Old Testament · History

Joshua 13

Land Still to Take

Joshua is old, and the job isn't done. God divides the remaining land by faith — giving what hasn't yet been fully conquered.

Berean Standard Bible BSB KJV

1Now 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.

2This is the land that remains:

6All 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.

7Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”

8The 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:

13but the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites. So Geshur and Maacath dwell among the Israelites to this day.

14To 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.

15This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Reuben:

24This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Gad:

28This was the inheritance of the clans of the Gadites, including the cities and villages.

29This 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:

30The 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;

31half of Gilead; and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan.

32These were the portions Moses had given them on the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho.

33To 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.

Understand This

Joshua 13, explained

What Joshua 13 is saying

God tells the aging Joshua that 'very much land remains to be possessed,' then details the unconquered territories including Philistia and Lebanon. The chapter then describes the allotments already given to the Transjordan tribes—Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—specifying their boundaries and noting that the Levites receive no territorial inheritance because Yahweh Himself is their inheritance.

The background behind it

The tension between 'Joshua took the whole land' (11:23) and 'very much land remains' (13:1) reflects the difference between broken Canaanite military power and complete occupation. The Transjordan allotments correspond to the territories of Sihon and Og defeated under Moses (Numbers 21).

Themes running underneath

The chapter introduces the crucial distinction between promise and possession—the land is given but must still be occupied. The Levites' unique inheritance (Yahweh Himself) establishes a counter-cultural economic theology: some are called to find their security in God alone rather than in property.

Why it still matters

Having a promise from God does not eliminate the need for faithful action to realize it. The gap between gift and full possession requires ongoing trust and obedience.

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Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible — used by permission, Bible Hub.