Joshua 13

CHAPTER 13

Land Still to Be Taken (13:1–7)

1–7 This chapter introduces the next major subject in the book of Joshua: the division of the land among Israel’s tribes (Chapters 13–21). This chapter starts with a description of the land still to be conquered; this consisted mainly of the coastal regions of Canaan along the Mediterranean Sea and also the northern areas including much of present-day Lebanon. Note the mention of the Philistines and their five cities: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron (verses 2–3); the Philistines would soon become one of Israel’s most troublesome enemies.

Even though the land mentioned in these verses was not yet conquered, Joshua was still told to allocate⁵³ it to the tribes (verse 6). From then on, it would be the responsibility of each tribe to destroy any Canaanites remaining in their respective areas. Most of the tribes did not fully carry this out, and Canaanites remained in many parts of the land—with dire consequences, as we shall see in later books.

In one sense, God—through Joshua—fulfilled His promise to give Canaan to Israel. But in another sense, the fulfillment was as yet incomplete. It would become almost complete during the reigns of David and Solomon, but soon thereafter the Israelites would begin to lose their land through disobedience. And on through subsequent history, the gift of the land has been renewed, then lost, and then renewed again—right up to our present day. But all during the centuries since David and Solomon, the land has been scarred by sin and struggle, disappointment and loss. Clearly God’s promise of the land has not yet been completely fulfilled.

From the perspective of the New Testament, we know that God has promised us a better “land,” of which ancient Canaan was but a foreshadowing. This “land” is the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). But as it was with ancient Israel, so it is with us: the kingdom of God has not yet been fully established, fully realized. Yes, it is already here—ushered in by Jesus Christ—but it has not yet come in its fullness. And when it does, then God’s promise to ancient Israel will finally be fulfilled, and along with believing Jews we Christians will have a part in it (see Ephesians 2:11–22; Hebrews 11:39–40).

We can also apply Israel’s situation to our individual lives as Christians. In Joshua 11:23, the writer says: So Joshua took the entire land. Then here in verse 1, the Lord says: “. . . there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.” Is this a contradiction? No, both are true. In essence, Joshua “had taken” the entire land. The strength of the Canaanites had been broken; all that was left was to complete the job. The Israelites had inherited the land, but they simply needed to finish possessing it.

It is the same in our Christian lives. Through Christ’s death on the cross, Satan’s power has been broken (Colossians 2:15). We have inherited the “entire land”—we have been blessed . . . in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). But yet, because of our lack of faith and our sinful nature, we have not entered into full possession of those blessings—of our inheritance. It is one thing to be given an inheritance; it is another thing to actually possess it. That is why, like the Israelites, we must press on toward the goal to win the prize—our full inheritance—for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12–14).

Division of the Land East of the Jordan (13:8–33)

8–13 These verses outline the overall extent of the former kingdoms of Sihon and Og, located east of the Jordan, which Moses divided between the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:33).

14 See Deuteronomy 18:1–8 and comment.

15–33 These verses describe the individual allotments given to the two and a half tribes east of the Jordan.⁵⁴