Joshua Chapter 12 contains a list of the kings defeated by Israel. As we read through it we may be excused for skimming and wondering, what is the point? Granted, all scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, etc. (2 Timothy 3:16), but some parts may cause us to wonder. One value of this particular chapter is found again in the thought that Joshua was writing this whole account for his grand-children - to remind them of God’s rich blessings, both as an all powerful Lord and a faithful, covenant keeping Sovereign. Many prophets, including Joshua, have told God's people, do not forget the power and faithfulness of Yahweh! After all, how do you suppose the people of God learn of His faithfulness and His power? The scripture is full of history written for the purpose of reviewing God’s manner of dealing with His people; and this leads God's people to thankfulness and increases their faith. We read Psalms 105, 135, 136 to remind us of God’s faithfulness; the psalm writer follows a pattern of looking back at what the Lord has done. I think John Calvin makes a great point by writing,
“But though each of those (kings) now summarily mentioned was previously given more in detail, there is very good reason for here placing before our eyes as it were a living picture of the goodness of God, proving that there had been a complete ratification and performance of the covenant made with Abraham as given in the words, “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” (Gen. xii.7;xiii.15;xx18.) John Calvin, Commentaries on the Book of Joshua, trans. Henry Beveridge, in vol. 4 of Calvin’s Commentaries, 22 vols. (reprinted ed.; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981), 178.
The list of defeated kings in Chapter 12 is a direct challenge to us - saying, ‘thanks for all your blessings,’ is often used as a prayer of thanksgiving, but it would be better for us to use specific words! Biblical prayers of thanksgiving and praise do not consist of vague generalizations but rather contains specific examples of what the Lord has done. The purpose of remembering the past is to renew our hope and faith for the future. We may say, God works all things for the good of His people, but our faith that He is able and willing to do so is strengthened by remembering what He has accomplished in the past.
As we proceed into chapter 13 we are presented with a problem. Back in chapter 11 verse 23 we are informed that “Thus the land had rest from war.” How can we understand the first verse in chapter 13?
"Now Joshua was old and advanced in years when the LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed."
Do we have a real discrepancy in the historical record? To believers and skeptics this is a question that requires an answer. The basic argument for the accuracy and consistency of scripture in this example is based on the definition of ‘war.’ First, we need to remember that wars between nations need instigators and leaders and in the ancient world they were called ‘Kings.’ Prior to the God–ordained invasion of the Israelites the vast majority of inhabitants of Canaan were peasant workers. The land was owned by those very same kings that were listed in Chapter 12. Numerous historical examples prove that motivating the masses to war requires propaganda and direct efforts to demonize the enemy. In one sense, the peasant natives of Canaan were pawns of corrupt kings. But I am not saying that the peasant natives were innocent pawns of corrupt kings. The Lord is just and his judgment of the Canaanites apparently included all who were disobedient and unrepentant. With the notable exception of Rahab, both kings and peasants were depraved and unrepentant; they were liable to the wrath of God, as are all who "do not honor Him as God or give thanks" (Romans 2:21). Rahab and her family repented and were spared; if there were others who were repentant, I suppose they might also have been spared- the Bible does not comment on that possibility therefore we ought to go no further. The Bible gives us all the information we need to know but not everything we might want to know! It is none of our business.
So back to the apparent discrepancy, I am saying that in a very real way, the defeat of the kings marked the end of organized warfare. The kings were defeated and were no longer instigating and organizing war against the sons of Israel. The land had rest from this kind of warfare. We use the term 'war' to mean anything from warring between nations to 'war' between families about a property dispute. It is clear from the Lord's catalogue of un-conquered territories contained in chapter 13, verses 3 through 6, that much of the land remained to be possessed and the task of possessing the land would take struggles and, to be sure, further fighting. The continuing battles fought would not be wars between nations, neither were they simply disputes about property rights. The battles remaining would be serious fights requiring cooperation between the Israelite tribes. They would be regional battles to displace stubborn occupiers of the Land that the Lord had granted to Abraham and his descendants.
The phrase, “You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed." (v. 1) implies that there was some danger that, at this very point in history, the people might have become weary of these many years of battles. The Lord's command to Joshua, "apportion this land for an inheritance ..." (v. 7) was perfectly timed to match the peoples war-weariness with an appropriate measure of encouragement. We must remember that they had been wanderers their whole lives - their fathers had left their homes in Egypt. Due to their lack of faith they had perished in the wilderness. Their children, these very people who had fought so long to posses the land, had never known a home to call their own. Living in tents, and not having any experience maintaining a homestead or farming the land, we can imagine they could easily revert back to their nomadic ways, continuing to live their lives 'on the road.'
We ought to consider that for these people, living in a home and farming the land may have been as foreign to them as it would be for us to consider living in a tent under an interstate highway overpass. Owning a home and land was a dream that their fathers had! After a lifetime of wandering the wilderness in tents, depending on the grace of God to provide for their necessities, we may excuse them for the fleeting thought that their former life on the road may appear preferable to this Promise Land with a future filled with what seems like endless battles.
But the Lord would have none of that! It is as if Yahweh is simply telling His people to consider the whole land theirs, and to go forward, in faith of that promise and in obedience to His command. This is an encouragement and a command! The land is yours, obey the Lord's command to occupy! Here is another example of godly realism - a realism that informs the people that they will have further battles but the Lord has already granted success because of that promise to Abraham so many years ago.
Our spiritual war has been won by our King, the Lord Jesus Christ. By His atoning sacrifice on the cross, King Jesus set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gained for us God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life. But our personal battles to displace remaining sin will continue till we die or Christ returns. We are realists but we also need the same encouragement that this generation of the sons of Israel required - the land is ours, simply obey the Lord's commands, and go forward!
As believers we are also are in danger of forgetting or forsaking our true inheritance. There may be times when we ponder that false peace we experienced during our former lives of pleasure seeking and worldliness. No struggle with our sin, no struggle with our old friends who approved of our ungodly behavior. We need this same encouragement - we do have an inheritance! This inheritance may be dimly seen, an inheritance which we are only faintly aware and with which we have no prior experience. This passage in the book of Joshua ought to remind us that the Lord has already granted us a "future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). Yahweh is telling us to consider the whole of our inheritance, and to go forward, in faith of that promise and in obedience to His commands.
