Kings Defeated by Moses
Study note
Before Israel crossed the Jordan, Moses had led them to victory over two powerful kings east of the river. Sihon, king of the Amorites, ruled from his capital in Heshbon and controlled a large area from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. Og, king of Bashan, was one of the last of the Rephaim, a race of very tall people. He ruled from Ashtaroth and Edrei. Moses gave this conquered territory to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
1 Here is the list of kings the Israelites defeated. They claimed their territory east of the Jordan, from the Arnon River gorge to Mount Hermon, including the entire eastern plain. 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:
2 Sihon was the Amorite king based in Heshbon. He controlled the territory from Aroer at the edge of the Arnon gorge. This included the middle of the gorge and half of Gilead up to the Jabbok River, which is the Ammonite border. 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 He also held the eastern plain from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It went east to Beth-jeshimoth. It went south below the slopes of Pisgah. 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:
4 Og, the king of Bashan, was one of the last survivors of the giant Rephaim people. He ruled from Ashtaroth and Edrei. And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
5 His land included Mount Hermon and Salecah. It included all of Bashan to the borders of Geshur and Maacah. It also included half of Gilead down to King Sihon's border at Heshbon. 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.
6 Moses the Lord's servant and the Israelites defeated both of these kings. Moses assigned their territory to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 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.
Kings Defeated by Joshua
Study note
This section lists thirty-one kings that Joshua and the Israelites defeated west of the Jordan River. The list covers the entire land from Baal-gad in the Lebanon Valley in the north to Mount Halak near Edom in the south. The territory included mountains, valleys, plains, slopes, wilderness, and the southern desert. The list reads like a roll call of conquered cities, naming each king and counting them one by one. The total of thirty-one kings shows how thoroughly God fulfilled his promise to give the land to Israel.
7 Here are the kings Joshua and the Israelites beat on the west side of the Jordan. Their land stretched from Baal-gad in the Lebanon valley to Mount Halak near Edom. Joshua gave this land to the Israelite tribes as their lasting share. 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 This territory included the hill country, the western foothills, the Jordan Valley, the mountain slopes, the wilderness, and the southern desert. These lands once belonged to the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 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:
9 The king of Jericho -- one. The king of Ai near Bethel -- one. The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth-el, one;
10 The king of Jerusalem -- one. The king of Hebron -- one. The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
11 The king of Jarmuth -- one. The king of Lachish -- one. The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
12 The king of Eglon -- one. The king of Gezer -- one. The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
13 The king of Debir -- one. The king of Geder -- one. The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
14 The king of Hormah -- one. The king of Arad -- one. The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
15 The king of Libnah -- one. The king of Adullam -- one. The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
16 The king of Makkedah -- one. The king of Bethel -- one. The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Beth-el, one;
17 The king of Tappuah -- one. The king of Hepher -- one. The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
18 The king of Aphek -- one. The king of Lasharon -- one. The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
19 The king of Madon -- one. The king of Hazor -- one. The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
20 The king of Shimron-meron -- one. The king of Achshaph -- one. The king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
21 The king of Taanach -- one. The king of Megiddo -- one. The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
22 The king of Kedesh -- one. The king of Jokneam in Carmel -- one. The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
23 The king of Dor on the coast -- one. The king of Goiim in Gilgal -- one. The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
24 The king of Tirzah -- one. The grand total: thirty-one kings defeated. The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.