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.
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.
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.
The book of Joshua, named after the Israelite leader who succeeded Moses, is the sixth book of the Old Testament in the Bible. It tells the story of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land, the land that God had promised to their ancestor Abraham. Chapter 13 of the book of Joshua continues the narrative of the division of the land among the tribes of Israel after the death of Joshua. This chapter focuses on the land that was allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh, who had already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River. This division of land marks the fulfillment of God's promise to the Israelites and serves as an important reminder of God's faithfulness and provision to His people.
1. The Importance of Inheritance
The division of the land among the tribes of Israel was not just a practical matter of dividing up the land. It was also a symbolic act that emphasized the importance of inheritance in the Israelite culture. Inheritance was deeply rooted in their society and was seen as a means of preserving the family name and legacy. Inheritance also represented God's promise to the Israelites and was a reminder of their identity as God's chosen people.
2. The Faithfulness of God
Throughout the book of Joshua, we see God's faithfulness to His promises. In this chapter, the division of land among the tribes of Israel serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to His word. He had promised the land to the Israelites, and He had fulfilled His promise. This is a powerful reminder for the Israelites, and for us, that we can trust in God's promises and that He will always be faithful to His word.
3. The Importance of Obedience
In this chapter, we see that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River. This was because they had obeyed God's command to help their fellow Israelites conquer the Promised Land before settling in their own inheritance. This serves as a reminder that obedience to God's commands is essential in receiving His blessings and promises.
4. The Unity of God's People
The division of the land among the tribes of Israel was not just about dividing up the land, but it was also a way to maintain unity among God's people. Each tribe had their own inheritance, but they were all still part of the larger nation of Israel. This unity was important in maintaining their identity as God's chosen people and in fulfilling God's plans for them.
1. The Fulfillment of God's Promise
The division of the land among the tribes of Israel was the fulfillment of God's promise to the Israelites. This land was the inheritance that God had promised to their ancestor Abraham, and now it was being given to them. This not only served as a reminder of God's faithfulness, but it also showed that God keeps His promises and that His plans will come to pass.
2. Trust in God's Faithfulness
As we see in this chapter, God was faithful to His promises to the Israelites. This serves as a powerful reminder for us to trust in God's faithfulness in our own lives. Just as He fulfilled His promise to the Israelites, He will also fulfill His promises to us. This encourages us to have faith and trust in God's plans for our lives.
3. The Importance of Obedience
The division of the land also highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh were blessed because they obeyed God's command to help their fellow Israelites conquer the Promised Land. This shows us that obedience to God's commands brings blessings and fulfillment of His promises in our lives.
4. Unity in God's People
The division of the land also emphasizes the importance of unity among God's people. The tribes of Israel were divided into their own territories, but they were still one nation, united by their faith in God. This serves as a reminder for us to maintain unity among fellow believers and to work together in fulfilling God's plans for His kingdom.
In summary, chapter 13 of the book of Joshua is a continuation of the narrative of the division of the land among the tribes of Israel. It highlights the importance of inheritance, God's faithfulness, obedience, and unity among God's people. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God's promises and His faithfulness to fulfill them. It also encourages us to have faith, trust in God's plans, and to obey His commands in order to receive His blessings. Ultimately, the division of the land serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness, provision, and love for His chosen people, and it continues to hold significance for believers today.
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