Joshua 14:1-5

The Inheritance West of the Jordan

1 These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which ¹Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit.

2 Their inheritance was ²by lot, just as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes.

3 ³For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, ⁴but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.

4 For ⁵the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their substance.

5 The people of Israel did ⁶as the LORD commanded Moses; they allotted the land.

Joshua 14:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 14

This chapter proceeds to give an account of the countries divided to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan, Jos 14:1-5; but previous to that division relates the claim of Caleb to Hebron, through a promise made unto him by Moses forty five years ago, upon his report of the good land, whither he was sent a spy by him, Jos 14:6-12; and the grant which Joshua made of it to him, with his blessing, Jos 14:13-15.

Joshua 14:1-5 In-Context

1 These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit.

2 Their inheritance was by lot, just as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes.

3 For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.

4 For the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their substance.

5 The people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses; they allotted the land.

6 Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me.

7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.

8 But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.'

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 17:4; Joshua 21:1; Numbers 34:17, 18
• 2. Numbers 26:56; Numbers 33:54; Numbers 34:13
• 3. See Joshua 13:8
• 4. See Joshua 13:33
• 5. Genesis 48:5; 1 Chronicles 5:1, 2
• 6. Joshua 21:2; Numbers 35:1, 2