Joshua13

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.

The Command to Divide Remaining Land

1
Now Y'hoshua was old; the years had taken their toll. ADONAI said to him, "You are old, and the years have taken their toll; but there is yet a great deal of land to be possessed. ​
2
"This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the P'lishtim and all the G'shuri, ​
3
from the Shichor which fronts Egypt, to the border of 'Ekron (northward from there the land is considered as belonging to the Kena'ani)-that is, the territory of the rulers of the P'lishtim in 'Azah, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gat and 'Ekron; also the 'Avim ​
4
to the south; all the land of the Kena'ani; Me'arah, which belongs to the Tzidonim, as far as Afek and on to the border with the Emori;
5
the land of the Givli; all the L'vanon eastward, from Ba'al-Gad at the foot of Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamat.
6
"As for the inhabitants of the hills between the L'vanon and Misrefot-Mayim, that is, all the Tzidonim, I myself will expel them ahead of the people of Isra'el; all you have to do is assign it to Isra'el as an inheritance, as I have ordered you. ​
7
So now, divide this land as an inheritance for the nine tribes and the half-tribe of M'nasheh." ​

The Inheritance East of the Jordan

8
With the half-tribe of M'nasheh, the Re'uveni and the Gadi received their inheritance, which Moshe had given them, beyond the Yarden eastward, just as Moshe the servant of ADONAI had given them - ​
9
from 'Aro'er on the edge of the Arnon Valley, the city in the middle of the valley, all the plateau between Meidva and Divon,
10
and all the cities of Sichon king of the Emori who ruled in Heshbon to the border with the people of 'Amon;
11
and Gil'ad, the territory of the G'shuri and Ma'akhati, all Mount Hermon, all Bashan as far as Salkhah -
12
that is, all the kingdom of 'Og in Bashan, who ruled in 'Ashtarot and Edre'i. 'Og was one of those remaining from the Refa'im, whom Moshe defeated and expelled.
13
However, the people of Isra'el expelled neither the G'shuri nor the Ma'akhati, with the consequence that G'shur and Ma'akhat have lived among Isra'el to this day. ​
14
Only to the tribe of Levi did Moshe give no inheritance; because the offerings made by fire for ADONAI the God of Isra'el are its inheritance; as [ADONAI] had said to Moshe. ​

The Territory of Reuben

15
Moshe gave land to the tribe of the descendants of Re'uven by clans.
16
Their territory included 'Aro'er on the edge of the Arnon Valley, the city in the middle of the valley, all the plateau near Meidva,
17
Heshbon and its villages on the plateau, Divon, Bamot-Ba'al, Beit-Ba'al-M'on,
18
Yahatz, K'demot, Mefa'at,
19
Kiryatayim, Sivmah, Tzeret-Shachar at the top of the valley,
20
Beit-P'or, the slopes of Pisgah, Beit-Yeshimot,
21
all the cities of the plateau - all the kingdom of Sichon king of the Emori, who ruled in Heshbon. Moshe defeated him with the chiefs of Midyan, along with Evi, Rekem, Tzur, Hur and Reva the princes of Sichon who lived in the land.
22
Along with the others the people of Isra'el killed with the sword, they also struck down Bil'am the son of B'or, who practiced divination. ​
23
The Yarden formed the border for the descendants of Re'uven. This was the inheritance of the descendants of Re'uven by clans, with its cities and villages.

The Territory of Gad

24
Moshe gave land to the tribe of the Gad, to the descendants of Gad by clans.
25
Their territory included Ya'zer; all the cities of Gil'ad; half the land of the people of 'Amon, as far as 'Aro'er fronting Rabbah -
26
that is, from Heshbon to Ramot-Mitzpeh and B'tonim; and from Machanayim to the border of Lidvir;
27
while in the valley it included Beit-Haram, Beit-Nimrah, Sukkot and Tzafon - in other words, the rest of the kingdom of Sichon king of Heshbon; with the Yarden to the far end of Lake Kinneret as its border, their territory extended eastward.
28
This is the inheritance of the descendants of Gad by clans, with its cities and villages.

The Territory of Half-Manasseh

29
Moshe gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of the M'nasheh; it was for the half-tribe of the descendants of M'nasheh by clans.
30
Their territory included Machanayim and all of Bashan - that is, all the kingdom of 'Og king of Bashan; all the villages of Ya'ir in Bashan, sixty cities;
31
half of Gil'ad; and 'Ashtarot and Edre'i, the cities of the kingdom of 'Og in Bashan. All this was for the descendants of Makhir the son of M'nasheh, or, rather, for half of the descendants of Makhir, by clans.

Summary of Transjordan Inheritance

32
These are the inheritances which Moshe distributed in the plains of Mo'av, beyond the Yarden and Yericho, eastward. ​
33
But to the tribe of Levi Moshe gave no inheritance; ADONAI the God of Isra'el is their inheritance - as he told them. ​

Study Notes for Joshua 13

Verse 1

This verse marks a critical transition in the book of Joshua, moving from collective military conquest to individual tribal settlement. Though Joshua is old, the task of settling the land, based on God’s promise, must proceed.

Verse 2

The land remaining unconquered included the strategic coastal plain, heavily defended by the Philistines, and territories far north into Phoenicia. These areas would remain trouble spots for Israel throughout the monarchy.

Verse 3

The 'five lords of the Philistines' refers to the powerful, independent city-states (the Pentapolis) of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. This region was counted as 'Canaanite' territory, though the inhabitants were distinct, possibly Aegean migrants (Sea Peoples).

Verse 6

God promises future divine action ('them will I drive out') even though the land is being divided now. This requires the Israelites to act in faith, claiming their inheritance before the military occupation is fully complete.

Verse 7

The 'nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh' are those who will receive their inheritance west of the Jordan River, contrasted with the two and a half tribes already settled in the east.

Verse 8

Verses 8-32 serve as a detailed recapitulation of the territories allotted by Moses, confirming the legal and historical basis for the Transjordan tribes' claim before the division west of the Jordan begins.

Verse 13

This parenthetical note indicates a significant failure of obedience. The continued presence of the Geshurites and Maachathites, unlike the total destruction of Og and Sihon, foreshadows the incomplete conquest described later in the book of Judges.

Verse 14

The Levites received no territorial inheritance because their function was priestly service for all Israel. Their sustenance came from the offerings and tithes (the sacrifices made by fire), making God himself their portion.

Verse 22

The inclusion of Balaam's death confirms that the judgment on the Midianites and their associated kings (Numbers 31) had been executed. Balaam, though a prophet, was slain because he had counseled Balak to corrupt Israel through immorality.

Verse 32

This verse concludes the detailed listing of the land distributed by Moses, emphasizing that the eastern division was complete and established before the western tribes received their allotments.

Verse 33

This final repetition reinforces the theological principle underlying the Levites' status. Their inheritance was spiritual and functional, ensuring they remained dependent on God and available to minister throughout the land.

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