Joshua 12 22

Joshua 12:22 kjv

The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;

Joshua 12:22 nkjv

the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

Joshua 12:22 niv

the king of Kedesh ? one the king of Jokneam in Carmel ? one

Joshua 12:22 esv

the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

Joshua 12:22 nlt

The king of Kedesh
The king of Jokneam in Carmel

Joshua 12 22 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 15:18"To your descendants I give this land..."God's covenant promise to Abraham fulfilled.
Deut 7:1"When the Lord your God brings you into the land..."Command to conquer and dispossess nations.
Josh 1:3"Every place on which the sole of your foot treads..."God's renewed promise to Joshua for success.
Josh 11:23"So Joshua took the whole land... according to all..."Summary statement of Israel's conquest.
Josh 21:43"Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land..."God's complete fulfillment of His oath.
Josh 23:14"You know with all your heart and with all your soul..."Joshua's testimony of God's unfailing promises.
Exod 15:6"Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power..."God's powerful right hand brings victory.
Ps 44:3"for not by their own sword did they win the land..."God, not human might, secures the land.
Ps 118:15"The right hand of the Lord does valiantly..."Celebration of God's victorious power.
1 Kgs 18:19"...prophets of Baal four hundred fifty, and the..."Mt. Carmel later signifies confrontation with Baal.
Isa 35:2"...the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the..."Carmel as a symbol of divine blessing.
Gen 15:16"In the fourth generation they shall come back here..."Canaanite judgment delayed due to sin.
Lev 18:24"Do not defile yourselves by any of these things..."Canaanite defilement leading to their expulsion.
Deut 9:5"Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness..."Canaanites dispossessed due to their wickedness.
Ps 9:16"The Lord has made himself known; he has executed..."God known by the judgment He inflicts.
Col 2:15"He disarmed the rulers and authorities..."Christ's victory over spiritual powers foreshadowed.
Heb 2:14"...through death destroy him who has the power of..."Christ's conquest over the devil.
Rev 17:14"...and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord..."The Lamb's ultimate victory over kings.
Rev 19:16"On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written..."Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Josh 20:7"So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill..."Kedesh chosen as a city of refuge.
Josh 21:34"...and out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam..."Jokneam given to the Merarite Levites.
Deut 1:8"See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take..."Exhortation to take possession of the promised land.
Eph 6:12"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood..."Spiritual warfare echoes physical conquests.
1 Cor 15:57"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory..."God grants ultimate victory.

Joshua 12 verses

Joshua 12 22 Meaning

Joshua 12:22 records the defeat of two more Canaanite kings by the Israelites: the king of Kedesh and the king of Jokneam in Carmel. This verse contributes to a comprehensive list in Joshua 12 of the kings and city-states overthrown during the conquest of Canaan, serving as a powerful testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to give the land to Israel and demonstrating His absolute power over all opposing forces.

Joshua 12 22 Context

Joshua chapter 12 serves as a pivotal summary, enumerating all the kings conquered by Israel, first on the east side of the Jordan under Moses (verses 1-6) and then on the west side under Joshua (verses 7-24). This comprehensive list underscores the complete and decisive nature of the Israelite conquest. Far from being a mere historical record, it is a theological declaration of God's unfailing promise-keeping (His giving the land to Israel) and His overwhelming power. The enumeration of specific kings highlights that no regional power, however mighty, could withstand Yahweh's appointed agent. Verse 22 specifically lists two such kings from important strategic or religious locales, solidifying the breadth of the conquest from northern regions (Kedesh) to central, geographically significant areas (Jokneam in Carmel).

Joshua 12 22 Word analysis

  • the king: (Heb. מֶ֫לֶךְ, meleḵ) Refers to the sovereign ruler of a city-state. Their defeat signifies the complete collapse of organized resistance and leadership within Canaanite territories, not merely the capture of a city. The list of kings emphasizes the dethronement of pagan authority by God's chosen leader.
  • of Kedesh: (Heb. קֶ֫דֶשׁ, qeḏeš) A city in the territory of Naphtali, located in northern Canaan. The name Kedesh means "holy" or "sanctuary," likely indicating it was a cultic center for pagan worship. Its conquest signifies God's absolute sovereignty and the overthrow of false sanctity. Kedesh later became one of Israel's cities of refuge (Josh 20:7).
  • one: (Heb. אֶחָ֖ד, 'eḥāḏ) This numerical designation "one" following each king's name confirms that a single king ruled and was overthrown at each specific city-state. It ensures a precise and accurate accounting of the individual victories, reinforcing the meticulousness of God's work in giving the land. It avoids ambiguity about multiple rulers or confederations, solidifying each as a distinct, divinely orchestrated victory.
  • of Jokneam: (Heb. יָקְנְעָ֥ם, yoqneʿam) A city on the southwestern slopes of Mount Carmel, located in the territory later assigned to Zebulun (Josh 19:11). Its inclusion in the list highlights the widespread nature of the conquest, extending to significant geographical features.
  • in Carmel: (Heb. בְּכַרְמֶֽל, bi-ḵarmel) Refers to the significant mountain range, Mount Carmel. Carmel means "garden-land" or "fruitful land," implying richness and desirability. Its control was strategic. The defeat of its king marked a key acquisition of land in this area, setting the stage for later historical events associated with Mount Carmel, such as Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18). This demonstrates Yahweh's authority even in regions tied to pagan religious practices.
  • "the king... one": This recurring structure throughout Joshua 12:9-24 ("the king of [city], one;") provides a meticulous inventory of defeated city-states and their leaders. It emphasizes the methodical, God-empowered nature of the conquest. It’s a deliberate "roll call" of God’s complete victory, underlining the precision and success of each engagement, dismantling Canaanite governance piecemeal. This pattern highlights that no single, unified kingdom of Canaan existed, making their individual defeats even more illustrative of divine might.
  • "Kedesh... Jokneam in Carmel": The naming of diverse geographical locations (from northern tribal regions to a strategically important mountain range) in quick succession demonstrates the breadth and comprehensive scope of the conquest. It visually affirms that God enabled Israel to gain control over disparate regions across the entire promised land, leaving no significant stronghold unconquered. This highlights the fulfillment of the boundary promises given to Abraham and Moses.

Joshua 12 22 Bonus section

The summary nature of Joshua 12, listing 31 kings, solidifies the claim that "Joshua took the whole land" (Josh 11:23). While some isolated pockets of resistance remained or specific cities still needed to be fully cleared, the central political and military structures of Canaan had been definitively broken by the defeat of these individual kings. This summary prepares the reader for the subsequent chapters describing the detailed tribal inheritance, confirming that the ground was cleared for Israel to inhabit the promised land as an act of divine provision. The consistent enumeration of "one" after each king also signifies that the land was conquered ruler by ruler, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in dismantling the Canaanite system one stronghold at a time. This systematic defeat showcases God's deliberate and purposeful action rather than random skirmishes.

Joshua 12 22 Commentary

Joshua 12:22, nestled within the final chapter summarizing the conquest, functions as more than just a factual list of defeated kings. It is a profound theological statement reaffirming God's unwavering faithfulness and omnipotence. Each "king, one" is a testimony to God keeping His covenant with Abraham, giving the land to Israel. The inclusion of Kedesh, a city implying pagan "holiness," alongside Jokneam in strategic Carmel, emphasizes that Yahweh's power superseded every local deity and earthly stronghold. This summary solidifies the complete initial phase of the conquest, providing a firm foundation for the subsequent land distribution and demonstrating that every promise of God concerning the land and the defeat of its inhabitants had begun to come to pass decisively.