The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

JOSHUA 12:16KJV
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Joshua 12:16 (KJV)

What does Joshua 12:16 mean?

Joshua 12:16 lists two kings—one from Makkedah and one from Bethel—among those defeated by the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership. The verse is part of a record showing the specific cities and rulers conquered as Israel took possession of the land.

This verse appears in a section where Joshua’s victories are being counted, city by city, to document the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel. The list is factual and straightforward, emphasizing the completeness of Israel’s conquest by naming each defeated king and his city.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 12:16

  • מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428): This word means "king." Its repetition in the list highlights that each city had its own ruler, showing the organized opposition Israel faced.
  • מַקֵּדָה (Makkedah, H4719) and בֵּית־אֵל (Bethel, H1008): These are the names of the cities. Naming them specifically underlines the historical and geographical reality of the conquest.
  • אֶחָד (echad, H259): This word means "one." The use of "one" for each king stresses the individuality of each defeat, not just a general victory over a region.

Why Joshua 12:16 matters

  • Joshua 12:16 helps the reader see that Israel’s conquest was not just over nameless peoples, but over specific, organized city-states with their own kings.
  • Listing each king and city individually emphasizes the thoroughness of Joshua’s campaign and the fulfillment of earlier promises about the land.
  • This verse, as part of the larger list, connects the reader to the historical reality of the events, grounding the narrative in real places and rulers.

Where else these words appear

“Makkedah” Hebrew H4719 · used in 8 verses

  • Joshua 10:10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
  • Joshua 10:17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
  • Joshua 10:28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.

“Bethel” Hebrew H1008 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
  • Judges 1:23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel.(Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
  • 2 Kings 2:23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.