This verse, "the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;" from Joshua 12:16 is part of a longer list in Joshua chapter 12 that details the kings defeated by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua during their conquest of Canaan.
Meaning and Significance:
"The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;": This simply means that Joshua and the Israelites defeated and killed the king of Makkedah and the king of Bethel. The "one" likely signifies that each city had a single, identifiable king at the time of the conquest.
Part of a Larger List: This verse is not isolated. It's part of a larger inventory of defeated kings (a total of 31) that serves several purposes:
Historical Record: To document the extent of the Israelite victory in the land.
Claim of Possession: By naming these kings and their cities, the Israelites were effectively asserting their right to the land through conquest, as God had promised.
Tribute to God's Power: To show that God was faithful to His promise and had empowered them to overcome powerful enemies.
Exhortation to Faithfulness: It also implicitly served as a reminder that their success was contingent on their obedience to God. If they disobeyed, they could lose the land.
In essence, this verse, while seemingly simple, represents a significant moment in Israelite history - their successful entry into and initial conquest of the Promised Land, attributed to God's power and their obedience to His commands.
Further Considerations:
Makkedah: Makkedah was a city in the Shephelah region (lowlands) of Canaan. Joshua 10 tells the story of the defeat of the king of Makkedah as part of a coalition of Amorite kings who attacked Gibeon.
Bethel: Bethel was a significant city with religious significance, located north of Jerusalem. It had been important since the time of Jacob (Genesis 28). Its defeat highlights the thoroughness of the Israelite campaign.
This verse, "the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;" from Joshua 12:16 is part of a longer list in Joshua chapter 12 that details the kings defeated by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua during their conquest of Canaan.
Meaning and Significance:
"The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;": This simply means that Joshua and the Israelites defeated and killed the king of Makkedah and the king of Bethel. The "one" likely signifies that each city had a single, identifiable king at the time of the conquest.
Part of a Larger List: This verse is not isolated. It's part of a larger inventory of defeated kings (a total of 31) that serves several purposes:
Historical Record: To document the extent of the Israelite victory in the land.
Claim of Possession: By naming these kings and their cities, the Israelites were effectively asserting their right to the land through conquest, as God had promised.
Tribute to God's Power: To show that God was faithful to His promise and had empowered them to overcome powerful enemies.
Exhortation to Faithfulness: It also implicitly served as a reminder that their success was contingent on their obedience to God. If they disobeyed, they could lose the land.
In essence, this verse, while seemingly simple, represents a significant moment in Israelite history - their successful entry into and initial conquest of the Promised Land, attributed to God's power and their obedience to His commands.
Further Considerations:
Makkedah: Makkedah was a city in the Shephelah region (lowlands) of Canaan. Joshua 10 tells the story of the defeat of the king of Makkedah as part of a coalition of Amorite kings who attacked Gibeon.
Bethel: Bethel was a significant city with religious significance, located north of Jerusalem. It had been important since the time of Jacob (Genesis 28). Its defeat highlights the thoroughness of the Israelite campaign.