Joshua 12:2 - Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;

Generated Verse: Joshua 12:2

What does "Joshua 12:2" mean?


This verse from Joshua 12:2 describes the geographical territory controlled by Sihon, king of the Amorites, before he was defeated by the Israelites. Let's break it down:

"Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon": It identifies the ruler as Sihon, who belongs to the Amorite people, and Heshbon as his capital city.

"and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon": It sets the southern boundary of Sihon's kingdom. Aroer is a city located on the northern edge of the Arnon River valley, marking the southernmost extent of his territory.

"and the middle of the valley": This phrase means that Sihon's control extended into the Arnon River valley itself, indicating control of strategic points and resources within that area.

"and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon": This part defines the northern boundary. Sihon ruled over the southern half of the region of Gilead, up to the Jabbok River, which served as the border between his territory and the land of the Ammonites.

In essence, the verse uses geographical landmarks (Aroer/Arnon River in the south, Jabbok River in the north, and the middle of the Arnon Valley) to delineate the boundaries of the kingdom that Sihon controlled. It highlights the strategic importance of rivers and valleys as natural borders and areas of control. This description serves to emphasize the extent of the land that the Israelites would eventually conquer.

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