And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

JOSHUA 12:5KJV
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Joshua 12:5 (KJV)

What does Joshua 12:5 mean?

Joshua 12:5 describes the extent of King Og’s territory east of the Jordan River. The verse names landmarks, neighboring peoples, and another king’s territory to show where Og’s rule reached.

The sentence continues from verse 4, where Og is named. The borders would help the first readers picture the area described, from Mount Hermon in the north to part of Gilead farther south.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 12:5

  • “reigned” — מָשַׁל (mashal): This word means to rule or govern. Here it connects several named places with Og’s authority as king.
  • “border” — גְּבוּל (gevul): This word can mean a boundary or the territory marked off by one. The verse uses it to locate Og’s realm alongside other lands.

Why Joshua 12:5 matters

  • The verse identifies neighboring peoples as well as places under Og’s rule. The “Geshurites” and “Maachathites” mark the edge of his territory.
  • The mention of Sihon helps distinguish two kings’ lands. Og ruled “half Gilead,” while Sihon’s territory lay at its border.

Where else these words appear

“Salcah” Hebrew H5548 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:10 All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
  • Joshua 13:11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
  • 1 Chronicles 5:11 And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salchah:

“Geshurites” Hebrew H1651 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashanhavothjair, unto this day.
  • Joshua 13:2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
  • Joshua 13:13 Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

“Maachathites” Hebrew H4602 · used in 8 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashanhavothjair, unto this day.
  • Joshua 13:13 Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.
  • 2 Kings 25:23 And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

“Hermon” Hebrew H2768 · used in 13 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:8 And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;
  • Joshua 11:17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.