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II. Division of the Land

Chapter 13

Division of Land Commanded. When Joshua was old and advanced in years, the Lord said to him:(A) Though now you are old and advanced in years, a very large part of the land still remains to be possessed. This is the remaining land: all Geshur[a] and all the districts of the Philistines (from the stream adjoining Egypt to the boundary of Ekron in the north is reckoned Canaanite territory, though held by the five lords of the Philistines in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron); also where the Avvim are in the south;(B) all the land of the Canaanites from Mearah of the Sidonians to Aphek, and the boundaries of the Amorites;(C) and the Gebalite territory; and all the Lebanon on the east, from Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath. All the inhabitants of the mountain regions between Lebanon and Misrephoth-maim, all Sidonians, I will drive out before the Israelites;(D) at least include these areas in the division of the Israelite heritage, just as I have commanded you. Now, therefore, apportion among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh the land which is to be their heritage.

The Eastern Tribes. (E)Now the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, as well as the Reubenites and Gadites, had taken as their heritage what Moses, the servant of the Lord, had given them east of the Jordan: from Aroer on the bank of the Wadi Arnon and the city in the wadi itself, through the tableland of Medeba and Dibon, 10 with the rest of the cities of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the boundary of the Ammonites; 11 also Gilead and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah, 12 the entire kingdom in Bashan of Og, who was king at Ashtaroth and Edrei (he was a holdover from the remnant of the Rephaim). These Moses defeated and dispossessed. 13 But the Israelites did not dispossess the Geshurites and Maacathites, so that Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day. 14 (F)However, Moses assigned no heritage to the tribe of Levi; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their heritage, as the Lord had promised them.

Reuben. 15 (G)This is what Moses gave to the tribe of the Reubenites by their clans:(H) 16 Their territory reached from Aroer, on the bank of the Wadi Arnon, and the city in the wadi itself, through the tableland about Medeba, 17 to include Heshbon and all its towns on the tableland, Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the knoll within the valley, 20 Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth-jeshimoth, 21 and the other cities of the tableland and of the whole kingdom of Sihon. This Amorite king, who reigned in Heshbon, Moses had defeated, with the princes of Midian, vassals of Sihon who were settled in the land: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba;(I) 22 Balaam, son of Beor, the diviner, the Israelites killed with the sword, together with those they struck down.(J) 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the Jordan. These cities and their villages were the heritage of the Reubenites by their clans.

Gad. 24 (K)This is what Moses gave to the tribe of the Gadites by their clans: 25 Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, toward Rabbah 26 (that is, from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the boundary of Lo-debar); 27 and in the Jordan valley: Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, Zaphon, the other part of the kingdom of Sihon, king of Heshbon, with the bank of the Jordan to the southeastern tip of the Sea of Chinnereth. 28 These cities and their villages were the heritage of the clans of the Gadites.

Manasseh. 29 (L)This is what Moses gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh; the half-tribe of the Manassites, by their clans, had 30 territory including Mahanaim, all of Bashan, the entire kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which are sixty cities in Bashan. 31 Half of Gilead, with Ashtaroth and Edrei, royal cities of Og in Bashan, fell to the descendants of Machir, son of Manasseh, to half the Machirites, by their clans.

32 These are the heritages which Moses gave when he was in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 But Moses gave no heritage to the tribe of Levi: the Lord, the God of Israel, is their heritage, as he had promised them.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 13:2 Geshur: not to be confused with the large Aramean district of the same name in Bashan (vv. 11–13; Dt 3:14); here it is a region to the south of the Philistine country, since vv. 2–5 list the unconquered lands along the coast from south to north; cf. also 1 Sm 27:8.

Remaining Land to Be Conquered

13 Now Joshua (A)was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed. (B)This is the land that yet remains: (C)all the territory of the Philistines and all (D)that of the Geshurites, (E)from Sihor, which is east of Egypt, as far as the border of Ekron northward (which is counted as Canaanite); the (F)five lords of the Philistines—the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also (G)the Avites; from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians (H)as far as Aphek, to the border of (I)the Amorites; the land of (J)the [a]Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, (K)from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath; all the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon as far as (L)the [b]Brook Misrephoth, and all the Sidonians—them (M)I will drive out from before the children of Israel; only (N)divide[c] it by lot to Israel as an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”

The Land Divided East of the Jordan

With the other half-tribe the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, (O)which Moses had given them, (P)beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the Lord had given them: from Aroer which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the town that is in the midst of the ravine, (Q)and all the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon; 10 (R)all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the children of Ammon; 11 (S)Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salcah; 12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei, who remained of (T)the remnant of the giants; (U)for Moses had [d]defeated and [e]cast out these.

13 Nevertheless the children of Israel (V)did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

14 (W)Only to the tribe of Levi he had given [f]no inheritance; the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, (X)as He said to them.

The Land of Reuben

15 (Y)And Moses had given to the tribe of the children of Reuben an inheritance according to their families. 16 Their territory was (Z)from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, (AA)and the city that is in the midst of the ravine, (AB)and all the plain by Medeba; 17 (AC)Heshbon and all its cities that are in the plain: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 18 (AD)Jahaza, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 (AE)Kirjathaim, (AF)Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the mountain of the valley, 20 Beth Peor, (AG)the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— 21 (AH)all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, (AI)whom Moses had struck (AJ)with the princes of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, who were princes of Sihon dwelling in the country. 22 The children of Israel also killed with the sword (AK)Balaam the son of Beor, the [g]soothsayer, among those who were killed by them. 23 And the border of the children of Reuben was the bank of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families, the cities and their villages.

The Land of Gad

24 (AL)Moses also had given an inheritance to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad according to their families. 25 (AM)Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, (AN)and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, which is before (AO)Rabbah, 26 and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir, 27 and in the valley (AP)Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, (AQ)Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan as its border, as far as the edge (AR)of the [h]Sea of Chinnereth, on the other side of the Jordan eastward. 28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and their villages.

Half the Tribe of Manasseh (East)

29 (AS)Moses also had given an inheritance to half the tribe of Manasseh; it was for half the tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families: 30 Their territory was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and (AT)all the towns of Jair which are in Bashan, sixty cities; 31 half of Gilead, and (AU)Ashtaroth and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the (AV)children of Machir the son of Manasseh, for half of the children of Machir according to their families.

32 These are the areas which Moses had [i]distributed as an inheritance in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward. 33 (AW)But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, (AX)as He had said to them.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 13:5 Or Giblites
  2. Joshua 13:6 Heb. Misrephoth Maim, lit. Burnings of Water
  3. Joshua 13:6 apportion
  4. Joshua 13:12 Lit. struck
  5. Joshua 13:12 dispossessed
  6. Joshua 13:14 no land as a possession
  7. Joshua 13:22 diviner
  8. Joshua 13:27 Sea of Galilee
  9. Joshua 13:32 apportioned

Land Still to Be Conquered

13 Now Joshua (A)was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land (B)to possess. (C)This is the land that yet remains: all the (D)regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites (from the (E)Shihor, which is east of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron, it is counted as Canaanite; (F)there are five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), and those of (G)the Avvim, in the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the boundary of (H)the Amorites, and the land of the (I)Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from (J)Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to (K)Lebo-hamath, all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to (L)Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians. I myself will drive (M)them out from before the people of Israel. Only (N)allot the land to Israel (O)for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore (P)divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”

The Inheritance East of the Jordan

With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh[a] the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, (Q)which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them: (R)from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and (S)all the tableland of Medeba as far as Dibon; 10 (T)and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonites; 11 and Gilead, and the (U)region of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and (V)all Bashan to Salecah; 12 (W)all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (he alone was left of (X)the remnant of the Rephaim); (Y)these Moses had struck and driven out. 13 (Z)Yet the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.

14 (AA)To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance. The offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to him.

15 And Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the people of Reuben according to their clans. 16 So their territory was from Aroer, (AB)which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland by (AC)Medeba; 17 with Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the tableland; (AD)Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon, 18 (AE)and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, 19 and (AF)Kiriathaim, and (AG)Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar on the hill of the valley, 20 and (AH)Beth-peor, and (AI)the slopes of Pisgah, and (AJ)Beth-jeshimoth, 21 that is, (AK)all the cities of the tableland, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, (AL)whom Moses defeated with (AM)the leaders of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land. 22 (AN)Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel among the rest of their slain. 23 And the border of the people of Reuben was the Jordan as a boundary. This was the inheritance of the people of Reuben, according to their clans with their cities and villages.

24 Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of Gad, to the people of Gad, according to their clans. 25 (AO)Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of (AP)Rabbah, 26 and from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from (AQ)Mahanaim to the territory of Debir,[b] 27 and in the valley Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, (AR)Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a boundary, to the lower end of the Sea of (AS)Chinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan. 28 This is the inheritance of the people of Gad according to their clans, with their cities and villages.

29 And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the people of Manasseh according to their clans. 30 Their region extended from (AT)Mahanaim, through all Bashan, the whole kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all (AU)the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities, 31 and half Gilead, and (AV)Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. These were allotted to the people of (AW)Machir the son of Manasseh for the half of the people of Machir according to their clans.

32 These are the inheritances that Moses distributed (AX)in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 (AY)But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, (AZ)just as he said to them.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 13:8 Hebrew With it
  2. Joshua 13:26 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew Lidebir