Joshua 13 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 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.
2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
3 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:
4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.
6 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.
Joshua 13 (Old Testament)
7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
8 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;
9 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.
Josh.13 (Old Testament)
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.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| זָקֵן — zaken | Verse 1 — “Joshua was old…” | “Old,” advanced in years. | Zaken (“old”) indicates advanced age (“old”). It frames Joshua’s remaining mission as unfinished. The term sets up divine instruction despite aging leadership. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| רָבָה — rabah | Verse 1 — “…very much land remains…” | “Much,” abundance. | Rabah (“much/abundant”) denotes extensive territory (“much”). It underscores incomplete conquest. The term stresses continuing divine promise. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| נָתַן — natan | Verse 6 — “…them will I drive out…” | “To give,” grant. | Natan (“to give”) reiterates divine bestowal (“give”). It confirms future conquest by divine action. The term stabilizes covenant assurance. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| יַרְשׁוּ — yarshu | Verse 6 — “…divide it unto Israel…” | “To inherit,” take possession. | Yarshu (“to inherit”) focuses on rightful possession (“inherit”). It roots tribal allotments in divine decree. The word emphasizes continuity of Abrahamic promise. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| גְּבוּל — gevul | Verse 2 — “This is the land that yet remains…” | “Border,” boundary. | Gevul (“border”) organizes territorial descriptions (“boundary”). It structures the land division legally. The term reflects administrative precision. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| מִשְׁכָּן — mishkan | Verse 33 — “…the offerings of the LORD… his inheritance.” | “Dwelling place,” tabernacle. | Mishkan (“dwelling/tabernacle”) symbolizes God’s presence (“tabernacle”). It explains why Levi’s inheritance was spiritual rather than territorial. The term highlights sacred service over land possession. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| עֲרֵי — arei | Verse 31 — “…all the cities of the plain…” | “Cities,” fortified dwellings. | Arei (“cities”) marks settled areas (“cities”). It reinforces territorial clarity. The term appears throughout tribal boundary descriptions. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| נָסַע — nasa | Verse 8 — “…Moses gave them…” | “To journey,” travel. | Nasa (“to journey”) recalls wilderness movement (“journey”). It transitions narrative from wandering to settling. The term connects past mobility to future territorial stability. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| עֵבֶר — ever | Verse 8 — “…on the other side Jordan…” | “Beyond,” across. | Ever (“across/beyond”) gives directional clarity (“beyond”). It distinguishes eastern from western inheritance. The word grounds readers in geographic orientation. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| מִשְׁפָּט — mishpat | Verse 33 — “…the LORD is their inheritance.” | “Judgment,” ordinance. | Mishpat (“ordinance”) expresses divine decree (“ordinance”). It formalizes Levi’s unique calling. The term elevates priestly vocation as sacred inheritance. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, Germany, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Alte Testament | The chapter highlights incomplete conquest and the need for continued obedience. |
| Charles Foster Kent (Yale University, United States, 1867–1925) | The Bible and Modern Scholarship | Kent interprets the text as both a strategic and theological reminder of covenant obligations. |
| William Robertson Smith (University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 1846–1894) | The Old Testament in the Jewish Church | Schultz emphasizes the moral responsibility tied to unclaimed territories. |
| Hugo Gressmann (University of Leipzig, Germany, 1864–1935) | Die Eschatologie der israelitischen Propheten | God’s promise is fulfilled progressively, with human compliance remaining critical. |
| Samuel Cox (University of London, United Kingdom, 1826–1893) | The Pentateuch | The narrative stresses preparation, stewardship, and faithful administration of land. |
Chapter 13
Verse: "Yet the children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day." - Joshua 13:13
Lesson: Despite God's promises and victories, the Israelites failed to completely obey Him and drive out all the inhabitants of the land. This disobedience led to future struggles and challenges for the Israelites.
Conclusion: It's essential to obey God's commands fully and not to compromise in any way. Partial obedience can lead to future consequences and hinder our blessings.
Prayer Points: Ask God for the strength to fully obey His commands and to resist compromising in any situation. Pray for wisdom to discern when we're not fully obedient, and ask for God's forgiveness and grace to make things right.
