Land Promise to the Patriarchs
The allotments continue the fulfillment of the land promised to Abraham and his offspring.
Joshua 13
Land Still Remaining and the Eastern Tribal Inheritances
The LORD tells aged Joshua that much land remains, commands him to allot the land, and the chapter records the eastern inheritances already given to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, while emphasizing that Levi’s inheritance is the LORD Himself.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) , Public Domain · Translation notes · Reference sources
- Much Land Remains 13:1-6
Joshua is old, and the LORD names the land still to be possessed.
- Joshua Must Allot the Land 13:6-7
The LORD commands Joshua to apportion the land to Israel while promising continued divine action.
- The Eastern Inheritance Remembered 13:8-13
The chapter recalls the land already given east of the Jordan under Moses.
- Levi’s Inheritance Is Different 13:14
The tribe of Levi receives no land allotment because the offerings of the LORD are its inheritance.
- Reuben’s Territory 13:15-23
Reuben’s inheritance is described across former Amorite lands.
- Gad’s Territory 13:24-28
Gad’s inheritance is described in Gilead and nearby regions.
- The Half-Tribe of Manasseh’s Territory 13:29-31
The eastern half-tribe of Manasseh receives Bashan and related districts.
- The LORD Is Levi’s Inheritance 13:32-33
The eastern allotments are summarized, and Levi’s unique inheritance in the LORD is emphasized.
Biblical Theology
How This Chapter Fits
Theological Argument
The chapter argues that covenant inheritance is real but must be faithfully stewarded. The LORD has given the land, yet Israel must still possess what remains. Joshua’s age does not cancel God’s promise, and Israel’s allotments rest on the LORD’s command rather than human entitlement.
From unfinished possession to commanded allotment, from eastern tribal boundaries to the theological confession that the LORD Himself is Levi’s inheritance.
- Joshua’s life and leadership are limited, but the LORD’s promise continues
- Major victories have occurred, yet much land still remains to be possessed
- The LORD promises to drive out remaining peoples, so allotment can proceed by faith
- Inheritance is not vague blessing but concrete assignment from the LORD
- The eastern tribes’ allotments show continuity with Moses’ prior leadership
- The failure to drive out some peoples signals the need for continued obedience
Christological Focus
Joshua 13 contributes to the biblical theme of inheritance by showing that land allotment is a real covenant gift yet not the final inheritance. The tribe of Levi’s inheritance in the LORD points toward the deeper truth fulfilled in Christ, in whom God gives His people Himself and secures an imperishable inheritance.
The chapter argues that covenant inheritance is real but must be faithfully stewarded. The LORD has given the land, yet Israel must still possess what remains. Joshua’s age does not cancel God’s promise, and Israel’s allotments rest on the LORD’s command rather than human entitlement.
Covenant Significance
Joshua 13 anchors the land allotments in covenant promise. The LORD’s word to Abraham, Moses, and Joshua now takes the form of specific tribal inheritance. Yet the chapter also preserves the tension that possession must continue and that the covenant people must not settle for partial obedience.
- The land promise is being translated into tribal allotments
- Joshua is commanded to distribute inheritance even while some land remains unconquered
- The LORD promises to continue driving out remaining peoples
- The eastern allotments show continuity with Moses’ leadership
- The note about remaining Geshurites and Maacathites warns of incomplete possession
Formation
Theological Burden The LORD gives inheritance by promise, but His people must continue in obedient possession and treasure Him above every gift.
Pastoral Burden Move believers from passive enjoyment of blessing into active stewardship, contentment, and perseverance in unfinished obedience.
Character Aim A faithful, persevering, contented people who steward God’s gifts and prize the LORD Himself as their highest inheritance.
- Identify areas where obedience remains unfinished
- Steward assigned responsibilities with gratitude
- Refuse comparison over differing portions and callings
- Pray for perseverance beyond one season of victory
- Teach the next generation to continue faithful possession
Canonical Connections
Eastern Tribes and Moses’ Allotment
Joshua 13 recalls the earlier allotment to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh under Moses.
Levi’s Inheritance in the LORD
The chapter repeats the Torah theme that Levi has no land inheritance because the LORD is its portion.
Remaining Peoples and Incomplete Possession
The mention of remaining peoples anticipates later warnings about incomplete obedience and compromise.
Balaam’s End
The death of Balaam recalls his earlier attempt to curse Israel and the LORD’s preservation of His people.
Much Land Remains
Joshua is old, and the LORD names the land still to be possessed.
1 Now 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.
2 This is the land that remains: All the territory of the Philistines and the Geshurites,
3 from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites;
4 to the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Mearah of the Sidonians to Aphek, as far as the border of the Amorites;
5 the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.
Joshua Must Allot the Land
The LORD commands Joshua to apportion the land to Israel while promising continued divine action.
6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim—all the Sidonians—I Myself will drive out before the Israelites. Be sure to divide it by lot as an inheritance to Israel, as I have commanded you.
7 Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
The Eastern Inheritance Remembered
The chapter recalls the land already given east of the Jordan under Moses.
8 The other half of Manasseh, along with the Reubenites and Gadites, had received the inheritance Moses had given them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had assigned to them:
9 The area from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon,
10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the Ammonites;
11 also Gilead and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all of Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah—
12 the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei and had remained as a remnant of the Rephaim. Moses had struck them down and dispossessed them,
13 but the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites. So Geshur and Maacath dwell among the Israelites to this day.
Levi’s Inheritance Is Different
The tribe of Levi receives no land allotment because the offerings of the LORD are its inheritance.
14 To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The food offerings to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, just as He had promised them.
Reuben’s Territory
Reuben’s inheritance is described across former Amorite lands.
15 This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Reuben:
16 The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, to the whole plateau beyond Medeba,
17 to Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,
18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley,
20 Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth—
21 all the cities of the plateau and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon until Moses killed him and the chiefs of Midian (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), the princes of Sihon who lived in the land.
22 The Israelites also killed the diviner Balaam son of Beor along with the others they put to the sword.
23 And the border of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the clans of the Reubenites, including the cities and villages.
Gad’s Territory
Gad’s inheritance is described in Gilead and nearby regions.
24 This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Gad:
25 The territory of Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;
26 the territory from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;
27 and in the valley, Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, with the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon (the territory on the east side of the Jordan up to the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth).
28 This was the inheritance of the clans of the Gadites, including the cities and villages.
The Half-Tribe of Manasseh’s Territory
The eastern half-tribe of Manasseh receives Bashan and related districts.
29 This is what Moses had given to the clans of the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh:
30 The territory from Mahanaim through all Bashan—all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, including all the towns of Jair that are in Bashan, sixty cities;
31 half of Gilead; and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan. All this was for the clans of the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh, that is, half of the descendants of Machir.
The LORD Is Levi’s Inheritance
The eastern allotments are summarized, and Levi’s unique inheritance in the LORD is emphasized.
32 These were the portions Moses had given them on the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho.
33 To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, just as He had promised them.