Joshuachapter 13
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Key verse
Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and well along in years, but very much of the land remains to be possessed.
It stands in Old and well stricken: and much land yet unpossessed, verses 1 to 7.
The chapter
Chapter summary
The tone shifts from conquest to allotment with an honest admission: 'Thou art old and well stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.' The unfinished portions are named (the five Philistine lords, the Geshurites, the Lebanon country up to Baal-gad) yet Jehovah undertakes to drive them out, and Joshua is to divide it by lot regardless. The chapter then records the eastern inheritance Moses gave: Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, with a note that Balaam the soothsayer fell by the sword. Levi alone receives no territory, because the offerings of Jehovah are his inheritance.
Context
History · Joshua · Joshua overview
Where the chapter sits
Joshua 13 falls in Tribal allotments (chapters 13–22). The east-of-Jordan and west-of-Jordan inheritances; Levitical cities; cities of refuge; the altar of Ed and the east-tribe controversy.
Before it: Conquest campaigns, chapters 6–12. After it: Covenant renewal at Shechem, chapters 23–24.
The whole shape of Joshua→The world behind this chapter
Joshua 13The history
The chapter opens with God telling an old man that very much land remains to be possessed. The list that follows is honest: the whole coastal strip held by the Philistines with their five ruling cities, the Geshurites, the Lebanon country north to Hamath, and the Sidonian coast.
The five Philistine cities, Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, sat on the flat, fertile coastal plain along the trade road running from Egypt to the north. That plain was the most valuable and most defensible ground in the country, and Israel would fight over it for centuries.
The rest of the history, and what it meant to them
The Transjordan allotment is then recorded in detail: Reuben on the southern plateau, Gad in Gilead with the towns along the Jordan valley, and half of Manasseh in Bashan with its many settlements. Balaam is noted almost in passing as having been killed with the sword among the slain.
Levi receives no territorial allotment. The formula used twice in the chapter is that the offerings made by fire to the LORD are their inheritance, and that the LORD himself is their inheritance. A landless priestly tribe scattered among the others was a structural choice with enormous consequences.
What it meant to them
The first hearers were being handed a map with holes in it. God's word to Joshua is to divide the whole land as an inheritance anyway, including what was not yet held, the allotment was based on the promise, not on the current front line.
That framing shaped how they read their own failures later. What went unpossessed was not land God had not given; it was land they had not taken.
Sources cited
- John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
- K. A. Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old Testament
The structure of this chapter
The heads below are this chapter's scenes. The numbered points under each are its verses.
A. Old and well stricken: and much land yet unpossessed
1. (vv. 1-7)
Joshua 13:1
“Joshua is bidden to allot the whole of the promised land among the twelve tribes in faith that God would perfect in due time that expulsion of the Canaanites which Joshua himself could not carry further (see Jos 11:23).”
Joshua 13:1, 2 more voicesWhat preachers and commentators have said about this verse, in their own words.
Joshua 13:1
“Now Joshua was old and stricken in years--He was probably above a hundred years old; for the conquest and survey of the land occupied about seven years, the partition one; and he died at the age of one hundred ten years (Jos 24:29).”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Joshua 13:1
“It is said that Joshua was old and stricken in years, and he and Caleb were at this time the only old men among the thousands of Israel, none except them of all those who were numbered at Mount Sinai being now alive.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Joshua 13:2
“The borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri - The borders of the Philistines may mean the land which they possessed on the sea-coast, southwest of the land of Canaan. There were several places named Geshuri, but that spoken of here was probably the region on the south of Canaan, towards Arabia, or towards Egypt. - Calmet. Cellarius supposes it to have been a country in the vicinity of the Amalekites.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:2, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:2
“Both included that portion of the country "from Sihor, which is before Egypt," a small brook near El-Arish, which on the east was the southern boundary of Canaan, to Ekron, the most northerly of the five chief lordships or principalities of the Philistines. 3, 4. also the Avites: From [on] the south--The two clauses are thus connected in the Septuagint and many other versions.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Joshua 13:3
“Sihor is derived from a root signifying “to be black,” and is suitable enough as an appellative of the Nile Isa 23:3. Here it most probably stands for “the river of Egypt” (Num 34:3 note), the modern “Wady el Arish”. Ekron (“Akir”) lay on the northern boundary of Judah Jos 15:11, and was actually conquered by the men of that tribe Jdg 1:18, though assigned in the allotment of the land to Dan Jos 19:”
Joshua 13:3, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:3
“Counted to the Canaanites - That is, which though now possessed by the Philistines, who drove out the Canaanites the old inhabitants of it, Deut. ii, 23 Amos ix, 7, yet is a part of the land of Canaan, and therefore belongs to the Israelites.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Joshua 13:4
“The land of the Canaanites - This lay on the south of the country of the Philistines, towards the sea-coast. Mearah - Supposed to be the city Maratha, on the Mediterranean Sea. - Calmet. Or the river Majora, which falls into the Mediterranean Sea, between Sidon and Berytus. See Pliny, Hist. Nat. lib. v., c. 20. Aphek - See on Jos 12:18 (note).”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:5
“Giblites - The people of Gebal (“Jebail”, 22 miles north of Beyronut). They were “stone-squarers” 1Ki 5:18 and (ship) “caulkers” Eze 27:9.”
Joshua 13:6
“Misrephoth-maim - See on Jos 11:7 (note). These will I drive out - That is, if the Israelites continued to be obedient; but they did not, and therefore they never fully possessed the whole of that land which, on this condition alone, God had promised them: the Sidonians were never expelled by the Israelites, and were only brought into a state of comparative subjection in the days of David and Solomon.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:6, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:6
“I will do it by my word; so the Chaldee here, as in many other places: by the eternal word, the captain of my host. But the promise of driving them out from before the children of Israel, supposes that the Israelites must use their own endeavours, must go up against them. If Israel, thro' sloth or cowardice let them alone, they are not likely to be driven out.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Joshua 13:7
“The nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh - The other half tribe of Manasseh, and the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, had got their inheritance on the other side of Jordan, in the land formerly belonging to Og king of Bashan, and Sihon king of the Amorites.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:7, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:7
“Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance,....”
a.Joshua 21:45 says of this same conquest that there failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken, verse 1 says much land is still unpossessed, and both stand in the one book. Adam Clarke reads the remainder against the condition of obedience, noting that the Sidonians of verse 6 were never expelled and were only brought into subjection under David and Solomon, while other readers take Joshua to speak of the land as granted rather than as occupied. Verse 3 counts five lords of the Philistines, which is the first time Scripture gives them that title, and the same five run on through Judges 16 and 1 Samuel 5. Verse 6 puts the order plainly, divide thou it by lot, so the ground is allotted before it is held.
B. The east-bank grant, and Levi's portion of fire
1. (vv. 8-14)
Joshua 13:8
“With whom--Hebrew, "him." The antecedent is evidently to Manasseh, not, however, the half-tribe just mentioned, but the other half; for the historian, led, as it were, by the sound of the word, breaks off to describe the possessions beyond Jordan already assigned to Reuben, Gad, and the half of Manasseh (see on Nu 32:1;”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Joshua 13:8, 3 more voices
Joshua 13:8
“The writer appends to the command of God Jos 13:1-7 a statement that the other two tribes and a half had already had their inheritance marked out for them by Moses in the land east of Jordan. The boundaries of this territory as a whole are first set forth Jos 13:8-14, and afterward the portions assigned within it to the two tribes and a half are severally described Josh. 13:15-33. Jos 13:14 See Deu 18:1-5 and notes. Jos 13:15-24 Inheritance of the tribe of Reuben.”
Joshua 13:8
“With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance,....”
Joshua 13:8
“Moses settled this matter, and, as Moses settled it, so shall it rest; Joshua will not, under any pretence whatsoever, go about to alter it. And a reason is intimated why he would not, because Moses was the servant of the Lord, and acted in this matter by secret direction from him and was faithful as a servant.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Joshua 13:9
“From Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon,....”
Joshua 13:10
“And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon,.... A city he took from the Moabites, and made it his royal seat, Num 21:26, unto the border of the children of Ammon; which was the river Jabbok, Deu 3:16.”
Joshua 13:11
“And Gilead,.... The land of Gilead, which was part of the kingdom of Og, half of which was given to Reuben, and the other half to Gad: and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites; of which see Deu 3:14, and all Mount Hermon; called also Sirion, Shenir, and Sion, Deu 3:9, and all Bashan unto Salcah; another part of the dominions of Og, Deu 3:10.”
Joshua 13:12
“All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei,.... See Gill on Jos 12:4, who remained of the remnant of the giants; was descended from those that remained in Ashtaroth, after the rest were cut off by Chedorlaomer, Gen 14:5; called there the Rephaim, as here: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out: that is, not only the giants, but the inhabitants of the above kingdom, the greatest part of them; for the Geshurites and the Maachathites are excepted in Jos 13:13.”
Joshua 13:13
“Nevertheless, the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites,.... Neither in the times of Moses, nor in the times of Joshua: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day: in full possession of their cities unmolested; yea, in later times they became separate and distinct kingdoms; for we read both of the king of Geshur, and of the king of Maachah, 2Sa 3:3.”
Joshua 13:13, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:13
“They had not leisure to reduce all the remote and obscure corners of the country in Moses's time, and afterwards they had no mind to it, being easy with what they had. Thus those who are not straitened in God's promises are yet straitened in their own faith, and prayers, and endeavours.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Joshua 13:14
“Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance,.... Neither the Lord, nor Moses by his order, nor did he appoint any inheritance for them, either beyond Jordan, or on this side it, for the Lord was to be their inheritance, Num 18:20; the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them; Deu 18:1; and which are put for the whole of what was granted to them for their subsistence, as tithes, firstfruits, &c.”
a.The chapter turns back east and enters what Moses had already given as settled title, so the defeat of Sihon and Og in Numbers 21 and the request of Numbers 32 are written into Joshua's record without being reopened. Verse 13 admits the exception, that Geshur and Maachah were never expelled and dwell among Israel until this day, and Geshur later has a king whose daughter Maacah bears Absalom at 2 Samuel 3:3 and shelters him for three years at 2 Samuel 13:37. Matthew Henry lays that on Israel rather than on the grant, writing that those who are not straitened in God's promises are yet straitened in their own faith, and prayers, and endeavours. Verse 14 gives Levi no land because the offerings made by fire are their portion, which is the wording of Numbers 18:20 and Deuteronomy 18:1 carried over.
C. Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh measured out
1. (vv. 15-23)
Joshua 13:15
“According to their families - Dividing the inheritance into as many parts as they had families; but this is only spoken of the greater families; for the lesser distributions to the several small families was done by inferior officers, according to the rules which Moses gave them.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Joshua 13:15, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:15
“And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. According to the number of them, and sufficient for them.”
Joshua 13:16
“And their coast was from Aroer that is on the bank of the river Arnon,.... As the country of Sihon is described, Jos 13:9; from whence it appears that it was his country which was given to Reuben, though not all of it: and the city that is in the midst of the river; See Gill on Jos 13:9, and all the plain by Medeba; which reached unto Dibon, Jos 13:9.”
Joshua 13:17
“Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain,.... Which was by Medeba, and reached to Dibon: Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon; Dibon was rebuilt by Gad, though it belonged to Reuben, and perhaps was inhabited by both, being on the borders of each; and Bamothbaal signifies the high places of Baal; see Num 22:41; perhaps this is the same with Bamoth in the valley, Num 21:20; and Bethbaalmeon is the same with Baalmeon in Num 32:38; where it is highly probable was a temple of Baal, since both "beth" signifies an house, and "meon" an habitation.”
Joshua 13:18
“And Jahazah,.... Called Jahaz, Num 21:23, where the battle was fought between Sihon and Israel: and Kedemoth; near to which was a wilderness, which took its name from it, from whence Moses sent messengers with words of peace to Sihon, Deu 2:26, and Mephaath; thought to be the Maipha of Ptolemy (f); here Jerom says (g), in his time was a garrison of Roman soldiers, because of the desert that was near.”
Joshua 13:18, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:18
“Jahaza - A city near Medeba and Dibon. It was given to the Levites, 1Ch 6:78. Kedemoth - Mentioned Deu 2:26; supposed to have been situated beyond the river Arnon. Mephaath - Situated on the frontiers of Moab, on the eastern part of the desert. It was given to the Levites, Jos 21:37.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:19
“Kirjathaim - This city, according to Eusebius, was nine miles distant from Medeba, towards the east. It passed from the Emim to the Moabites, from the Moabites to the Amorites, and from the Amorites to the Israelites, Gen 14:6; Deu 2:20. Calmet supposes the Reubenites possessed it till the time they were carried away by the Assyrians; and then the Moabites appear to have taken possession of it anew, as he collects from Jer 48:1 etc., and Eze 25:9 etc. Sibmah - A place remarkable for its vines. See Isa 16:8, Isa 16:9, Jer 48:”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:20
“And Bethpeor,.... So called from Peor, the idol of the Moabites, and where very likely there had been a temple built to the honour of it; over against this place was a valley, where Israel abode some time, Deu 3:29, and Ashdodpisgah; of which see Deu 3:17, and Bethjeshimoth; of which see Num 33:49.”
Joshua 13:21
“The princes of Midian - See the history of this war, Num 31:1, etc.; and from that place this and the following verse seem to be borrowed, for the introduction of the death of Balaam here seems quite irrelevant.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:22
“Were slain by them - This was recorded before, Num. xxxi, 8, and is here repeated, because the defeating of Balaam's purpose to curse Israel, and the turning that curse into a blessing, was such an instance of the power and goodness of God, as was fit to be had in everlasting remembrance.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Joshua 13:23
“The cities and the villages - By villages, חצרים chatserim, it is likely that moveable villages or tents are meant, such as are in use among the Bedouin Arabs; places where they were accustomed to feed and pen their cattle.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
a.Reuben's towns carry the names of the gods Israel had fallen to a generation before. Bamoth-baal and Beth-baal-meon at verse 17 and Beth-peor at verse 20 are Baal's high places, Numbers 25:1-3 records what Israel did at Baal-peor, and Deuteronomy 34:6 buries Moses in a valley over against Beth-peor. Verse 22 is the only place in Scripture that calls Balaam a soothsayer, and it sets his death among the slain of Midian, which closes Numbers 31:8. Heshbon at the head of the list had been Moab's before Sihon took it at Numbers 21:26, and Isaiah 16:8 and Jeremiah 48 find Moab holding these same towns again long after Reuben is gone.
2. (vv. 24-31)
Joshua 13:24
“Succoth and Penuel, which we read of in the story of Gideon, were in this tribe; and that forest which is called the wood of Ephraim (from the slaughter Jephthah made there of the Ephraimites), in which Absalom's rebellious army was beaten, while his father David lay at Mahanaim, one of the frontier-cities of this tribe,”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Joshua 13:25
“Half the land on the children of Ammon - This probably was land which had been taken from the Ammonites by Sihon, king of the Amorites, and which the Israelites possessed by right of conquest. For although the Israelites were forbidden to take the land of the Ammonites, Deu 2:37, yet this part, as having been united to the territories of Sihon, they might possess when they defeated that king and subdued his kingdom.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:26
“Ramath-mizpeh - The same as Ramoth-gilead. It was one of the cities of refuge, Jos 20:8; Deu 4:47. Mahanaim - Or the two camps. Situated on the northern side of the brook Jabbok, celebrated for the vision of the two camps of angels which Jacob had there; see Gen 32:2.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:26, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:26
“Ramath-mizpeh - Called Ramoth-Gilead, or Ramoth in Gilead. Mahanaim - Exclusively; for Mahanaim was in the portion of Manasseh, beyond Jabbok, which was the border of Gad and Manasseh.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Joshua 13:27
“Beth-aram - This city was rebuilt by Herod, and called Livias, in honor of Livia, the wife of Augustus. Josephus calls it Julias, Julia being the name which the Greeks commonly give to Livia. - Calmet. Succoth - A place between Jabbok and Jordan where Jacob pitched his tents, from which circumstance it obtained its name, see Gen 33:17.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:28
“This is the inheritance of the children of Gad, after their families,.... As described in Jos 13:27, the cities and their villages; the cities given them, some of which are mentioned by name, and the villages adjacent and belonging to them were included in them.”
Joshua 13:29
“And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh,.... Whether at their request or of himself, there being land enough for them, and the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, is not certain: and this is the possession of the half tribe of Manasseh, by their families; which is after related and described.”
Joshua 13:29, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:29
“The half tribe of Manasseh - When the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested to have their settlement on the east side of Jordan, it does not appear that any part of the tribe of Manasseh requested to be settled in the same place. But as this tribe was numerous, and had much cattle, Moses thought proper to appoint one half of it to remain on the east of Jordan, and the other to go over and settle on the west side of that river.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:30
“Of Jair - Who, though of the tribe of Judah, by the father, 1 Chron. ii, 21, 22, yet is called the son of Manasseh, Num. xxxii, 41, because he married a daughter of Manasseh, and wholly associated himself with those valiant Manassites; and with their help took sixty cities or great towns, Deut. iii, 4, 14, which thence were called the towns of Jair.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Joshua 13:31
“Children of Machir - Whom before he called the children of Manasseh, he now calls the children of Machir, because Machir was the most eminent, and as it may seem, the only surviving son of Manasseh, Num. xxvi, 29;”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
a.Gad inherits Jacob's ground. Mahanaim at verse 26 is where Jacob met the angels of God at Genesis 32:1-2, and Succoth at verse 27 is where he built booths for his cattle at Genesis 33:17. Adam Clarke identifies the Ramath-mizpeh of verse 26 with Ramoth-gilead, which becomes a city of refuge at Joshua 20:8 and the field where Ahab dies in 1 Kings 22. Manasseh receives the threescore towns of Jair, taken and named by Jair at Numbers 32:41, and a later Jair judges Israel at Judges 10:3-4 with thirty sons in thirty cities that were still called Havoth-jair when that verse was written.
3. (vv. 32-33)
Joshua 13:32
“Which Moses did distribute - Moses had settled every thing relative to these tribes before his death, having appointed them to possess the territories of Og king of Bashan, and Sihon king of the Amorites. For particulars on this chapter, the reader, if he judge it of consequence, may consult Calmet.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Joshua 13:32, 1 more voice
Joshua 13:32
“These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab,.... Which is particularly described, that each might know their proper portion: on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward; of the land of Canaan; of Jordan by Jericho; see Gill on Num 22:1.”
Joshua 13:33
“But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance,.... Neither on the other side Jordan, nor did he order them any in Canaan; but expressly declared they were to have no part in the division of it, though they were his own tribe; which shows him to be a disinterested man, that he faithfully observed the orders and instructions the Lord gave him: the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them; what was given to the Lord out of the sacrifices, and the tithes, and firstfruits, that were theirs; see Num 18:20.”
a.The whole east side was distributed in the plains of Moab, on the far bank by Jericho, by a man who never crossed the river. The chapter then ends where verse 14 began and says the same thing in different words: verse 14 gives Levi the offerings made by fire, and verse 33 gives Levi the Lord God of Israel himself. Numbers 18:20 stands behind both, and Deuteronomy 10:9 says it again to the whole nation.
The text of this chapter
This page carries no textual note on Joshua 13. Where this site has examined a place the manuscripts differ, the examination is in the manuscripts room. Every place this site examines →
This page draws on Adam Clarke; Albert Barnes; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871); John Gill; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Matthew Henry.