Joshua 12:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 12:7-24

We have here a breviate of Joshua's conquests. I. The limits of the country he conquered. It lay between Jordan on the east and the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and extended from Baal-gad near Lebanon in the north to Halak, which lay upon the country of Edom in the south, Josh. 12:7. The boundaries are more largely described, Num. 34:2-12 But what is here said is enough to show that God had been as good as his word, and had given them possession of all he had promised them by Moses, if they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 12:17

The king of Tappuah, one ,.... Which Jerom calls F12 De loc. Heb. fol. 95. C. Thaffu; it signifies an apple, and perhaps had its name from plenty of that fruit that grew there: a city of this name fell to the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:34 ; where also was another place called Bethtappuah, Joshua 15:53 ; and both different from another Tappuah on the border of Manasseh, which belonged to the tribe of Ephraim, Joshua 17:8 ; by some thought to be meant here: the king of Hepher,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 12:17

Tappuah - There were two places of this name: one in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:34 , and another in the tribe of Ephraim on the borders of Manasseh; but which of the two is meant here cannot be ascertained. See the note on Joshua 15:53 . Hepher - The same, according to Calmet, as Ophrah in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:23 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 12:1-24

The extent of the conquest. A few detached considerations occur to us here. I. GOD WELL NOT BE WORSE THAN HIS WORD . The reduction of the whole land had not yet been effected, but it had been rendered possible if Israel were disposed to follow up his advantage. The list of cities captured covers nearly the whole extent of Palestine, and Canaan had been deprived of all capacity of resistance. So it is with the Christian who has entered into covenant with God. The mastery... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 12:7-24

The catalogue of the vanquished. A melancholy document, meaning little more to us than a column in a directory, but meaning much to multitudes. Many of these kings would be lamented in elegies as sweet as David's song over Saul and Jonathan. Some, doubtless, were noble, perhaps some devout, but implicated in a national fate to the deserving of which they had not contributed. Linger over these a little and observe— I. ALL ARMIES WILL FIND THEIR PLACE IN ONE OF TWO ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 12:17

Tappuah. Literally "apple city." It is difficult say whether this was Tappuah in Judah ( Joshua 15:34 ; cf. Joshua 15:53 ), or in Manasseh ( Joshua 16:8 ; Joshua 17:7 , Joshua 17:8 ). The mention of Aphekah in Joshua 15:53 , and of Aphek here, would suggest the former, or the mention of Socoh in Joshua 15:34 (see below on Hepher). But the mention of Lasharon, the fact that there is more than one other Aphek, that Tappuah on the borders of Ephraim and Manasseh seems to have been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 12:7-24

The names of the kings are given in the order of their actual encounter with Joshua. Those enumerated in Joshua 12:10-18 either belonged to the league of the southern Canaanites (Joshua 10:1 ff), the power of which was broken in the battle of Beth-horon, or were at any rate conquered in the campaign following that battle. Those mentioned in Joshua 12:19-24 were in like manner connected with the northern confederates (Joshua 11:1 ff), who were defeated at the Waters of Merom.Joshua 12:13-20The... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 12:1-24

Summary of Israel’s conquests (11:16-12:24)Now that Israel controlled all the territory that was to become its homeland, the writer summarizes the entire conquest. First he summarizes Joshua’s conquest of all the area west of Jordan (i.e. Canaan itself), where nine and a half tribes were to receive their inheritance (16-23). Then he summarizes the former conquest in the time of Moses, when Israel gained control of the territory east of Jordan, where two and a half tribes had already been... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 12:17

Ver. 17. The king of Tappuah— It seems that there were two cities of this name; one in the tribe of Judah, chap. Joshua 15:34 Jos 16:8 Jos 17:8 the other belonging to that of Ephraim, on the borders of Manasseh. It is difficult to say which of the two is here spoken of; perhaps the last: what would incline to this opinion is, that the king of Tappuah is named immediately after the king of Beth-el, a city placed on the confines of Ephraim and Benjamin, and before the king of Hepher, a city of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 12:7-24

The slaughter of the western kings 12:7-24The writer identified 31 kings in the essential order in which Joshua defeated them."Many of the same names appear in the Amarna letters, thus confirming the historicity of our text." [Note: Davis and Whitcomb, p. 75.] "The description was not complete. Shechem is not mentioned, and the hills of Ephraim are sparsely represented, as is the territory north of Hazor. Completeness is not the object. The writer seeks to compile a list that will impress the... read more

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