Joshua 13:1

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now Joshua {H3091} was old {H2204} and stricken {H935} in years {H3117}; and the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto him, Thou art old {H2204} and stricken {H935} in years {H3117}, and there remaineth {H7604} yet very {H3966} much {H7235} land {H776} to be possessed {H3423}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and well along in years, but very much of the land remains to be possessed.

American Standard Version

Now Joshua was old and well stricken in years; and Jehovah said unto him, Thou art old and well stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 13:1 marks a profound turning point in the narrative of Israel's possession of the Promised Land, transitioning from the era of major military conquest to the detailed process of land allocation. This verse poignantly highlights Joshua's advanced age and, more significantly, God's divine perspective on the vast scope of the unfinished task of fully possessing the land, underscoring the ongoing responsibility of the Israelite tribes to claim their inheritance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 13:1 serves as a critical hinge between the first major section of the book (chapters 1-12), which chronicles Israel's initial military victories and conquest of key territories in Canaan, and the second major section (chapters 13-21), which details the division of the land among the twelve tribes. Chapters 1-12 showcase God's faithfulness in granting victory and establishing a foothold. However, this verse immediately disabuses any notion that the work is complete, setting the stage for the meticulous geographical and tribal assignments that follow. It emphasizes that while significant battles were won, the full realization of God's promise required further, sustained effort, shifting the focus from unified military campaigns to the individual tribal responsibilities of settling and securing their allotted portions.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At the time of this declaration, Joshua, likely in his later years (he dies at 110, as recorded in [Joshua 24:29](/joshua/24-29 "Joshua 24:29 - Joshua's Death")), had led Israel for decades since the death of Moses. The concept of "possessing the land" (`yarash`) was deeply rooted in the Abrahamic Covenant, where God promised this specific territory as an eternal inheritance to Abraham's descendants (e.g., [Genesis 15:18-21](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18-21 - God's Covenant with Abraham Regarding the Land")). For ancient Near Eastern peoples, land ownership was fundamental to identity, security, and prosperity. The Israelites understood that their right to the land was divine, but its actual occupation often required military action and sustained settlement. The presence of unconquered pockets of Canaanites meant ongoing challenges, highlighting that the "possession" was not merely a legal declaration but a practical, often arduous, process of dispossessing the inhabitants and establishing Israelite control, a task that would extend beyond Joshua's lifetime, as seen in [Judges 1](/judges/1 "Judges 1 - Initial Failures to Dispossess").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces several pivotal themes. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Initiative and Unfinished Work**. God, with His omniscient perspective, reveals that despite human perception of completion, there remains "very much land to be possessed." This underscores that God's plans are often grander and more expansive than human vision, and He actively directs His people to the next phase of their mission. Secondly, it emphasizes **Human Responsibility in God's Covenant**. While the land was divinely promised, its full inheritance required active human obedience, faith, and effort in dispossessing the remaining inhabitants. This tension between divine promise and human action is a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament, exemplified by the repeated commands for Israel to "drive out" the nations (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - Command to Destroy Nations")). Thirdly, the verse signals a **Transition of Leadership and Responsibility**. Joshua's old age naturally points to a shift from his singular, central leadership in conquest to a more decentralized tribal responsibility for securing their inheritances, implicitly preparing for a new era where the entire nation, not just one charismatic leader, must remain committed to God's purposes.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Old (Hebrew, _zaqen'_):** This adjective describes Joshua's advanced age. In biblical culture, being "old" often carried connotations of wisdom, experience, and a life well-lived, but also implied a diminishing capacity for strenuous physical activity like leading military campaigns. The repetition of this word, both in the narrator's observation and God's direct address, underscores its significance as a marker of a transitional period.
* **Stricken in Years (Hebrew, _ba' bayyamim'_):** This idiomatic phrase literally means "entered into days" or "come into days," serving as a common biblical expression for someone who has reached a ripe old age. It reinforces the idea of Joshua having lived a full life, having completed a significant portion of his divinely appointed task, and now nearing the end of his earthly ministry. The phrase emphasizes the passage of time and the natural progression of life stages.
* **Possessed (Hebrew, _yarash'_):** This verb is central to the covenantal theme of the land. It means "to inherit," "to take possession of," "to dispossess," or "to occupy." It implies not merely physical occupation, but the legal and spiritual claiming of something as a rightful inheritance, often by dispossessing previous occupants. In the context of Joshua, it highlights that the land was a divine gift, but its full realization required active, often forceful, appropriation by Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now Joshua was old [and] stricken in years;":** The narrator's opening statement immediately establishes Joshua's physical condition, signaling a shift in the book's focus. His advanced age implies a natural limit to his capacity for continued active military leadership, setting the stage for the subsequent divine instruction.
* **"and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old [and] stricken in years,":** God's direct address confirms and reiterates the narrator's observation. This divine affirmation of Joshua's age is not a rebuke but an acknowledgment of reality, serving as a preamble to the crucial revelation that follows. It underscores that God is fully aware of Joshua's limitations and is preparing him for a new phase of his leadership.
* **"and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.":** This is the core divine message and the pivot of the verse. Despite the significant victories achieved under Joshua's leadership, God reveals that a substantial portion of the Promised Land remains unconquered and unpossessed. This statement shifts the focus from past triumphs to future responsibilities, emphasizing that the initial conquests were a beginning, not the culmination, of Israel's task. It sets the agenda for the remainder of the book, which details the division of this remaining land.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several effective literary devices. **Repetition** is prominent with the phrase "old and stricken in years" appearing twice, once from the narrator and once from God. This repetition serves to emphasize Joshua's advanced age, underscoring the necessity of a transition in leadership and strategy. The direct **Divine Oracle** ("and the LORD said unto him") highlights the divine initiative and authority behind the subsequent command, ensuring that the remaining task is understood as God's will, not merely a human observation. There is also a subtle **Contrast** between Joshua's likely perception of significant accomplishment (having led major conquests) and God's broader, more comprehensive perspective, revealing the vast amount of work still to be done. The "land to be possessed" functions as a **Symbol** for the ongoing, often challenging, spiritual and practical tasks that God's people must undertake to fully realize His promises and inheritances.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 13:1 profoundly illustrates the ongoing dynamic between divine promise and human responsibility within God's covenant. While God faithfully delivers on His promises to give Israel the land, its full possession is contingent upon their continued obedience and effort. This verse reminds us that God's vision often extends far beyond our immediate accomplishments, calling us to persevere in faith even when we feel we have done enough or are past our prime. It emphasizes that the full realization of God's kingdom on earth is a continuous process, requiring successive generations to take up the mantle of responsibility. The "land to be possessed" symbolizes not just physical territory but the full scope of God's purposes for His people, which always involves active engagement and faithful stewardship.

* [Numbers 33:53](/numbers/33-53 "Numbers 33:53 - Command to Possess the Land")
* [Deuteronomy 1:21](/deuteronomy/1-21 "Deuteronomy 1:21 - Take Possession of the Land")
* [Judges 2:23](/judges/2-23 "Judges 2:23 - God Left Nations to Test Israel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 13:1 offers a timeless spiritual mirror for believers today. Just as Joshua was called to acknowledge the "very much land to be possessed," we too are often confronted with the reality that our spiritual journey, our personal growth, and our participation in God's kingdom work are far from complete. This verse challenges us to avoid complacency after initial victories or periods of fruitfulness. It calls us to adopt God's expansive perspective, recognizing that there are always new territories of faith to explore, new areas of sin to conquer, new ministries to embrace, and new people to reach with the Gospel. Our age or perceived limitations are not excuses for inaction, but rather prompts for discerning God's ongoing call, perhaps shifting from one form of service to another, or empowering the next generation. The "land to be possessed" can be a metaphor for the unreached areas of our communities, the unaddressed needs in our churches, or the uncultivated virtues in our own hearts. God's mission for us is always bigger than we imagine, and He calls us to faithful perseverance until His purposes are fully realized.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "land" (areas of spiritual growth, ministry, or personal transformation) do I perceive as "possessed" in my life, but God might see as still needing to be claimed?**
* **How does God's perspective on "unfinished work" challenge my own sense of accomplishment or complacency?**
* **In what ways might my "age" or perceived limitations be influencing my willingness to pursue the "very much land to be possessed" that God has for me?**
* **How can I better align my vision for my life and ministry with God's broader, more expansive plan?**

### FAQ
**Why did God tell Joshua he was old if Joshua already knew it?**

Answer: God's statement, "Thou art old and stricken in years," was not merely an informative observation but a divine affirmation and a strategic preface. Firstly, it validated Joshua's lived experience and acknowledged the significant work he had already accomplished, providing a sense of divine recognition and comfort. Secondly, and more importantly, it served as a clear signal for a transition in leadership and methodology. God was not rebuking Joshua for his age but highlighting that his role was shifting from leading large-scale military campaigns to overseeing the meticulous and complex task of land distribution. This divine pronouncement prepared Joshua, and by extension, the entire nation, for the next phase of their covenantal responsibility, emphasizing that the work would continue, albeit under different leadership and with different strategies, even as Joshua neared the end of his life. It underscored the continuity of God's plan despite human transitions.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 13:1, with its emphasis on "land to be possessed" and a leader nearing the end of his active mission, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. While Joshua led Israel to possess a physical land, Jesus, the greater Joshua, leads His people into a spiritual inheritance that transcends geographical boundaries. The "very much land to be possessed" under the Old Covenant points forward to the vast spiritual dominion and eternal inheritance secured by Christ. Through His atoning work on the cross, Jesus disarmed the powers of darkness (cf. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")) and conquered sin and death, thereby possessing the ultimate spiritual territory for His followers. Our "inheritance" in Christ is not a piece of land but "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (cf. [Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). Furthermore, the ongoing task of possessing the land for Israel foreshadows the Great Commission given by Jesus, where His disciples are commanded to "go and make disciples of all nations" (cf. [Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")), extending the spiritual kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. Just as Joshua's mission had unfinished parts, the church's mission continues until Christ's return, when the full spiritual "land" of God's redeemed people will be gathered. The rest that remained for Israel to fully enter into the land (cf. [Hebrews 4:1-11](/hebrews/4-1 "Hebrews 4:1-11 - The Promise of Rest")) is ultimately found in Christ, who is our true Sabbath rest and the one who fully possesses and shares His inheritance with all who believe.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 14:10

And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while [the children of] Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I [am] this day fourscore and five years old.

Deuteronomy 31:3

The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, [and] he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: [and] Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.

Joshua 24:29

¶ And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, [being] an hundred and ten years old.

Joshua 23:1

¶ And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old [and] stricken in age.

Joshua 23:2

And Joshua called for all Israel, [and] for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old [and] stricken in age:

Genesis 18:11

Now Abraham and Sarah [were] old [and] well stricken in age; [and] it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

Luke 1:7

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.