Joshua 12 5

Joshua 12:5 kjv

And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Joshua 12:5 nkjv

and reigned over Mount Hermon, over Salcah, over all Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Joshua 12:5 niv

He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maakah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Joshua 12:5 esv

and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all Bashan to the boundary of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and over half of Gilead to the boundary of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Joshua 12:5 nlt

He ruled a territory stretching from Mount Hermon to Salecah in the north and to all of Bashan in the east, and westward to the borders of the kingdoms of Geshur and Maacah. This territory included the northern half of Gilead, as far as the boundary of King Sihon of Heshbon.

Joshua 12 verses

Joshua 12 5 Meaning

This verse precisely delineates the territorial scope of Og, king of Bashan, emphasizing his domain before his defeat by Moses. It specifies his rule extending from Mount Hermon in the north, eastward to Salcah, covering the entire fertile region of Bashan, with boundaries extending to the unconquered territories of the Geshurites and Maachathites. Additionally, it clarifies that half of Gilead, which was adjacent to the territory of Sihon, king of Heshbon, was also under Og's dominion. This detail highlights the significant power and vastness of the kingdoms God overthrew to provide the land for His people.

Joshua 12 5 Context

Joshua chapter 12 serves as a concluding summary of the victories achieved by Israel, first under Moses (verses 1-6) and then under Joshua (verses 7-24). It's a "king list" of defeated monarchs, emphasizing the scope of God's covenant faithfulness in dispossessing the inhabitants of the promised land and delivering it into Israel's hands. Verse 5 specifically elaborates on the territory of Og, king of Bashan, whose defeat by Moses on the east bank of the Jordan was crucial for securing the Transjordan inheritance for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. This detailed geographical description validates Israel's claim to the land and confirms the power of their God in overcoming mighty kings. It sets the stage for the detailed division of the land in subsequent chapters.

Joshua 12 5 Word analysis

• ruled: Hebrew: מָשַׁל (mashal). Signifies absolute authority, dominion, and sovereignty. This word underscores the magnitude of Og's former power, making God's victory over him even more profound. Og was not a petty chieftain but a powerful king.
• mount Hermon: Hebrew: הַחֶרְמוֹן (Ha-Chermon). A prominent geographical landmark, the highest peak in the Levant. Its inclusion highlights the northern extent of Og's substantial kingdom. It was a well-known feature marking the boundaries of regions.
• Salcah: Hebrew: סַלְכָה (Sal'kah). An important city in the Hauran region, located at the extreme eastern boundary of Bashan. Its mention demonstrates the vast eastern reach of Og's domain and the meticulous detail in the biblical record of territories.
• all Bashan: Hebrew: כָּל־הַבָּשָׁן (kol ha-Bashan). Bashan was a rich, fertile plain, famous for its strong cattle and large oaks. To rule "all Bashan" signified control over a prosperous and significant agricultural and grazing area, contributing to Og's stature as a powerful ruler.
• unto the border: Hebrew: עַד־גְּבוּל (ad g'vul). This phrase consistently defines precise limits and demarcations of a territory, emphasizing the clarity and factual nature of the land descriptions.
• Geshurites: Hebrew: הַגְּשׁוּרִי (ha-Geshuri). A people group dwelling east of the Jordan. They were not completely driven out by Israel, and their persistent presence is noted in later historical books (e.g., 2 Sam 3:3). Their border here implies an unconquered frontier for Og as well.
• Maachathites: Hebrew: הַמַּעֲכָתִי (ha-Ma'akhati). Another Aramaean people in the northern Transjordan region. Like the Geshurites, they also remained unsubdued by Israel for a time (Josh 13:13), suggesting a recognized boundary of influence rather than a fully incorporated territory.
• half Gilead: Hebrew: חֲצִי הַגִּלְעָד (chatzi ha-Gil'ad). Gilead was a significant mountainous and fertile region east of the Jordan. The distinction of "half" highlights a shared or adjacent boundary, contrasting with the other half controlled by Sihon, providing further geographical clarity.
• Sihon king of Heshbon: Refers to the other mighty Amorite king whose territory lay immediately to the south of Og's, indicating a clearly defined, contiguous border between their respective kingdoms. This common reference point solidified the overall description of Transjordan territories.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "and ruled in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and all Bashan": This initial phrase establishes the full geographical breadth of Og's kingdom, defining its northernmost point (Mount Hermon), its easternmost point (Salcah), and the central, most prominent region (Bashan). It paints a picture of a wide and formidable dominion.
• "unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites": This segment precisely delineates the northern-to-northeastern boundary of Og's kingdom, marking it by the territories of people groups that were neither fully absorbed by Og nor completely dispossessed by Israel. It suggests a limit of his direct control, beyond which were independent entities.
• "and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon": This concluding phrase defines the southern extent of Og's rule. By specifying "half Gilead" and its conjunction with Sihon's territory, it provides a crucial reference point, demonstrating the shared responsibility and division of Gilead between these two powerful Amorite kings and implicitly detailing where their kingdoms met.

Joshua 12 5 Bonus section

The extreme detail in describing Og's kingdom (and Sihon's in v.4) is a characteristic of ancient Near Eastern land grants and conquest narratives. Such precision would have been vital to establish Israel's legitimate claim to these territories as God-given inheritance. The meticulous geographical listing here is a subtle but strong polemic against the idea that Israel conquered haphazardly; instead, it indicates a divinely orchestrated, deliberate taking of specified, existing kingdoms. This also forms part of the historical groundwork for understanding later biblical narratives, especially regarding the settlement and subsequent interactions with neighboring peoples like the Geshurites and Maachathites, highlighting the ongoing challenges and incomplete aspects of the conquest even as God remained faithful.

Joshua 12 5 Commentary

Joshua 12:5 functions as a concise yet powerful testament to God's hand in Israel's early conquests. It meticulously outlines the extensive territory of Og, king of Bashan, a formidable giant and powerful ruler. This precise geographical detail, far from being mere dry data, underscores several profound truths: it validates the specific promise of land to Abraham's descendants (Gen 15:18); it magnifies God's power in overcoming seemingly unconquerable adversaries like Og (Deut 3:11); and it serves as a divine "deed" or historical record for the lands apportioned to the Transjordan tribes (Reuben, Gad, half-Manasseh). The mention of the Geshurites and Maachathites, though not completely dispossessed by Israel later, signifies recognized ancient territorial boundaries even among powerful kingdoms. Ultimately, the verse illustrates God's faithfulness in executing His plan to bring His people into their promised inheritance.