Joshua 12
Description of land conquered by Mosesverses 1-6
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 rive Arnon to mount Hermon
and all the plain of the east
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
And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east
and to the sea of the plain
even the salt sea on the east
the way to Beth-jeshimoth
and from the south – under Ashdoth-pisgah
and the coast of Og – king of Bashan
which was of the remnant of the giants
that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei
and reigned in mount Hermon – Salcah Bashan
to the border of the Geshurites – Maachathites
half Gilead
the border of Sihon – king of Heshbon
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 to
the Reubenites – the Gadites – the half tribe of Manasseh
Lands that Joshua conqueredverses 7-24
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 to the mount Halak
that goes up to Seir
Which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel
for a possession according
to their divisions – in the mountains
valleys – plains – springs
wilderness – and in the south country
Hittites – Amorites – Canaanites – Perizzites
Hivites – Jebusites
The king of Jericho – one
the king of Ai which is beside Beth-el – one
the king of Jerusalem – one
the king of Hebron – one
the king of Jarmuth – one
the king of Lachish – one
the king of Eglon – one
the king of Geder – one
the king of Hormah – one
the king of Arad – one/ the king of Libnah – one
the king of Adullam – one
the king of Makkedah – one
the king of Beth-el – one
the king of Tappuah – one
the king of Hepher – one
the king of Aphek – one
the king of Lasharon – one
the king of Madon – one
the king of Hazor – one
the king of Shimron-meron – one
the king of Achshaph – one
the king of Taanach – one
the king of Megiddo – one
the king of Kedesh – one
the king of Jokneam of Carmel – one
the king of Dor in the coast of Dor – one
the king of the nations of Gilgal – one
the king of Tirzah – one / all kings thirty and one
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei (7497 “giants” [rapha] means Rephaim, old race of giants, tall, famous on account of their gigantic stature, gigantic nations of Canaan, or legendary pre-Israelite inhabitants of Palestine)
DEVOTION: There was a race of people that scared the children of Israel that lived in the Promised Land. They were people who stood very tall and when they approached the people who were of normal size would run from for their life.
Throughout the Old Testament we have statements regarding some people who were larger than other people. People respected them because of their size and would normally let them alone.
However, the LORD sent the children of Israel against these men would be called “giants” because they were dwelling in the Promised Land which was promised to the children of Israel.
We know that they didn’t destroy or kill all the giants in the time of Joshua because later in the Word of God we find that David had to fight a giant. There were others who had to face giants as well.
We sometimes look at the size of people and it fear because of their size but the LORD is the one who fights our battles for us or gives us the strength to fight these types of individuals because HE is more powerful than the biggest giant we will face.
Sometimes we thing that some of the sins that beset us are bigger than we can handle. This might be true if we didn’t have the LORD fighting for us. We need to depend on HIM to defeat any giant we have in our life. With prayer all things are possible.
Are you fighting a giant in your life right now? Are you trusting the LORD to help you defeat him or it?
CHALLENGE: We need to give our giants to the LORD and watch HIM deal with them. Trust HIM!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 Then 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. (5650 “servant” [‘ebed] means bondage, bondman, slave, or worshiper of God)
DEVOTION: Who qualifies to be a worshiper of the LORD? Only perfect people? Only those who can avoid all bad habits? Only those who look good in church? How about only those who teach? What does God expect of those HE calls to serve HIM? The LORD requires willingness. LORD forgives all sins except the one the one that is called unforgiveable, which is, never becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. Once someone becomes a follower of HIM and is willing to serve, HE uses them.
Moses was a murderer. Moses had a bad temper. Moses was an excuse giver when God asked him to serve HIM.
The Bible doesn’t hide the fact that the followers of God are all sinners. God is willing to use a person who is willing to be used of HIM. Moses was such a man. He was called a worshiper of God or a manservant of the LORD.
With this man the LORD conquered land on the east side of Jordan. With this man the LORD led the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness. With this man the LORD showed the children of Israel HIS power. With this man HE gave the children of Israel the book of the Law. The LORD took an unwilling man and made him a leader.
A true leader is someone who is willing to be a bondman to the LORD. Too often we think that we can’t be a leader because we continue to sin on a daily basis. We sometimes think that a leader never struggles with sin. We look up to leaders thinking that they have arrived with the LORD. None of that is true. Every leader struggles. The only difference is that those who are genuine followers of the LORD Jesus Christ know that they are forgiven sinner who have been called to use their gifts for the LORD’S glory.
Are we willing to be a bondman or slave to the LORD? Moses was a reluctant leader but willing. He wanted someone alongside him encourage him. That someone was Aaron. Aaron had problems with sin as well.
He lived a hundred and twenty years knowing and serving the LORD. When he died the LORD buried him on a mountain. What better title could we want from the LORD when we are dead.
Do you sometimes think that God could never use you for HIS glory? HE will as long as you are willing to remember that HE is in the lead and you continue to walk by faith. You will still be a sinner but one that is forgiven because you keep short accounts with HIM. Moses was in the presence of the LORD on a regular basis.
Are you available? Are you willing to be an encourager? You can be a leader. Is that the title the LORD will give us when we leave this world? I hope so!!!
CHALLENGE: Use the gift that the LORD has given you to bring glory to HIS name. Don’t sit on the sidelines thinking that you have no gift or talent for service to HIM.
: 7 And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israelsmote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto mount Halak, that goes up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions (3425 “possession” [yarushah] means heritage, inheritance, or property)
DEVOTION: God had promised the children of Israel this land for an inheritance. This was the Promised Land. It was a land that was full of milk and honey. It was a land of rest for the children of Israel if they were obedient to the LORD.
Moses conquered the lands on one side of the Jordan while Joshua conquered lands on the other side of the Jordan River. This was the dividing line between the two and a half tribes and the rest of Israel. This landmark of the Jordan River would prove to be a testing ground for future generations.
When it is said that Joshua conquered these lands it meant that the kings were defeated but not all of the territory was completely owned by the children of Israel.
Now we will see how Joshua divided the land and how each tribe had to fight for their own land. Sometimes tribes would join together to fight for an area and then help each other out in another area. Some tribes never conquered their whole area which caused problems when it came to worshiping only the one TRUE God.
We are not promised a land like the children of Israel but we are told to go into all the world and reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no territory for each church to conquer. We are not an army like the children of Israel where we are going to take over the world.
We are to be salt and light to a dark world. Our kingdom is not in this world. Our kingdom is the one where Christ will reign with us in the future.
CHALLENGE: Our assignment is different from the children of Israel. We are to reach our world with the gospel message. We are promised a heavenly land for eternity.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 16 The king of Makkedah, one, the king of Bethel, one (1008 “Bethel” [Beyth-El] means house of God, temple, a place in south country of Judah, steward, majordomo, or house)
DEVOTION: This is the place where Jacob first met the LORD. He was running from his brother who wanted to kill him because he has stolen his birthright and blessing. Jacob was running to his uncle’s place when he saw a ladder going to heaven. He saw angels ascending and descending from heaven. It was a vision that the LORD gave him of a future land his descendants would own.
Now we move forward to the time of Joshua and they are possessing the Promised Land. This town’s name means “house of God.”
We will have times in our lives when we will be spending time wandering from the LORD. We will meet HIM when we come to the place where we want to know more about HIM.
The Bible wants us to meet HIM each Sunday in church. Each church service we attend should be one where we want to walk into the presence of the LORD with other believers.
This is not happening all the time because we have a hard time concentrating on worship because we are too interested in people instead of the LORD. We need to make it a goal to worship the LORD when we attend church.
CHALLENGE: Don’t get sidetracked when it is time to meet the LORD
: 24 The king of Tirzah, one; all the kings thirty and one. (4428 “kings” [melek] means king, royal, a male sovereign ruler of a kingdom, leaders, or king of kings.)
DEVOTION: The list of the conquests of Joshua is long. He was a mighty general with the help of the LORD. He gave the LORD credit for giving the children of Israel their promised possessions.
What general would not like to have the record of Joshua? Yet we know that Joshua depended completely on the LORD. He wanted the children of Israel to depend completely on the LORD for victory.
He taught that if they were obedient to the LORD, they could take possession of their promised land. It was only in the strength of the LORD that he was able to conquer this list of cities.
We have to look to the LORD for our victory over the area the LORD has allowed us to be a witness for HIM. HE has promised victory when we go into battle with HIM at our lead.
Sometimes we try to win a victory without the leading of the LORD and this ends in defeat. Ask the LORD to help you understand your responsibility in your world to reach those you know for HIS kingdom.
CHALLENGE: Our promise is different from the children of Israel. We are not conquering cities; we are conquering hearts with the help of LORD. We are to make disciples!!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verse 6
Servant of the LORDverse 6
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Kingsverses 1-6
Jordanverses 1, 7
Arnon riververses 1, 2
Mount Hermonverses 1, 5
Sihon – king of the Amoritesverses 2, 5
Jabbok riververse 2
Children of Ammonverse 2
Sea of Chinnerothverse 3
Beth-jeshimothverse 3
Ashdoth-pisgahverse 3
Og – king of Bashanverses 4, 5
Remnant of the giantsverse 4
Ashtaroth and at Edrei
Hittitesverse 8
Amoritesverse 8
Canaanitesverse 8
Perizzitesverse 8
Hivitesverse 8
Jebusitesverse 8
King of Promised landverses 9-24
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Servantverse 6
Possessionsverses 6, 7
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Children of Israelverses 1, 6, 7
Mosesverse 6
Servant of the LORD
Reubenitesverse 6
Gaditesverse 6
Half tribe of Manassehverse 6
Joshuaverse 7
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
12:7–24. In this section, sixteen kings of southern Canaan are enumerated first (vv . 9–16) and then 15 kings of northern Canaan (vv. 17–24).
It is surprising to find recorded 31 kings in a land approximately 150 miles from north to south and 50 miles from east to west. But it must be remembered that these kings reigned over city-states and had only local authority. Apart from the confederations formed by the kings of Jerusalem (10:1–5) and Hazor (11:1–5), the lack of a central government in Canaan made the Israelites’ task easier than it would have been otherwise.
As to the meaning of Joshua’s victories one writer stated, “There has never been a greater war for a greater cause. The battle of Waterloo decided the fate of Europe, , but this series of contests in far-off Canaan decided the fate of the world” (Henry T. Sell, Bible Study by Periods. Chicago: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1899, p. 83). (Campbell, D. K. (1985). Joshua. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 355) Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Thirty-three kings are named in Joshua 12, beginning with Sihon and Og whose lands were east of Jordan and had been conquered under the leadership of Moses (vv. 1–8; Num. 21:21–35). The sixteen kings defeated in the southern campaign are listed in Joshua 12:9–16 and the fifteen northern kings in verses 17–24. Now we turn to the actual assigning of the land to the tribes (chaps. 13–21) to discover the spiritual truths we need to learn and apply as we claim our own spiritual inheritance in Jesus Christ. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Strong (p. 120). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
12:1–24 the kings … defeated. The actual list of 31 kings conquered (v. 24) follows and fills out the summary of “all the land” in 11:16, 17, 23. The roster shows the kings whom “Moses defeated” E of the Jordan earlier (vv. 1–6; cf. Nu 21; Dt 2:24–3:17); then those whom Joshua conquered W of the Jordan—a summary (7, 8); central kings (9); southern kings (10–16); and northern kings (17–24).
12:24 The conquest of all these kings, covering areas up and down the “whole land” (11:23), was due to the Lord’s faithful help, which fulfilled His Word. God promised the Land in His covenant with Abraham (Ge 12:7), and reaffirmed that He would give success in conquest (Jos 1:3, 6). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Jos 12:1–24). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!
BORN AGAIN
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God….Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except, a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
(John 3:3,5)
When our Lord says, “Ye must be born again,” He throws down the gauntlet. He says in effect, “It is all right; I know what you are going to say, but you need not say it–it is all wrong–you must be born again.” “Verily, verily”–“truly, truly.” Whenever He uses that formula, He is always saying something of unusual seriousness and of deep import. He says, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except, a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
This is the crucial phrase, the key phrase of Christianity: “born again”! Some people say it should be translated “born from above.” Others say it should be translated “born anew.” I think that they are probably nearest to the truth who say that undoubtedly our Lord was speaking to Nicodemus in Aramaic, that the Greek is a translation from the Aramaic, and that then our English is a translation from the Greek. But the original was probably Aramaic, and there it means “except a man has another birth, he will never see the kingdom of God.” It is the same thing. “Born again,” “another birth,” “born from above,” “born of the Spirit”–take any of the terms you like.
This is the great New Testament doctrine, and what it means, negatively, is that Christianity is not just an addition to something you already have. Christianity, in other words, is not something that you and I, as we are, can take up; all that is contradicted here….we need an entirely new start.
A Thought to Ponder: This is the crucial phrase, the key phrase of Christianity: “born again”! (From The Kingdom of God, pp. 193-194 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The law of the Medes and Persians cannot be revoked. Once written, no one, not even the king, can rescind it. The law to annihilate the Jews is carved in stone. Since the original plan cannot be revoked, a clever counter-plan is conceived to neutralize it. Permission is given to the Jews to arm themselves and to assemble and defend themselves. In addition, Mordecai is raised to power, replacing the position previously occupied by Haman. God’s sovereign protection of His people in exile is in its final stages. The integrity of Esther and Mordecai is rewarded. Righteousness triumphs.
(Daily Walk)
Revelation 20
After leading a final rebellion, Satan is confined forever.
INSIGHT
Satan is not taken seriously by our society. Yet from Genesis to Revelation, Satan is revealed as God’s enemy, a force to be seriously reckoned with. As part of the culmination of the end times, he is confronted, conquered, and confined. Today, Satan deceives in order to destroy. But in the end, he will be defeated and his reign of terror on earth will end. “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone” (v. 10). In the end, Satan is a defeated foe! (Quiet Walk)
MAN HAS NO EXCUSE
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Psalm 51:4
In the next step a man finds that he has absolutely no excuse or plea. David is telling God, “I haven’t a single excuse. I have no plea. There is nothing to be said for me. There is no reason for what I have done. The whole thing was the result of utter willfulness. I am altogether wrong. I have nothing to plead in mitigation.”
I want to emphasize this. I say that this is an absolutely essential part of repentance and of conviction of sin. I therefore plead with you to examine yourselves and examine your actions. Can you justify all you have done? Can you really put up a plea of mitigation? Let me take up the position of Nathan the prophet. What if I stood in this pulpit and described your love to you in a parable about somebody else? Would you see it? We must examine ourselves in this respect. Let me put it bluntly by putting it to you like this. As long as you are in the position of trying to justify yourself, you have not repented. As long as you are clinging to any attempt at self-justification and self-righteousness, I say you have not repented. Surely the man who is repentant is the man who, like David, says, “There is not a single excuse. I see it clearly. I have no justification. The things that I see in my life—I hate them. I had no business doing them. I did them willfully; I knew it was w rong. I admit it! I frankly confess it—‘that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.’”
Do you feel that God is rather hard on you when He condemns you? Do you feel that God would be dealing unfairly with you if you ever found yourself in hell? If you do, you have not repented. I would emphasize that the test of repentance is this—that a man having looked at himself, and at his own heart and life, says to himself, “I deserve nothing but hell, and if God sends me there, I haven’t a single complaint to make. I desire nothing better!” That is an essential part of repentance, and without repentance there is no salvation.
A Thought to Ponder: As long as you are clinging to any attempt at self-justification and self-righteousness, you have not repented.
(From Out of the Depths, pp. 30-31, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
True Education
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” (Genesis 18:19)
This is a very important verse comprising the first direct reference in the Bible to what we today would call education, and it is given in connection with God’s approving testimony concerning Abraham. Note that nothing is said concerning degrees or diplomas, the sciences or humanities, school buildings or textbooks.
It does tell us that God’s highest priority in the training of the young is that they learn to “keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” Such instruction is the responsibility of the home—not of the government or some educational association. It is to be given in the context of God’s promises and plans (this in the context of divine revelation) and is to be framed in terms of “commands.”
This is also the teaching of the New Testament: “Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
The Bible never refers to “education,” but there are many references to teaching, learning, and instruction. There are no references to teaching under the sponsorship of the government, however. As far as biblical precepts and examples are concerned, teaching the young is strictly a function of the home and the church (this could no doubt include several homes and churches cooperating in the provision of advanced or specialized instruction). Most importantly, all instruction, in every subject, should be governed by biblical criteria, for “all Scripture…is profitable…for instruction….That the man of God may be perfect [i.e., ‘fully prepared’]” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) for the work God wants him to do. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research )
FRANKLIN GRAHAM
“There is also sin involving the misuse of sex. God created sex and gave it to us to enjoy, but tells us in His Holy Word that it is to be reserved for a marriage relationship between a man and a woman. Any kind of sexual activity or sexual relationship outside of that is sin. The world would like to redefine marriage and other boundaries for sex, but it’s not up to us to define,” he added. Almighty God, the Creator, set the standard at the beginning of time. The enemies of God would like for you to be deceived, but God wants the best for your life; He wants us to know the truth.”
PASTOR JOHN PIPER
“My sense is that we do not realize what a calamity is happening around us. The new thing — new for America, and new for history — is not homosexuality. That brokenness has been here since we were all broken in the fall of man. (And there is a great distinction between the orientation and the act — just like there is a great difference between my orientation to pride and the act of boasting.) What’s new is not even the celebration and approval of homosexual sin. Homosexual behavior has been exploited, and reveled in, and celebrated in art, for millennia. What’s new is normalization and institutionalization. This is the new calamity.”
RICK WARREN
“Gay marriage is a very personal question. I have biblical views regarding what marriage is about. I am not in favor of redefining marriage, I’m not. It’s not illegal to have a gay relationship, so it’s not a big issue to me. I don’t happen to believe in everything that my gay friends believe, but when they want to end AIDS, I’m a co-belligerent with them. We have given millions of dollars to fight AIDS from around the world, and we have worked with both gays and straights. I can work with an atheist, I can work with a Mormon, Muslim, Buddhist, Jew — and that’s one of the issues we have to work on.“ The problem is that ‘tolerant’ has changed its meaning. It used to mean ‘I may disagree with you completely, but I will treat you with respect.’ Today, tolerant means – ‘you must approve of everything I do.’ There’s a difference between tolerance and approval. Jesus accepted everyone no matter who they were. He doesn’t approve of everything I do, or you do, or anybody else does either. You can be accepting without being approving.”
RAVI ZACHARIAS
“The most daunting question for us today is how do we live as Christians in such times? The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States sent tremors around the globe…The spectrum of views that were immediately expressed said all there was to say. When the law passed, the first thought that came to my mind was Chesterton’s prophetic comment more than half a century ago: ‘For under the smooth legal surface of our society there are already moving very lawless things. We are always near the breaking-point when we care only for what is legal and nothing for what is lawful. Unless we have a moral principle about such delicate matters as marriage and murder, the whole world will become a welter of exceptions with no rules. There will be so many hard cases that everything will go soft.'”
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