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Joshua 13:2

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

This is the land {H776} that yet remaineth {H7604}: all the borders {H1552} of the Philistines {H6430}, and all Geshuri {H1651},

"This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the P'lishtim and all the G'shuri,

This is the land that remains:

This is the land that yet remaineth: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;

Commentary

Context

Joshua 13:2 introduces a crucial phase in the history of Israel's conquest of Canaan. Following the major military campaigns under Joshua, the Lord speaks to an aging Joshua, as noted in Joshua 13:1, reminding him that despite significant victories, there was still "land that yet remaineth" to be possessed by the Israelite tribes. This verse highlights specific territories that were still outside Israel's control, serving as a preamble to the detailed instructions for land distribution that follow in the chapter. It underscores God's faithfulness in providing the land while also pointing to Israel's ongoing responsibility to occupy and inherit it.

Key Themes

  • Unfinished Business: The primary theme is that of an incomplete task. While God had given the land to Israel, not all of it had been fully subdued. This emphasizes that divine promises often require human effort and perseverance to be fully realized.
  • Divine Commission Continues: Despite Joshua's advanced age, God's commission to him remains active. God is instructing Joshua on how to proceed with the division of the land, including areas not yet conquered, demonstrating that God's plans are sovereign and continue regardless of human limitations.
  • The Philistine Presence: The mention of "the borders of the Philistines" is significant. The Philistines, a powerful and persistent enemy of Israel throughout their history, inhabited the fertile coastal plain. Their strong cities and military capabilities represented a formidable challenge that Israel largely failed to overcome in the Joshua and Judges eras, a failure detailed in later books like Judges 1:19.
  • Geshuri: "All Geshuri" refers to another territory yet to be fully possessed. While there were possibly two regions named Geshur in ancient Israel, this one, mentioned alongside the Philistine territory, likely refers to an area in the southern or southwestern part of Canaan, indicating another pocket of resistance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "yet remaineth" comes from the Hebrew root יָרַשׁ (yarash), which means "to inherit," "to possess," or "to dispossess." In this context, it signifies land that still needs to be taken possession of by the Israelites, implying an active role in their inheritance. The term "Philistines" (Hebrew: פְּלִשְׁתִּים, Pelishtim) identifies a well-known non-Semitic people who settled in the southwest coastal plain of Canaan, known for their military prowess and advanced iron technology.

Practical Application

Joshua 13:2 offers timeless insights for believers. Just as Israel had "remaining land" to conquer, Christians often face "remaining territory" in their lives—areas of spiritual growth, unresolved issues, or unreached people groups that still require faith and effort. This verse reminds us that God's promises are sure, but they often call for our active participation and perseverance. We are called to not become complacent after initial victories but to continue to press forward in faith, trusting God to equip us for the challenges that remain. Like Joshua, even in our later years, God still has a purpose and a commission for us to fulfill, urging us to overcome our own "Philistines"—the spiritual strongholds and persistent temptations that hinder our walk with God. This ongoing spiritual warfare requires us to stand firm, as Paul exhorted in Ephesians 6:11, to put on the whole armor of God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 13:11 (4 votes)

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

  • Joel 3:4 (3 votes)

    Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly [and] speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;

  • 1 Samuel 27:8 (3 votes)

    ¶ And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those [nations were] of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

  • Judges 3:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Now these [are] the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

  • 2 Samuel 15:8 (2 votes)

    For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

  • Exodus 23:29 (2 votes)

    I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.

  • Exodus 23:31 (2 votes)

    And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.