Joshua 13

Land Still Remains to be Conquered

1 Now Joshua was old [and] {advanced in years}, and Yahweh said to him, "You are old [and] {advanced in years}, and very much of the land remains to be possessed.
2 This [is] the remaining land: all the regions of the Philistines, and all [of] the Geshurites,
3 from the Shihor, which [is] {east of Egypt}, up to the border of Ekron to [the] north, which is reckoned as Canaanite; [there are] five Philistine rulers: the Gazites, Ashdodites, Ashkelonites, Gittites, Ekronites, and the Avvim.
4 In [the] south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah, which [belongs] to the Sidonians up to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites,
5 and the land of the Gebalites, and all the Lebanon, {toward the east}, from Baal Gad {at the foot of} Mount Hermon up to Lebo-Hamath;
6 all the inhabitants of the hill country, from the Lebanon up to Misrephoth Maim, and all [the] Sidonians. I will drive them out from before the {Israelites}; only allocate it to Israel as an inheritance just as I have commanded you.
7 Therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh."
8 With it the Reubenites, and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses Yahweh's servant gave to them:
9 from Aroer, which [is] on the edge of the wadi of Arnon, and the city which [is] in the middle of the wadi, and all the plateau [from] Medeba up to Dibon;
10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon up to the border of the {Ammonites};
11 and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurite and the Maacathites, all of {Mount Hermon}, and Bashan up to Salecah;
12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei--he was left over from the survivors of the Rephaim; these Moses had defeated and driven out.
13 But the {Israelites} did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites; Geshur and Maacah live among Israel to this day.
14 Only the tribe of Levites Moses did not give an inheritance; the offerings made by fire to Yahweh the God of Israel [are] their inheritance, just as he promised to them.

Reuben’s Inheritance

15 Moses gave [an inheritance] to the tribe of the descendants of Reuben according to their families.
16 Their territory was from Aroer, which [was] on the edge of the wadi of Arnon, and the city that [is] in the middle of the valley, and all the plateau by Medeba;
17 Heshbon and its cities that [are] on the plateau; Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,
18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, and Zereth Shahar on the hill of the valley;
20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth;
21 all of the cities of the plateau, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon and whom Moses defeated with the leaders of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon who dwelled in the land.
22 [In addition] to their slain, the {Israelites} killed with the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination.
23 And the border of the descendants of Reuben [was] the Jordan and [its] banks. This [was] the inheritance of the descendants of Reuben according to their families, the cities, and their villages.

Gad’s Inheritance

24 Moses gave [an inheritance] to the tribe of Gad, to the descendants of Gad, according to their families.
25 Their territory was Jazer and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the {Ammonites} up to Aroer, {which is east of Rabbah};
26 and from Heshbon up to Ramah-Mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim up to the territory to Debir;
27 in the valley of Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, Zaphon, and the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan and [its] banks, up to the [lower] end of the Kinnereth Sea beyond the Jordan to the east.
28 This [is] the inheritance of the {Gadites} according to their families, the cities, and their villages.

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh’s Inheritance

29 Moses gave [an inheritance] to the half-tribe of Manasseh; it was for the half-tribe of the descendants of Manasseh according to their families.
30 Their territory was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the settlements of Jair, which [are] in Bashan, sixty cities,
31 and half of Gilead, with Ashtaroth, Edrei, and the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan; [these were allotted] to the children of Makir son of Manasseh, for half of the children of Makir according to their families.
32 These [are the territories] that Moses gave as an inheritance on the desert-plateau of Moab, beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho.
33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses did not give an inheritance; Yahweh the God of Israel, he [is] their inheritance, just as {he promised 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.

Footnotes 48

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.

Joshua 13 Commentaries

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.