History · Chapter 13 of 24

Joshua 13

Joshua is now old, and much land remains unconquered, which the LORD promises still to drive out. God tells Joshua to divide the land among the nine and a half tribes. The chapter records the inheritance Moses had already given east of the Jordan to Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, detailing their territories. It notes that Levi received no land, for the LORD Himself, and His offerings, are their inheritance.

What happens in Joshua 13

The LORD tells the aged Joshua that much land still remains to be possessed, listing the Philistine territories, the regions of the Canaanites and Sidonians, and the land toward Lebanon and Hermon. God promises to drive out these inhabitants Himself and commands Joshua to allot all the land by lot to the nine and a half tribes, even the parts not yet taken. The chapter then reviews the eastern inheritance Moses had already assigned beyond the Jordan. Reuben receives the territory from Aroer on the Arnon through the plain of Medeba and the cities of Sihon; Balaam the soothsayer is noted among the slain.

Gad receives Jazer, the cities of Gilead, and lands to Mahanaim. The half-tribe of Manasseh receives Bashan, the kingdom of Og, with its sixty towns. Twice the chapter records that Levi was given no land inheritance, because the offerings made by fire to the LORD, and the LORD God of Israel Himself, are their inheritance forever.

Joshua 13 in context

Joshua 13 begins the second half of the book, the division of the land, which occupies chapters 13 to 21. Joshua's old age and the unconquered territory show the conquest as both accomplished and unfinished, a tension the rest of Scripture will explore.

The review of the eastern tribes honors Moses' earlier allotments. The repeated statement about Levi introduces a theme that recurs: the priestly tribe's portion is God Himself, not real estate.

Main themes of Joshua 13

Joshua 13 (KJV)

1Now 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. 2This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, 3From 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: 4From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: 5And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. 6All 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. 7Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 8With 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; 9From 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; 10And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon; 11And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah; 12All 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. 13Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. 14Only 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. 15And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. 16And 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; 17Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon, 18And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, 19And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley, 20And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth, 21And 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. 22Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them. 23And 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. 24And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families. 25And 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; 26And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir; 27And 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. 28This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages. 29And 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. 30And 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: 31And 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. 32These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward. 33But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

Verses to carry from Joshua 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.”Joshua 13:1

“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.”Joshua 13:14

“But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.”Joshua 13:33

Reflection

Levi's portion was not a place but a Person: the LORD Himself was their inheritance. It is easy to want God's gifts more than God. If every possession were stripped away and only He remained, would you count yourself rich? Levi was asked to find their whole treasure in nearness to God alone.

A prayer from Joshua 13