Joshua 11:23 Meaning and Explanation
“So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joshua took the whole land as the Lord had promised, distributed it to the tribes as their inheritance, and the land rested from war.
What Does Joshua 11:23 Mean?
The chapter closes with a sweeping summary. Joshua takes the whole land just as the Lord had said to Moses, then gives it to Israel as an inheritance, portioned out among the tribes. The final words bring the long campaign to rest: and the land rested from war.
Here the promise reaches its fulfillment, and rest follows obedience. The word inheritance speaks of a gift received rather than a wage earned; the land is granted by God's faithfulness. That hard-won rest points beyond itself to a deeper rest still promised to God's people, the settled peace of those who, through Christ, enter into the inheritance He has prepared.
Joshua 11:23 in the Original Language
inheritance (נַחֲלָה, 'possession, heritage') -- a portion received as a permanent gift, here the land granted to each tribe by God's promise.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 11:23
What does Joshua 11:23 mean?
Joshua took the whole land as the Lord had promised, distributed it to the tribes as their inheritance, and the land rested from war.