What is the meaning of Joshua 12:18? The king of Aphek, one Aphek sat on the strategic coastal plain, a place that saw repeated conflict (cf. 1 Samuel 4:1; 1 Kings 20:26). By noting “one” king, Joshua emphasizes that even a ruler seated in a fortified, militarily important city fell before the Lord’s advancing people. - The victory fulfills God’s earlier promise: “He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you shall wipe out their name from under heaven” (Deuteronomy 7:24). - It underscores that Israel’s success did not hinge on its own strength but on the Lord who “gave them into the hand of Israel” (Joshua 11:8). - Each single tally reminds us of God’s personal accounting—no enemy, however entrenched, is overlooked (Psalm 33:10–11). The king of Lasharon, one Lasharon likely lay in the fertile Sharon region, famed for its lush beauty (Isaiah 35:2). Even this seemingly idyllic stretch was ruled by a king opposed to God’s purposes. - Conquering Lasharon illustrates that God’s covenant promises encompass every kind of terrain—from rugged hills to rich farmland (Genesis 15:18–21). - It reinforces that Israel’s inheritance is comprehensive; there are no “off-limits” portions of the land (Joshua 13:1). - The single count again stresses individual accountability: every authority that exalts itself against the Lord is brought low (Psalm 2:2–6; Colossians 2:15). summary Joshua 12:18 records two more kings—Aphek and Lasharon—each counted “one,” testifying that God’s victory over Canaan was complete, personal, and exact. Every fortress, every fertile plain, every ruler fell because the Lord kept His word, proving that no power can stand against His covenant purposes for His people. |
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