Chapter 13
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Now 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.
2This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
3From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
4From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
5And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.
6All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
7Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
8With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;
9From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;
10And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;
11And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
12All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.
13Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.
14Only 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.
15And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
16And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;
17Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,
18And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
19And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,
20And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,
21And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.
22Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
23And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.
24And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.
25And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;
26And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;
27And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.
28This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.
29And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.
30And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:
31And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
32These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
33But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
“But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.”
Overview
God tells the aging Joshua that much land remains to be possessed and outlines the territories still unconquered. The chapter then details the inheritance of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan, as Moses had allotted to them. Notably, the tribe of Levi receives no land inheritance because the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance.
Key Themes
Unfinished Work and Faithful Aging
God acknowledges Joshua's age while noting the remaining work, showing that God's purposes continue beyond any single leader's lifetime.
Inheritance Given and Received
The distribution of territory fulfills God's ancient promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the land is not earned but given as an inheritance by grace.
The LORD as Levi's Inheritance
The Levites receiving God Himself as their inheritance rather than land reveals that the highest possession is relationship with God.
Study Questions
What does God's statement that 'there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed' (v. 1) teach about the difference between promise and possession?
Why does the tribe of Levi receive no territorial inheritance, and what does it mean that 'the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance' (v. 33)?
How does the eastern tribes' inheritance reflect the diversity of God's provision for His people?
What does this chapter reveal about the importance of boundaries, order, and stewardship in community life?
How does the concept of 'inheritance' in Joshua connect to the New Testament idea of believers' inheritance in Christ?
Connection to Christ
The concept of Levi's inheritance being the LORD Himself points to the New Testament reality that Christ is the believer's ultimate inheritance. Peter declares that believers have been given 'an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven' (1 Peter 1:4). The earthly land was only a shadow of the eternal inheritance secured by Christ.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Joshua 13. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?