Joshua 13

King James Version

Full text for Joshua Chapter 13

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.

2This [is] the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,

3From 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:

4From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that [is] beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:

5And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

6All 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,

8With 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;

9From 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;

10And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;

11And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;

12All 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.

13Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

14Only 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.

15And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben [inheritance] according to their families.

16And 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;

17Heshbon, and all her cities that [are] in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,

18And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,

19And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,

20And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,

21And 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.

22Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

23And 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.

24And Moses gave [inheritance] unto the tribe of Gad, [even] unto the children of Gad according to their families.

25And 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;

26And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;

27And 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.

28This [is] the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.

29And 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.

30And 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:

31And 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.

32These [are the countries] which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.

33But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not [any] inheritance: the LORD God of Israel [was] their inheritance, as he said unto them.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Joshua, now old and advanced in years, is commanded by the LORD to divide the remaining unconquered land among the nine and a half tribes of Israel. The chapter then details the specific inheritances already allotted by Moses to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan River. It also reiterates that the Levites received no territorial inheritance, but rather the sacrifices of the LORD.

Medium Summary

Joshua 13 opens with the LORD addressing an aged Joshua, reminding him that a significant portion of the promised land remains to be possessed. The LORD instructs Joshua to proceed with dividing the land by lot among the nine and a half tribes, promising to drive out the remaining inhabitants such as the Philistines and Sidonians. The chapter then transitions to detailing the territories already assigned by Moses to the two and a half tribes east of the Jordan. It meticulously outlines the boundaries and cities granted to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Notably, it mentions that Israel did not fully expel the Geshurites and Maachathites from their lands. A key theological point emphasized is that the tribe of Levi received no land inheritance, but rather the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel. The chapter concludes by summarizing Moses' distribution of these eastern lands.

Long Summary

Joshua 13 begins with the LORD speaking to Joshua, who is now advanced in age, declaring that much land still needs to be possessed by Israel. The LORD then specifies the unconquered territories, including the entire Philistine coast with its five lordships, all Geshuri, the land of the Canaanites, and the region of Lebanon up to the entering into Hamath. Despite these remaining challenges, the LORD commands Joshua to divide the land by lot among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh, assuring him that He will drive out the inhabitants. The narrative then shifts to recount the inheritances already received by the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the other half-tribe of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan River, which Moses had distributed. These lands included the kingdoms of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, whom Moses had previously smitten. A significant detail is the note that the children of Israel did not expel the Geshurites and Maachathites, who continued to dwell among them. The chapter consistently highlights that the tribe of Levi was unique, receiving no territorial inheritance; instead, their portion was the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel, as He had promised. The text then provides a detailed geographical description of Reuben's inheritance, specifying its boundaries from Aroer to the plain of Medeba, including cities like Heshbon and Dibon, and mentioning the slaying of Balaam. Subsequently, the inheritance of the tribe of Gad is meticulously outlined, encompassing Jazer, cities of Gilead, and half the land of Ammon, extending to the Jordan and the Sea of Chinnereth. Finally, the portion for the half-tribe of Manasseh is described, including all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, and the towns of Jair. The chapter concludes by reaffirming that these were the lands Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan, before his death.

Core Concepts

  • Unconquered TerritoryThe LORD informs an aged Joshua that a significant portion of the promised land, including Philistine regions and parts of Lebanon, still remains to be possessed by Israel. This highlights the ongoing task of conquest and settlement.
  • Divine Command for DivisionDespite the remaining unconquered land, the LORD explicitly commands Joshua to proceed with dividing the land by lot among the nine and a half tribes. This emphasizes God's sovereign plan for the distribution of the inheritance.
  • Transjordanian InheritanceThe chapter meticulously details the lands already allotted by Moses to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan River. These territories included the former kingdoms of Sihon and Og.
  • Levitical InheritanceIt is explicitly stated that the tribe of Levi received no territorial inheritance among the other tribes. Their portion was designated as the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel, signifying their unique priestly role and dependence on God's provision.
  • Incomplete ExpulsionThe text notes that the children of Israel did not fully expel the Geshurites and Maachathites from their lands. This detail indicates a partial fulfillment of the command to drive out the inhabitants.
  • Moses' DistributionThe chapter serves as a detailed record of the specific boundaries and cities that Moses had already distributed to the two and a half tribes east of the Jordan. This provides a historical and geographical foundation for the subsequent land divisions.