The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;

JOSHUA 12:9KJV
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Joshua 12:9 (KJV)

What does Joshua 12:9 mean?

Joshua 12:9 lists two kings—one from Jericho and one from Ai, near Bethel—who were defeated by the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership. This verse is part of a record naming the kings and cities conquered as Israel took possession of the land west of the Jordan River.

The verse is found in a section where the writer, likely Joshua or a later editor, catalogs the victories of Israel after entering Canaan. By naming Jericho and Ai, the verse highlights the first key battles after crossing the Jordan, showing the beginning of Israel’s conquest. These names would have reminded the original readers of the dramatic stories already told earlier in Joshua.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 12:9

  • מֶלֶךְ (melekh, "king"): This word is used for each ruler listed, emphasizing their authority and the significance of their defeat.
  • יְרִיחוֹ (Yerikho, "Jericho"): Naming Jericho first recalls the famous fall of the city, which was Israel’s initial victory in Canaan.
  • אַי (Ai, "Ai"): Ai is specifically noted as being "beside" Bethel, clarifying its location for readers and connecting it to the earlier narrative.
  • אֶחָד (echad, "one"): The use of "one" after each king underscores the individual defeat of each ruler, rather than grouping them together.

Why Joshua 12:9 matters

  • Joshua 12:9 begins a list that confirms the fulfillment of God’s promise to give Israel the land, showing concrete evidence of their progress.
  • By naming Jericho and Ai, the verse connects back to the dramatic stories in Joshua chapters 6–8, helping readers remember the significance of these victories.
  • The verse sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, which continues to list conquered kings, emphasizing the thoroughness of Israel’s conquest under Joshua.

Where else these words appear

“beside” Hebrew H6654 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
  • Joshua 3:16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
  • 2 Samuel 13:34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

“Ai” Hebrew H5857 · used in 34 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.
  • Joshua 8:11 And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
  • Joshua 8:26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

“Jericho” Hebrew H3405 · used in 53 verses

  • Numbers 22:1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
  • Joshua 4:19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
  • Joshua 18:21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,

“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.