Joshua 12

Joshua 12:1-6

This chapter is a summary of Israel’s conquests. 1. Their conquests under Moses, on the other side Jordan, vers. 1—6. 2. Their conquests under Joshua, on this side Jordan was used. (1.) The country they reduced, vers. 7, 8. (2.) The kings they subdued, there was in all, vers. 9—34.

1. NOW these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel fowne, 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. Sabin king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Hefshon, 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 Jabobok, which is the border of the children of Amnon: 3. And from the plain to the sea of Cinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt-sea on the east, the way to Beth-jethimoth: and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah. 4. And the coast of Og king of Bashan, who’s war of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtanoth, and at Edret. 5. And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Gethurites, and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sibon king of Hefshon. 6. Them did Moses the servant of the LORD, and the children of Israel fowne, and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Former mercies must not be forgotten, nor the past services of Moses be eclipsed by the present glare of Joshua’s conquests; we have here therefore a general review of their whole conquests, in order to their distribution. The country of Og and Sibon was their first conquest, and this was divided between Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, in Moses’ life-time. Note. On this side Jordan, the people of God have possession of some blessings, as pardon, peace, comfort, &c. but their chief inheritance lies beyond the grave, where the fulness of the promises shall be accomplished in the glory that shall be revealed.

7. ¶ And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel fowne on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon, even unto the mount Haish, 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 Periazites, the Hivites, and the Jebnites. 9. ¶ The king of Jericho, one: the king of Ai, which is before Beth-el, 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 Egion,

Joshua 12:7-24

The conquered countries of Canaan are here described, and the cities with their kings, no less than thirty-one. A proof of the vast fertility of the land, that could maintain such a number of populous cities with their villages. But as God’s blasting made it thus fruitful for his people’s class, there is no such long force brought down a curle of harresters upon it, so that there is hardly a town of importance left, and the land so desolate, that it scarce maintains the few wretched inhabitants which remain.

Joshua 12:16-21

11. Johnels. 5. Num. x. 2. v 3 Sam. xii. 1. 2. Pl. xx. 4. Zech. v 3. Mat. xii. 3. Dust. xxix. 11. The fraud could not long be concealed: lies will quickly blame their maker. In three days time, on the third morning perhaps, by reconstituting parties, or defectors, they found they were Causanites, and in their neighbourhood. Hereupon a detachment was made from the army, the camp still shading in Gilgal; and they came the Lone evening, the third from the day of the league, to their cities, when the cheat was discovered. This excited, 1. A general murmuring to the congregation. They blamed their princes for the oath; more, it is to be feared, out of love for the spoil, than zeal for God’s glory. Nate, Many forfully speak evil of dignities, who are ignorant of the motives on which their rulers act. 2. The princes seek to pacify the discontented, and to give the people fate-faction. 1. The lives of the Gibeonites are and ought to be secured to them, because of the oath which they had made, though it was to their loss, and obtained by deceit. An oath was too faced to be violated; and though the command of God enjoined the destruction of the impenitent Causanites, it seems not to include those who humbly submitted, and renounced their delicacy, to worship the true God; since from these Israel could be in no danger of being infected, and therefore under no necessity to extirpate them. Nate, (1.) Whenever we have sworn, nothing must restrain us from a conscientious discharge of our oath. (2.) It is a cursed doctrine of the church of Rome, that no faith is to be kept with heretics. (3.) The deceit of others towards us, will be no just plea for our unfaithfulness to them. (4.) Though the sentence of death is irrevocable against the impenitent, yet, when such return to Jesus from the error of their way, the sentence will be reversed; they shall live, and not die. 2. They are however condemned to perpetual servitude; and this may satisfy the people. They have their labour, and that is better than their lives. Their employment was to be we wood, and draw water for the congregation; either for the camp, whilst they dwelt in tents, or only for the sanctuary, to be servants of the priests and Levites, in the more laborious offices about the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple. Nate, How great the mercy theres unto the sinner, if but his life were given him for a prey; but how much greater, when his lie is assigned him in the temple of God, and the perfect freedom of God’s service becomes his happy position. 22. ¶ And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us? 23. Now therefore ye are curled, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood, and drawers of water, for the house of my God. 24. And they answered Joshua, and said, because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were fore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25. And now behold, we are in thine hand: as it extends good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. 26. And to did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they flew them not. 27. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

Joshua 12:22-27

The matter being thus determined, Joshua called for the chief men of these cities probably, and let them know their refutation. 1. Joshua reproves them for their imposition. A lie deserves rebus: yet he speaks with mildness, considering their situation, and feeling for their distress. Nate, If we considered the violence of others temptation, we should be less severe against their sin, considering ourselves, lest we also should be tempted. 2. They confess their fault, and assign their reason; which, though it will not excuse their sin, at least is an alleviation of it. When life is at stake, and can only be saved by a lie, it requires great grace to dare speak the truth. 3. Joshua condennes them to perpetual servitude. Though the curle of death was removed, the curle of bondage was upon them. However, in its issue it was to be of service to all parties: To the Gibeonites themselves, who, being thus employed about the sanctuary, would be better taught, and have a peculiar privilege of spiritual improvement: To the priests and Levites, who would be much affulled by the ministry of these strong men, in the very laborious work of drawing so much water as the frequent ablutions required, and cleaving so much wood as the frequent sacrifices would need: To the people, who had a common interest in the altar, that it should be well served, and were probably, before this, themselves assistants in their common services. Nate, (1.) God can thus over-rule the issue of events, and bring much good out of man’s evil. (2.) This was typical of the admission of the Gentiles into the gospel church. 4. The Gibeonites readily acquired on the determination: they feared perhaps much worse from the increased people, and are glad to escape with their lives for a prey. They enter themselves entirely to Joshua, to be and do as he pleased; and he favors them, and lets them to their work. Their cities were given to the people, and their service employed for the public. Nate, (1.) The soul who refers himself wholly to Jesus Christ, need not apprehend he shall be cast away. (2.) If Christ receives us, we need not complain of any cross he is pleased to lay upon us. (3.) They who serve the Saviour, will ever have reason to bless the day in which they made the exchange of carnal liberty for spiritual subjection.