Joshua Chapter 13

At a Glance

  • Joshua 13 returns to the broader map of unclaimed land and the political-religious boundaries surrounding Israel’s inheritance.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Joshua 13 sits at the transition point in the book, moving from decisive battles to land distribution and the ongoing process of securing the inheritance.
  • - The ongoing nature of possession: the land remains to be conquered, calling for perseverance.
  • - Divine command and human administration: God’s instruction to distribute territory and govern wisely.

JOSHUA CHAPTER 13

Chapter Overview

Joshua 13 returns to the broader map of unclaimed land and the political-religious boundaries surrounding Israel’s inheritance. The chapter begins with a sobering note: Joshua is old, and there remains much land to possess. The text delineates the territories still in Canaanite hands and the peoples who occupy them, spanning from the Philistine coast to the highlands of Lebanon. God directs Joshua to allocate portions for the nine and a half tribes east of the Jordan and to continue dispossession of remaining nations. Yet the chapter also reveals an important nuanced moment: though most of the land is yet to be conquered, divine sovereignty and human agency work in tandem to finalize the distribution of the Promised Land. The chapter details the strategic demarcation of borders and the ongoing project of settlement, emphasizing that God’s people must continue to appropriate the land through faithfulness and obedience.

Historical & Literary Context

Joshua 13 sits at the transition point in the book, moving from decisive battles to land distribution and the ongoing process of securing the inheritance. The content reflects Deuteronomistic concerns with tribal allotments and the political shaping of the community’s life in the land. The chapter’s emphasis on the remnants of the nations and the need to complete possession reveals the book’s dual focus on conquest and settlement, a pattern that recurs throughout the later chapters as the people integrate into the land.

Key Themes

- The ongoing nature of possession: the land remains to be conquered, calling for perseverance.

- Divine command and human administration: God’s instruction to distribute territory and govern wisely.

- The interplay of promise and obligation: inheritance is a gift tied to covenant living.

Modern Application

- Perseverance in mission: faithful communities continue to strive toward God’s promises even when the job remains unfinished.

- Responsible stewardship: governance and land use reflect faithfulness to God’s purposes.

- Honesty about unfinished tasks: acknowledging the work ahead invites communal accountability and prayer.

- Deuteronomy 3-4 (land boundaries and inheritance)

- Joshua 14-19 (tribal allotments)

Recommended Personas

- Moses (laws, covenant standards, land allotment framework)

- Nehemiah (organizational leadership in rebuilding and completing tasks)

- Jesus (kingdom inheritance and faithful stewardship)

Chapter Text

1

Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

2

This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,

3

From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

4

From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:

5

And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

6

All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.

7

Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

8

With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;

9

From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;

10

And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;

11

And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;

12

All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.

13

Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

14

Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.

15

And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.

16

And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;

17

Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,

18

And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,

19

And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,

20

And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,

21

And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

22

Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

23

And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.

24

And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.

25

And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;

26

And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;

27

And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.

28

This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.

29

And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.

30

And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:

31

And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.

32

These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.

33

But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

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