Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 12:1-6
All the plain on the east - i. e. the Arabah or depressed tract along the east bank of Jordan, the modern El-Ghor (see Numbers 22:1).Joshua 12:2From the middle of the river - i. e. as appears from Joshua 13:9, Joshua 13:16, “from the city that is in the midst of the river;” namely,, Ar Moab (see Deuteronomy 2:36).Joshua 12:3From the plain - Render “over the plain;” for the words describe not one of the boundaries of Sihon’s kingdom, but part of the territory included in it, i. e. the eastern... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 12:5
The Geshurites. See Joshua 13:2 , Joshua 13:11 , Joshua 13:13 ; and Deuteronomy 3:14 ; also 2 Samuel 13:37 , where we find the principality of Geshur still in possession of its independence. It was in the northeast corner of Bashan, abutting upon Syria, and is called "Geshur in Syria" ( 2 Samuel 15:8 ). It is perhaps an instance of undesigned coincidence that Maachah, the mother of Absalom and the daughter of the king of Geshur, was so named, since she probably derived her name... read more