Joshua 13 KJV: Assigning Inheritance in the Face of Remaining Challenges
Joshua 13 documents God’s instruction to an aging Joshua to begin dividing the land even though significant portions remained unconquered. It details the boundaries for Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the East Bank, while reiterating that the tribe of Levi receives no land because the Lord is their inheritance.
v1-7: The Description of the Land Yet Unpossessed
v8-14: The General Boundary of the Transjordan Tribes
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.
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:
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.
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;
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.
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.
Only unto the tribes 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
Learn why God commands the division of the land even before every enemy is removed, making faith the basis of their ownership. Begin your study with joshua 13 summary.
The mention of Balaam’s execution here serves as a reminder that spiritual deception is as dangerous to the land as military opposition. The Word Secret is Yerushah (Inheritance), a term implying a permanent possession that is passed down, distinct from a temporary gift. Discover the riches with joshua 13 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Unlock the hidden joshua 13 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.
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