Joshua 12 10

Joshua 12:10 kjv

The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

Joshua 12:10 nkjv

the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

Joshua 12:10 niv

the king of Jerusalem ? one the king of Hebron ? one

Joshua 12:10 esv

the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

Joshua 12:10 nlt

The king of Jerusalem
The king of Hebron

Joshua 12 verses

Joshua 12 10 Meaning

Joshua 12:10 presents a continuation of the concise catalogue of kings defeated by Joshua and the Israelites in the land of Canaan. Specifically, this verse lists the king of Jerusalem and the king of Hebron as two separate, significant city-states whose rulers were conquered. This enumeration emphasizes the extent and totality of Israel's military success, driven by God's power, in taking possession of the Promised Land, marking each city and its king as a distinct vanquished entity.

Joshua 12 10 Context

Joshua chapter 12 serves as a summary and conclusion to the accounts of the Israelite conquest of Canaan under Joshua. Following detailed narratives of specific battles and campaigns (Chapters 1-11), this chapter systematically lists the kings defeated. It first enumerates the kings conquered by Moses east of the Jordan (vv. 1-6), then those subdued by Joshua west of the Jordan (vv. 7-24). The listing is meticulous, city by city and king by king, emphasizing the comprehensiveness of God's victory through His chosen leader. Verse 10 specifically places the defeated kings of Jerusalem and Hebron within this historical record of triumph. Historically, Jerusalem (known then as Jebus or Urusalim) was an important city even before David, inhabited by Jebusites, while Hebron was a significant ancient city connected to the patriarchs and later a city of refuge and David's first capital. The inclusion of these particular cities highlights the defeat of strategic and culturally significant strongholds. The meticulous listing functions as a fulfillment report of God's covenant promises to give the land to Abraham's descendants and to drive out its inhabitants.

Joshua 12 10 Word analysis

• הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) - "the king":

  • Word Level: Hebrew melekh (מֶלֶךְ) signifies a ruler or sovereign. The definite article "ha-" points to a specific, identifiable ruler of a city-state, not just any king. In Canaanite society, a king was not merely a political leader but often had priestly duties, representing the city's patron deity.
  • Significance: The repetitive listing of "the king of [city], one" underscores that these were sovereign entities, each representing a formidable opponent, whose power structures were definitively broken. It demonstrates the direct clash of divine authority (God of Israel) against local human/deistic authority (Canaanite kings). The use of "king" here also implies a fixed territory of authority centered on the city.

• יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (Yerushaláyim) - "Jerusalem":

  • Word Level: This city, though conquered in part during Joshua's time, would not be fully secured by Israel until David's reign centuries later (2 Sam 5). At the time of Joshua, it was known as a Jebusite stronghold. Its name itself may relate to "foundation of Shalem" or "city of peace."
  • Significance: The defeat of its king indicates a crucial, albeit perhaps incomplete, victory at this stage. It points to God's hand in making possible the taking of even seemingly impenetrable fortresses. Its mention is highly significant due to its future role as Israel's capital and center of worship. The listing in Joshua's time sets the stage for its eventual destiny under the Davidic monarchy, establishing divine sovereignty over the very land that would house God's chosen city.

• אֶחָד (ʾeḥāḏ) - "one":

  • Word Level: This cardinal number directly counts each king. Its repeated use after each city listed (e.g., "king of Jerusalem, one") emphasizes that each ruler and their domain represents a singular, completed conquest.
  • Significance: It signifies completeness and definiteness for each entry in the catalogue. It is a systematic, itemized accounting of the divine victory, leaving no ambiguity about the vanquished state of these individual kingdoms. It underlines that these were distinct political entities that all fell, showcasing the comprehensive nature of the Israelite conquest as divinely orchestrated.

• חֶבְרוֹן (Ḥebrōn) - "Hebron":

  • Word Level: Hebron was an extremely ancient city, steeped in patriarchal history. It was where Abraham resided, where Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, and Jacob were buried in the cave of Machpelah (Gen 23; 49:29-32). It was later allotted to Caleb as his inheritance for his faithfulness (Josh 14).
  • Significance: Its inclusion signifies the conquest of a city with deep historical and ancestral ties to Israel, completing God's promise concerning this land. The fact that this revered place also needed to be conquered, rather than simply "inherited," emphasizes that even ancient strongholds, regardless of their connection to patriarchal history, were under the control of hostile rulers until God intervened. It also foreshadows Caleb's heroic action in conquering it fully later.

Joshua 12 10 Bonus section

This specific enumeration in Josh 12:10, and indeed the entire chapter, functions not as a battle account but as an archival record affirming God's faithfulness to His covenant promises made centuries earlier. The list's primary purpose is theological and legal—to confirm Israel's legitimate divine claim to the land and demonstrate that the previous inhabitants' claims were annulled by God. The mentioning of Jerusalem's king at this early stage, despite the city's incomplete subjugation until David's time, confirms its designated future within Israelite territory and establishes divine authorization for its eventual complete capture. The mention of Hebron highlights the reclaiming of land with significant patriarchal roots, linking the conquest directly to Abraham's covenant. This systematic accounting of "one by one" defeated kings presents the conquest as an irresistible, comprehensive divine program rather than merely human military strategy.

Joshua 12 10 Commentary

Joshua 12:10, as part of the summary chapter of conquered kings, reinforces a crucial theological point: the systematic fulfillment of God's promise to Israel through decisive military victory. The precise enumeration of the defeated kings, particularly those from prominent cities like Jerusalem and Hebron, highlights the scale of divine intervention. It's not merely a list of places but a theological statement attributing the successes to YHWH's power over human kings and their city-gods. The very act of naming these defeated kings publicly declared God's sovereignty over Canaan and its previously entrenched polytheistic systems. This passage implicitly serves as a counter-narrative to Canaanite belief systems, demonstrating that the deities and kings of Jerusalem and Hebron were no match for the God of Israel. Each "one" serves as an immutable marker of divine power dismantling opposition.