Joshua 13
Land Yet to Be Conquered
1Now Joshua was old and well advanced in years. The LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.
2“This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;
3from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim,
4on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites;
5and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath;
6all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, even all the Sidonians. I will drive them out from before the children of Israel. Just allocate it to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.
7Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
Inheritance East of the Jordan
8With him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them:
9from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon;
10and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon;
11and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah;
12all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (who was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for Moses attacked these, and drove them out.
13Nevertheless the children of Israel didn’t drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath live within Israel to this day.
14Only he gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The offerings of the LORD, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spoke to him.
15Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families.
16Their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba;
17Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,
18Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
19Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar in the mount of the valley,
20Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth Jeshimoth,
21all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.
22The children of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain.
23The border of the children of Reuben was the bank of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families, the cities and its villages.
24Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad, according to their families.
25Their border was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is near Rabbah;
26and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;
27and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan’s bank, to the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward.
28This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and its villages.
29Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was for the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families.
30Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities.
31Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the children of Machir according to their families.
32These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward.
33But Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.
As Joshua reaches old age, God acknowledges that much of the Promised Land remains unconquered, including Philistine territories and northern regions. Despite the incomplete conquest, God commands Joshua to proceed with dividing the land among the nine and a half tribes who will settle west of the Jordan. The chapter then details the inheritance already given by Moses to the two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) who chose to settle east of the Jordan, providing specific territorial boundaries and noting that the Levites received no land inheritance but were sustained by offerings.
Context
This chapter transitions from the conquest narratives of chapters 1-12 to the detailed land distribution accounts that will dominate chapters 13-21.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-7Unconquered Land and Division CommandGod tells aging Joshua that much land remains unconquered but commands him to divide it among the tribes anyway.
- 8-14Eastern Tribes' Inheritance OverviewSummary of the inheritance Moses gave to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh east of Jordan, noting the Levites' special status.
- 15-23Reuben's Territory DetailedSpecific boundaries and cities allocated to the tribe of Reuben in the Transjordan region.
- 24-28Gad's Territory DetailedDetailed description of the land and cities given to the tribe of Gad.
- 29-31Half-Manasseh's TerritoryThe inheritance of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan and Gilead.
- 32-33Moses' Distribution SummaryConcluding summary of Moses' land distribution with reminder of Levi's unique inheritance.
Land Yet to Be Conquered
13:1–13:7God speaks to the aging Joshua about the remaining unconquered territories, including Philistine and Canaanite lands. Despite Joshua's advanced age, God promises to drive out the remaining inhabitants and commands the division of the land among the nine and a half tribes.
person_contrast
God's threefold repetition of Joshua's advanced age in verses 1-2 creates dramatic tension between human limitation and divine promise, emphasizing that conquest depends on God's power rather than human strength.
Inheritance East of the Jordan
13:8–13:33Details the territorial inheritance given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh east of the Jordan River, as previously allocated by Moses. The Levites receive no territorial inheritance but are sustained by offerings to the Lord.
person_contrast
Moses appears 13 times in this single chapter—more than any other Joshua passage—emphasizing his enduring authority over territorial boundaries even after death.
Joshua 13:3
1 Samuel 6:16lexicalWhen the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
Judges 3:3lexicalthe five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from M…
Joshua 15:11lexicaland the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount…
1 Samuel 6:12lexicalThe cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh. They went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn’t…
1 Samuel 7:14lexicalThe cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel reco…
Joshua 13:5
Joshua 11:17lexicalfrom Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even to Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon. He took all their…
Joshua 12:1lexicalNow these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan towa…
Joshua 12:7lexicalThese are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel struck beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal Gad…
Joshua 13:7
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 14:2lexicalby the lot of their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.
Joshua 18:2lexicalSeven tribes remained among the children of Israel, which had not yet divided their inheritance.
Joshua 12:6lexicalMoses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel struck them. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a posses…
Joshua 22:10lexicalWhen they came to the region near the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of…
Joshua 13:8
2 Kings 10:33lexicalfrom the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which…
Numbers 32:19lexicalFor we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on…
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Numbers 34:15lexicalThe two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunr…
Numbers 34:14lexicalfor the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers’ houses, the tribe of the children of Gad according t…
Joshua 13:9
Joshua 12:2lexicalSihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon,…
Deuteronomy 4:48lexicalfrom Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, even to Mount Siyon (also called Hermon),
Deuteronomy 2:36lexicalFrom Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there w…
2 Kings 10:33lexicalfrom the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which…
Deuteronomy 3:12lexicalThis land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country…
Joshua 13:10
Joshua 12:2lexicalSihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon,…
Numbers 21:26lexicalFor Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken al…
Deuteronomy 2:24lexical“Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorit…
Numbers 21:34lexicalThe LORD said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You…
Deuteronomy 1:4lexicalafter he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtarot…
Joshua 13:11
Joshua 12:5lexicaland ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and h…
Deuteronomy 3:14lexicalJair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called t…
Deuteronomy 3:10lexicalWe took all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, to Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og i…
1 Chronicles 5:11lexicalThe sons of Gad lived beside them in the land of Bashan to Salecah:
Joshua 13:12
Joshua 12:4lexicaland the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Deuteronomy 3:11lexical(For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Isn’t i…
Deuteronomy 1:4lexicalafter he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtarot…
Deuteronomy 3:13lexicaland the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh—all the region of Argob,…
Deuteronomy 3:1lexicalThen we turned, and went up the way to Bashan. Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to batt…
Joshua 13:13
Joshua 12:5lexicaland ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and h…
Deuteronomy 3:14lexicalJair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called t…
2 Samuel 3:3lexicaland his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daught…
1 Chronicles 3:2lexicalthe third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
Joshua 13:16
Joshua 12:2lexicalSihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon,…
Deuteronomy 2:36lexicalFrom Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there w…
Deuteronomy 4:48lexicalfrom Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, even to Mount Siyon (also called Hermon),
Deuteronomy 3:16lexicalTo the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the valley of the Arnon, the middle of the valley, and i…
2 Kings 10:33lexicalfrom the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which…
Joshua 13:20
Joshua 12:3lexicaland the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to…
Deuteronomy 4:49lexicaland all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.
Deuteronomy 3:17lexicalthe Arabah also, and the Jordan and its border, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the s…
Joshua 13:21
Numbers 31:8lexicalThey killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian.…
Deuteronomy 4:46lexicalbeyond the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, wh…
Judges 11:19lexicalIsrael sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, ‘Please let us pass t…
Numbers 21:26lexicalFor Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken al…
Deuteronomy 2:24lexical“Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorit…
Joshua 13:22
Numbers 31:8lexicalThey killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian.…
Numbers 22:29lexicalBalaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have kille…
Joshua 13:23
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 22:25lexicalFor the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no po…
Joshua 19:22lexicalThe border reached to Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh. Their border ended at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their v…
Joshua 18:20lexicalThe Jordan was its border on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders arou…
Joshua 19:8lexicaland all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the t…
Joshua 13:25
Joshua 12:2lexicalSihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon,…
Deuteronomy 3:12lexicalThis land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country…
Joshua 12:5lexicaland ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and h…
Deuteronomy 3:16lexicalTo the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the valley of the Arnon, the middle of the valley, and i…
Amos 1:13lexicalThe LORD says: “For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, b…
Joshua 13:27
Deuteronomy 3:17lexicalthe Arabah also, and the Jordan and its border, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the s…
Joshua 9:10lexicaland all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king…
Deuteronomy 4:46lexicalbeyond the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, wh…
Joshua 2:10lexicalFor we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you di…
Deuteronomy 4:49lexicaland all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.
Joshua 13:28
Joshua 19:16lexicalThis is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:8lexicaland all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the t…
Joshua 19:48lexicalThis is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their village…
Joshua 19:31lexicalThis is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villa…
Joshua 19:39lexicalThis is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their vill…
Joshua 13:29
Joshua 21:6lexicalThe children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Ash…
Joshua 21:27lexicalThey gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan…
Joshua 21:5lexicalThe rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
1 Chronicles 27:20lexicalof the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
Joshua 13:30
1 Kings 4:13lexicalBen Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, belonged to him; and the region…
Deuteronomy 3:4lexicalWe took all his cities at that time. There was not a city which we didn’t take from them: sixty cities, all the region o…
Deuteronomy 3:14lexicalJair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called t…
Joshua 12:4lexicaland the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Numbers 32:41lexicalJair the son of Manasseh went and took its villages, and called them Havvoth Jair.
Joshua 13:31
Deuteronomy 3:13lexicaland the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh—all the region of Argob,…
Deuteronomy 1:4lexicalafter he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtarot…
Joshua 12:4lexicaland the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Deuteronomy 3:10lexicalWe took all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, to Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og i…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Joshua 13:32
Numbers 22:1lexicalThe children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
Numbers 34:15lexicalThe two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunr…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Joshua 12:1lexicalNow these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan towa…
Deuteronomy 4:49lexicaland all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter