (many years).
[18] Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
 

There was only one city that had peace with the Israelites. That was Gibeon (to read about how Gibeon tricked the Israelites, please click here). The Israelites defeated all of the other cities and people.
[19] There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.


In the past, God told Moses that he wanted all of the people and cities in Canaan destroyed. That is why God hardened the Canaanites' hearts (made the Canaanite people fight the Israelites). Then the Israelites could destroy the Canaanites.
[20] For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

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Joshua defeated the Anakims.


Joshua destroyed the Anakims (giants) who lived in the mountains, in Hebron, in Debir, in Anab, in the mountains of Judah, and in the mountains of Israel. Joshua destroyed the Anakims and their cities.
[21] And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.

There were no more Anakims left in the Israelites' land. There were a few Anakims, though, in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
[22] There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
 

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It is now time for peace in Canaan.


God told Moses that the Israelites would have the land in Canaan.  Now, Joshua and his army have captured the land. Joshua will divide the land and give part to each Israelite tribe.  Now the land will have peace.
[23] So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
 

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Joshua 12


A list of the kings and the areas that the Israelites defeated before Moses died.


These are the kings and the places the Israelites defeated before Moses died.

On the east of the Jordan River:  the area from the Arnon River to Mt. Hermon and the flat places to the east.
[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:
 

They defeated King Sihon. Sihon was the king of the Amorite people. He lived in Heshbon. His kingdom was in the area from the city of Aroer by the Arnon River to the Jabbok River.  The Amorites' area was near the area of the Ammonites.  The Jabbok River was the border with the Ammonites. Sihon ruled half of the area called Gilead.  Sihon's kingdom went from the sea of Chinneroth (sea of Galilee) south to Beth-jeshimoth and to Mt. Pisgah.
[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;
[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:


The Israelites also defeated King Og who was another Amorite. His kingdom was called Bashan. Og was a giant. To read about giants in the Bible, please click here.  Og's people lived in the places called Ashtaroth, Edrei, near Mt. Hermon, Salcha, and all of Bashan. Their area started with the border of the land of the people called the Geshurites and the Maachathites. Og's kingdom went to the border of Sihon's land.  Og's kingdom also included half of Gilead.
[4] And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
[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.

After Moses and the Israelites defeated the Amorites, Moses gave their land to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and ½ of the tribe of Manasseh.
[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.
 

 

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A list of the kings and the areas that the Israelites defeated after Moses died.


These are the kings and places that Joshua and the Israelites defeated after Moses died. After they defeated them, Joshua divided the land and gave each tribe their land.
 
The land that Joshua  conquered (won wars) was on the west side of the Jordan River. The area went from Baal-gad to the mountain Halak. They also defeated the people who lived in the mountains, valleys, flat places, springs, desert, and in the south. The people who lived in these places were:  the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
[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;
[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 count of the kings that Joshua and the Israelites defeated. There were 31 kings altogether.

1 king of Jericho
1 king of Ai
1 king of Jerusalem
1 king of Hebron
1 king of Jarmuth
1 king of Lachish
1 king of Eglon
1 king of Gezer
1 king of Debir
1 king of Geder
1 king of Hormah
1 king of Arad
1 king of Libnah
1 king of Adullam
1 king of Makkedah
1 king of Bethel
1 king of Tappuah
1 king of Hepher
1 king of Aphek
1 king of Lasharon
1 king of Madon
1 king of Hazor
1 king of Shimron-meron
1 king of Achshaph
1 king of Taanach
1 king of Megiddo
1 king of Kedesh
1 king of Jokneam
1 king of Dor
1 king of Gilgal
1 king of Tirzah


[9] The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;
[10] The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
[11] The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
[12] The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
[13] The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
[14] The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
[15] The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
[16] The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
[17] The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
[18] The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
[19] The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
[20] The king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
[21] The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
[22] The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
[23] The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
[24] The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
 

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Joshua 13


Joshua will divide the land for the Israelite tribes.

Joshua was getting old. God told him that he was old, but there was still a lot of land in Canaan to take.
[1] Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

 

God told Joshua about the parts of Canaan that the Israelites still need to take.  They did not yet have the land of the Philistines (the Philistines's land was next to the Mediterranean Sea). They also did not have the land of Geshuri. (Geshuri is in the area that we now call Syria.)
[2] This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,


The Israelites did not yet have the land from the river Sihor (Sihor is a river on the east side of Egypt, possibly a branch of the Nile River) to the area of Ekron. This land was Canaanite land. The people in this land were the Gazathites, the Ashdodthites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, the Ekronites, the Avites, and the Philistines.
[3] From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:



The Israelites did not have the land in the areas of Mearah and Aphek.  They also did not have the land where the people called the Giblites lived. They also did not have the area called Lebanon in the areas from Baal-gad to Hamath (near the country we call Syria).
[4] From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
[5] And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.


God told Joshua that He will make the other people leave. Then Joshua should divide the land between the tribes of Israelites. On the west side of the Jordan, there are 9 ½ tribes that will get land (½ of the tribe of Manasseh already has land on the east side of the Jordan River).
[6] All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
[7] Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

 

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The borders of the Israelites' land on the east side of the Jordan River


The tribes of Reuben and Gad got land on the east side of the Jordan River.  They got the land when Moses was alive.
[8] With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;


They got the land in the area of Aroer by the Arnon River. They got the flat land of Medeba to the city of Dibon.
[9] From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;

They got the land that belonged to King Sihon in the past.  Sihon lived in Heshbon. Sihon's land went to the border of the land that we now call Jordan.
[10] And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;


They got the area called Gilead. They got land near the people called the Geshurites and the Maachathites. They got the land near Mt. Hermon.  They got the area called Bashan to the city called Salcah.
[11] And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;



They got the land that belonged to King Og in the past. Og lived in the cities of Ashtaroth and Edrei.  Og was the last of the giants.  Moses defeated both kings, Og and Sihon. Moses forced the people in that land to leave. 
[12] All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.


The Israelites did not force the people called the Geshurites and the Maachathites to leave. They continued to live in Canaan.  When this book of the Bible was written, the Geshurites and the Maachathites were still living in Canaan with the Israelites.
[13] Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.



The tribe of Levi did not receive any land.  God told them in the past that they will receive part of the sacrifices the other Israelites make. That is their inheritance.
[14] Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.

 

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Reuben's land


This is the land that God gave to the tribe of Reuben: 
The areas of Aroer near the Arnon River, the city near the river, and the flat land in the area of Medeba
The area of Heshbon and the cities in Heshbon
Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beht-baal-meon
Jahazah, Kedemoth, and Mephaath
Kirjathaim, Sibmah, Zareth-shahar
Beth-peor, Ashdoth-pisgah, Beth-jeshimoth
 

[15] And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
[16] And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;
[17] Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon,
[18] And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
[19] And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley,
[20] And Beth-peor, and Ashdoth-pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,



The tribe of Rueben got the land and the cities of King Sihon.  Some princes and dukes helped Sihon, and they ruled the area of Midian. Moses defeated the king and all of the princes and dukes.  The princes and dukes' names were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba.
[21] And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.
 

Back in the book of Numbers, there was a man named Balaam.  His father's name was Beor.  Balaam lived in the land that Reuben's tribe inherited. The Israelites killed Balaam.
[22] Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

The border of Reuben's land was the Jordan River.  This was the land, cities, and villages that the tribe of Reuben inherited for their families.
[23] And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof.
 This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.

 

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Gad's land


This was the land that Moses gave to the tribe of Gad.
[24] And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.


Gad's land was by the city named Jazer.  Gad had all of the cities in the area of Gilead. Gad had half of the land that once belonged to the Ammonites. Gad's land went to the city named Aroer that was near the city named Rabbah.
[25] And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;


Gad's land went from the city Heshbon to the city of Ramath-mizpeh.  Gad's land also went from the place called Mahanaim to Debir.
[26] And from Heshbon unto Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;


 

Other places in Gad's land were Beth-aram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon.  The tribe of Reuben had part of King Sihon's land, and the tribe of Gad had the other part.  The western border of Gad's land was the Jordan River and also the sea of Chinnereth (**note:  later the Sea of Chinnereth was called the Sea of Galilee).
[27] And in the valley, Beth-aram, and Beth-nimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.


This was the land, cities, and towns that the tribe of Gad inherited for their families.
[28] This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.
 

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The land of half of the Manasseh tribe

(½ of the Manasseh tribe got land on the east side of the Jordan River. The other ½ of the Manasseh tribe got land on the west side of the Jordan River.)

This was the land of part of the tribe of Manasseh. 
[29] And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.


Manasseh's tribe got the city of Mahanaim and the area called Bashan. Bashan was where Og was king in the past. One of Manasseh's sons was named Jair.  Jair's descendants lived in the area of Bashan. They built 60 cities. 
[30] And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:
 

Manasseh's tribe got half of the area called Gilead.  They also got 2 cities that belonged to Og. The 2 cities were Ashtaroth and Edrei.  This part of Manasseh's land was given to the descendants of Manasseh's son, Machir.
[31] And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.


This was the land that Moses gave to 3 of the tribes. This land was on the east side of the Jordan River.
[32] These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
 

But Moses did not give any land to the tribe of Levi. They lived with the other tribes and got the other tribe's sacrifices. That was their inheritance.
[33] But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.