7 The following are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the Israelites defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments, 8 in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the Negeb, the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites): 9 the king of Jericho +pone the king of Ai, which is next to Bethel +pone 10 the king of Jerusalem +pone the king of Hebron +pone 11 the king of Jarmuth +pone the king of Lachish +pone 12 the king of Eglon +pone the king of Gezer +pone 13 the king of Debir +pone the king of Geder +pone 14 the king of Hormah +pone the king of Arad +pone 15 the king of Libnah +pone the king of Adullam +pone 16 the king of Makkedah +pone the king of Bethel +pone 17 the king of Tappuah +pone the king of Hepher +pone 18 the king of Aphek +pone the king of Lasharon +pone 19 the king of Madon +pone the king of Hazor +pone 20 the king of Shimron-meron +pone the king of Achshaph +pone 21 the king of Taanach +pone the king of Megiddo +pone 22 the king of Kedesh +pone the king of Jokneam in Carmel +pone 23 the king of Dor in Naphath-dor +pone the king of Goiim in Galilee, +pone 24 the king of Tirzah +pone thirty-one kings in all.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 12:7-24
Commentary on Joshua 12:7-24
(Read Joshua 12:7-24)
We have here the limits of the country Joshua conquered. A list is given of the kings subdued by Israel: thirty-one in all. This shows how fruitful Canaan then was, in which so many chose to throng together. This was the land God appointed for Israel; yet in our day it is one of the most barren and unprofitable countries in the world. Such is the effect of the curse it lies under, since its possessors rejected Christ and his gospel, as was foretold by Moses, Deuteronomy 29:23. The vengeance of a righteous God, inflicted on all these kings and their subjects, for their wickedness, should make us dread and hate sin. The fruitful land bestowed on his chosen people, should fill our hearts with hope and confidence in his mercy, and with humble gratitude.