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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Joshua, Chapter XII].</TITLE>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J O S H U A</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XII.</FONT>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
This chapter is a summary of Israel's conquests.
I. Their conquests under Moses, on the other side Jordan (for we now
suppose ourselves in Canaan) eastward, which we had the history of,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+21:24-35">Num. xxi. 24</A>,
&c. And here the abridgment of that history,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
II. Their conquests under Joshua, on this side Jordan, westward.
1. The country they reduced,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:7,8">ver. 7, 8</A>.
2. The kings they subdued, thirty-one in all,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:9-24">ver. 9-24</A>.
And this comes in here, not only as a conclusion of the history of the
wars of Canaan (that we might at one view see what they had got), but
as a preface to the history of the dividing of Canaan, that all that
might be put together which they were not to make a distribution
of.</P>
</FONT>
<A NAME="Jos12_1"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_2"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_3"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Summary of Israel's Conquests.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1450.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>
1 Now these <I>are</I> 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:
&nbsp; 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, <I>and</I> ruled
from Aroer, which <I>is</I> upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from
the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the
river Jabbok, <I>which is</I> the border of the children of Ammon;
&nbsp; 3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and
unto the sea of the plain, <I>even</I> the salt sea on the east, the
way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:
&nbsp; 4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, <I>which was</I> of the
remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 6 Them did Moses the servant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> and the children of
Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> gave it <I>for</I> a
possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half
tribe of Manasseh.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Joshua, or whoever else is the historian before he comes to sum up the
new conquests Israel had made, in these verses receives their former
conquests in Moses's time, under whom they became masters of the great
and potent kingdoms of Sihon and Og. Note, Fresh mercies must not
drown the remembrance of former mercies, nor must the glory of the
present instruments of good to the church be suffered to eclipse and
diminish the just honour of those who have gone before them, and who
were the blessings and ornaments of their day. Joshua's services and
achievements are confessedly great, but let not those under Moses be
overlooked and forgotten, since God was the same who wrought both, and
both put together proclaim him the Alpha and Omega of Israel's great
salvation. Here is,
1. A description of this conquered country, the measure and bounds of
it in general
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
<I>From the river Arnon</I> in the south, to <I>Mount Hermon</I> in the
north. In particular, here is a description of the kingdom of Sihon
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>),
and that of Og,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
Moses had described this country very particularly
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+2:36,3:4">Deut. ii. 36; iii. 4</A>,
&c.), and this description here agrees with his. King Og is said to
dwell at Ashtaroth and Edrei
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
probably because they were both his royal cities; he had palaces in
both, and resided sometimes in one and sometimes in the other; one
perhaps was his summer seat and the other his winter seat. But Israel
took both from him, and made one grave to serve him that could not be
content with one palace.
2. The distribution of this country. Moses assigned it to the two
tribes and a half, at their request, and divided it among them
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
of which we had the story at large,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+32:1-42">Num. xxxii</A>.
The dividing of it when it was conquered by Moses is here mentioned as
an example to Joshua what he must do now that he had conquered the
country on this side Jordan. Moses, in his time, gave to one part of
Israel a very rich and fruitful country, but it was on the outside of
Jordan; but Joshua gave to all Israel the holy land, the mountain of
God's sanctuary, within Jordan: so the law conferred upon some few of
God's spiritual Israel external temporal blessings, which were earnests
of good things to come; but our Lord Jesus, the true Joshua, has
provided for all the children of promise spiritual blessings--the
privileges of the sanctuary, and the heavenly Canaan. The triumphs and
grants of the law were glorious, but those of the gospel far exceed in
glory.</P>
<A NAME="Jos12_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_8"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_9"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_10"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_11"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_12"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_13"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_14"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_15"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_16"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_17"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_18"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_19"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_20"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_21"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_22"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_23"> </A>
<A NAME="Jos12_24"> </A>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And these <I>are</I> 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
<I>for</I> a possession according to their divisions;
&nbsp; 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:
&nbsp; 9 The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which <I>is</I> beside
Beth-el, one;
&nbsp; 10 The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
&nbsp; 11 The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
&nbsp; 12 The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
&nbsp; 13 The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
&nbsp; 14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
&nbsp; 15 The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
&nbsp; 16 The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Beth-el, one;
&nbsp; 17 The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
&nbsp; 18 The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
&nbsp; 19 The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
&nbsp; 20 The king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
&nbsp; 21 The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
&nbsp; 22 The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
&nbsp; 23 The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the
nations of Gilgal, one;
&nbsp; 24 The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
We have here a breviate of Joshua's conquests.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. The limits of the country he conquered. It lay between Jordan on the
east and the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and extended from Baal-gad
near Lebanon in the north to Halak, which lay upon the country of Edom
in the south,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
The boundaries are more largely described,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+34:2-12">Num. xxxiv. 2</A>,
&c. But what is here said is enough to show that God had been as
good as his word, and had given them possession of all he had promised
them by Moses, if they would but have kept it.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. The various kinds of land that were found in this country, which
contributed both to its pleasantness and to its fruitfulness,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:8">v. 8</A>.
There were mountains, not craggy, and rocky, and barren, which are
frightful to the traveller and useless to the inhabitants, but fruitful
hills, such as put forth <I>precious things</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:15">Deut. xxxiii. 15</A>),
which charmed the spectator's eye and filled the owner's hand. And
valleys, not mossy and boggy, but <I>covered with corn,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+65:13">Ps. lxv. 13</A>.
There were plains, and springs to water them; and even in that rich
land there were wildernesses too, or forests, which were not so thickly
inhabited as other parts, yet had towns and houses in them, but served
as foils to set off the more pleasant and fruitful countries.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
III. The several nations that had been in possession of this
country--Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, &c., all of them descended from
Canaan, the accursed son of Ham,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+10:15-18">Gen. x. 15-18</A>.
Seven nations they are called
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+7:1">Deut. vii. 1</A>),
and so many are there reckoned up, but here six only are mentioned, the
Girgashites being either lost or left out, though we find them,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+10:16,15:21">Gen. x. 16 and xv. 21</A>.
Either they were 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 into Africa, leaving their country to be
possessed by Israel, with whom they saw it was to no purpose to
contend, and therefore they are not named among the nations that Joshua
subdued.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
IV. A list of the kings that were conquered and subdued by the sword of
Israel, some in the field, others in their own cities, thirty-one in
all, and very particularly named and counted, it should seem, in the
order in which they were conquered; for the catalogue begins with the
kings of Jericho and Ai, then takes in the king of Jerusalem and the
princes of the south that were in confederacy with him, and then
proceeds to those of the northern association. Now,
1. This shows what a very fruitful country Canaan then was, which could
support so many kingdoms, and in which so many kings chose to throng
together rather than disperse themselves into other countries, which we
may suppose not yet inhabited, but where, though they might find more
room, they could not expect such plenty and pleasure: this was the land
God spied out for Israel; and yet at this day it is one of the most
barren, despicable, 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,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+29:23">Deut. xxix. 23</A>.
2. It shows what narrow limits men's ambition was then confined to.
These kings contented themselves with the government, each of them, of
one city and the towns and villages that pertained to it; and no one of
them, for aught that appears, aimed to make himself master of the rest,
but, when there was occasion, all united for the common safety. Yet it
should seem that what was wanting in the extent of their territories
was made up in the absoluteness of their power, their subjects being
all their tenants and vassals, and entirely at their command.
3. It shows how good God was to Israel, in giving them victory over all
these kings, and possession of all these kingdoms, and what obligations
he hereby laid upon them to <I>observe his statutes and to keep his
laws,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:44,45">Ps. cv. 44, 45</A>.
Here were thirty-one kingdoms, or seigniories, to be divided among nine
tribes and a half of Israel. Of these there fell to the lot of Judah
the kingdoms of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Debir, Arad, Libnah,
and Adullam, eight in all, besides part of the kingdom of Jerusalem and
part of Geder. Benjamin had the kingdoms of Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem,
Makkedah, Beth-el, and the nations of Gilgal, six in all. Simeon had
the kingdom of Hormah and part of Geder. Ephraim had the kingdoms of
Gezer and Tirzah. Manasseh (that half-tribe) had the kingdoms of
Tappuah and Hepher, Taanach and Megiddo. Asher had the kingdoms of
Aphek and Achshaph. Zebulun had the kingdoms of Lasharon,
Shimron-meron, and Jokneam. Naphtali had the kingdoms of Madon, Hazor,
and Kedesh. And Issachar had that of Dor. These were some of the great
and famous kings that God smote, <I>for his mercy endureth for ever;
and gave their land for a heritage, even a heritage unto Israel his
servant, for his mercy endureth for ever,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+136:17-24">Ps. cxxxvi. 17</A>,
&c.</P>
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