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Matthew Henry |
J O S H U A
CHAP. XIII.
At this chapter begins the account of the dividing of the land of
Canaan among the tribes of Israel by lot, a narrative not so
entertaining and instructive as that of the conquest of it, and yet it
is thought fit to be inserted in the sacred history, to illustrate the
performance of the promise made to the fathers, that this land should
be given to the seed of Jacob, to them and not to any other. The
preserving of this distribution would be of great use to the Jewish
nation, who were obliged by the law to keep up this first distribution,
and not to transfer inheritances from tribe to tribe,
It is likewise of use to us for the explaining of other scriptures: the
learned know how much light the geographical description of a country
gives to the history of it. And therefore we are not to skip over these
chapters of hard names as useless and not to be regarded; where God has
a mouth to speak and a hand to write we should find an ear to hear an
eye to read; and God give us a heart to profit! In this chapter,
I. God informs Joshua what parts of the country that were intended in
the grant to Israel yet remained unconquered, and not got in
possession,
II. He appoints him, notwithstanding, to make a distribution of what
was conquered,
III. To complete this account, here is a repetition of the distribution
Moses had made of the land on the other side Jordan; in general
(ver. 8-14),
in particular, the lot of Reuben
(ver. 15-23),
of Gad
(ver. 24-28),
of the half tribe of Manasseh,
| The Distribution of Canaan. | B. C. 1445. |
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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.
2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the
Philistines, and all Geshuri,
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:
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:
5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the
sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into
Hamath.
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.
Here,
I. God puts Joshua in mind of his old age,
v. 1.
1. It is said that Joshua was old and stricken in years, and he
and Caleb were at this time the only old men among the thousands of
Israel, none except them of all those who were numbered at Mount Sinai
being now alive. He had been a man of war from his youth
but now he yielded to the infirmities of age, with which it is in vain
for the stoutest to think of contesting. It should seem Joshua had not
the same strength and vigour in his old age that Moses had; all that
come to old age do not find it alike good; generally, the days of old
age are evil days, and such as there is no pleasure in, nor expectation
of service from.
2. God takes notice of it to him: God said to him, Thou art old.
Note, It is good for those who are old and stricken in years to
be put in remembrance of their being so. Some have gray hairs here
and there upon them, and perceive it not
(Hos. vii. 9);
they do not care to think of it, and therefore need to be told of it,
that they may be quickened to do the work of life, and make preparation
for death, which is coming towards them apace. But God mentions
Joshua’s age and growing infirmities,
(1.) As a reason why he should now lay by the thoughts of pursuing the
war; he cannot expect to see an end of it quickly, for there remained
much land, more perhaps than he thought, to be possessed, in several
parts remote from each other: and it was not fit that at his age he
should be put upon the fatigue of renewing the war, and carrying it to
such distant places; no, it was enough for him that he had reduced the
body of the country. “Let him be gathered to rest with honour and the
thanks of his people for the good services he had done them, and let
the conquering of the skirts of the country be left for those that
shall come after.” As he had entered into the labours of Moses, so let
others enter into his, and bring forth the top-stone, the doing of
which was reserved for David long after. Observe, God considers the
frame of his people, and would not have them burdened with work above
their strength. It cannot be expected that old people should do as they
have done for God and their country.
(2.) As a reason why he should speedily apply himself to the dividing
of that which he had conquered. That work must be done, and done
quickly; it was necessary that he should preside in the doing of it,
and therefore, he being old and stricken in years, and not
likely to continue long, let him make this his concluding piece of
service to God and Israel. All people, but especially old people,
should set themselves to do that quickly which must be done before they
die, lest death prevent them,
II. He gives him a particular account of the land that yet remained
unconquered, which was intended for Israel, and which, in due time,
they should be masters of if they did not put a bar in their own door.
Divers places are here mentioned, some in the south, as the country of
the Philistines, governed by five lords, and the land that lay towards
Egypt
(v. 2, 3),
some westward, as that which lay towards the Sidonians
(v. 4),
some eastward, as all Lebanon
(v. 5),
some towards the north, as that in the entering in of Hamath,
v. 5.
Joshua is told this, and he made the people acquainted with it,
1. That they might be the more affected with God’s goodness to them in
giving them this good land, and might thereby be engaged to love and
serve him; for, if this which they had was too little, God would
moreover give them such and such things,
2 Sam. xii. 8.
2. That they might not be tempted to make any league, or contract any
dangerous familiarity with these their neighbours so as to learn their
way, but might rather be jealous of them, as a people that kept them
from their right and that they had just cause of quarrel with.
3. That they might keep themselves in a posture for war, and not think
of putting off the harness so long as there remained any land to be
possessed. Nor must we lay aside our spiritual armour, nor be off our
watch, till our victory be completed in the kingdom of glory.
III. He promises that he would make the Israelites masters of all those
countries that were yet unsubdued, though Joshua was old and not able
to do it, old and not likely to live to see it done. Whatever becomes
of us, and however we may be laid aside as despised broken vessels, God
will do his own work in his own time
(v. 6):
I will drive them out. The original is emphatic: “It is I
that will do it, I that can do it when thou are dead and gone, and
will do it if Israel be not wanting to themselves.” “I will do it by my
Word,” so the Chaldee here, as in many other places, “by the eternal
Word, the captain of the hosts of the Lord.” This promise that he would
drive them out from before the children of Israel plainly supposes it
as the condition of the promise that the children of Israel must
themselves attempt their extirpation, must go up against them, else
they could not be said to be driven out before them; if afterwards
Israel, through sloth, or cowardice, or affection to these idolaters,
sit still and let them alone, they must blame themselves, and not God,
if they be not driven out. We must work out our salvation, and then God
will work in us and work with us; we must resist our spiritual enemies,
and then God will tread them under our feet; we must go forth to our
Christian work and warfare, and then God will go forth before us.
7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the
nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
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;
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;
10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which
reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;
11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and
Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
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.
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.
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.
15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben
inheritance according to their families.
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;
17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon,
and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,
18 And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of
the valley,
20 And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,
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.
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.
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.
24 And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even
unto the children of Gad according to their families.
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;
26 And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from
Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;
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.
28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their
families, the cities, and their villages.
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.
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:
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.
32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for
inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by
Jericho, eastward.
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.
Here we have,
I. Orders given to Joshua to assign to each tribe its portion of this
land, including that which was yet unsubdued, which must be brought
into the lot, in a believing confidence that it should be conquered
when Israel was multiplied so as to have occasion for it
(v. 7):
Now divide this land. Joshua thought all must be conquered
before any must be divided. “No,” said, God, “there is as much
conquered as will serve your turn for the present; divide this, and
make your best of it, and wait for the remainder hereafter.” Note, We
must take the comfort of what we have, though we cannot compass all we
would have. Observe,
1. The land must be divided among the several tribes, and they must not
always live in common, as now they did. Which way soever a just
property is acquired, it is the will of that God who has given the
earth to the children of men that there should be such a thing, and
that every man should know his own, and not invade that which is
another’s. The world must be governed, not by force, but right, by the
law of equity, not of arms.
2. That it must be divided for an inheritance, though they got it by
conquest.
(1.) The promise of it came to them as an inheritance from their
fathers; the land of promise pertained to the children of promise, who
were thus beloved for their fathers’ sakes, and in performance of the
covenant with them.
(2.) The possession of it was to be transmitted by them, as an
inheritance to their children. Frequently, what is got by force is
soon lost again; but Israel, having an incontestable title to this land
by the divine grant, might see it hereby secured as an inheritance to
their seed after them, and that God kept this mercy for thousands.
3. That Joshua must not divide it by his own will. Though he was a very
wise, just, and good man, it must not be left to him to give what he
pleased to each tribe; but he must do it by lot, which referred the
matter wholly to God, and to his determination, for he it is that
appoints the bounds of our habitation, and every man’s judgment must
proceed from him. But Joshua must preside in this affair, must manage
this solemn appeal to Providence, and see that the lot was drawn fairly
and without fraud, and that every tribe did acquiesce in it. The lot
indeed causeth contention to cease,
Prov. xviii. 18.
But, if upon this lot any controversy should arise, Joshua by his
wisdom and authority must determine it, and prevent any ill
consequences of it. Joshua must have the honour of dividing the land,
(1.) Because he had undergone the fatigue of conquering it: and when,
through his hand, each tribe received its allotment, they would thereby
be made the more sensible of their obligations to him. And what a
pleasure must it needs be to a man of such a public spirit as Joshua
was to see the people that were so dear to him eating of the labour of
his hands!
(2.) That he might be herein a type of Christ, who has not only
conquered for us the gates of hell, but has opened to us the gates of
heaven, and, having purchased the eternal inheritance for all
believers, will in due time put them all in possession of it.
II. An account is here given of the distribution of the land on the
other side Jordan among the Reubenites, and Gadites, and half the tribe
of Manasseh. Observe,
1. How this account is introduced. It comes in,
(1.) As the reason why this land within Jordan must be divided only to
the nine tribes and a half, because the other two and a half were
already provided for.
(2.) As a pattern to Joshua in the work he had now to do. He had seen
Moses distribute that land, which would give him some aid in
distributing this, and thence he might take his measure; only this was
to be done by lot, but it should seem Moses did that himself, according
to the wisdom given unto him.
(3.) As an inducement to Joshua to hasten the dividing of this land,
that the nine tribes and a half might not be kept any longer than was
necessary out of their possession, since their brethren of the two
tribes and a half were so well settled in theirs; and God their common
Father would not have such a difference made between his children.
2. The particulars of this account.
(1.) Here is a general description of the country that was given to the
two tribes and a half, which Moses gave them, even as Moses gave
them,
v. 8.
The repetition implies a ratification of the grant by Joshua. Moses
settled this matter, and, as Moses settled it, so shall it rest; Joshua
will not, under any pretence whatsoever, go about to alter it. And a
reason is intimated why he would not, because Moses was the servant of
the Lord, and acted in this matter by secret direction from him and was
faithful as a servant. Here we have,
[1.] The fixing of the boundaries of this country, by which they were
divided from the neighbouring nations,
v. 9,
&c. Israel must know their own and keep to
it, and may not, under pretence of their being God’s peculiar people,
encroach upon their neighbours, and invade their rights and properties,
to which they had a good and firm title by providence, though not, as
Israel, a title by promise.
[2.] An exception of one part of this country from Israel’s possession,
though it was in their grant, namely, the Geshurites and the
Maachathites,
They had not leisure to reduce all the remote and obscure corners of
the country in Moses’s time, and afterwards they had no mind to it,
being easy with what they had. Thus those who are not straitened in
God’s promises are yet straitened in their own faith, and prayers, and
endeavours.
(2.) A very particular account of the inheritances of these two tribes
and a half, how they were separated from each other, and what cites,
with the towns, villages, and fields, commonly known and reputed to be
appurtenances to them, belonged to each tribe. This is very fully and
exactly set down in order that posterity might, in reading this
history, be the more affected with the goodness of God to their
ancestors, when they found what a large and fruitful country, and what
abundance of great and famous cities, he put them in possession of
(God’s grants look best when we descend to the particulars); and also
that the limits of every tribe being punctually set down in this
authentic record disputes might be prevented, and such contests between
the tribes as commonly happen where boundaries have not been adjusted
nor this matter brought to a certainty. And we have reason to think
that the register here prescribed and published of the lot of each
tribe was of great use to Israel in after-ages, was often appealed to,
and always acquiesced in, for the determining of meum and
tuum—mine and thine.
[1.] We have here the lot of the tribe of Reuben, Jacob’s first-born,
who, though he had lost the dignity and power which pertained to the
birthright, yet, it seems, had the advantage of being first served.
Perhaps those of that tribe had an eye to this in desiring to be seated
on that side Jordan, that, since they could not expect the benefit of
the best lot, they might have the credit of the first. Observe,
First, In the account of the lot of this tribe mention is made
of the slaughter,
1. Of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in this country, and
might have kept it and his life if he would have been neighbourly, and
have suffered Israel to pass through his territories, but, by
attempting to oppose them, justly brought ruin upon himself,
&c.
2. Of the princes of Midian, who were slain afterwards in another war
(Num. xxxi. 8),
and yet are here called dukes of Sihon, and are said to be
smitten with him, because they were either tributaries to him,
or, in his opposition to Israel, confederates with him, and hearty in
his interests, and his fall made way for theirs not long after.
3. Of Balaam particularly, that would, if he could, have cursed Israel,
and was soon after recompensed according to the wickedness of his
endeavour
for he fell with those that set him on. This was recorded before
(Num. xxxi. 8),
and is here repeated, because the defeating of Balaam’s purpose to
curse Israel was the turning of that curse into a blessing, and was
such an instance of the power and goodness of God as was fit to be had
in everlasting remembrance. See
Secondly, Within the lot of this tribe was that Mount Pisgah
from the top of which Moses took his view of the earthly Canaan and his
flight to the heavenly. And not far off thence Elijah was when he was
fetched up to heaven in a chariot of fire. The separation of this tribe
from the rest, by the river Jordan, was that which Deborah lamented;
and the preference they gave to their private interests above the
public was what she censured,
In this tribe lay Heshbon and Sibmah, famed for their fruitful fields
and vineyards. See
Isa. xvi. 8, 9; Jer. xlvii. 32.
This tribe, with that of Gad, was sorely shaken by Hazael king of Syria
and afterwards dislodged and carried into captivity, twenty years
before the general captivity of the ten tribes by the king of Assyria,
[2.] The lot of the tribe of Gad,
This lay north of Reuben’s lot; the country of Gilead lay in this
tribe, so famous for its balm that it is thought strange indeed if
there be no balm in Gilead, and the cities of Jabesh-Gilead and
Ramoth-Gilead which we often read of in scripture. Succoth and Penuel,
which we read of in the story of Gideon, were in this tribe; and that
forest which is called the wood of Ephraim (from the slaughter
Jephthah made there of the Ephraimites), in which Absalom’s rebellious
army was beaten, while his father David lay at Mahanaim, one of the
frontier-cities of this tribe,
Sharon, famous for roses, was in this tribe. And within the limits of
this tribe lived those Gadarenes that loved their swine better than
their Saviour, fitter to be called Girgashites than
Israelites.
[3.] The lot of the half-tribe of Manasseh,
Bashan, the kingdom of Og, was in this allotment, famous for the best
timber, witness the oaks of Bashan–and the best breed of cattle,
witness the bulls and rams of Bashan. This tribe lay north of Gad,
reached to Mount Hermon, and had in it part of Gilead. Mispeh was in
this half-tribe, and Jephthah was one of its ornaments; so was Elijah,
for in this tribe was Thisbe, whence he is called the Tishbite; and
Jair was another. In the edge of the tribe stood Chorazin, honoured
with Christ’s wondrous works, but ruined by his righteous woe for not
improving them.
[4.] Twice in this chapter it is taken notice of that to the tribe of
Levi Moses gave no inheritance
(v. 14, 33),
for so God had appointed,
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
habitations 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,
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