Joshua 12:12

The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

Joshua 12:12 (KJV)

Context

Joshua 12 records a summary of the conquests led by Joshua and the Israelites in the Promised Land. It lists the kings of various cities and territories defeated under Joshua’s leadership, naming thirty-one kings in total (Joshua 12:24). Verse 12 names two of them: the king of Eglon and the king of Gezer.

Meaning

Eglon and Gezer were prominent Canaanite cities. The king of Eglon is identified elsewhere as Debir (Joshua 10:3), and the king of Gezer as Horam, who came to help Lachish (Joshua 10:33). These identifications connect this verse to the earlier battle narratives in Joshua 10, where Joshua defeated a coalition of five Amorite kings, including the king of Eglon (Joshua 10:3-27). The listing of each king individually emphasizes the completeness of the conquest and God’s power over the rulers of Canaan.

Biblical connections

In the Bible, kings often represent worldly powers, authorities, or spiritual forces that oppose God’s kingdom. The defeat of these kings by the Israelites symbolizes the victory of God’s people over their enemies and the establishment of God’s reign in the land. Eglon was later allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:20), showing that the conquered territory became part of the inheritance God promised to Abraham’s descendants.

Application

Just as God promised the land to the Israelites, He is faithful to fulfil His promises to His people today. We can trust in His faithfulness and rely on His guidance and provision in our lives. The conquest of Eglon and Gezer reminds us that with God’s help, we can overcome the challenges and obstacles we face. As believers, we are called to be courageous and persistent, knowing that God fights on our behalf.

The kings mentioned in Joshua 12:12 represent spiritual forces that may try to hinder our progress in our walk with God. We need to be aware of the spiritual battles we face and rely on God’s strength and armour (Ephesians 6:10-18) to stand firm and experience victory. Joshua 12:12 encourages us to remember that we serve a God who is greater than any opposition we encounter. As we face challenges and obstacles in our lives, we can draw strength and courage from the knowledge that God is with us and fights on our behalf.