Joshua 13NLT
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Joshua13

New Living Translation

1When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.

2This is the territory that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites,

3and the larger territory of the Canaanites, extending from the stream of Shihor on the border of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron. It includes the territory of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The land of the Avvites

4in the south also remains to be conquered. In the north, the following area has not yet been conquered: all the land of the Canaanites, including Mearah (which belongs to the Sidonians), stretching northward to Aphek on the border of the Amorites;

5the land of the Gebalites and all of the Lebanon mountain area to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath;

6and all the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, including all the land of the Sidonians. “I myself will drive these people out of the land ahead of the Israelites. So be sure to give this land to Israel as a special possession, just as I have commanded you.

7Include all this territory as Israel’s possession when you divide this land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”

8Half the tribe of Manasseh and the tribes of Reuben and Gad had already received their grants of land on the east side of the Jordan, for Moses, the servant of the Lord, had previously assigned this land to them.

9Their territory extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Gorge (including the town in the middle of the gorge) to the plain beyond Medeba, as far as Dibon.

10It also included all the towns of King Sihon of the Amorites, who had reigned in Heshbon, and extended as far as the borders of Ammon.

11It included Gilead, the territory of the kingdoms of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon, all of Bashan as far as Salecah,

12and all the territory of King Og of Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. King Og was the last of the Rephaites, for Moses had attacked them and driven them out.

13But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

14Moses did not assign any allotment of land to the tribe of Levi. Instead, as the Lord had promised them, their allotment came from the offerings burned on the altar to the Lord, the God of Israel.

15Moses had assigned the following area to the clans of the tribe of Reuben.

16Their territory extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Gorge (including the town in the middle of the gorge) to the plain beyond Medeba.

17It included Heshbon and the other towns on the plain—Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,

18Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,

19Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill above the valley,

20Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth.

21The land of Reuben also included all the towns of the plain and the entire kingdom of Sihon. Sihon was the Amorite king who had reigned in Heshbon and was killed by Moses along with the leaders of Midian—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—princes living in the region who were allied with Sihon.

22The Israelites had also killed Balaam son of Beor, who used magic to tell the future.

23The Jordan River marked the western boundary for the tribe of Reuben. The towns and their surrounding villages in this area were given as a homeland to the clans of the tribe of Reuben.

24Moses had assigned the following area to the clans of the tribe of Gad.

25Their territory included Jazer, all the towns of Gilead, and half of the land of Ammon, as far as the town of Aroer just west of Rabbah.

26It extended from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Lo-debar.

27In the valley were Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, Zaphon, and the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon. The western boundary ran along the Jordan River, extended as far north as the tip of the Sea of Galilee, and then turned eastward.

28The towns and their surrounding villages in this area were given as a homeland to the clans of the tribe of Gad.

29Moses had assigned the following area to the clans of the half-tribe of Manasseh.

30Their territory extended from Mahanaim, including all of Bashan, all the former kingdom of King Og, and the sixty towns of Jair in Bashan.

31It also included half of Gilead and King Og’s royal cities of Ashtaroth and Edrei. All this was given to the clans of the descendants of Makir, who was Manasseh’s son.

32These are the allotments Moses had made while he was on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River, east of Jericho.

33But Moses gave no allotment of land to the tribe of Levi, for the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised that he himself would be their allotment.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 13.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Bounds of the land not yet conquered. (1–6). Inheritance of Reuben. (7–33).

vv1-6

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, Ec 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.

vv7-33

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 Nu 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.

Cross References

Joshua 13
v14Numbers 18:20-24thematic

Establishes God's ordinance that the Levites receive no territorial inheritance but live by the altar sacrifices.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v7Numbers 33:54thematic

The Mosaic mandate to divide the land by lot among the remaining nine and a half tribes.

Supported by JFB

The original grant of the Transjordanian territories to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh by Moses.

Supported by JFB

v22Numbers 31:8fulfillment

Records the actual slaying of Balaam the soothsayer by the sword during the war with Midian.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Explains the history of the Avites and Caphtorim (Philistines) in the southern coastal region.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v51 Kings 5:18thematic

Identifies the Giblites (Gebalites) as skilled stone-squarers, demonstrating their northern Phoenician location.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Deuteronomy 3:11thematic

Details Og of Bashan, the last of the remnant of the giants (Rephaim).

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Deuteronomy 3:14thematic

Mentions Jair taking the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Reiterates that the Lord God of Israel is the inheritance of the tribe of Levi.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21 Samuel 27:8thematic

Shows the Geshurites and Gezrites still remaining as unconquered entities in David's day.

Supported by JFB

v3Jeremiah 2:18thematic

Identifies Sihor as a water source associated with the eastern border of Egypt.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Joshua 11:8thematic

Geographical parallel locating Misrephoth-maim as a boundary marker in northern campaigns.

Supported by JFB

v10Numbers 21:24thematic

Israel's defeat of Sihon king of the Amorites and seizure of his land.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v31Numbers 32:39-41thematic

The distribution of Gilead and Bashan to the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh.

Supported by JFB

v1Joshua 23:1thematic

Parallel description of Joshua being old and stricken in years late in his life.

Supported by Matthew Henry