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This second section of the book (chapters 13–22), which details the parceling out of the land of Canaan, makes for slower reading, but it has a distinct literary purpose. It contains some of the elements we often find in ancient epics such as the catalog of the defeated kings and towns that give the scope of the conquest. The list also orients us in the larger story of the people of God, since later books of the Bible will set their action here. That means it’s valuable for us to know where the tribes settle and what their lands are like.

13 Now the years passed and Joshua grew old; and one day the Eternal came to him.

Eternal One (to Joshua): You have grown old and there is still work to do, for part of the land I have promised has yet to be conquered. This still remains: all the coastal regions inhabited by the Philistines and the Geshurites (from the Shihor tributary of the Nile, east of Egypt, north to the boundary of Ekron, is Canaanite territory); the five capital cities of the Philistines are Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, and the Avvites remain in the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah (which belongs to the Sidonians), as far as Aphek, and to the boundary of the Amorites, and also the land of the Gebalites, and all of Lebanon east from Baal-gad, near Mount Hermon, to Lebo-hamath.[a]

6-7 For the sake of the people of Israel, I will chase out all the inhabitants of the highlands from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians, but allot the land among you. Divide the land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh as their inheritance, as I have commanded.

The twelve tribes of Israel are spread out all across the country side. Moses has already given some of them land on the east side of the Jordan River, as we read here; but the others are awaiting their land on the west side, in the land of Canaan. Eventually every tribe will have land allotted to them because that has been God’s promise.

The other half-tribe of Manasseh and the tribes of Reuben and Gad received their inheritance. Moses, the Eternal’s servant, gave them land on the far side of the Jordan and toward the east, from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Arnon Valley, with the town that is in the middle of the valley, and the plains from Medeba to Dibon; 10 and all the cities of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had reigned from Heshbon, as far as the border regions of the Ammonites; 11 and the land of Gilead, and the lands of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all of Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far as Salecah; 12 in Bashan, this includes all the kingdom of Og who had reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (who was the last of the survivors of the giants). Moses conquered these kings and took over their lands, 13 although the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, which is why the people of Geshur and Maacath survive among the Israelites to this day.

14 The tribe of Levi was the only tribe of Israel that was not given land then as its inheritance. To offer burnt offerings to the Eternal God of Israel was their inheritance, as He told them.

15 Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the Reubenites, clan by clan. 16 Their territory comprised the plateau from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Arnon Valley, including the city in the middle of the valley, and the entire plain by Medeba; 17 Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plains: Dibon, Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath; 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar on the mount of the valley; 20 Beth-peor, the foothills of Mount Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth. 21 The tribe of Reuben received, then, all these cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites who had reigned in Heshbon until Moses defeated him and the leaders of Midian (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba) who were the princes of Sihon in the land. 22 Along with all of those they put to death, the Israelites also executed Balaam, the son of Beor, who practiced divination but blessed Israel by the command of the Eternal One. 23 The western border of the land allotted to the people of Reuben was the Jordan with its banks. This, then, was the land given to the people of Reuben, clan by clan, and all their cities and villages.

24 Moses also gave an inheritance to the tribe of the Gadites according to their clans. 25 Their territory comprised Jazer, and all the cities of the land of Gilead, and half the country of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, east of Rabbah; 26 from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim as far as the border of Debir; 27 and in the valley, Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon—all the rest of the kingdom of Sihon, king of Heshbon—the Jordan and its eastern banks, to the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. 28 This, then, was the land given to the people of Gad, clan by clan, and all their cities and villages.

29 Finally Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh, again allotted clan by clan. 30 Their territory started at Mahanaim and included all of Bashan and the whole kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, and all the settlements of Jair, which were in Bashan: 60 towns in all. 31 Half of Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei (the royal cities of Og, king in Bashan) were allotted to half of the people of Machir, son of Manasseh, who would dwell east of the Jordan, according to their clans.

32 These were the inheritances Moses distributed on the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan River and east of Jericho. 33 The clans of the tribe of Levi received no inheritance from Moses since the Eternal God of Israel was their inheritance as He promised them.

Footnotes

  1. 13:5 Hebrew, Lebo-hamath, the entrance to Hamath

The Division of the Land among the Tribes[a]

Chapter 13

The Division Commanded by the Lord.When Joshua had grown old and was well advanced in years, the Lord said to him, “You have grown old, and there is still quite a bit of the land that you must conquer.[b] This is the part of the land that still remains: the territory of the Philistines and all of Geshur from Sihor which lay near Egypt, to the territory of Ekron in the north (all of which is Canaanite). This is the territory of the five lords of the Philistines: of the Gazathites, of the Ashdodthites, of the Ash-kalonites, of the Gittites, of the Ekronites, that is, the Avites. From the south, it includes all of the land of the Canaanites and Mearah, that belongs to the Sidonians, up to Aphek, to the boundary with the Amorites, and it includes the land of the Gebalites and all of Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad beneath Mount Hermon up to the entrance to Lebo-hamath. There are also all of the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon up to Misrephoth-maim, that is, the land of the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. You are to divide it among the Israelites as an inheritance as I have commanded you. Divide this land as an inheritance among the nine tribes and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

The Eastern Tribes. The other half, the Reubenites and the Gadites, had already received their inheritance from Moses on the other side of the Jordan, to the east. Moses, the servant of God, gave it to them. It began at Aroer on the banks of the Arnon River, from the city itself which is in the middle of the river, and it included the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, 10 all of the cities of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, up to the boundary with the Ammonites, 11 Gilead, the territory of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, all of Mount Hermon, all of Bashan up to Salecah, 12 and all of the kingdom of Og in Bashan who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei (he was the last of the Rephaim). Moses defeated them and cast them out.

13 The Israelites did not cast out the Geshurites or the Maachathites. The Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites up to the present.[c]

14 He did not give any inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The burnt offerings made to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he had told them.

15 The Tribe of Reuben. Moses had given an inheritance to the Reubenites dividing it according to their clans. 16 Their territory included Aroer on the banks of the Arnon River, from the city itself which is in the middle of the river, as well as the whole plain of Medeba, 17 Heshbon and all of its dependent towns in the plain: Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the mountain of the valley, 20 Beth-peor, the slopes of the Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth. 21 These were all the cities of the plain, the entire kingdom of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Moses had struck him down along with the princes of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, who were princes of Sihon dwelling in that land. 22 Among those who were slain was also Balaam, the son of Beor, whom the Israelites put to the sword. 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the banks of the Jordan. These towns and villages are the inheritance of the Reubenites, divided according to its clans.

24 The Tribe of Gad. Moses gave an inheritance to the Gadites, dividing it according to their clans. 25 It included the territory of Jezer, all of the cities of Gilead, and half of the land of the Ammonites that ran from Aroer near Rabbah 26 and Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the boundary of Debir, 27 and Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon in the valley, and the rest of the kingdom of Sihon, the king of Heshbon, with the boundary running along the banks of the Jordan up to the shores of the Sea of Chinnereth (on the eastern side of the Jordan). 28 These cities and towns were the inheritance of the Gadites, divided according to its clans.

29 The Half-tribe of Manasseh. This is what Moses gave to one of the halves of the tribe of Manasseh, that is, the tribe of half of the descendants of Manasseh, divided according to its clans. 30 The territory started in Mahanaim and included all of Bashan, the entire territory of Og, the king of Bashan, and all of the town in Jair in Bashan, sixty towns in all, 31 as well as half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan. This was for the descendants of Machir, the son of Manasseh, for one-half of the descendants of the Machirites, divided according to its clans.

32 These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan, to the east of Jericho. 33 But Moses did not give an inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The Lord, the God of Israel, was their inheritance, just as he had told them.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 13:1 In the way in which they were distributed throughout Palestine and in their life there (chs. 13–22), the tribes saw the fulfillment of a promise and plan of God.
    The special situation of the tribe of Levi is noteworthy. The editor several times emphasizes the point that this tribe is dedicated to the conduct of worship: the Lord is their portion.
  2. Joshua 13:1 Although Joshua was well over 80 years of age, the Lord continued to use him to fulfill his plan begun by Moses 40 years before.
  3. Joshua 13:13 Because the Israelites did not drive out the people in the lands they occupied, they will continue to wage battle against their pagan customs and culture.

13 Y SIENDO Josué ya viejo, entrado en días, Jehová le dijo: Tú eres ya viejo, de edad avanzada, y queda aún muy mucha tierra por poseer.

Esta es la tierra que queda; todos los términos de los Philisteos, y toda Gessuri;

Desde Sihor, que está delante de Egipto, hasta el término de Accarón al norte, repútase de los Cananeos: cinco provincias de los Philisteos; los Gazeos, Asdodios, Ascalonitas, Getheos, y Accaronitas; y los Heveos;

Al mediodía toda la tierra de los Cananeos, y Mehara que es de los Sidonios, hasta Aphec, hasta el término del Amorrheo;

Y la tierra de los Gibleos, y todo el Líbano hacia donde sale el sol, desde Baal-gad á las raíces del monte Hermón, hasta entrar en Hamath;

Todos los que habitan en las montañas desde el Líbano hasta las aguas calientes, todos los Sidonios; yo los desarraigaré delante de lo hijos de Israel: solamente repartirás tú por suerte el país á los Israelitas por heredad, como te he mandado.

Parte, pues, tú ahora esta tierra en heredad á las nueve tribus, y á la media tribu de Manasés.

Porque la otra media recibió su heredad con los Rubenitas y Gaditas, la cual les dió Moisés de la otra parte del Jordán al oriente, según que se la dió Moisés siervo de Jehová:

Desde Aroer, que está á la orilla del arroyo de Arnón, y la ciudad que está en medio del arroyo, y toda la campiña de Medeba, hasta Dibón;

10 Y todas las ciudades de Sehón rey de los Amorrheos, el cual reinó en Hesbón, hasta los términos de los hijos de Ammón;

11 Y Galaad, y los términos de Gessuri, y de Maachâti, y todo el monte de Hermón, y toda la tierra de Basán hasta Salchâ:

12 Todo el reino de Og en Basán, el cual reinó en Astaroth y Edrei, el cual había quedado del residuo de los Rapheos; pues Moisés los hirió, y echó.

13 Mas á los de Gessuri y Maachâti no echaron los hijos de Israel; antes Gessur y Maachât habitaron entre los Israelitas hasta hoy.

14 Empero á la tribu de Leví no dió heredad: los sacrificios de Jehová Dios de Israel son su heredad, como él les había dicho.

15 Dió, pues, Moisés á la tribu de los hijos de Rubén conforme á sus familias:

16 Y fué el término de ellos desde Aroer, que está á la orilla del arroyo de Arnón, y la ciudad que está en medio del arroyo, y toda la campiña, hasta Medeba;

17 Hesbón, con todas sus villas que están en la llanura; Dibón, y Bamoth-baal, y Beth-baal-meón;

18 Y Jaas, y Keddemoth, y Mephaath,

19 Y Chîriataim, y Sibma, y Zerethshahar en el monte del valle;

20 Y Beth-peor, y Asdoth-pisga, y Beth-jesimoth;

21 Y todas las ciudades de la campiña, y todo el reino de Sehón rey de los Amorrheos, que reinó en Hesbón, al cual hirió Moisés, y á los príncipes de Madián, Hevi, Recem, y Sur, y Hur, y Reba, príncipes de Sehón que habitaban en aquella tierra.

22 También mataron á cuchillo los hijos de Israel á Balaam adivino, hijo de Beor, con los demás que mataron.

23 Y fueron los términos de los hijos de Rubén el Jordán con su término. Esta fué la herencia de los hijos de Rubén conforme á sus familias, estas ciudades con sus villas.

24 Dió asimismo Moisés á la tribu de Gad, á los hijos de Gad, conforme á sus familias.

25 Y el término de ellos fué Jacer, y todas las ciudades de Galaad, y la mitad de la tierra de los hijos de Ammón hasta Aroer, que está delante de Rabba.

26 Y desde Hesbón hasta Ramath-mispe, y Betonim; y desde Mahanaim hasta el término de Debir:

27 Y la campiña de Beth-aram, y Beth-nimra, y Sucoth, y Saphón, resto del reino de Sehón, rey en Hesbón: el Jordán y su término hasta el cabo de la mar de Cinnereth de la otra parte del Jordán al oriente.

28 Esta es la herencia de los hijos de Gad, por sus familias, estas ciudades con sus villas.

29 También dió Moisés herencia á la media tribu de Manasés: y fué de la media tribu de los hijos de Manasés, conforme á sus familias.

30 El término de ellos fué desde Mahanaim, todo Basán, todo el reino de Og rey de Basán, y todas las aldeas de Jair que están en Basán, sesenta poblaciones.

31 Dióse además la mitad de Galaad, y Astaroth, y Edrei, ciudades del reino de Og en Basán, á los hijos de Machîr, hijo de Manasés, á la mitad de los hijos de Machîr conforme á sus familias.

32 Esto es lo que Moisés repartió en heredad en los llanos de Moab, de la otra parte del Jordán de Jericó, al oriente.

33 Mas á la tribu de Leví no dió Moisés heredad: Jehová Dios de Israel es la heredad de ellos como él les había dicho.

Land Still to Be Taken

13 When Joshua had grown old,(A) the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

“This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines(B) and Geshurites,(C) from the Shihor River(D) on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron(E) on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers(F) in Gaza, Ashdod,(G) Ashkelon,(H) Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites(I) on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek(J) and the border of the Amorites;(K) the area of Byblos;(L) and all Lebanon(M) to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon(N) to Lebo Hamath.(O)

“As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim,(P) that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out(Q) before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you,(R) and divide it as an inheritance(S) among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

Division of the Land East of the Jordan

The other half of Manasseh,[a] the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assigned(T) it to them.(U)

It extended from Aroer(V) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau(W) of Medeba as far as Dibon,(X) 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon,(Y) out to the border of the Ammonites.(Z) 11 It also included Gilead,(AA) the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah(AB) 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan,(AC) who had reigned in Ashtaroth(AD) and Edrei.(AE) (He was the last of the Rephaites.(AF)) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land.(AG) 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur(AH) and Maakah,(AI) so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.(AJ)

14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.(AK)

15 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans:

16 The territory from Aroer(AL) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba(AM) 17 to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau,(AN) including Dibon,(AO) Bamoth Baal,(AP) Beth Baal Meon,(AQ) 18 Jahaz,(AR) Kedemoth,(AS) Mephaath,(AT) 19 Kiriathaim,(AU) Sibmah,(AV) Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor,(AW) the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— 21 all the towns on the plateau(AX) and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs,(AY) Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba(AZ)—princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor,(BA) who practiced divination.(BB) 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans.(BC)

24 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans:

25 The territory of Jazer,(BD) all the towns of Gilead(BE) and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;(BF) 26 and from Heshbon(BG) to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim(BH) to the territory of Debir;(BI) 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah,(BJ) Sukkoth(BK) and Zaphon(BL) with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Galilee[b](BM)). 28 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites,(BN) according to their clans.

29 This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans:

30 The territory extending from Mahanaim(BO) and including all of Bashan,(BP) the entire realm of Og king of Bashan(BQ)—all the settlements of Jair(BR) in Bashan, sixty towns, 31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan).(BS) This was for the descendants of Makir(BT) son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans.(BU)

32 This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab(BV) across the Jordan east of Jericho.(BW) 33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance;(BX) the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance,(BY) as he promised them.(BZ)

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 13:8 Hebrew With it (that is, with the other half of Manasseh)
  2. Joshua 13:27 Hebrew Kinnereth

13 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.

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

From 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:

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

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

All 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.

Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

With 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;

From 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;

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

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

12 All 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.

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

14 Only unto the tribes 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.

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

16 And 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;

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

18 And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,

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

20 And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,

21 And 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.

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

23 And 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.

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

25 And 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;

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

27 And 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.

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

29 And 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.

30 And 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:

31 And 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.

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

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