This chapter records the kings and lands the Israelites defeated under the leadership of Moses and Joshua, marking the full extent of their victories.
East of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon and across the Arabah plain, Israel conquered Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. His kingdom stretched from Aroer by the Arnon Gorge to the Jabbok River, reaching the border of the Ammonites, including half of Gilead. He also ruled the eastern plains from the Sea of Kinnereth to the Salt Sea, down to the slopes of Pisgah.
They also defeated Og, king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites. He ruled from Ashtaroth and Edrei, controlling Mount Hermon, Salecah, and all of Bashan, up to the borders of Geshur and Maacah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon. Moses, the servant of the Lord, led Israel to conquer these kings and gave their lands to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as their inheritance.
On the west side of the Jordan, Joshua and Israel conquered from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. The lands included the hill country, lowlands, desert, slopes, and Negev—territories of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
The list of defeated kings includes:
Jericho, Ai near Bethel, Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Gezer, Debir, Geder, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam, Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek, Lasharon, Madon, Hazor, Shimron Meron, Acshaph, Taanach, Megiddo, Kedesh, Jokneam in Carmel, Dor in Naphoth Dor, Goyim in Gilgal, and Tirzah — thirty-one kings in all.
These victories testified that the Lord had indeed fulfilled His promise to Israel, giving them the land He swore to their ancestors.