Joshua 12

The prodigious population of Canaan previous to its conquest, renders credible all we read on this subject afterwards. They, as well as the children of Abraham, are compared to the sands of the sea-shore for multitude. Josephus calculates, that in one of these engagements, “the Canaanitish army consisted of no less than 300,000 foot, and 10,000 horse, besides 20,000 chariots of war.” But, 3. No enemy can be too numerous, or too powerful, for those who have the God of Israel on their side. He who commands the lightning and the hail, the hornet and the wasp, can meet with no repulse from feeble man. 4. We see the nature and character of the human heart, which is alike hardened either by judgments or by mercies, even as the ground is hardened either by the sun or by the frost.

In many cases, God’s sparing mercies harden the heart; “because judgment against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the children of men are fully set in them to do evil.” But in the case of Pharaoh and the Canaanites, judgments produced the like effect, and we well know, that nothing but the grace of God can effectually soften the obdurate heart of man. Lastly, In the close of this chapter, we may discern a noble instance of disinterestedness in the character of Joshua. No sooner had he conquered the land, than he “gave it for an inheritance to Israel,” without any reserve for himself! insomuch, that when all was over, he had to ask a city for himself and family to dwell in.

(See (Joshua 19:49-50).) Chap. XII. Ver. 1—24. Kings subdued.—This chapter connects the history of the conquest of Canaan with the subsequent account of its division to the tribes of Israel. The Israelites utterly destroyed King Arad and his cities, in the lifetime of Moses, and called the name of them Hormah. Probably “the king of Arad,” here mentioned is the same person. As his kingdom was on the southern border of Canaan, and not east of Jordan, it came into the possession of Israel under Joshua; and therefore he is numbered in that division of kings. Yet Hormah is here mentioned, as a distinct kingdom from that of Arad: and perhaps there was ((Numbers 14:45).) another place of that name.

Every considerable town or city was under the government of a king, who possessed the adjacent fields and villages, and ruled, as it is generally supposed, with despotic sway: and though the Canaanites doubtless waged frequent wars, and gained advantages over each other; yet no one had acquired the sovereignty of the whole.—When Julius Cæsar landed in Britain, he found four kings in the single county of Kent: how many, then, must there have been in the whole Island!—A single view of a good map of ancient Canaan will show the reader all that learned men have conjectured or determined concerning the relative situation of the several places, which

Notes on the verses

Ver. 13. The cities which stood in their strength—Hebrew, “On their heap.” So it is promised, Jeremiah xxx. 18. “Israel shall be builded on her own heap;” i.e. on her old foundations, the same site as before. The meaning here seems to be, those cities which surrendered before their fortifications were destroyed, were left for the use of Israel, except Hazor only.— Ver. 17. Mount Halek.—Margin, “The smooth mountain;” rather, “the divided mountain;” that is, “all the mountainous country that extends from the south of the land of Canaan, towards Seir, unto Baul-gad, which lies at the foot of Mount Libanus, or Hermon, which serve as a limit between the land of Canaan and that of Seir. See (Joshua 12:7).”—Dr. Clarke. Ver. 18. A long time.—(Caleb was forty years old when sent from Kadeshbarnea to spy the land, and he was eighty-five at the conclusion of this war. (ch. 14, 10.) Nine thirty-nine years of this time were spent before Israel passed Jordan; which leaves between six and seven for the term of Joshua’s wars.) Ver. 21. At that time came Joshua.—This is evidently a recapitulation of the military operations detailed (Joshua 10)ver. 36—41. Ver. 22. In Gaza, &c.—The whole race of the Anakims (or giants) was extirpated in this war, except a few which took refuge among the Philistines. See (1 Samuel 17:4). Chap. XII. Ver. 1. From the river Arnon unto Hermon.—These descriptions can hardly be understood but by comparing them with some good map of Canaan. Ver. 3. Sea of Chinnereth.—Or Gennesareth. called in the New Testament, the Lake of Tiberias.—Salt sea on the east.—Perhaps the sea of Sodom, or the Dead sea, remarkable for its saltness. Ver. 5. Geshurites.—The LXX. read Gergesenes. See (Matthew 8:2). Ver. 11. Jarmuth.—[Placed by Eusebius and Jerome four miles from Eleutheropolis, near Eshtaol; but, in Jarmuth, which is probably the same, they state it to be 10 miles from Eleutheropolis towards Jerusalem; which is supposed to be nearer the truth.]—Bagster. Ver. 14. Arad.—[Eusebius places this city in the neighbourhood of Kadesh, 4 miles from Malathis, and 20 from Hebron.]—Bagster. Ver. 23. Nations of Gilgal.—The higher Galilee, or “Galilee of the Gentiles,” i.e. nations.