Joshua 13:1
in Joshua 13Now 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now Joshua was old and well stricken in years; and Jehovah said unto him, Thou art old and well stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Joshua 13
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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).
This site's exposition
very much of the land remains to be possessed
on Joshua 13:1-7
Joshua 21:45 says none of the LORD's good promises failed, verse 1 says "very much of the land remains to be possessed", and both stand. Adam Clarke reads the remainder against the condition of obedience, noting that the Sidonians were never expelled and were only subdued under David and Solomon.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
But since we have determined that the things that are said about Jesus [Joshua] also refer to our Lord and Savior, whom do we understand to be as much "the presbyter and elder, advanced of days" as the one who is "the beginning, the firstborn of every creature"? And for that reason, perhaps, he alone, before whom there is no one, is truly and properly called presbyter. Therefore, although there are those in the Scriptures who are called presbyters or elders or high priests, nevertheless, among the presbyters or elders the Lord Jesus must be reckoned chief of presbyters, and among bishops, chief of bishops, just as among high priests he is "chief of high priests." and as among shepherds he is "chief of shepherds." The Savior must be held first and chief in this and in every honorable title, because he is the "head" of all.
Certain attentive persons even before us have observed in the Scriptures that presbyters or elders are not so called because they have lived to a great age, but they are honored by this title for their maturity of thought and venerable dignity of life, especially when there is added to presbyter this phrase that follows: "full of days."
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
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.
Thou art old - Therefore delay not to do the work which I have commanded thee to do. It is good for those that are stricken in years, to be remembered that they are so: that they may be quickened to do the work of life, and prepare for death which is coming on apace.
Now Joshua was old, and stricken in years,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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).
Joshua was old - He is generally reputed to have been at this time about a hundred years of age: he had spent about seven years in the conquest of the land, and is supposed to have employed about one year in dividing it; and he died about ten years after, aged one hundred and ten years. It is very likely that he intended to subdue the whole land before he made the division of it among the tribes; but God did not think proper to have this done. So unfaithful were the Israelites that he appears to have purposed that some of the ancient inhabitants should still remain to keep them in check, and that the respective tribes should have some labor to drive out from their allotted borders the remains of the Canaanitish nations. There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed - That is, very much when compared with that on the other side Jordan, which was all that could as yet be said to be in the hands of the Israelites.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
A great deal of the land remains— Of the land I promised to Avrohom, much remains to be possessed [as an inheritance], for it has not been conquered. 1 And since you are old, you will not be able to do so in your lifetime.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ | vihoshua' | and Joshua | H3091 → | 218 times |
| זָקֵ֔ן | zaken | he was old | H2204 → | 27 times |
| בָּ֖א | ba' | he had come | H935 → | 2568 times |
| בַּיָּמִ֑ים | baiyamim | in <the> days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| וַיֹּ֨אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| יְהוָ֜ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֵלָ֗יו | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אַתָּ֤ה | ʾatah | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| זָקַ֙נְתָּה֙ | zakantah | you are old | H2204 → | 27 times |
| בָּ֣אתָ | bata | you have come | H935 → | 2568 times |
| בַיָּמִ֔ים | vaiyamim | in <the> days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| וְהָאָ֛רֶץ | vehaaretz | and the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| נִשְׁאֲרָ֥ה | nisharah | it remains | H7604 → | 133 times |
| הַרְבֵּֽה־ | harbeh- | much | H7235 → | 227 times |
| מְאֹ֖ד | meod | very | H3966 → | 300 times |
| לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ | lerishtah | to take possession of it | H3423 → | 231 times |
וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַand Joshua
vihoshua'H3091 →218 times
זָקֵ֔ןhe was old
zakenH2204 →27 times
בָּ֖אhe had come
ba'H935 →2568 times
בַּיָּמִ֑יםin <the> days
baiyamimH3117 →2304 times
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
יְהוָ֜הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֵלָ֗יוto him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
אַתָּ֤הyou
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
זָקַ֙נְתָּה֙you are old
zakantahH2204 →27 times
בָּ֣אתָyou have come
bataH935 →2568 times
בַיָּמִ֔יםin <the> days
vaiyamimH3117 →2304 times
וְהָאָ֛רֶץand the land
vehaaretzH776 →2504 times
נִשְׁאֲרָ֥הit remains
nisharahH7604 →133 times
הַרְבֵּֽה־much
harbeh-H7235 →227 times
מְאֹ֖דvery
meodH3966 →300 times
לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃to take possession of it
lerishtahH3423 →231 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Deuteronomy 31:3The LORD your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 9:3
But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate…
- Deuteronomy 31:23
Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with…
- Deuteronomy 3:28
But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”
- Deuteronomy 9:3
Through
Luke 1:7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:11
By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
- Genesis 18:11
And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
- Genesis 25:21
Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
- 1 Samuel 1:2
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
- Hebrews 11:11
Through
Joshua 24:29Some time later, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.
it leads to
- Judges 2:8
And Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.
- Judges 2:8
Where this verse is studied
About Joshua
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 16.2 and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 16.1.