The Kings Israel Defeated - Joshua 12:2

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “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”, and in chapter twelve and verse two of Joshua we discover the names of the kings who were defeated where we read, 

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;

The verse reads, “Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, …” Joshua or the writer began with the word, “Sihon” whose name means “warrior” “king of the Amorites” or “the royal ruler and leader belonging to the Amorites whose name means ‘a sayer’ and was one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt”, “who dwelt in Heshbon” which means “that inhabited and lived within Heshbon whose name means ‘stronghold’ and was the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located on the western border of the high plain and on the border line between the tribes of Reuben and Gad” , “and ruled from Aroer” or “and reigned, had dominion and governed from Aroer whose name means ‘ruins’ and was a city on the north bank of the river Arnon, the southern point of the territory of Sihon the king of the Amorites and later of Reuben; modern 'Arair'”, “which is upon the bank of the river Arnon” which means “that exists on the side or edge belonging to the flowing waters of Arnon whose name means ‘rushing stream’ and was a river and surrounding valley in south Palestine which forms the border between Moab and the Amorites”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Sihon”, who ruled over the “Amorites” and lived within “Heshbon” and governed from “Aroer” that was at the edge of the flowing waters of the “Arnon” was the first name of the people of the promise land that Joshua and the people of Israel defeated. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “… 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;”  Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and from the middle of the river” which means “and apart from the midst and center part belonging to the flowing water”, “and from half Gilead” or “and apart from one-half of Gilead whose name means rocky region and was a mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon; sometimes called 'Mount Gilead' or the 'land of Gilead' or just 'Gilead'. Divided into north and south Gilead”, “even unto the river Jabbok” which means “indeed to the flowing waters named Jabbok whose name means emptying and was a stream which intersects the mountain range of Gilead and falls into the Jordan on the east about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea”, “which is the border” or “that exists as the territory, region and boundary” “of the children of Ammon” which means “pertaining to the offspring and progeny belonging to Ammon whose name means ‘tribal’ and was a people dwelling in Transjordan who descended from Lot through Ben-ammi”. Joshua or the writer shared how the location of “Sihon” was also from the center of the flowing water, apart from one-half of “Gilead”, toward the flowing river named “Jabbok” which was the edge pertaining to the offspring belonging to “Ammon”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how“Sihon” was the name of the first royal ruler who was defeated by “Joshua” and the army of “Israel”. As we go through these names, let us be reminded that Jehovah God gave “Israel” these victories, and all glory should be given unto Him. God wants all of us to be under His Divine rule, and when we surrender to His Son Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Sprit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live in victory according to that truth and in keeping with His purpose, plan and will for our lives. 

Next time we discover how Israel defeated their foes,  “from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".