Joshua 13:1 ¶ 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.
Joshua 13:2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
Joshua 13:3 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:
Joshua 13:4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
Joshua 13:5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.
Joshua 13:6 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.
It is noted at this point that Joshua is very old and that there is still much land that needs to be conquered. We know that the LORD will not allow Joshua to die until he has completed all that the LORD has for him to do. It seems that he has completed all except the division of the land.
Principle: There is still much we can do to serve the LORD even when we are old.
I think the Philistines stand out since they will prove to figure significantly in Israel’s history. JFB notes that Philistine lands stretched about 60 miles along the Mediterranean coast.
Though these lands were yet to be conquered, the LORD commands Joshua to include these lands in the inheritances that are given to each tribe. The LORD promises to be with the children of Israel as they go to war to take possession of these lands. Sadly, the biblical record will prove that the people of Israel never completely conquered the land.
Joshua 13:7 ¶ Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
Joshua 13:8 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;
Joshua 13:9 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;
Joshua 13:10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;
Joshua 13:11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
Joshua 13:12 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.
Joshua 13:13 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.
The LORD tells Joshua to divide the land west of Jordan among the nine remaining tribes and the other half of the tribe of Manasseh since the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance through Moses east of Jordan. As noted in previous chapters, the land of inheritance on the east side of Jordan for the 2.5 tribes included the kingdoms of Sihon and Og. It seems that even the tribes east of Jordan still had people to conquer as well—but they didn’t.
Chuck Smith made a good application regarding the land that Israel did not conquer: “Now they came to the place where they were satisfied, they were content; they didn’t press on to the full victory. Beware of spiritual plateaus. Beware of that spiritual complacency where you come to the place where you’re spiritually satisfied, ‘This is as far as I need to go, far as I desire to go. As far as the rest of the things in my life, I can live with them.’ Whenever you can start living comfortably with your flesh, you are in danger spiritually.”
Joshua 13:14 Only unto the tribe 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.
It is noted once again that the tribe of Levi was not to be given a land inheritance because the sacrifices made to the LORD would be their inheritance.
This chapter closes by giving more detail regarding the inheritances of the 2.5 tribes that were east of the Jordan River. Reuben was given the southern part of the land, Gad the middle and the half tribe of Manasseh the northern.
Joshua 13:15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
Joshua 13:16 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;
Joshua 13:17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,
Joshua 13:18 And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
Joshua 13:19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,
Joshua 13:20 And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,
Joshua 13:21 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.
Joshua 13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
Joshua 13:23 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.
Interesting facts:
The death of Balaam is mentioned once again.
Heshbon, Kedemoth, Mephaath were cities that were given to the Levites.
Sibmah was famous for its vines.
Moses was buried in a valley near Bethpeor.
Joshua 13:24 And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.
Joshua 13:25 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;
Joshua 13:26 And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;
Joshua 13:27 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.
Joshua 13:28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.
Interesting facts:
The land of Gilead was known for its spices and aromatic gums.
The bedstead of the giant king Og was preserved in Rabbah.
The destruction of Rabbah was the last of David’s conquests.
Mahanaim became a city of the Levites.
The angels of God met Jacob at Mahanaim as he journeyed back home, and it was here that he divided his camp in preparation for encountering Esau.
Saul’s son Ishbosheth was murdered in Mahanaim.
David heard the news of Absalom’s death while sitting at the gate to Mahanaim.
The foundries for casting the metal work for the temple were erected at Succoth.
Joshua 13:29 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.
Joshua 13:30 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:
Joshua 13:31 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.
Interesting facts:
It is noted that there were 60 cities in Bashan.
Ashtaroth became a city of the Levites given to the Gershonites.
Joshua 13:32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
Joshua 13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
This completes this accounting of the inheritance of the 2.5 tribes on the east side of the Jordan River.
Again we are told that the Levites received no land inheritance.
Joshua 14:1 ¶ And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
Joshua 14:2 By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
Joshua 14:3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.
Joshua 14:4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
Joshua 14:5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
These verses are an introduction to the rest of this chapter and the following chapters that detail the division of the land among the tribes of Israel. It is noted that Eleazar the priest, Joshua and the chief leader of each of the tribes superintended the division. We were told the names of these leaders in our study of Numbers 34.
Divisions were decided by lot, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. It was recognized that the LORD controlled the process.
Numbers 26:52–55 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him. Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.”
Proverbs 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.”
Since he was the high priest, Eleazar had possession of the Urim and Thummim, and it is likely that these were used in the process in some way.
Numbers 27:21 “And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD….”
The focus is on the 9.5 tribes that would inherit west of the Jordan River since the 2.5 tribes had received their inheritances east of Jordan. Again we are reminded that the Levites will receive no specific inheritance; however, they will be given cities and their surrounding suburbs in which to live throughout the whole of the land to provide for their livestock.
Beautiful words to read—the people obeyed the LORD. They divided the land according to the instruction of Moses as commanded by God.
Reminder: Joseph was to receive a double portion since Jacob had adopted his two sons—Ephraim and Manasseh. So, even though the Levites received no inheritance, the land was divided among 12 tribes.
Genesis 48:3–5 “And Jacob said unto Joseph….thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.”
Joshua 14:6 ¶ Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
Joshua 14:7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
Joshua 14:8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
Joshua 14:9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
The children of Judah came with Caleb, son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, to meet with Joshua in Gilgal. He had addressed Moses first on his own behalf. He reminded Joshua that Moses, the man of God, had made a specific promise to both him and Joshua after they had served as spies at Kadeshbarnea. He reminded Joshua that he had spoken what was in his heart to encourage the people to begin to take possession of the land at that time. The report of all the other spies, except Joshua, had caused the people to ignore their good report. Caleb points out that he never wavered in his confidence that the LORD “my God” would lead them to victory. Caleb went on to remind Joshua that because of his faith Moses swore that he and his children would receive a permanent inheritance in the land of promise.
I loved the continued reference to Moses as the “man of God” and “the servant of the LORD.” My desire is to be known as a “woman of God” and “the servant of the LORD.”
I also love that Caleb references the LORD as “my God.” He could only make such an assertion because his life gave testimony to its truth. He followed the LORD “wholly”—totally, completely, to the exclusion of anyone else. Again, my desire is to do the same.
I couldn’t help but think of the promise in scripture that we, as followers of the LORD Jesus, can also approach the LORD boldly with our requests in the spirit of Caleb. The difference being that our standing before the LORD is in righteousness that is a gift from our Savior.
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
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.
Joshua 14:11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Joshua 14:12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
Joshua 14:13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
Joshua 14:14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
Joshua 14:15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Caleb goes on to note how the LORD had kept him alive for the last 45 years in light of His promise. He was 85 years old at this time, yet he was still as strong as he was when Moses sent them out as spies. He was just as fit for war now as he was then.
Finally Caleb gets to the point. He asked that Joshua give him Hebron as his inheritance. Even though Anakim, descendants of the giants, were said to occupy the land, he wasn’t afraid because he knew that with God on his side he was assured the victory.
Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him what he requested.
Joshua notes that Hebron had previously been known as Kirjatharba in honor of Arba, one of the greatest among the Anakims.
He then notes that the land had rest from war.
Note: Hebron was the location of the tomb of the patriarchs.