Joshua 13

1 Now Yehoshua was old and well stricken in years; and the LORD said to him, You are old and well stricken in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.

2 This is the land that yet remains: all the regions of the Pelishtim, and all the Geshuri;

3 from the Shichor, which is before Mitzrayim, even to the border of `Ekron northward, [which] is reckoned to the Kana`anim; the five lords of the Pelishtim; the `Azati, and the Ashdodi, the Eshkeloni, the Gitti, and the `Ekroni; also the `Avvim,

4 on the south; all the land of the Kana`anim, and Me`arah that belongs to the Tzidonim, to Afek, to the border of the Amori;

5 and the land of the Givli, and all Levanon, toward the sunrise, from Ba`al-Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamat;

6 all the inhabitants of the hill-country from Levanon to Misrefot-Mayim, even all the Tzidonim; them will I drive out from before the children of Yisra'el: only allot you it to Yisra'el for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.

7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes, and the half-tribe of Menashsheh.

8 With him the Re'uveni and the Gadi received their inheritance, which Moshe gave them, beyond the Yarden eastward, even as Moshe the servant of the LORD gave them:

9 from `Aro`er, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeva to Divon;

10 and all the cities of Sichon king of the Amori, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of `Ammon;

11 and Gil`ad, and the border of the Geshuri and Ma`akhati, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salkhah;

12 all the kingdom of `Og in Bashan, who reigned in `Ashtarot and in Edre`i (the same was left of the remnant of the Refa'im); for these did Moshe strike, and drove them out.

13 Nevertheless the children of Yisra'el didn't drive out the Geshuri, nor the Ma`akhati: but Geshur and Ma`akhat dwell in the midst of Yisra'el to this day.

14 Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance; the offerings of the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spoke to him.

15 Moshe gave to the tribe of the children of Re'uven according to their families.

16 Their border was from `Aro`er, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeva;

17 Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Divon, and Bamot-Ba`al, and Beit-Ba`al-Me`on,

18 and Yahatz, and Kedemot, and Mefa`at,

19 and Kiryatayim, and Sivmah, and Tzeret-Hashachar in the mount of the valley,

20 and Beit-Pe`or, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beit-Hayshimot,

21 and all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sichon king of the Amori, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moshe struck with the chiefs of Midyan, Evi, and Rekem, and Tzur, and Hur, and Reva, the princes of Sichon, who lived in the land.

22 Bil`am also the son of Be'or, the soothsayer, did the children of Yisra'el kill with the sword among the rest of their slain.

23 The border of the children of Re'uven was the Yarden, and the border [of it]. This was the inheritance of the children of Re'uven according to their families, the cities and the villages of it.

24 Moshe gave to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad, according to their families.

25 Their border was Ya`zer, and all the cities of Gil`ad, and half the land of the children of `Ammon, to `Aro`er that is before Rabbah;

26 and from Heshbon to Ramat-Hamitzpeh, and Betonim; and from Machanayim to the border of Devir;

27 and in the valley, Beit-Haram, and Beit-Nimrah, and Sukkot, and Tzafon, the rest of the kingdom of Sichon king of Heshbon, the Yarden and the border [of it], to the uttermost part of the sea of Kinneret beyond the Yarden eastward.

28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and the villages of it.

29 Moshe gave [inheritance] to the half-tribe of Menashsheh: and it was for the half-tribe of the children of Menashsheh according to their families.

30 Their border was from Machanayim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of `Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Ya'ir, which are in Bashan, sixty cities:

31 and half Gil`ad, and `Ashtarot, and Edre`i, the cities of the kingdom of `Og in Bashan, were for the children of Makhir the son of Menashsheh, even for the half of the children of Makhir according to their families.

32 These are the inheritances which Moshe distributed in the plains of Mo'av, beyond the Yarden at Yericho, eastward.

33 But to the tribe of Levi Moshe gave no inheritance: the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.

Joshua 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

Bounds of the land not yet conquered. (1-6) Inheritance of Reuben. (7-33)

Verses 1-6 At this chapter begins the account of the dividing of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel by lot; a narrative showing the performance of the promise made to the fathers, that this land should be given to the seed of Jacob. We are not to pass over these chapters of hard names as useless. Where God has a mouth to speak, and a hand to write, we should find an ear to hear, and an eye to read; and may God give us a heart to profit! Joshua is supposed to have been about one hundred years old at this time. It is good for those who are old and stricken in years to be put in remembrance of their being so. God considers the frame of his people, and would not have them burdened with work above their strength. And all people, especially old people, should set to do that quickly which must be done before they die, lest death prevent them, ( Ecclesiastes 9:10 ) . God promise that he would make the Israelites masters of all the countries yet unsubdued, through Joshua was old, and not able to do it; old, and not likely to live to see it done. Whatever becomes of us, and however we may be laid aside as despised, broken vessels, God will do his own work in his own time. We must work out our salvation, then God will work in us, and work with us; we must resist our spiritual enemies, then God will tread them under our feet; we must go forth to our Christian work and warfare, then God will go forth before us.

Verses 7-33 The land must be divided among the tribes. It is the will of God that every man should know his own, and not take that which is another's. The world must be governed, not by force, but right. Wherever our habitation is placed, and in whatever honest way our portion is assigned, we should consider them as allotted of God; we should be thankful for, and use them as such, while every prudent method should be used to prevent disputes about property, both at present and in future. Joshua must be herein a type of Christ, who has not only conquered the gates of hell for us, but has opened to us the gates of heaven, and having purchased the eternal inheritance for all believers, will put them in possession of it. Here is a general description of the country given to the two tribes and a half, by Moses. Israel must know their own, and keep to it; and may not, under pretence of their being God's peculiar people, encroach on their neighbours. Twice in this chapter it is noticed, that to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance: see ( Numbers 18:20 ) . Their maintenance must be brought out of all the tribes. The ministers of the Lord should show themselves indifferent about worldly interests, and the people should take care they want nothing suitable. And happy are those who have the Lord God of Israel for their inheritance, though little of this world falls to their lot. His providences will supply their wants, his consolations will support their souls, till they gain heavenly joy and everlasting pleasures.

Chapter Summary

\\INTRODUCTION JOSHUA 13\\

In this chapter Joshua is informed by the Lord, or put in mind, that
part of the land of Canaan remained unconquered, and which it was; and
is directed to divide the whole land among the nine tribes, and the
half tribe of Manasseh, Jos 13:1-9; and since the two tribes of Reuben
and Gad, and the other half tribe of Manasseh, had received their
inheritance on the other side Jordan, Jos 13:8; that is described in
general, Jos 13:9-14; and, then the particular portion of Reuben,
Jos 13:15-23; and of Gad, Jos 13:24-28; and of the half tribe of
Manasseh, Jos 13:29-33.