Joshua 13:14
in Joshua 13To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, just as He had promised them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance; the offerings of Jehovah, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spake unto him.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Joshua 13
Commentary
6 notes on this verseOnly 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.
This site's exposition
along with the Reubenites and Gadites
on Joshua 13:8-14
The east side is land Moses had already given, so Sihon and Og's defeat and the request of Numbers 32 stand without being reopened. Geshur and Maacath "dwell among the Israelites to this day", and Henry lays that on Israel's faith, prayers and endeavours rather than on God's promise.
This site's exposition
The offerings made by fire to the LORD
John Wesley takes the offerings made by fire to stand for the whole support of the Levites, tithes and firstfruits included. He reads the repetition as a protection for them against the greed of the other tribes. Matthew Henry adds that their towns lay scattered through every tribe.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Neither Moses nor Jesus [Joshua], however, gave an inheritance to the Levites, because "the Lord God himself is their inheritance." What else can we understand by this, except that in the church of the Lord there are certain persons who precede all the rest by the strength of their spirit and on account of their merits? The Lord himself is said to be their inheritance. And if it is proper to venture into such things and unveil a profound secret, let us see what the figure of priests or Levites secretly discloses, in case there is something.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Made by fire - Which are here put for all the sacrifices and oblations, including first-fruits and tithes, that were assigned to the Levites; and this passage is repeated, to prevent those calumnies and injuries which God foresaw the Levites were likely to meet with, from the malice, envy and covetousness of their brethren.
If they had been appointed to a lot entire by themselves, Moses would have served them first, not because it was his own tribe, but because it was God's; but they must be provided for in another manner; their habitations must be scattered in all the tribes, and their maintenance brought out of all the tribes, and God himself was the portion both of their inheritance and of their cup, Deut. x.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רַ֚ק | rak | only | H7535 → | 109 times |
| לְשֵׁ֣בֶט | leshevet | to [the] tribe of | H7626 → | 190 times |
| הַלֵּוִ֔י | halevi | the Levite[s] | H3878 → | 59 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נָתַ֖ן | natan | he gave | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| נַחֲלָ֑ה | nachalah | an inheritance | H5159 → | 222 times |
| אִשֵּׁ֨י | ʾishei | [the] fire offerings of | H801 → | |
| יְהוָ֜ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֱלֹהֵ֤י | ʾelohei | [the] God of | H430 → | 2601 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| ה֣וּא | hu' | that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| נַחֲלָת֔וֹ | nachalato | [was] inheritance its | H5159 → | 222 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| דִּבֶּר־ | diber- | he had spoken | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| לֽוֹ׃ ס | lo | to <the> it |
רַ֚קonly
rakH7535 →109 times
לְשֵׁ֣בֶטto [the] tribe of
leshevetH7626 →190 times
הַלֵּוִ֔יthe Levite[s]
haleviH3878 →59 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
נָתַ֖ןhe gave
natanH5414 →2011 times
נַחֲלָ֑הan inheritance
nachalahH5159 →222 times
אִשֵּׁ֨י[the] fire offerings of
ʾisheiH801 →
יְהוָ֜הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֱלֹהֵ֤י[the] God of
ʾeloheiH430 →2601 times
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
ה֣וּאthat
hu'H1931 →1879 times
נַחֲלָת֔וֹ[was] inheritance its
nachalatoH5159 →222 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
דִּבֶּר־he had spoken
diber-H1696 →1141 times
לֽוֹ׃ סto <the> it
lo
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 12:12And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 12:7
There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
- Deuteronomy 10:9
That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him.
- Deuteronomy 26:12
When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and…
- Deuteronomy 12:19
and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
- Deuteronomy 14:29
Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God…
- Deuteronomy 12:7
Through
Deuteronomy 12:19and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 31:4–21
Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.
- Nehemiah 10:34–39
We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our…
- 1 Corinthians 9:10–14
Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.
- 2 Chronicles 31:4–21
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 John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 17.2.