Yehoshua 13

1 3 Now Yehoshua was zaken, advanced in yamim; Hashem said unto him, Thou art old, advanced in yamim; HaAretz there remaineth yet harebbeh me’od to be possessed.

2 This is HaAretz that yet remaineth; all the regions of the Pelishtim, and all Geshuri,

3 From Sichor, which is before Mitzrayim, even unto the territory of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Kena’ani; five rulers of the Pelishtim; the Azzati, the Ashdodi, the Eshkaloni, the Gitti, the Ekroni; also the Avi’im;

4 From the south, all the Eretz HaKena’ani, and from Arah that belongs to the Tzidonim unto Aphek, to the region of HaEmori;

5 And the area of the Byblos, and all the Levanon, toward the rising of the shemesh, from Baal-Gad under Mt Chermon unto Levo Chamat.

6 All the inhabitants of the har from the Levanon unto Misrephot Mayim, and all the Tzidonim, them will I drive out from before the Bnei Yisroel; only divide thou it by lot unto Yisroel for a nachalah, as I have commanded thee.

7 Now therefore divide HaAretz Hazot for a nachalah unto the nine Shevatim, and the half tribe of Menasheh,

8 With whom the Reuveni and the Gadi have received their nachalah, which Moshe gave them, beyond Yarden eastward, even as Moshe Eved Hashem gave them;

9 From Aroer, that is upon the rim of the Arnon Valley, and the town that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeva unto Divon;

10 And all the towns of Sichon Melech HaEmori, which reigned in Cheshbon, unto the border of the Bnei Ammon;

11 And Gil‘ad, and the territory of the Geshuri and Maachati, and all Mt Chermon, and all Bashan as far as Salkhah;

12 All the Mamlechut Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtarot and in Edre’i, who remained of the remnant of Repha’im; for these did Moshe conquer, and dispossessed them.

13 Nevertheless the Bnei Yisroel dispossessed not the Geshuri, nor the Maachati; but the Geshuri and the Maachati dwell among Yisroel until this day.

14 Only unto the shevet HaLevi he gave no nachalah; the sacrifices made by eish of Hashem Elohei Yisroel are their nachalah, as He said unto them.

15 And Moshe gave unto the tribe of the Bnei Reuven according to their mishpekhot;

16 Territory to them from Aroer, that is on the rim of the Arnon Valley, and the town that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain past Medevah;

17 Cheshbon, and all its towns that are in the plain; Divon, and Bamot-Baal, and Beit-Baal Me’on,

18 And Yahatz, and Kedemot, and Mephaat,

19 And Kiryatayim, and Sivmah, and Tzeret-HaShachar on the har in the valley,

20 And Beit-Peor, and slopes of Pisgah, and Beit HaYeshimot,

21 And all the towns of the plain, and kol mamlechot Shichon Melech HaEmori, who reigned in Cheshbon, whom Moshe conquered with the nasiim of Midyan, Evi, and Rekem, and Tzur, and Chur, and Reva, which were vassal princes under Sichon, dwelling in HaAretz.

22 Also Balaam ben Beor, the kosem (soothsayer, practicer of divination), did the Bnei Yisroel put to death with the cherev among them that were slain by them.

23 And the boundary of the Bnei Reuven was the Yarden, and the bank thereof. This was the nachalat Bnei Reuven after their mishpekhot, the towns and villages thereof.

24 And Moshe gave unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the Bnei Gad according to their mishpekhot;

25 Territory to them, Yazer, and all the towns of Gil‘ad, and half the Eretz Bnei Ammon, as far as Aroer that is near Rabbah;

26 And from Cheshbon unto Ramat HaMitzpeh, and Betonim; and from Machanayim unto the territory of Devir;

27 And in the valley, Beit-Haram, and Beit-Nimrah, and Sukkot, and Tzaphon, the rest of the Mamlechot Sichon Melech Cheshbon, the Yarden and its territory, even unto the end of the Yam Kinneret on the other side of the Yarden eastward.

28 This is the nachalah of the Bnei Gad after their mishpekhot, the towns, and their villages.

29 And Moshe gave unto the half tribe of Menasheh; and this was the possession of the half tribe of the Bnei Menasheh by their mishpekhot.

30 Their territory was from Machanayim, all Bashan, kol Mamlechot Og Melech HaBashan, and all the towns of Ya’ir, which are in Bashan, shishim ir;

31 And half Gil‘ad, and Ashtarot, and Edre’i, towns of the Mamlechot Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the Bnei Machir ben Menasheh, even to the one half of the Bnei Machir by their mishpekhot.

32 These which Moshe did distribute for nachalah in the plains of Moav, on the other side of the Yarden, by Yericho, eastward.

33 But unto the Shevet HaLevi Moshe gave not any nachalah; Hashem Elohei Yisroel was their nachalah, as He said unto them.

Yehoshua 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.