Bible Strands
Joshua 12:16
the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua 12:16 functions as part of a military census of defeated Canaanite rulers west of the Jordan. The passage places the entry between the list of the king of Libnah and the kings of Tappuah and Hepher.
The words — The Hebrew מֶ֤לֶךְ (Me.lekh) translates literally to "king," and אֶחָ֔ד ('e.Chad) means "one." These terms quantify the defeated rulers of Makkedah and Bethel as single individuals within the catalog.
The thread — Joshua 10:28 records Joshua capturing Makkedah and putting its inhabitants to the sword. Joshua 8:17 describes the inhabitants of Ai and Bethel leaving their cities to pursue Israel, leaving the towns undefended, while Judges 1:22 notes the house of Joseph later attacking Bethel with the LORD's presence.
Why it lands — The verse states a factual count of conquered rulers to document the completion of the campaign. It requires the reader to recognize the catalog as a precise record of judgment rather than a generic historical summary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Beth–el, one;
Cross-references
- Joshua 10:28 On that day Joshua captured Makkedah and put it to the sword, along with its king. He devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. So he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
- Joshua 8:17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel.
- Judges 1:22 The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the LORD was with them.
- Genesis 12:8 From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.
- Genesis 28:19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz.