Joshua 23:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joshua recalls that he apportioned the land by lot as an inheritance for the tribes, both the conquered territory and the regions yet to be possessed.
What Does Joshua 23:4 Mean?
Joshua reviews the distribution of the land, assigned to the tribes by lot from the Jordan in the east to the Mediterranean in the west. He includes not only the nations already cut off but those that remain, treating the unfinished portion as already granted by promise. The inheritance is settled even where the work continues.
An inheritance is received, not earned, a gift from a father's hand. Israel's portion came by God's pledge before it came by their effort. So the believer's lasting inheritance is secured by promise in Christ, even while parts of it are still being entered. We labor not to obtain what is ours but to take hold of what God has already given.
Joshua 23:4 in the Original Language
nachalah (נַחֲלָה), 'inheritance' -- a permanent possession received as a family allotment, not a wage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 23:4
What does Joshua 23:4 mean?
Joshua recalls that he apportioned the land by lot as an inheritance for the tribes, both the conquered territory and the regions yet to be possessed.