Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes not just that God gave the land into Israel's hand, but that He destroyed the Amorites "from before you." This highlights God's active and complete removal of the opposition, ensuring their victory wasn't just a lucky break but a divinely orchestrated clearing of the path for them to possess the land.
Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joshua has gathered all Israel for a solemn assembly at Shechem to renew their covenant with God. He begins recounting God's faithfulness throughout their history, from Abraham's call to their present possession of the land. This verse highlights God's direct intervention in their conquest of the Amorite lands east of the Jordan, underscoring that their victories were not due to their own strength but God's power working on their behalf.
Did Israel conquer the land through their own might, or was it God's doing? Joshua reminds them that every victory was a divine gift.
In Joshua 24:8, Joshua recounts how God brought Israel into the land of the Amorites. This wasn't a passive relocation; it was an active, divine leading.
God's Power, Not Human Strength
The text emphasizes that God 'gave them into your hand.' This highlights that the conquest wasn't primarily due to Israel's superior military strategy or strength. It was God who orchestrated the victory.
Possession Through Divine Destruction
Joshua continues, 'and I destroyed them before you.' This was a radical and complete removal of the enemy, enabling Israel to take possession. It shows God's power to clear the way for His people.
This specific victory happened 'on the other side of the Jordan.' What's significant about this region and its conquest?
Joshua 24:8 specifically mentions the 'land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan.' This refers to the territories of Sihon and Og, located east of the Jordan River, which were conquered before Israel crossed into the promised land proper.
A Foretaste of God's Promise
While the main inheritance lay west of the Jordan, the conquest of the Amorite kingdoms east of the river (Heshbon and Bashan) was a crucial step. It demonstrated God's power to deliver enemies into their hands and secure territory for them.
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Not Just a Passage, But a Possession
Israel didn't just pass through this land; they 'took possession' of it. This was a tangible gift from God, eventually allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. It served as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises, even before they entered Canaan itself.
Understand the original words
emori · Hebrew Proper Noun
A general designation for several Canaanite groups inhabiting the region east and west of the Jordan. They symbolize the opposition God's people faced and the divine judgment on the wickedness of the land's previous occupants.
yarash · Hebrew Verb
The legal act of taking ownership or inheriting territory. In the biblical context, it signifies receiving the land as a divine gift of the covenant promise.
This verse highlights the conquest east of the Jordan River, a crucial step before the main campaign in Canaan proper. It sets the stage for Joshua's reminder to the people of God's faithfulness in granting them territory they did not originally labor for.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Cross the Jordan River
The Israelites, after 40 years in the wilderness, finally crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Conquest of Sihon and Og
The Israelites defeated and killed Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, taking possession of their lands east of the Jordan.
c. 1400 BC
Division of Land East of Jordan
The territories of Sihon and Og were divided among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
c. 1399 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Following the victories east of the Jordan, Joshua led the Israelites in the conquest of the lands west of the Jordan River.
This passage directly recounts the conquest of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og, detailing the very victories Joshua is reminding Israel of in his speech.
Deuteronomy 2:30-33Moses recounts how God gave Sihon into Israel's hand, emphasizing that Israel possessed the land only because God delivered it to them, paralleling Joshua's statement.
Psalm 135:10-12This psalm praises God for defeating mighty kings and giving their land as a heritage, directly echoing the theme of God's powerful intervention in giving Israel victory over the Amorites.
Psalm 136:17-22This passage specifically highlights God's defeat of Sihon and Og and the gifting of their land to Israel, serving as a liturgical reminder of the very events Joshua is recounting.
calvinJoshua 24:1-14: "And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God."
And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
Congregavit itaque [194] Josue omnes tribus Israel in Sichem, vocavi…
gillJoshua 24:8: "And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you."
And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan,.... The kingdoms of Sihon and Og, and they fought with you; the two kings of them, and their armies: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and which was…
The verse emphasizes not just that God gave the land into Israel's hand, but that He destroyed the Amorites "from before you." This highlights God's active and complete removal of the opposition, ensuring their victory wasn't just a lucky break but a divinely orchestrated clearing of the path for them to possess the land.
Joshua has gathered all Israel for a solemn assembly at Shechem to renew their covenant with God. He begins recounting God's faithfulness throughout their history, from Abraham's call to their present possession of the land. This verse highlights God's direct intervention in their conquest of the Amorite lands east of the Jordan, underscoring that their victories were not due to their own strength but God's power working on their behalf.
Joshua has gathered all Israel for a solemn assembly at Shechem to renew their covenant with God. He begins recounting God's faithfulness throughout their history, from Abraham's call to their present possession of the land. This verse highlights God's direct intervention in their conquest of the Amorite lands east of the Jordan, underscoring that their victories were not due to their own strength but God's power working on their behalf.
"Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you." — The verse emphasizes not just that God gave the land into Israel's hand, but that He destroyed the Amorites "from before you." This highlights God's active and complete removal of the opposition,…
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Last reviewed October 2026