Joshua 13

The Lord maketh known unto Josua when he was grown old , what land there was yet to be subdued , verse 1. & c. and he commanded him to divide that land among the nine Tribes and an half , 7. hereunto is added a short survey of the Land which Moseh had subdued on the other side of Jordan, 9. The cause wherefore the Levites were to have no inheritance , 14. The portion of the Reubenites , 19. of the Gadites , 24. of the half Tribe of Manasseh ,29. There is again shawed , wherefore no inheritance was given unto the Levites , 33.

1. Josua was old , stricken in yeares ( or full of dayes ) [Heb. coming , or entering into dayes . See the annot. On Gen.18.11.] and the LORD said unto him , Thou art grown old , stricken in yeares , and there is very much land remaining that is to be inherited .

2. This is the land that remaineth : all the Philisines ( land, ) and all Gesuri : [Of the land of Gesur is also mention made 2 Sam .3.3. and 15.18. and 14.26.]

3. From Sihor , [A river that beareth its name from blacknesse, is conceived that it parteth Palestina from Egypt. See Num.34.5.] which is before Egypt , unto the border of Ekron toward the North , which is counted to the Canaanites : five Princes ( or Lords ) of the Philistines , [here the word Princes , or Lords is put for the Lordships themselves] the Guzadite , and Asdodite , the Askelonite , the Gethite , and Ekronite , and the Avites . [i.e. besides the five Lords or Princes , there were also the Avites , Heb. Avoim . It is true judged , that those of Caphthor had destroyed the Avites , Deuteronomy 2:23. but still there did some remain , whereof this text speaketh in this place.]

4. From the South, and all the land of the Canaanites , and Neara [Some take this to be the name of a city : Others , to be the name of a river] which is the Zidonians , unto aphek, even to the border of the Amorites .

5. Also the land of the Giblites [See 1 Kings 5. on verse 8.] and all Libanon toward the rising of the sun , from Baal-Gad beneath mount-Hermon , unto the entrance of Hamath.

6. All those that dwell upon the mountains , from Libanon unto Misrepoth-Maim , all the Zidonians ; I will drive them out from the face of the children of Israel . Only cause thou it to fall unto the Israelites for an inheritance , according as I have commanded .

7. And now divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes , and to the half tribe of Manasseh.

8. With whom [viz. the half tribe of Manasseh] the Reubenites and Gadites have received their inheritance : which Moseh gave unto them on the other side of Jordan , towards the East , according as Moseh the servant of the LORD had given them . [i.e. in such manner and form , and with such conditions . See above chapter 4.12.]

9. From Aroer , which is on the bank [Heb. lip] of the river Arnon , and the city which is in the midst of the river , and all the plain land from Medeba unto Dibon .

10. And all the cities of Sihon the King of the Amorites , who reigned a Heshbon , unto the border of the children of Ammon :

11. And Gilead , and the border of the Gesurites , and of the Maachathites , and all mount-Hermon , and all Basan, unto Salcha .

12. All the Kingdom of Og in Basan , who reigned at Astharoth and at Edrei , this ( man ) remained of the remnant of the Giants , [See Deut. 14. v.5.] whom Moseh slew , and drave them out .

13. But the children of Israel did not expell the Gesurites , nor the Maachithites . But Gesur and Maachath dwelt in the midst of Israel untto this day .

14. Onely he [viz. Moseh, as appeareth v. 33.] gave no inheritance unto the tribe of Levi : the fire offerings [i.e. that which remained of the fire offerings , See Num.18. v. 8. 20,24. Deuteronomy 10:9. & 18.2.] of the LORD God of Israel , they are [or that is] his [viz. Levi's , or the Levites] inheritance , according as he had spoken unto him.

15. So Moseh gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families .

16. That teir border was from Aroer , which is on the brook of the river Arnon , and the citiy which is in the midst of the river , and all the plain land unto Medeba .

17. Hesbon [This city belonged to the Reubenites and Gadites together , which is to be observed , for that it is said below chap.21.39. that the Gadites gave this city unto the Levites] and all her cities , which are in the plain land , Dibon , and Bannoth-Baal , and Beth-Baal-Meon.

18. And Jabza , and Kademoth , and Maphaath .

19. And Kiriathaim , and Sibma , and Zereth -hassahar on the mount of the valley .

20. And Beth-Peor , and Asdoth-Pisga , [See the Annot. on Joshua 12:3.] and Beth Jesimoth ,

21. And all the cities of the plain land , and all the Kingdom of Sihon the King of the Amorites who reigned at Heshbon : whom Moseh smote together with the Princes of Midian , Evi, and Rekem, and Zur , and Shur, and Reba [Understand that Moseh likewise smote those : See Num.31.8.] Mighty men of Sihon , [i.e. Deputies , Governours, Rulers : Num.31,8. they be called Kings :] inhabitants of the countrey,

22. Likewise the children of Israel slew Bileam te son of Beor the sooth sayer with the sword , [See Num.24. on v. 25.] besides those that were smitten by them.

23. Now the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan , and the border thereof : that is the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families , cities and their villages .

24. And unto the tribe of Gad, unto the children of God according to their families Moseh gave ,

25. That their border was Jaezar , and all the cities of Gilead : and half the land of the children of Ammon ; [Here is to be observed that Sihon had first taken this same from the Ammonites . Num.21,26. So that the children of Israel took it not from the Ammonites ( for that was forbidden them , Deuteronomy 2:19. ) but for King Sihon , see Judg.11.15.] unto Aroer , which is before Rabba.

26. And from Hesbon unto Ramoth-mispe , and Bethonim : and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir ,

27. And in the valley of Beth-haram, and Beth-Nimra , and Succoth , and Zaphon , which remained of the Kingdom of Sihon the King at Hesbon , Jordan , and the border ( thereof , ) [This was the bank of Jordan] unto the end of the Sea Cinnereth , beyond Jordan , toward the East.

28. This is the inheritance of the children of Gad , according to their families : the cities and their villages .

29. Moreover, Moseh had given unto the half tribe of Manasseh ( an inheritance : ) which remained [Heb. was]unto the half tribe of the children of Manasseh , according to their families .

30. So that their border was from Mahanaim , all Basan , all the Kingdom of Og the King of Basan , and all the towns of Jair , [Jair , by the fathers side , was of the tribe of Judah : for Hesron the son of Perez was his grand father , of the tribe of Judah ; but the daughter of Machir the son of Manasseh was his grand mother , 1 Chron.2.21,22. and because Manasseh was his grand mothers grand father , therefore he is called a son of Manasseh , Num.32.41. He also followed the tribe of Manasseh, among whom he behaved himself so valiantly , that he obtained among them so great a portion of land and inheritance] which are in Basan , threescore cities . [this is the number of the cities which this tribe had in the Kingdom of Basan .]

31. And half Gilead and Ashteroth , and Edrei , cities of the Kingdom of Basan , were ( pertaining to ) the children of Machir , the son of Manaeseh , ( namely, to ) one half of the children of Machir , [for his six sons had received their inheritance on the other side of Jordan with the nine Tribes : See before Chap.17.2.] according to their families .

32. This is that which Moseh had described [Oth. had given in] for inheritance in the field of Moab , on the other side of Jordan from Jericho, eastward.

33. But unto the tribe of Levi , Moseh gave no inheritance : The LORD, the God of Israel , himself is their inheritance , according as he spake unto them . [Or , of them.]