Joshua 13
13
The Lord Speaks to Joshua
1 When Joshua was very old,#tn Heb “was old, coming into the days.” This expression, referring to advancing in years, also occurs in the following clause. the Lord told him, “You are very old, and a great deal of land remains to be conquered. 2 This is the land that remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all the Geshurites, 3 from the Shihor River#tn Heb “the Shihor”; the word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning. east of#tn Heb “in front of.” Egypt northward to the territory of Ekron (it is regarded as Canaanite territory),#tn Heb “it is reckoned to the Canaanites.” including the area belonging to the five Philistine lords who ruled in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as Avvite land#tn Heb “the five lords of the Philistines, the Gazaite, the Ashdodite, the Ashkelonite, the Gathite, and the Ekronite, and the Avvites.” 4 to the south;#tn Or “from Teman.” The phrase is especially problematic if taken with what follows, as the traditional verse division suggests. For further discussion see T. C. Butler, Joshua (WBC), 146. all the Canaanite territory,#tn Heb “all the land of the Canaanites.” from Arah#tc The reading “Arah” assumes a slight emendation of the Hebrew vowel pointing. The MT reads, “and a cave,” or “and Mearah” (if one understands the word as a proper noun). in the region of Sidon#tn Heb “which belongs to the Sidonians.”map For location see Map1-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3. to Aphek, as far as Amorite territory; 5 the territory of Byblos#tn Heb “and the land of the Gebalites.” and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.#tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.” Most modern translations take the phrase “Lebo Hamath” to be a proper name, but often provide a note with the alternative, where “Hamath” is the proper name and לְבוֹא (lÿvo’) is taken to mean “entrance to.” 6 I will drive out before the Israelites all who live in the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim,#tn The meaning of the Hebrew name “Misrephoth Maim” is perhaps “lime-kilns by the water” (see HALOT 2:641). all the Sidonians; you be sure to parcel it out to Israel as I instructed you.”#tn Heb “only you, assign it by lots to Israel as an inheritance as I commanded you.” 7 Now, divide up this land#tn Heb “now apportion this land as an inheritance.” among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
Tribal Lands East of the Jordan
8 The other half of Manasseh,#tn The MT reads “with him,” which is problematic, since the reference would be to the other half of the tribe of Manasseh (not the half mentioned in v. 7). Reuben, and Gad received their allotted tribal lands beyond the Jordan,#tn Heb “received their inheritance, which Moses had assigned to them beyond the Jordan.” just as Moses, the Lord’s servant, had assigned them. 9 Their territory started#tn The words “their territory started” are supplied in the translation for clarification. from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley), included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, 10 and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, and ended at the Ammonite border. 11 Their territory also included#tn The words “their territory also included” are supplied in the translation for clarification. Gilead, Geshurite and Maacathite territory, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah – 12 the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was one of the few remaining Rephaites.)#tn Heb “from the remnant of the Rephaites.”sn The Rephaites were apparently an extremely tall ethnic group. See Deut 2:10-11, 20; 3:11. Moses defeated them and took their lands.#tn Or “dispossessed them.” 13 But the Israelites did not conquer#tn Or “dispossess.” the Geshurites and Maacathites; Geshur and Maacah live among Israel to this very day. 14 However, Moses#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Moses) has been specified in the translation for clarity. did not assign land as an inheritance#tn Heb “did not assign an inheritance.” to the Levites; their inheritance#tn That is, “their source of food and life.” is the sacrificial offerings#tn Or “offerings made by fire.” made to the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed#tn Or “promised” (Heb “spoke”).sn For the background of this observation, see Deut 18:1-2. them.
15 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Reuben#tn Heb “assigned to the sons of Reuben.” by its clans. 16 Their territory started at Aroer#tn Heb “their territory was from.” (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba, 17 Heshbon and all its surrounding cities on the plain, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth. 21 It encompassed#tn The words “it encompassed” are supplied in the translation for clarification. all the cities of the plain and the whole realm of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and the Midianite leaders Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (they were subjects of Sihon and lived in his territory).#tn Heb “princes of Sihon, inhabitants of the land.” 22 The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen reader,#tn Or “diviner.” along with the others.#tn Heb “Balaam son of Beor, the omen-reader, the Israelites killed with the sword, along with their slain ones.” 23 The border of the tribe of Reuben was the Jordan. The land allotted to the tribe of Reuben by its clans included these cities and their towns.#tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Reuben by their clans, the cities and their towns.”
24 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Gad#tn Heb “assigned to the tribe of Gad, to the sons of Gad.” by its clans. 25 Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half of Ammonite territory#tn Heb “and half of the land of the sons of Ammon.” as far as Aroer near#tn Heb “in front of.” Rabbah. 26 Their territory ran#tn The words “Their territory ran” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied for clarification. from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir. 27 It included the valley of Beth Haram,#tn Or “it included in the valley, Beth Haram.” Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, and the rest of the realm of King Sihon of Heshbon, the area east of the Jordan to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth.#sn The Sea of Kinnereth is another name for the Sea of Galilee. See the note on the word “Kinnereth” in 11:2. 28 The land allotted to the tribe of Gad by its clans included these cities and their towns.#tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Gad by their clans, the cities and their towns.”
29 Moses assigned land to the half-tribe of Manasseh#tn Heb “assigned to the half-tribe of Manasseh, and it belonged to the half-tribe of Manasseh.” by its clans. 30 Their territory started at#tn The words “their territory started at” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied for clarification. Mahanaim and encompassed all Bashan, the whole realm of King Og of Bashan, including all sixty cities in Havvoth Jair#sn The Hebrew name Havvoth Jair means “the tent villages of Jair.” in Bashan. 31 Half of Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities in the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were assigned to the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh, to half the descendants of Makir by their clans.
32 These are the land assignments made by Moses#tn Heb “These are [the lands] which Moses gave as an inheritance.” on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho.#tn Heb “beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho.” The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.map For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1. 33 However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance#tn Heb “Moses did not assign an inheritance.” The word “land” has been supplied in the translation to clarify what the inheritance consisted of. to the Levites; their inheritance#tn That is, “their source of food and life.” is the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed#tn Or “as he promised”; Heb “as he spoke to.”sn For the background of this observation, see Deut 18:1-2. them.
Currently Selected:
Joshua 13: NET
Highlight
Share
Compare
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
Joshua 13
13
Division of the Land
1Now 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 Baal-gad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. 6All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, 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. 7Now 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.
In the East
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 Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon, 18and Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, 19and Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley, 20and Beth-peor, and Ashdoth-pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth, 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 Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir; 27and in the valley, Beth-aram, and Beth-nimrah, 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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Compare
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Rights in the Authorized (King James) Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Published by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Learn More About King James Version