How does Joshua 12:5 connect to God's covenant with Israel in Deuteronomy? Setting the Scene—Joshua 12:5 “He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all Bashan to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.” • The “he” is Og, king of Bashan—one of the last of the Rephaim (Deuteronomy 3:11). • Joshua records Og’s territory after Israel’s victory east of the Jordan, listing the exact borders Moses had described. Promises Echoed in Deuteronomy • Deuteronomy 2:24-25—God promises to hand Sihon over and spread dread of Israel. • Deuteronomy 3:1-7—God repeats the promise, delivers Og, and Moses records the conquest. • Deuteronomy 3:12-17—Moses assigns Bashan, Gilead, and the Jordan-valley cities to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh. • Deuteronomy 11:24—“Every place where the soles of your feet tread will be yours…” • Deuteronomy 29:12-13—The covenant renewal ties land possession to obedience and faithfulness. Key Connections Between Joshua 12:5 and Deuteronomy • Fulfillment of a Covenant Promise – Deuteronomy presents God’s pledge; Joshua 12:5 shows the pledge kept. – Og’s realm, detailed in Deuteronomy 3:4-5, reappears verbatim in Joshua, underscoring literal fulfillment. • Validation of Moses’ Commission to Joshua – Deuteronomy 3:21-22 charges Joshua to remember Og’s defeat as proof God will fight for Israel; Joshua 12:5 demonstrates Joshua’s obedience and God’s continuing action. • Boundary Confirmation – The identical borders (Mount Hermon, Salecah, Geshur, Maacath, half Gilead) verify that the tribes east of the Jordan received exactly what Moses allotted (Deuteronomy 3:12-13). • Covenant Continuity – Deuteronomy joins land inheritance to covenant faithfulness; Joshua 12:5 stands as historical evidence that God keeps His word and expects Israel to keep theirs (Deuteronomy 29:9-13). • Encouragement for Future Conquests – Og’s defeat, preserved in Joshua 12, functions as a memorial—reminding Israel west of the Jordan that the same covenant-keeping God will deliver Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:17-24). Why This Matters for Israel’s Covenant Identity • God’s faithfulness is geographical and historical, not abstract; every border marker in Joshua 12:5 highlights tangible covenant reliability. • The verse links two generations—those who first heard the Deuteronomic sermons and those who fought with Joshua—under one unbroken promise. • Israel’s ongoing possession of the land is grounded in obedience (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). Joshua 12:5 shows the blessing side of that equation realized. Living Lessons Drawn from the Connection • Trust: God’s covenant assurances are as precise today as the boundary lines around Bashan. • Memory: Rehearsing past victories strengthens present obedience—just as Moses intended when he recounted Sihon and Og. • Continuity: God’s actions in Joshua are not new but consistent with His declared character in Deuteronomy; He does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). |
    |