Joshua 13:15-23

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.

Joshua 13:15-23 Meaning and Commentary

\\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.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Or "sons"
  • [b]. A valley that is dry most of the year, but contains a stream during the rainy season
  • [c]. Hebrew "Amorite"
  • [d]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [e]. Or "sons"
  • [f]. Hebrew "bank"
  • [g]. Or "sons"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.