Josh. 12 A catalogue of the kings, and their possessions, out of which they were driven by the Israelites; first in the time of Moses on the other side Jordan, Josh. 12:1–6, and afterwards by Joshua on this side of Jordan, Josh. 12:7–23; in all one and thirty kings, Josh. 12:24.

On the east of Jordan, called the plain, Deut. 1:1, and the plains of Moab, Deut. 34:1.

From the middle of the river: it is not unusual, even amongst us, for a river to be divided between two lords, and for their territories or jurisdictions to meet in the middle of the river; and besides, here is a very particular reason for this expression, because the city Ar, which was no part of…

To the sea of Chinneroth on the east; which words describe the situation not of the sea of Chinneroth, which was part of the western border of Sihon’s dominion, but of the plain, which is here said to lie eastward from the sea of Chinneroth, and also eastward from the Salt Sea, as it here follows.

To wit, successively; sometimes at the one, sometimes at the other city; both being his royal mansions.

The Geshurites, of which see Deut. 3:14, Josh. 13:13, 2 Sam. 13:37, 2 Sam. 15:8.

The wilderness: this word here and elsewhere in Scripture notes not a land wholly desert and uninhabited, but one thin of inhabitants, as 1 Kings 2:34, 1 Kings 9:18, Matt. 3:1, Matt. 3:3.

Which is beside Beth-el: this is added to distinguish it from Ai of the Ammonites, of which Jer. 49:3.

Dor, of which Josh. 11:2. Gilgal; not of that Gilgal where Joshua first lodged after his passage over Jordan; where it doth not appear that there was either king or city; but of another city of the same name, (as was frequent in those parts,) probably in Galilee towards the sea whither divers…

Each being confined to a narrow compass, and being king only of one city, or small province belonging to it, which was by the wise and singular providence of God, that they might be more easily and successively conquered by the Israelites one after another, as they were.