Joshua 13

Jos 13:1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

Joshua was old - He is generally reputed to have been at this time about a hundred years of age: he had spent about seven years in the conquest of the land, and is supposed to have employed about one year in dividing it; and he died about ten years after, aged one hundred and ten years. It is very likely that he intended to subdue the whole land before he made the division of it among the tribes; but God did not think proper to have this done. So unfaithful were the Israelites that he appears to have purposed that some of the ancient inhabitants should still remain to keep them in check, and that the respective tribes should have some labor to drive out from their allotted borders the remains of the Canaanitish nations.

thou art old, and stricken in years - the old age of Joshua is observed, to intimate to him that through it, and the infirmities of it, he was unable to go out to war, and to finish this work, which must be left to be done by others hereafter; and that he should with all expedition set about another work he was capable of doing, before he died, which was the division of the land among the tribes of Israel.

There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed - That is, very much of the land of Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham, yet remained unconquered by Joshua, and unpossessed by the children of Israel; very much when compared with that on the other side Jordan, which was all that could as yet be said to be in the hands of the Israelites.

and the Lord said unto him - either spoke to him out of the tabernacle, or appeared to him in a dream or vision:

Now Joshua was old and stricken in years--He was probably above a hundred years old; for the conquest and survey of the land occupied about seven years, the partition one; and he died at the age of one hundred ten years. The distribution, as well as the conquest of the land, was included in the mission of Joshua; and his advanced age supplied a special reason for entering on the immediate discharge of that duty; namely, of allocating Canaan among the tribes of Israel--not only the parts already won, but those also which were still to be conquered. Jos_13:1 contains the commencement of the divine command; the conclusion follows in Jos_13:7.

Jos 13:2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,

Geshuri - A district on the south of Philistia, the inhabitants of which are again named in 1Sa_27:8 And David and his men went up and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites. For they were the inhabitants of the land from the past days , as you come into Shur, even into the land of Egypt; but are not to be confounded with the land of the Geshurites mentioned in Jos_13:13 But the sons of Israel did not put out the Geshurites and the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day; Jos_12:5 and reigned in mount Hermon and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

The borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri - The borders of the Philistines may mean the land which they possessed on the sea-coast, southwest of the land of Canaan. There were several places named Geshuri, but that spoken of here was probably the region on the south of Canaan, towards Arabia, or towards Egypt. One scholar supposes it to have been a country in the vicinity of the Amalekites.

This is the land that yet remaineth - Unconquered and not enjoyed, namely, what is after described; and this account is given for Joshua's information, that he might know what to divide, and for the people of Israel's sake, that they might know what they had a right to a claim upon; what they should endeavor to possess themselves of, and what the Lord would deliver into their hands, provided they were obedient to his will, for, because they were not, hence many of these places never came into their possession, though divided to them by lot:

and all Geshuri - the principal city belonging to it is said to be in Syria, 2Sa_15:8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD will indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD; and had a king over it in the times of David, 2Sa_3:3 And his second was Chileab, of Abigail of Carmel, the former wife of Nabal. And the third was Absalom, the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; and seems never to have come into the hands of the Israelites.

This is the land that yet remaineth--that is, to be acquired. This section forms a parenthesis, in which the historian briefly notices the districts yet unsubdued; namely, first, the whole country of the Philistines--a narrow tract stretching about sixty miles along the Mediterranean coast, and that of the Geshurites to the south of it 1Sa_27:8 And David and his men went up and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites. For they were the inhabitants of the land from the past days , as you come into Shur, even into the land of Egypt. Both included that portion of the country "from Sihor, which is before Egypt," a small brook near El-Arish, which on the east was the southern boundary of Canaan, to Ekron, the most northerly of the five chief lordships or principalities of the Philistines.

And all Geshuri - not the district of Geshur in Peraea (Jos_13:11, Jos_13:13, Jos_12:5; Deu_3:14), but the territory of the Geshurites, a small tribe in the south of Philistia, on the edge of the north-western portion of the Arabian desert which borders on Egypt; it is only mentioned again in 1Sa_27:8. The land of the Philistines and Geshurites extended from the Sichor of Egypt (on the south) to the territory of Ekron (on the north).

Jos 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

Sihor - derived from a root signifying “to be black,” Here it most probably stands for “the river of Egypt”, the modern “Wady el Arish”.

From Sihor, which is before Egypt - This river is often mentioned as the boundary of the Israelites to the southwest, as Euphrates, the great river, was on the northeast.

Ekron – also known as Akir, it lay on the northern boundary of Judah Jos_15:11, and was actually conquered by the men of that tribe Jdg_1:18 Also Judah took Gaza with its border, and Askelon with its border, and Ekron with its border, though assigned in the allotment of the land to Dan Jos_19:43. It seems to have fallen again into the hands of the Philistines in the days of the Judges 1Sa_5:10 And it happened that they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it happened as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought around the ark of the God of Israel to us in order to kill us and our people, was reconquered by Samuel 1Sa_7:14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were given back to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath. And Israel delivered its borders out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites, but figures in subsequent times as a Philistine city only 1Sa_17:52 And the men of Israel rose up and shouted, and Judah pursued the Philistines until you come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and to Ekron; 2Ki_1:2, 2Ki_1:16.

Lords of the Philistines - The Hebrew word seren means “an axle,” and is applied as a title special to the chiefs (Jdg_3:3) of the Philistines. The five lords of the Philistines; who were not kings, as other countries and cities in the land of Canaan had, and their cities were called lordships, principalities, and not kingdoms.

Five lords of the Philistines - These dynasties are famous in the Scriptures for their successful wars against the Israelites, of whom they were almost the perpetual scourge.

Gaza - Gaza was the most southern of the Philistine cities (Jos_10:41; Jos_11:22). It was allotted to the tribe of Judah Jos_15:47, and was, with Askalon, taken by the warriors of that tribe Jdg_1:18. Both cities were soon re-occupied by the Philistines, and subsequently are always mentioned as Philistine cities. Gaza lay on the direct route of the Egyptian armies in their invasions of Syria, by whom it was captured more than once. Special judgments are denounced against Gaza for the cruelty of its people toward the Jews in the time of their humiliation Amo_1:6-7 So says the LORD: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea for four, I will not turn away from it; because they deported as exiles to deliver up a complete population to Edom. But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour its palaces; Zep_2:4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a ruin. They shall drive out Ashdod at the noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up; Zec_9:5 Ashkelon shall see and fear; Gaza also shall writhe in great pain; and Ekron shall be ashamed for her hope. And the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited, and in the time of Jerome the ancient city was a ruin of which the foundations could hardly be traced, and the then existing town was built on another site.

Ashdod - (“Esdud;” Azotus, Act_8:40) was, like Gaza, allotted to Judah (Jos_15:46-47), but was soon regained by the Philistines, and became a principal seat of their Dagon worship. Here the ark of God was taken after its capture by the Philistines. Its name (“fortress,” “castle”), no less than its history (2Ch_26:6; Isa_20:1; Neh_4:7) indicates its importance as a stronghold; it withstood for twenty-nine years the longest siege on record by the Egyptian king Psammetichus. Like Gaza, it was doomed by the Jewish prophets to desolation, and it was utterly destroyed by the Maccabees. It was, however, rebuilt by the Romans.

Askelon - (see Jdg_1:18), the birthplace of Herod the Great, figures as an important town and seaport in the history of the Crusades, and very massive ruins still attest the ancient strength and grandeur of the place. It is situated about midway between Gaza and Ashdod.

Gath - seems to have been first taken by David 1Ch_18:1 And it happened after this, David struck the Philistines and humbled them. And he took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines. It is not named again in the book of Joshua. It was the town of Goliath 1Sa_17:4 And a champion named Goliath came out of the Philistines camp; he was from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span, and is mentioned in David’s elegy over Saul as a leading Philistine city 2Sa_1:20 Tell it not in Gath, do not let it be known in the streets of Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. It was the nearest of the Philistine cities to Jerusalem, but both the name and the city have perished.

Ekron - Ekron was one of the five lordships of the Philistines, and the most northern of all the districts they possessed. Baal-zebub, its idol, is famous in Scripture; see 2Ki_1:2, etc. The five lordships of the Philistines were Gaza, Ashdod, Askalon, Gath, and Ekron. There is no proof that ever the Israelites possessed Ekron; though, from Jos_15:11 And the border went to the side of Ekron northward, and the border was drawn to Shikkeron and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out to Jabneel. And the boundary line was at the Sea, some think it was originally given to Judah, but the text does not say so; it only states that the border of the tribe of Judah went out Unto the Side of Ekron. From Jos_19:43, we learn that it was a part of the lot of Dan, but it does not appear to have been possessed by any of those tribes.

Counted to the Canaanite - It is generally allowed that the original possessors of this country were the descendants of Canaan, the youngest son of Ham. The Philistines sprang from Mizraim, the second son of Ham, and, having dispossessed the Avim from the places they held in this land, dwelt in their stead. Gen_10:13-14 And Mizraim fathered Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim, and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines) and Caphtorim.

Counted to the Canaanites - That is, which though now possessed by the Philistines, who drove out the Canaanites the old inhabitants of it, Deu_2:23; Amo_9:7 Are you not like sons of the Ethiopians to Me, O sons of Israel, says the LORD? Have I not brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?, yet is a part of the land of Canaan, and therefore belongs to the Israelites.

Also the Avites - These must not be confounded with the Hivites. The Avites seem to have been a very inconsiderable tribe, who dwelt in some of the skirts of Palestine. They had been originally deprived of their country (by the Caphtorim); and though they lived as a distinct people, they had never afterwards arrived to any authority. They were driven out or destroyed by the Philistines, though it seems some remained and dwelt among them; Deu_2:23 And the Avvim who lived in villages as far as Azzah, the Caphtorites, who came forth out of Caphtor destroyed them, and lived in their place.

The Avites - Or, the Avims, as they are called, Deu_2:23, who though they were expelled out of their ancient seat, and most of them destroyed by the Caphtorims or Philistines, as is there said, yet many of them escaped, and planted themselves not very far from the former.

Jos 13:4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:

The land of the Canaanites - This lay on the south of the country of the Philistines, towards the sea-coast.

From the south, all the land of the Canaanites - That is, of those Canaanites who were particularly so called, in distinction from those of the other nations or tribes, and who dwelt in several parts of the land, some in the east and others in the west, Jos_11:3; and, as it seems here, some in the south: all the land of the Canaanites was left, that is, remained unconquered and not possessed:

and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians - the inhabitants of Sidon, and parts adjacent: what this place was, which belonged to the Sidonians, for so it may better be rendered, is not certain; some take it to be a cave belonging to them: One scholar speaks of a number of caves cut out of the rock in those parts, called the caves of the Sidonians, and afterwards the caves of Tyre; so it is interpreted by the Targum, Pliny makes mention of as on the borders of Lebanon near Zidon and Berytus: mention is made of the waters of Mearah along with the waters of Tiberias in Jewish writings; but rather something of more importance than a cave or a river is meant; most likely a tract of land near Sidon, and which belonged to it.

Mearah - the cave

that is beside the Sidonians--a mountainous region of Upper Galilee, remarkable for its caves and fastnesses.

From the south - That is, from those southern parts of the sea - coast, now possessed by the Philistines, all the more northern parts of the sea - coast being yet inhibited by the Canaanites, almost as far as Sidon.

The Amorites - The Amorites were a very strong and numerous people, and we find them dispersed in several parts, some within Jordan, and some without it, some in the south and others in the north, of whom he speaks here.

to the borders of the Amorites--a portion of the northeastern territory that had belonged to Og. The third district that remained unsubdued:

Aphek - This is probably the Aphek spoken of in 1Ki_20:26 And it happened at the return of the year Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians that went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. 2Ki_13:18, as the capital of the kings of Syria; now Afka; eastward, in Lebanon.

Jos 13:5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

Giblites - The people of Gebal. This people dwelt beyond the precincts of the land of Canaan, on the east of Tyre and Sidon. They were stone-squarers 1Ki_5:18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Giblites cut out and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house and ship caulkers Eze_27:9 The elders of Gebal and her wise men were with you, reinforcing your seams. All the ships of the sea with their seamen were with you, to exchange your merchandise. Psa_83:7; their capital was named Gebal.

unto the entering into Hamath - which was the north border of the land; see Num_34:8 From Mount Hor you shall point your border to the entrance of Hamath. And the end of the border shall be at Zedad.

Lebanon - Deu_1:7 Turn and pull up stakes , and enter the hill-country of the Amorites, and to all its neighboring places, in the Arabah in the hill-country, and in the low country, and in the south, and in the shore of the sea, the land of the Canaanites and of Lebanon, to the great river, the river Euphrates. Deu_3:25 I pray you, let me go over and see the good land beyond Jordan, this good hill-country and Lebanon.

Baalgad - Jos_12:7 And these are the kings of the land which Joshua and the sons of Israel struck on this side Jordan, on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even to the mount Halak that goes up to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

under mount - Jos_11:17 From mount Halak that goes up to Seir, even to Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon. And he took all their kings, and struck them and killed them.

Jos 13:6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.

These will I drive out - That is, if the Israelites continued to be obedient; but they did not, and therefore they never fully possessed the whole of that land which, on this condition alone, God had promised them: the Sidonians were never expelled by the Israelites, and were only brought into a state of comparative subjection in the days of David and Solomon. Some have taken upon them to deny the authenticity of Divine revelation relative to this business, “because,” say they, “God is stated to have absolutely promised that Joshua should conquer the whole land, and put the Israelites in possession of it.” This is a total mistake.

1. God never absolutely, i.e., unconditionally, promised to put them in possession of this land. The promise of their possessing the whole was suspended on their fidelity to God. They were not faithful, and therefore God was not bound by his promise to give them any part of the land, after their first act of national defection from his worship.

2. God never said that Joshua should conquer the whole land, and give it to them; the promise was simply this: “Thou shalt bring them into the land, and thou shalt divide it among them:” both of which he did, and procured them footing by his conquests, sufficient to have enabled them to establish themselves in it for ever.

3. It was never said, Thou shalt conquer it all, and then divide it; no. Several of the tribes, after their quota was allotted them, were obliged to drive out the ancient inhabitants.

them will I drive out--The fulfillment of this promise was conditional. In the event of the Israelites proving unfaithful or disobedient, they would not subdue the districts now specified; and, in point of fact, the Israelites never possessed them though the inhabitants were subjected to the power of David and Solomon.

and all the Sidonians - the inhabitants of the ancient city of Sidon, and the villages and lands belonging to it: these remained unconquered, and never were possessed by the Israelites:

only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance - that is, the whole land both what was subdued and what was not; that was the business, and all the business, Joshua had now to do; he was not to be employed in making any further conquests, but leave them to others, and apply himself to the division of the land, by lot, to the tribes that as yet had no portion assigned them:

only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance--The parenthetic section being closed, the historian here resumes the main subject of this chapter--the order of God to Joshua to make an immediate allotment of the land. The method of distribution by lot was, in all respects, the best that could have been adopted, as it prevented all ground of discontent, as well as charges of arbitrary or partial conduct on the part of the leaders; and its announcement in the life of Moses Num_33:54 And you shall divide the land by lot by your families. And you shall give the more inheritance to the many; to the few you shall give the less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls out to him; according to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit, as the system according to which the allocations to each tribe should be made, was intended to lead the people to the acknowledgment of God as the proprietor of the land and as having the entire right to its disposal. Moreover, a solemn appeal to the lot showed it to be the dictate not of human, but divine, wisdom. It was used, however, only in determining the part of the country where a tribe was to be settled--the extent of the settlement was to be decided on a different principle Num_26:54 To many you shall give the more inheritance, and to few you shall give the less inheritance; each by the mouth of his numbered ones shall be given his inheritance. The overruling control of God is conclusively proved because each tribe received the possession predicted by Jacob (Gen. 49:3-28) and by Moses (Deu. 33:6-25).

Jos 13:7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

The nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh - The other half tribe of Manasseh, and the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, had got their inheritance on the other side of Jordan, in the land formerly belonging to Og king of Bashan, and Sihon king of the Amorites.

Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance - Having the command and authority of God for it, he was to set about it at once, with all diligence and application:

unto the nine tribes - of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Ephraim, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali, in which order they are placed, when the Lord gave to Moses the names of the men that should divide the land under Eleazar and Joshua, Num_34:16-29.

Jos 13:8 With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;

which Moses gave them beyond Jordan eastward - at their desire, and upon certain conditions to be performed by them. By my command, and therefore do not thou disturb them in their possessions, but proceed to divide the other possessions to the rest. Read Numbers 32 for details.

even as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them - this character of Moses, as the "servant of the Lord", seems to be observed to show that he gave the said tribes their inheritance: according to the will of God, and in obedience to it: here end the words of the Lord to Joshua, and next follows an account of the land given to the two tribes and a half described by the writer of this book.

Jos 13:9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;

From Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon - A city belonging to Moab, from whence the description begins, the river Arnon, on which it was situated, being the border between Moab and the Amorites, Num_21:13 From there they pulled up and pitched on the other side of Arnon, in the wilderness that comes out of the borders of the Amorites; for Arnon is in the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

and the city that is in the midst of the river - or "even the city"; meaning the same city of Aroer, it lying both on the bank of it, and in the middle of it, or it was a double city, as may seem from Isa_17:2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; now they are for flocks; they shall lie down, and no one terrifies them; and so differently situated at that river:

and all the plains of Medeba unto Dibon - of these two places, see Num_21:30 We have cast them down. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon, and we have laid them waste even to Nophah which is to Medeba; between them lay a plain, which some take to be the plain of Moab; but it rather seems to be a plain that was between these two places, and, according to Jos_13:17, Dibon itself was in a plain.

Medeba unto Dibon - Two cities anciently belonging to the Moabites, and taken from them by the Amorites, Num_21:30, and from them by the Israelites; and after the Israelites were gone into captivity, recovered by the first possessors, the Moabites.

Jos 13:10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;

And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon - A city he took from the Moabites, and made it his royal seat, Num_21:26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, even to Arnon.

unto the border of the children of Ammon - which was the river Jabbok, Deu_3:16 And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the river Arnon, half the valley, and the border even to the river Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon.

Jos 13:11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;

Gilead – Gilead is the whole country of that name on both sides of the Jabbok Jos_12:2 and Deu_3:10. The land of Gilead, which was part of the kingdom of Og, half of which was given to Reuben, and the other half to Gad:

The territory of the Geshurites and Maachathites - is referred to in Jos_12:5 as the boundary of the kingdom of Og, and in Deu_3:14 as the boundary of the land which was taken by Jair the Manassite; here it is included in the inheritance of the tribes on the other side of the Jordan, but it was never really taken possession of by the Israelites, and (according to Jos_13:13) it had probably never been really subject to king Og. The other notices in Jos_13:11 and Jos_13:12 are the same as in Jos_12:4-5.

and all Bashan unto Salcah - another part of the dominions of Og, Deu_3:10 All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, and Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan were taken.

And Maacathites - Whose land God had given to the Israelites without Jordan, though they had not yet used the gift of God, nor taken possession of it, as is noted, Jos_13:13.

Jos 13:12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.

who remained of the remnant of the giants - was descended from those that remained in Ashtaroth, after the rest were cut off by Chedorlaomer, Gen_14:5 And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and struck the giants in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim; called there the Rephaim in the KJV.

for these did Moses smite, and cast them out - that is, not only the giants, but the inhabitants of the above kingdom, the greatest part of them; for the Geshurites and the Maachathites are excepted in Jos_13:13. Not all now mentioned, but Sihon and Og, and their people, and the generality of them.

Jos 13:13 Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

Nevertheless, the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites - Neither in the times of Moses, nor in the times of Joshua:

dwell among the Israelites until this day - in full possession of their cities unmolested; yea, in later times they became separate and distinct kingdoms; for we read both of the king of Geshur, and of the king of Maachah, 2Sa_3:3.

Jos 13:14 Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.

Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance - The tribe of Levi was to receive no land, but the firings of Jehovah, the offerings, including the tithes and first-fruits (Lev_27:30-32, compared with Num_18:21-32), were to be its inheritance; so that the God of Israel himself is called the inheritance of Levi in Jos_13:33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance. The LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as He said to them as in Num_18:20 And the LORD said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any part among them. I am your part and your inheritance among the sons of Israel, to which the words “as He said unto them” refer (see the commentary on Num_18:20).

Made by fire - Which are here put for all the sacrifices and oblations, including first - fruits and tithes, that were assigned to the Levites; and this passage is repeated, to prevent those calumnies and injuries which God foresaw the Levites were likely to meet with, from the malice, envy and covetousness of their brethren.

Jos 13:15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.

Inheritance of the tribe of Reuben - This territory was the most southerly of the trans-Jordanic possessions of Israel, and adjoined Moab, which lay only on the other side of the Arnon. Hence, the Reubenites became in after times much intermixed with the Moabites, who in fact eventually acquired much of the land, and several, if not all, of the cities here named as belonging to Reuben. This acquisition was probably assisted by the fact that the territory north of Arnon had formerly belonged to the Moabites, from whom it was wrested by the Amorites. It is not likely that the Amorite conquerors had completely extirpated the Moabite inhabitants. Hence, in the days when the Reubenites became engrossed in their pastoral pursuits, and probably not very long after the days of Joshua, the Moabites easily encroached on their inheritance, and in the end probably reoccupied nearly the whole of the ancient kingdom of Sihon.

According to their families - Dividing the inheritance into as many parts as they had families; but this is only spoken of the greater families; for the lesser distributions to the several small families was done by inferior officers, according to the rules which Moses gave them.

Jos 13:16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;

And their coast was from Aroer that is on the bank of the river Arnon - As the country of Sihon is described, Jos_13:9; from whence it appears that it was his country which was given to Reuben, though not all of it:

Jos 13:17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,

Heshbon, Kedemoth, and Mephaath became eventually Levitical cities.

Bamoth-baal - The high places of Baal, probably so called from altars erected on hills for the impure worship of this Canaanite god.

Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon - Dibon was rebuilt by Gad, though it belonged to Reuben, and perhaps was inhabited by both, being on the borders of each; and Bamothbaal signifies the high places of Baal; Num_22:41 And it happened on the next day Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Baal, so that from there he might see the edge of the people; perhaps this is the same with Bamoth in the valley, Num_21:20 and from Bamoth in the valley, in the country of Moab, they worked to the top of Pisgah, which looks toward the wilderness; and Bethbaalmeon is the same with Baalmeon in Num_32:38 and Nebo, and Baal-meon (their names being changed) and Sibmah, and they gave other names to the cities which they built; where it is highly probable was a temple of Baal, since both "beth" signifies an house, and "meon" an habitation.

Jos 13:18 And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,

Jahaza - A city near Medeba and Dibon. Called Jahaz, Num_21:23 And Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. But Sihon gathered all his people, and went out against Israel in the wilderness. And he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel, where the battle was fought between Sihon and Israel: It was given to the Levites, 1Ch_6:78 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan: out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness, with its open lands, and Jahzah with its open lands.

Kedemoth - near to which was a wilderness, which took its name from it, from whence Moses sent messengers with words of peace to Sihon, Deu_2:26 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying; supposed to have been situated beyond the river Arnon, east of the Arnon.

Mephaath - Situated on the frontiers of Moab, on the eastern part of the desert. thought to be the Maipha of Ptolemy; It was a city, with its suburbs, given to the Levites, as were the two preceding, It was given to the Levites, Jos_21:36-37.

Jos 13:19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,

Kirjathaim - It passed from the Emim to the Moabites, from the Moabites to the Amorites, and from the Amorites to the Israelites, Gen_14:6; Deu_2:20. Calmet supposes the Reubenites possessed it till the time they were carried away by the Assyrians; and then the Moabites appear to have taken possession of it anew, as he collects from Jer_48:1 So says Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, against Moab: Woe to Nebo, for it is ravaged! Kiriathaim is shamed and captured. The Fortress is shamed and razed. Eze_25:9 therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities, from his borders, the glory of the land, even Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim.

Sibmah - A place remarkable for its vines. Isa_16:8-9 For Heshbon's fields droop, the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have crushed its choice plants, they have come to Jazer, they wander in the desert; her branches are stretched out, they have crossed the sea. On account of this I will weep with the weeping of Jazer, the vine of Sibmah. I will water you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for the shouting has fallen on your fruit and on your harvest. Jer_48:32 O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer. Your plants have gone over the sea; they reach to the sea of Jazer. A ravager has fallen on your summer fruits and on your grape crop.

Zarethshahar - in the mount of the valley; which was built on one of the mountains that looked over the valley of Moab, as did Nebo, Pisgah, Abarim; This probably means a town situated on or near to a hill in some flat country. According to Jos_13:27, the valley was the Jordan valley, or rather (according to Gen_14:3, Gen_14:8) the vale of Siddim, a valley running down on the eastern side of the Dead Sea.

Jos 13:20 And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,

Beth-peor - The house or temple of Peor, the idol of the Moabites, situated at the foot of the mountain of the same name. Num_25:3 And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. Over against this place was a valley, where Israel abode some time, Deu_3:29 So we stayed in the valley over against Beth-peor,

and Ashdodpisgah - of which see Deu_3:17 the plain also, and Jordan, and its border, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, under The Slopes of Pisgah eastward,

and Bethjeshimoth - Jos 12:3 and from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and to the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth, and from the south, under The Slopes of Pisgah, in the Ghor el Seisabân, on the north-east side of the Dead Sea (see at Num_22:1). In Jos_13:21, the places which Reuben received in addition to those mentioned by name are all summed up in the words, “and all the (other) towns of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon,” sc., so far as it extended over the plain. These limitations of the words are implied in the context: the first in the fact that towns in the plain are mentioned in Jos_13:17; the second in the fact that, according to Jos_13:27, “the rest of the kingdom of Sihon,” i.e., the northern portion of it, was given to the Gadites. The allusion to Sihon induced the author to mention his defeat again; see at Num 31, where the five Midianitish vassals who were slain with Sihon are noticed in Num 31:8 And they killed the kings of Midian, besides the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword, and the death of Balaam is also mentioned.

Jos 13:21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

The princes of Midian - See the history of this war, Num_31:1, and from that place this and the following verse seem to be borrowed, for the introduction of the death of Balaam here seems quite irrelevant.

Dukes of Sihon - Rather “vassals of Sihon,” probably those “dedicated” or “appointed” with a libation.

and all the kingdom of Sihon – more properly rendered, "which all had been the kingdom of Sihon"; for the whole kingdom of Sihon was not given to Reuben, only a part of it, and the rest to Gad, as in Jos_13:27,

and Hur, and Reba - not at the same time that Sihon was smitten by him, but afterwards in a war with Midian, Num 31:8 And they killed the kings of Midian, besides the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword; where their names are given as here; and there they are called kings of Midian, petty kings, and, as it seems by what follows, were subject to Sihon, and therefore are here mentioned:

Whom Moses smote - Not in the same time or battle, as appears by comparing Num_21:23-24, with Num_31:8, but in the same manner. And they are here mentioned, partly because they were slain not long after, and upon the same occasion, even their enmity against Israel; and partly because of their relation and subjection to Sihon.

Jos 13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

Balaam also, the son of Beor - At the same time that the princes of Midian were slain, Num_31:8. And they killed the kings of Midian, besides the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

among them that were slain by them - among the above princes, and the common soldiers, of which there was a great slaughter; even all the males of Midian were slain, Num 31:7 And they warred against the Midianites, as Jehovah commanded Moses. And they killed all the males.

Were slain by them - This was recorded before, Num_31:8, and is here repeated, because the defeating of Balaam's purpose to curse Israel, and the turning that curse into a blessing, was such an instance of the power and goodness of God, as was fit to be had in everlasting remembrance.

Jos 13:23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.

Jordan - the Jordan and its territory. Compare similar expressions in Num 34:6 And for the western border, you shall even have the Great Sea for a border. This shall be your west border. Deu 3:16 And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the river Arnon, half the valley, and the border even to the river Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon. The portion of the tribe of Reuben at its northern extremity touched the Jordan; the main part of his inheritance lay on the east of the Dead Sea.

The cities and the villages - By villages, chatserim, it is likely that moveable villages or tents are meant, such as are in use among the Bedouin Arabs; places where they were accustomed to feed and pen their cattle. Farm premises, used, as in Lev_25:31, to denote places not enclosed by a wall.

Jos 13:24 And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.

And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad - On the other side Jordan, as he did to Reuben:

according to their families - according to the number and largeness of them, dividing to each their part and portion.

Jos 13:25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;

All the cities of Gilead - Gilead in the narrower sense, included in the territory of Sihon, and distinct from Bashan Deu_3:10. Only those which lay in those parts, for the whole was not given to this tribe, half of Gilead was given to the half tribe of Manasseh, Jos_13:31.

Half the land of the children of Ammon - that half of the Ammonite territory which had been conquered by the Amorites. This, after the overthrow of Sihon, the Israelites took for their own. The land which the Ammonites still held in the days of Moses, the Israelites were not permitted to attack. For although the Israelites were forbidden to take any of their land in present possession, Deu 2:37 Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not come, to any place of the river Jabbok, nor to the cities in the mountains, nor to whatever Jehovah our God denied us, yet this part, as having been united to the territories of Sihon, they might possess when they defeated that king and subdued his kingdom. Deu 2:19 And when you come near, across from the sons of Ammon, do not trouble them nor be stirred up against them. For I will not give you any possessions from the land of the sons of Ammon, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession. Jdg 11:13 And the king of the sons of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even to Jabbok, and to Jordan. Now therefore restore those lands peaceably.

Rabbah - a border fortress, the principal stronghold of the Ammonites Num 21:24 And Israel struck him with the edge of the sword and possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, even to the sons of Ammon. For the border of the sons of Ammon was strong, and the residence of their king. It was attacked and taken by Joab 2 Sam. 11; 12; 1Ch 20:1 And it happened after the year had ended, at the time kings go forth, Joab led out the power of the army and wasted the country of the sons of Ammon. And he came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and destroyed it, but appears in later times again as an Ammonitish city Jer 49:3 Wail, O Heshbon; Ai is spoiled! Cry, daughters of Rabbah; clothe yourselves with sackcloth, mourn, and run to and fro by the hedges! For their king shall go into exile; his priests and his rulers together. Eze 25:5 And I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and the Ammonites a crouching-place for flocks. And you shall know that I am Jehovah. Amo_1:13-15 So says Jehovah: For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon, yea for four, I will not turn away from it. Because they have ripped up the pregnant women of Gilead, to make their own border larger. But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour its palaces with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind. And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, says Jehovah. In the third century B.C. it received from Ptolemy Philadelplus the name of Philadelphia; but has now for many centuries been in ruins, remarkable for their grandeur and extent.

And their coast was Jazer - Their southern coast; of Jazer, Num 21:32 And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there; where it is called Jaazer, and is mentioned in Isa 16:8 For Heshbon's fields droop, the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have crushed its choice plants, they have come to Jazer, they wander in the desert; her branches are stretched out, they have crossed the sea; Jer 48:32 O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer. Your plants have gone over the sea; they reach to the sea of Jazer. A ravager has fallen on your summer fruits and on your grape crop, where it is spoken of as a city of Moab, as it was in the days of those prophets:

Jos 13:26 And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;

The border of Debir - Rather perhaps “the border of Lidbir,” which is regarded as identical with the Lo-debar of 2Sa 9:4 And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar; 2Sa 17:27 And it happened when David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah, of the sons of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

Debir - is different from that in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:15 And he went up from there to those who lived in Debir. And the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher; in the Septuagint version Jos 13:26 And from Esebon to Araboth by Massepha, and Botanim, and Maan to the borders of Daebon, (Septuagint) here it is called Daibon, perhaps the same with Dibon, the tribe of Gad rebuilt, and is called Dibongad, Num 32:34 And the sons of Gad built Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer; unless Lidbar here should be the same with Lodebar in Gilead, 2Sa_17:27.

Ramath-mizpeh - The same as Ramoth-gilead. It was one of the cities of refuge, Jos 20:8 And beyond the Jordan, at Jericho eastward, they gave Bezer in the wilderness, on the tableland out of the tribe of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Mahanaim - Or the two camps, one of the towns from which provisions were brought to David at Mahanaim. Situated on the northern side of the brook Jabbok, celebrated for the vision of the two camps of angels which Jacob had there; Gen 32:2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim - This was their coast from the south to the north, and so describes their eastern border, which reached from Heshbon, given to the tribe of Reuben, Jos_13:7; to these places mentioned; Ramathmizpeh, the same with Ramothgilead, which lay two miles from Philadelphia (Rabbath); of Betonim we nowhere else read, it seems to have been near to Ramath:

Jos 13:27 And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.

Beth-aram - The same with Bethharan; A city near mount Peor, and not far from the entrance of the Jordan into the Dead Sea. This city was rebuilt by Herod, and called Livias, in honor of Livia, the wife of Augustus. Josephus calls it Julias, Julia being the name which the Greeks commonly give to Livia.

Succoth - A place between Jabbok and Jordan where Jacob pitched his tents, from which circumstance it obtained its name, Gen 33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

and Bethnimrah - sometimes called Nimrah, Num_32:3; near to which were some waters, called the waters of Nimrim, Isa 15:6 For the waters of Nimrim are desolation; for the hay has dried up and the grass fails, there is no green thing.

the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon - which was not given to the tribe of Reuben, Jos_13:21,

the sea of Chinnereth - the same with the lake of Gennesaret, Luk 5:1 And it happened that the crowd pressed on Him to hear the Word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret.

Jos 13:28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.

Jos 13:29 And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.

The half tribe of Manasseh - When the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested to have their settlement on the east side of Jordan, Num_32:1, it does not appear that any part of the tribe of Manasseh requested to be settled in the same place. But as this tribe was numerous, and had much cattle, Moses thought proper to appoint one half of it to remain on the east of Jordan, and the other to go over and settle on the west side of that river. partly as a recompence to Machir the Manassite, for his valiant acts against Og; and partly for the better defence of the other two tribes, by so considerable an accession to them, which also was without any inconvenience to them, because the country was too large for the two tribes of Reuben and Gad.

Jos 13:30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:

The towns of Jair - These were sixty cities; they are mentioned afterwards, and in 1Ch_2:21, etc. They are the same with the Havoth-jair mentioned Num 32:41 And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns of it, and called them Towns of Jair. Jair was son of Segub, grandson of Esron or Hezron, and great-grandson of Machir by his grandmother’s side, who married Hezron of the tribe of Judah. See his genealogy, 1Ch_2:21-24 And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old. And she bore him Segub. And Segub fathered Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and its towns, sixty cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. And after Hezron died in Caleb-ephratah, then Abiah, Hezron's wife bore him Ashur the father of Tekoa.

Of Jair - Who, though of the tribe of Judah, by the father, 1Ch_2:21-22, yet is called the son of Manasseh, Num_32:41, because he married a daughter of Manasseh, and wholly associated himself with those valiant Manassites; and with their help took sixty cities or great towns, Deu_3:4, Deu_3:14, which thence were called the towns of Jair.

all Bashan - so famous for its oxen, and for pasturage for them, and for its oaks, called by Josephus Batanea:

Jos 13:31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.

And half Gilead - The other half not given to the Gadites, who had that half of it which Sihon possessed, and the tribe of Manasseh that half of it which Og possessed, Deu_3:12,

and Ashtaroth, and Edrei - cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan; which are particularly mentioned, because royal cities, Jos_13:10; see Deu_1:4,

Children of Machir - Whom before he called the children of Manasseh, he now calls the children of Machir, because Machir was the most eminent, and as it may seem, the only surviving son of Manasseh, Num 26:29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites. And Machir fathered Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites; 1Ch_7:14-16 The sons of Manasseh: Ashriel, the son born to his Syrian concubine with Machir the father of Gilead, and Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim; and the name of his sister was Maachah. And the name of the second was Zelophehad. And Zelophehad had daughters. And Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh. And the name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.

Jos 13:32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.

Which Moses did distribute - Moses had settled every thing relative to these tribes before his death, having appointed them to possess the territories of Og king of Bashan, and Sihon king of the Amorites.

Jos 13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance - Neither on the other side Jordan, nor did he order them any in Canaan; but expressly declared they were to have no part in the division of it, he faithfully observed the orders and instructions the Lord gave him:

the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance - as he said unto them; what was given to the Lord out of the sacrifices, and the tithes, and firstfruits, that were theirs; Num 18:20 And Jehovah said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any part among them. I am your part and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. If they had been appointed to a lot entire by themselves, Moses would have served them first, not because it was his own tribe, but because it was God’s, but they must be provided for in another manner; their habitation must be scattered in all the tribes, and their maintenance brought out of all the tribes, and God himself was the portion both of their inheritance and of their cup.