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Joshua 12:23 meaning

God’s victorious work covered every region of Canaan, showing His faithfulness to fulfill His promise through Joshua’s leadership.

the king of Dor in the heights of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one (v.23). This verse appears in a larger passage cataloging the various kings and territories conquered under Joshua’s leadership. Joshua led the Israelites through the conquest of Canaan around 1406-1399 BC, fulfilling God’s promise to grant His people the land. By listing each subjugated king, the Scripture underscores how methodically Israel subdued its enemies, trusting in the LORD’s direction.

Dor was a coastal city to the north of Canaan, later falling within the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh. The Bible recounts that the Israelites at times struggled to fully drive out the inhabitants of Dor, indicating the region’s strategic importance and the resilience of its defenders. In the heights around Dor, its king represented one more stronghold overcome by Israel’s armies as they possessed the land promised to Abraham’s descendants.

Gilgal lay near Jericho and marked the first encampment of the Israelites after miraculously crossing the Jordan River. It became a spiritually significant site, where Israel reaffirmed their covenant and witnessed many formative events under Joshua’s guidance. Mentioning the king of Goiim “in Gilgal” illustrates the far-reaching scope of Joshua’s victories, stretching from the coastal strongholds down into the heart of Israel’s earliest foothold.

Joshua 12:23