Joshua 13: The land still to be taken, and the land east of the Jordan
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What happens?
Joshua is old, and Yahweh tells him that much land is still to be taken, from the land of the Philistines in the south to Lebanon in the north. Yahweh says he will drive out the people of the hill country, all the Sidonians, and Joshua is to divide the land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Then the chapter lists the land east of the Jordan that Moses had already given to Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh, and says that Levi received no land.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the chapter. God's own words are in 7 of the 33 verses: in verses 1 to 7 Yahweh tells Joshua how much land is left and that he is to divide it. The rest of the chapter is the narrator's list. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now Joshua was old and well advanced in years. Yahweh said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.God speaks
In plain English: Joshua was old and well on in years (literally: had come into days). Yahweh said to him, "You are old and well on in years, and very much land is still left to be taken (or: possessed).
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2“This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;God speaks
In plain English: "This is the land that is still left: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites,
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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,God speaks
In plain English: from the Shihor, which faces Egypt (literally: on the face of Egypt), to the border of Ekron to the north, which is counted as Canaanite land. There are the five rulers (this Bible: lords) of the Philistines: the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites (of Gath) and the Ekronites. There are also the Avvim,
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4on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites;God speaks
In plain English: on the south. And all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah, which belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek, to the border of the Amorites,
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5and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath;God speaks
In plain English: and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath (or: to Lebo Hamath),
The Hebrew words: "The entrance of Hamath" is lebo hamat. Lebo comes from the common word the dictionary gives as "to go or come".
What changes: Read as "the entrance of Hamath", it is the way in to the land of Hamath in the far north. Read as a name, it is a town called Lebo Hamath. This Bible also says "the entrance of Hamath" in and .
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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.God speaks
In plain English: and all the people of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Only give it out to Israel (literally: make it fall to Israel) as an inheritance, as I have commanded you.
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7Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”God speaks
In plain English: So now divide this land as an inheritance among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh."
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8With him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them:
In plain English: With it (this Bible: with him), the Reubenites and the Gadites had received their inheritance, which Moses gave them on the east side of the Jordan, as Moses the servant of Yahweh gave it to them:
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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;
In plain English: from Aroer, on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon,
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10and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon;
In plain English: and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the Ammonites,
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11and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah;
In plain English: and Gilead, and the border (or: territory) of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah:
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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.
In plain English: all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei. He was one of the remnant (those left) of the Rephaim. Moses had defeated them and driven them out.
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13Nevertheless the children of Israel didn’t drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath live within Israel to this day.
In plain English: But the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites. Geshur and Maacath still live among Israel to this day.
The Hebrew word: "Drive out" is yarash, which the dictionary gives as "to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place)". The same word is "possessed" in .
How it is translated: In Joshua this Bible says a form of "drive" or "drove" in 14 of the 24 verses that use yarash, and a form of "possess" in 11.
Good to know: Here the book says a people was not driven out. It says it again of the Jebusites in .
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14Only he gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The offerings of Yahweh, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spoke to him.
In plain English: Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance. The offerings made by fire to Yahweh, the God of Israel, are its inheritance, as he said to the tribe (this Bible: to him).
Good to know: Moses said the same in : the tribe of Levi "shall eat the offerings of Yahweh made by fire". says it again in other words.
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15Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families.
In plain English: Moses gave land to the tribe of Reuben, by their families (or: clans).
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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;
In plain English: Their border (or: territory) ran from Aroer, on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba;
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17Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,
In plain English: Heshbon and all its cities in the plain: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,
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18Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
In plain English: Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
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19Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar in the mount of the valley,
In plain English: Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley,
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20Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth Jeshimoth,
In plain English: Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth Jeshimoth,
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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.
In plain English: all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Moses defeated him, together with the leaders of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.
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22The children of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain.
In plain English: The Israelites also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner (this Bible: soothsayer), with the sword, along with the others they killed.
The Hebrew word: "Soothsayer" is qosem, from a word the dictionary gives as "properly, to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine".
Good to know: Balaam's story is told in Numbers 22 to 24 (it begins at ). names the same five men as "the five kings of Midian" and says Israel "also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword".
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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.
In plain English: The border of the Reubenites was the Jordan and its bank. This was the inheritance of the Reubenites by their families: the cities and their villages.
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24Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad, according to their families.
In plain English: Moses gave land to the tribe of Gad, to the Gadites, by their families.
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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;
In plain English: Their border (or: territory) was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, as far as Aroer, which faces Rabbah;
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26and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;
In plain English: and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir (or: Lo Debar);
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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.
In plain English: and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan as its border, to the far end of the sea of Chinnereth, on the east side of the Jordan.
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28This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and its villages.
In plain English: This is the inheritance of the Gadites by their families: the cities and their villages.
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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.
In plain English: Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was for the half-tribe of the Manassites, by their families.
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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.
In plain English: Their border (or: territory) ran from Mahanaim: all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair in Bashan, sixty cities.
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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.
In plain English: Half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh, for half of the descendants of Machir, by their families.
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32These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward.
In plain English: These are the inheritances Moses gave out in the plains of Moab, on the other side of the Jordan at Jericho, to the east.
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33But Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. Yahweh, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.
In plain English: But Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. Yahweh, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he told them.
Good to know: has nearly the same words: "Yahweh is their inheritance, as he has spoken to them." In Yahweh tells Aaron, "I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel."
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