# Joshua 13 📖: Land Still to Be Taken [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Joshua Overview]] | [[Joshua 12]] | [[Joshua 14]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### The Lord Speaks to Joshua [[#Verse 01.]] When Joshua was very old, the Lord told him, “You are very old, and a great deal of land remains to be conquered.  [[#Verse 02.]] This is the land that remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all the Geshurites,  [[#Verse 03.]] from the Shihor River east of Egypt northward to the territory of Ekron (it is regarded as Canaanite territory), including the area belonging to the five Philistine lords who ruled in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as Avvite land  [[#Verse 04.]] to the south; all the Canaanite territory, from Arah in the region of Sidon to Aphek, as far as Amorite territory;  [[#Verse 05.]] the territory of Byblos and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath. [[#Verse 06.]] I will drive out before the Israelites all who live in the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, all the Sidonians; you be sure to parcel it out to Israel as I instructed you.  [[#Verse 07.]] Now, divide up this land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.” ### Tribal Lands East of the Jordan [[#Verse 08.]] The other half of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad received their allotted tribal lands on east side of the Jordan, just as Moses, the Lord’s servant, had assigned them.  [[#Verse 09.]] Their territory started from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley), included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, [[#Verse 10.]] and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, and ended at the Ammonite border.  [[#Verse 11.]] Their territory also included Gilead, Geshurite and Maacathite territory, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah— [[#Verse 12.]] the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was one of the few remaining Rephaites.) Moses defeated them and took their lands.  [[#Verse 13.]] But the Israelites did not conquer the Geshurites and Maacathites; Geshur and Maacah live among Israel to this very day.  [[#Verse 14.]] However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance to the Levites; their inheritance is the sacrificial offerings made to the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed them. [[#Verse 15.]] Moses assigned land to the tribe of Reuben by its clans.  [[#Verse 16.]] Their territory started at Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba,  [[#Verse 17.]] Heshbon and all its surrounding cities on the plain, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,  [[#Verse 18.]] Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,  [[#Verse 19.]] Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley,  [[#Verse 20.]] Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth.  [[#Verse 21.]] It encompassed all the cities of the plain and the whole realm of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and the Midianite leaders Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (they were subjects of Sihon and lived in his territory).  [[#Verse 22.]] The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen reader, along with the others. [[#Verse 23.]] The border of the tribe of Reuben was the Jordan. The land allotted to the tribe of Reuben by its clans included these cities and their towns. [[#Verse 24.]] Moses assigned land to the tribe of Gad by its clans.  [[#Verse 25.]] Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the Ammonite territory as far as Aroer near Rabbah. [[#Verse 26.]] Their territory ran from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir. [[#Verse 27.]] It included the valley of Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Sukkoth, and Zaphon, and the rest of the realm of King Sihon of Heshbon, the area east of the Jordan to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth. [[#Verse 28.]] The land allotted to the tribe of Gad by its clans included these cities and their towns. [[#Verse 29.]] Moses assigned land to the half-tribe of Manasseh by its clans.  [[#Verse 30.]] Their territory started at Mahanaim and encompassed all Bashan, the whole realm of King Og of Bashan, including all sixty cities in Havvoth Jair in Bashan.  [[#Verse 31.]] Half of Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities in the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were assigned to the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh, to half the descendants of Makir by their clans. [[#Verse 32.]] These are the land assignments made by Moses in the rift valley plains of Moab east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho. [[#Verse 33.]] However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance to the Levites; their inheritance is the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed them. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. ###### Verse 28. ###### Verse 29. ###### Verse 30. ###### Verse 31. ###### Verse 32. ###### Verse 33. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. The Philistines had five rulers, in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron (13:3). 2. Joshua is described as old and advanced in years (13:1), the same phrase used of Abraham (Genesis 24:1). 3. Geshur remained independent (13:13). David later married Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur, and their son Absalom fled there (2 Samuel 3:3; 13:37). 4. Balaam son of Beor, called a diviner, was killed by Israel (13:22; Numbers 31:8). 5. Reuben received the land from the Arnon River, including the plateau of Medeba (13:15-16). 6. Gad received Jazer and the towns of Gilead (13:24-25). 7. The half-tribe of Manasseh received Bashan, including sixty towns of Jair (13:30). 8. The Levites' inheritance was the offerings made to the Lord (13:14). 9. The Sidonians were among the peoples not yet driven out (13:6). Jezebel was later a Sidonian princess (1 Kings 16:31). 10. Much of the Philistine coast remained unconquered until the days of David. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the inheritance of His people. Levi received no land because the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance (13:33), and in Christ we have an inheritance that can never perish or fade (Ephesians 1:11; 1 Peter 1:4). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. God told the aging Joshua that much land still remained (13:1). What unfinished work might God still have for you? 2. Israel did not drive out the Geshurites and Maacathites (13:13). How does partial obedience create long-term problems? 3. What does it mean for the Lord Himself to be your inheritance (13:14, 33)? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 1: Joshua is old, and much land remains to be possessed. - 📖 verse 6: The Lord Himself will drive out the remaining nations before Israel. - 📖 verse 33: Moses gave Levi no inheritance, because the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Numbers 32#Verse 33.|Numbers 32:33]] - Moses gives land east of the Jordan. - 🔗 [[Numbers 18#Verse 20.|Numbers 18:20]] - The Lord is Aaron's portion. - 🔗 [[1 Peter 01#Verse 03.|1 Peter 1:3-4]] - An imperishable inheritance. - 🔗 [[Ephesians 01#Verse 11.|Ephesians 1:11]] - We have obtained an inheritance in Christ. - 🔗 [[Numbers 31#Verse 08.|Numbers 31:8]] - Balaam is killed. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Joshua 13 - SOAP|Finish Strong]] ## 📂 Internal Notes