Joshua 12 14

Joshua 12:14 kjv

The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

Joshua 12:14 nkjv

the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

Joshua 12:14 niv

the king of Hormah ? one the king of Arad ? one

Joshua 12:14 esv

the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

Joshua 12:14 nlt

The king of Hormah
The king of Arad

Joshua 12 verses

Joshua 12 14 Meaning

Joshua 12:14 states, "The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;". This verse is part of a comprehensive list in Joshua chapter 12, summarizing all the kings whom the Israelites, led by Moses and then Joshua, defeated and whose land they conquered to inhabit Canaan. Each "one" (אֶחָד, echad) signifies the complete and individual subjugation of these city-states and their rulers, underscoring the thoroughness of God's victory through His people. It acts as a divine ledger of triumphs, demonstrating the Lord's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to give Israel the land.

Joshua 12 14 Context

Joshua chapter 12 serves as a summary and conclusion to the military campaigns of the conquest of Canaan. It provides a "victory roll" listing all the kings and their territories that were defeated by Israel under both Moses (verses 1-6) and Joshua (verses 7-24). This comprehensive list underscores the scale of God's faithfulness and Israel's success in possessing the land as promised. Specifically, verses 7-24 enumerate the kings defeated west of the Jordan, within the main body of Canaan. Joshua 12:14 lists the kings of Hormah and Arad, two southern Canaanite cities. Their inclusion in Joshua's list emphasizes that even areas with previous historical interactions or conflicts (Num 14, 21) are now completely subjugated as part of the total conquest of the promised land. Historically, the Canaanites worshipped various gods (Baal, Asherah, etc.) associated with specific places or phenomena. The systematic defeat of their kings was a direct theological challenge, demonstrating that Yahweh, the God of Israel, was supreme, sovereign, and not limited by geographical boundaries or rival deities. He was the one true God who delivers on His word.

Joshua 12 14 Word analysis

• the king (מֶלֶךְ, melech): This Hebrew term denotes a ruler, sovereign, or monarch. Its repeated use highlights that not just a general population, but the very top political and military leadership of each city-state was systematically overthrown, signifying complete and authoritative victory. This emphasizes the magnitude of God's work in dethroning established authorities.

• of Hormah (חָרְמָה, Hormah): This city name means "devotion to destruction" or "utter destruction." It acquired this name due to an incident in Num 21:1-3, where Israel vowed to utterly destroy the Canaanites who had fought them. The very name speaks to the divine judgment meted out on the inhabitants of the land, affirming the fulfilling of God's decree of cherem (devotion to destruction) against these pagan nations. The previous Israelite defeat near Hormah (Num 14:45) is now completely reversed by divine power.

• one (אֶחָד, echad): This numerical quantifier appears repeatedly throughout Joshua 12. Its significance here is multi-faceted. Firstly, it indicates that each king represents a distinct, individually conquered entity, not just part of a generic mass defeat. Secondly, it emphasizes the completion of each conquest; each city's king was fully overthrown. Thirdly, in the context of listing 31 kings, it reduces powerful regional rulers, who likely considered themselves gods or highly exalted, to mere numerical entries in God's historical record, highlighting their ultimate insignificance before the might of Yahweh. It serves as a stark testament to the absolute power of Israel's God.

• of Arad (עֲרָד, Arad): Another significant southern Canaanite city, mentioned in Num 21:1 as the site of conflict where the king of Arad fought against Israel. Its defeat here confirms the finality of Israel's victory in that region. The systematic conquering of such fortified city-states, like Arad, demonstrated that no human power could withstand the Lord's chosen people when His hand was with them.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "the king of [city], one;": This repetitive structure underscores the thorough and complete nature of Israel's victory. Each individual king, regardless of his prior strength or the perceived impregnability of his city, was distinctively and decisively conquered. This rhetorical device effectively transforms a detailed military account into a powerful theological statement about God's unwavering faithfulness and His absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers. It serves as an emphatic tally, proving the fulfillment of the divine promise to dispossess the nations of Canaan.

Joshua 12 14 Bonus section

The consistent literary pattern of "the king of [city], one" for all 31 defeated kings in Joshua 12 serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it is an exhaustive catalog demonstrating the scale of the conquest, reassuring Israel that God had delivered their enemies into their hand. Secondly, it de-personalizes these formidable rulers, reducing them to mere numerical entries. Their names, once symbolizing power and resistance, become simply data points in God's record of fulfillment. This emphasizes the divine architect of the conquest, positioning Yahweh as the supreme power against whom no earthly kingdom can stand. This "book of conquests" (similar to a historical archive of battles) functions as irrefutable evidence for Israel's legal claim to the land, grounded in God's command and executed by His strength.

Joshua 12 14 Commentary

Joshua 12:14, by listing the king of Hormah and the king of Arad as among those defeated "one" by "one," is far more than a simple historical record; it is a profound declaration of God's unwavering faithfulness and absolute power. This verse contributes to the chapter's "victory scroll," highlighting the systematic dismantlement of Canaanite sovereignty. The detailed enumeration, down to each individual king, stresses the comprehensiveness of God's judgment and the total triumph He granted His people. For the original Israelite audience, it served as concrete proof that the land was truly given to them, fulfilled through divine promise and power, and that no human king or idol god could stand against Yahweh. The repeated "one" transforms the powerful rulers into mere statistics in God's ledger of conquered enemies, a testimony to their ultimate nothingness before the true King of kings. This account of triumph would have provided immense encouragement and established God's omnipotence and faithfulness as the foundation for their future life in the land. Practically, it reminds us that God is sovereign over all earthly powers and fulfills His promises, often in ways that meticulously account for every obstacle.