Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, June 8th, 2025
Pentacost
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Joshua 12:2

The first king that Moses and the Israelites defeated was an Amorite, King Sihon of Heshbon. The southern border of his kingdom ran down the middle of the Arnon River gorge, taking in the town of Aroer on the northern edge of the gorge. The Jabbok River separated Sihon's kingdom from the Ammonites on the east. Then the Jabbok turned west and became his northern border, so his kingdom included the southern half of the region of Gilead.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ammonites;   Amorites;   Canaan;   Jabbok;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Rivers;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Aroer;   Jabbok;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gilead;   Palestine;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Aroer;   Jabbok;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amorites;   Aroer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jabbok;   Sihon;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jabbok ;   Sihon ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Aroer;   Gilead;   Heshbon;   Jabbok;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Am'orite, the Am'orites;   Ar'non;   Ar'oer;   Governor;   Jab'bok;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Gilead (1);   Joshua, Book of;   River;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Aroer;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Gilead;   Heshbon;   Jabbok;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
King Sihon of the Amorites lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon River, along the middle of the valley, and half of Gilead up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites),
Hebrew Names Version
Sichon king of the Amori, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from `Aro`er, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and [the city that is in] the middle of the valley, and half Gil`ad, even to the river Yabbok, the border of the children of `Ammon;
King James Version
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
Lexham English Bible
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the wadi of Arnon, from the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, up to the Jabbok River, which marks the border of the Ammonites;
English Standard Version
Sihon king of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the middle of the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, that is, half of Gilead,
New Century Version
Sihon king of the Amorites lived in the city of Heshbon and ruled the land from Aroer at the Arnon Ravine to the Jabbok River. His land started in the middle of the ravine, which was their border with the Ammonites. Sihon ruled over half the land of Gilead
New English Translation
King Sihon of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley)—including the city in the middle of the valley and half of Gilead—all the way to the Jabbok Valley bordering Ammonite territory.
Amplified Bible
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the [river] Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, and as far as the brook Jabbok, [which is] the border of the sons of Ammon;
New American Standard Bible
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, even as far as the brook Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;
Geneva Bible (1587)
Sihon King of the Amorites, that dwelt in Heshbon, hauing dominion from Aroer, which is beside the riuer of Arnon, and from the middle of the riuer, and from halfe Gilead vnto the riuer Iabbok, in the border of the children of Ammon.
Legacy Standard Bible
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, even as far as the brook Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;
Complete Jewish Bible
Sichon king of the Emori, who lived in Heshbon and ruled the territory that includes ‘Aro‘er, at the edge of the Arnon Valley; the middle of the valley; half of Gil‘ad, to the Yabok River, which forms the border with the people of ‘Amon;
Darby Translation
Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, [and] ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the ravine, and over half Gilead, as far as the river Jabbok, [which is] the border of the children of Ammon;
Easy-to-Read Version
They defeated King Sihon of the Amorites living in the city of Heshbon. He ruled the land from Aroer at the Arnon Ravine to the Jabbok River. His land started in the center of that ravine. This was their border with the Ammonites. Sihon ruled over half of the land of Gilead.
George Lamsa Translation
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled from Adoer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, and ruled the middle of the valley, and half of Gilead, as far as the river of Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon:
Good News Translation
One was Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled at Heshbon. His kingdom included half of Gilead: from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and from the city in the middle of that valley, as far as the Jabbok River, the border of Ammon;
Literal Translation
Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, and from its valley floor , and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Sihon the kynge of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heßbon, and had dominion from Aroer that lieth by the water syde of Arnon, and vnto the myddes of ye water: and ouer halfe Gilead, vnto the water of Iabok, which is the border of the childre of Ammon:
American Standard Version
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;
Bible in Basic English
Sihon, king of the Amorites, who was living in Heshbon, ruling from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the town in the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, as far as the river Jabbok, the limits of the children of Ammon;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Sehon king of the Amorites, that dwelt in Hesbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is beside the riuer of Arnon, and from the middle of the riuer, and from halfe Gilead vnto the riuer Iabok, which is in the border of the children of Ammon:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, and the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;
King James Version (1611)
Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is vpon the banke of the riuer of Arnon, and from the middle of the riuer, and from halfe Gilead vnto the riuer Iabbok; which is the border of the children of Ammon:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Seon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Esebon, ruling from Arnon, which is in the valley, on the side of the valley, and half of Galaad as far as Jaboc, the borders of the children of Ammon.
English Revised Version
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;
Berean Standard Bible
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Seon, the kyng of Amorreis, that dwellide in Esebon, was lord fro Aroer, which is set on the brenke of the stronde of Arnon, and of the myddil part in the valey, and of half Galaad, til to the stronde of Jaboth, which is the terme of the sones of Amon, and fro the wildirnesse `til to the see of Ceneroth,
Young's Literal Translation
Sihon, king of the Amorite, who is dwelling in Heshbon, ruling from Aroer which [is] on the border of the brook Arnon, and the middle of the brook, and half of Gilead, and unto Jabok the brook, the border of the Bene-Ammon;
Update Bible Version
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and [the city that is in] the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;
Webster's Bible Translation
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, [and] ruled from Aroer, which [is] upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, [which is] the border of the children of Ammon;
World English Bible
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 city that is in] the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;
New King James Version
One king was Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, which is the border of the Ammonites,
New Living Translation
King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, was defeated. His kingdom included Aroer, on the edge of the Arnon Gorge, and extended from the middle of the Arnon Gorge to the Jabbok River, which serves as a border for the Ammonites. This territory included the southern half of the territory of Gilead.
New Life Bible
There was Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the side of the Arnon valley, and from the center of the valley and half of Gilead as far as the river Jabbok, beside the Ammonites.
New Revised Standard
lass="passage-text">
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, - ruling from Aroer, which is on the edge of the ravine of Arnon, and the middle of the ravine, and half Gilead, even as far as the ravine Jabbok, the boundary of the sons of Ammon;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Sehon king of the Amorrhites, who dwelt in Hesebon, and had dominion from Aroer, which is seated upon the bank of the torrent Arnon, and of the middle part in the valley, and of half Galaad, as far as the torrent Jaboc, which is the border of the children of Ammon.
Revised Standard Version
Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt at Heshbon, and ruled from Aro'er, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and from the middle of the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, that is, half of Gilead,
THE MESSAGE
lass="passage-text">
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, even as far as the brook Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;

Contextual Overview

1 Before Moses died, he and the people of Israel had defeated two kings east of the Jordan River. These kings had ruled the region from the Arnon River gorge in the south to Mount Hermon in the north, including the eastern side of the Jordan River valley. 2 The first king that Moses and the Israelites defeated was an Amorite, King Sihon of Heshbon. The southern border of his kingdom ran down the middle of the Arnon River gorge, taking in the town of Aroer on the northern edge of the gorge. The Jabbok River separated Sihon's kingdom from the Ammonites on the east. Then the Jabbok turned west and became his northern border, so his kingdom included the southern half of the region of Gilead. 3 Sihon also controlled the eastern side of the Jordan River valley from Lake Galilee south to Beth-Jeshimoth and the Dead Sea. In addition to these regions, he ruled the town called Slopes of Mount Pisgah and the land south of there at the foot of the hill. 4 Next, Moses and the Israelites defeated King Og of Bashan, who lived in the town of Ashtaroth part of each year and in Edrei the rest of the year. Og was one of the last of the Rephaim. 5 His kingdom stretched north to Mount Hermon, east to the town of Salecah, and included the land of Bashan as far west as the borders of the kingdoms of Geshur and Maacah. He also ruled the northern half of Gilead. 6 Moses, the Lord 's servant, had led the people of Israel in defeating Sihon and Og. Then Moses gave their land to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Sihon: Numbers 21:23-30, Deuteronomy 2:24-37, Deuteronomy 3:6-17, Nehemiah 9:22, Psalms 135:11, Psalms 136:19, Psalms 136:20

Jabbok: Genesis 32:22, Judges 11:13, Judges 11:22

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 1:4 - General Deuteronomy 2:37 - Jabbok Deuteronomy 3:8 - the land Deuteronomy 3:12 - from Aroer Deuteronomy 3:16 - river Jabbok Joshua 13:9 - Aroer Joshua 13:11 - General Joshua 13:16 - General Judges 11:26 - Heshbon

Cross-References

Genesis 12:3
I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.
Genesis 12:4
Abram was seventy-five years old when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran. He obeyed and left with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and slaves they had gotten while in Haran. When they came to the land of Canaan,
Genesis 12:6
Abram went as far as the sacred tree of Moreh in a place called Shechem. The Canaanites were still living in the land at that time,
Genesis 12:8
Abram traveled to the hill country east of Bethel and camped between Bethel and Ai, where he built another altar and worshiped the Lord .
Genesis 12:9
Later, Abram started out toward the Southern Desert.
Genesis 12:10
The crops failed, and there was no food anywhere in the land. So Abram and his wife Sarai went to live in Egypt for a while. But just before they got there, he said, "Sarai, you are really beautiful!
Genesis 12:14
As soon as Abram and Sarai arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful she was.
Genesis 12:16
The king was good to Abram because of Sarai, and Abram was given sheep, cattle, donkeys, slaves, and camels.
Genesis 12:17
Because of Sarai, the Lord struck the king and everyone in his palace with terrible diseases.
Genesis 12:18
Finally, the king sent for Abram and said to him, "What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me Sarai was your wife?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon,.... Which he took from the Moabites, and made his capital city, Numbers 21:26;

[and] ruled from Aroer, which [is] upon the bank of the river of Arnon; a city of Moab, which never fell into the hands of Sihon, and therefore he is said to rule from it but not over it:

and from the middle of the river; that is, the river Arnon, which being the boundary of the Moabites and Amorites, the king of the Amorites might be said to rule from the middle of it:

and from half Gilead even unto the river Jabbok, [which is] the border of the children of Ammon; so it is said to be, Deuteronomy 3:16; it should be rendered, not "from half Gilead", but "and half Gilead", as it is in the Hebrew text, and so in the Targum; for half Gilead belonged to the kingdom of Sihon, as the other half did to the kingdom of Og, as in

Joshua 12:5; and so Jarchi remarks.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

All the plain on the east - i. e. the Arabah or depressed tract along the east bank of Jordan, the modern El-Ghor (see Numbers 22:1).

Joshua 12:2

From the middle of the river - i. e. as appears from Joshua 13:9, Joshua 13:16, “from the city that is in the midst of the river;” namely,, Ar Moab (see Deuteronomy 2:36).

Joshua 12:3

From the plain - Render “over the plain;” for the words describe not one of the boundaries of Sihon’s kingdom, but part of the territory included in it, i. e. the eastern portion of the Ghor, between the Sea of Tiberias and the Dead Sea.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Joshua 12:2. From Aroer — Aroer was situated on the western side of the river Arnon, in the middle of the valley through which this river takes its course. The kingdom of Sihon extended from the river Arnon and the city of Aroer on the south to the river Jabbok on the north.

And from half Gilead — The mountains of Gilead extended from north to south from Mount Hermon towards the source of the river Arnon, which was about the midst of the extent of the kingdom of Sihon: thus Sihon is said to have possessed the half of Gilead, that is, the half of the mountains and of the country which bore the name of Gilead on the east of his territories.

River Jabbok — This river has its source in the mountains of Gilead; and, running from east to west, falls into Jordan. It bounds the territories of Sihon on the north, and those of the Ammonites on the south.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile