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, Num. xxxvi. 9. 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, ver. 1-6. II. He appoints him, notwithstanding, to
make a distribution of what was conquered, ver. 7. 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, ver.
29-33.
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The
Distribution of Canaan.
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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 (Exod. xvii. 10); 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, Eccl. ix. 10.
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, v. 13. 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, Num. xxi.
21, &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 (Ps. xxviii.
4), 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 Mic. vi. 5. 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, Judg. v. 15, 16. 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 (2 Kings x.
33), and afterwards dislodged and carried into captivity, twenty years before
the general captivity of the ten tribes by the king of Assyria, 1 Chron. v.
26.
[2.] The lot of the tribe of Gad, v. 24-28. 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, v. 26. 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, v. 29-31. 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, Num.
xviii. 20. 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, Deut. x. 9; xviii. 2.
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