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Joshua Chapter Thirteen                            

 

Joshua 13 Outlines

Remaining Land to Be Conquered (v.1~7)

The Land Divided East of the Jordan (v.8~14)

The Land of Reuben (v.15~23)

The Land of Gad (v.24~28)

Half the Tribe of Manasseh (East) (v.29~33)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 13

In this chapter Joshua is informed by the Lord or put in mind that part of the land of Canaan remained unconquered and which it was; and is directed to divide the whole land among the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh Joshua 13:1; and since the two tribes of Reuben and Gad and the other half tribe of Manasseh had received their inheritance on the other side Jordan Joshua 13:8; that is described in general Joshua 13:9; and then the particular portion of Reuben Joshua 13:15; and of Gad Joshua 13:24; and of the half tribe of Manasseh Joshua 13:29.

 

Joshua 13:1  Now Joshua was old advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: “You are old advanced in years and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.

   YLT  1And Joshua is old entering into days and Jehovah saith unto him `Thou hast become aged thou hast entered into days; as to the land very much hath been left to possess.

Now Joshua was old and stricken in years .... How old he was cannot be said precisely but it is very probable he was now about an hundred years of age for he lived to be an hundred ten; and the land of Canaan was seven years in dividing as the Jews generally say and it seems as if he did not live long after that:

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

thou art old and stricken in years and 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; and 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.

 

Joshua 13:2  2 This is the land that yet remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all that of the Geshurites

   YLT  2`This [is] the land that is left; all the circuits of the Philistines and all Geshuri

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 endeavour 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:

all the borders of the Philistines; whose country bordered and lay upon the shores of the Mediterranean sea in the southwest of the land of Canaan:

and all Geshuri; the principal city belonging to it is said to be in Syria 2 Samuel 15:8; and had a king over it in the times of David 2 Samuel 3:3; and seems never to have come into the hands of the Israelites.

 

Joshua 13:3  3 from Sihor which is east of Egypt as far as the border of Ekron northward (which is counted as Canaanite); the five lords of the Philistines—the Gazites the Ashdodites the Ashkelonites the Gittites and the Ekronites; also the Avites;

   YLT  3from Sihor which [is] on the front of Egypt and unto the border of Ekron northward to the Canaanite it is reckoned five princes of the Philistines the Gazathite and the Ashdothite the Eshkalonite the Gittite and the Ekronite also the Avim.

From Sihor which is before Egypt .... Which Jarchi and Kimchi interpret of the river Nile and so that river is called Jeremiah 2:18; it seems to have this name from the waters of it being black and turbid; and hence it was called by the Greeks "Melas"; and by the Latins "Melo"; though it is thought that not properly the river itself is here meant which did not reach to the borders of Palestine but a branch of it a rivulet from it for so a travellerF1Jodocus a Gistella apud Drusium in loc. writes "in a journey of about five days from Gaza towards Egypt the hithermost arm of the Nile is received by the sea and is commonly called Carabus?"

even unto the borders of Ekron northward: that is from the southwest of Palestine near to which was the river Nile to the northern part of it where stood the principality of Ekron one of the five which belonged to the Philistines:

which is counted to the Canaanite; which was reckoned as belonging to the posterity of Canaan though the Philistines got possession of it who descended from Mizraim; and indeed it was only accounted as belonging to Canaan and his sons; of right and according to the grant of God it belonged to the seed of Abraham:

five lords of the Philistines; who had not kings as other countries and cities in the land of Canaan had and their cities were called lordships principalities and not kingdoms and are as follow:

the Gazathites and the Ashdothites the Eshkalonites the Gittites

and the Ekronites: so called from Gaza Ashdod Ashkelon Gath and Ekron the cities they were in possession of:

also the Avites; it is not certain whether these were a distinct principality from the other five or a people dispersed among them; which seems most likely since those were the original inhabitants but were driven out or destroyed by the Philistines though it seems some remained and dwelt among them; see Deuteronomy 2:23.

 

Joshua 13:4  4 from the south all the land of the Canaanites and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians as far as Aphek to the border of the Amorites;

   YLT  4`From the south all the land of the Canaanite and Mearah which [is] to the Sidonians unto Aphek unto the border of the Amorite;

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 see Joshua 11:3; and as it seems here some in the south: now on the side of the south as Kimchi interprets it 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: SandysF2Travels l. 3. p. 169. Ed. 5. 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 and in the Syriac and Arabic versions others take it to be the river Magoras PlinyF3Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 20. 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 writingsF4Misn. Sabbat. c. 22. sect. 5. T. Hieros. Sabbat fol. 6. 1. ; 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 and reached

unto Aphek to the borders of the Amorites; of this place; see Gill on Joshua 12:18.

 

Joshua 13:5  5 the land of the Gebalites [a] and all Lebanon toward the sunrise from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath;

   YLT  5and the land of the Giblite and all Lebanon at the sun-rising from Baal-Gad under mount Hermon unto the going in to Hamath:

And the land of the Giblites .... This was another country that remained unconquered; the Greeks call it Byblus and near to which PlinyF5Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 20.) speaks of a place called Gabale and is now called Gibyle; it isF6Maundrel's Journey from Aleppo &c. p. 33. said to be"pleasantly situated by the seaside and at present it contains but a little extent of ground but yet more than enough for the small number of its inhabitants:'it was in greater splendour and its inhabitants of more fame in the times of Ezekiel Ezekiel 27:9

and all Lebanon toward the sunrising; or east of the land; all that inhabited that mountain remained unconquered though the conquest was carried as far as the borders thereof:

from Baalgad under Mount Hermon; of which see Joshua 11:17;

unto the entering into Hamath: which was the north border of the land; see Numbers 34:8.

 

Joshua 13:6  6 all the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon as far as the Brook Misrephoth [b] and all the Sidonians—them I will drive out from before the children of Israel; only divide it by lot to Israel as an inheritance as I have commanded you.

   YLT  6all the inhabitants of the hill-country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-Maim all the Sidonians: I -- I dispossess them before the sons of Israel; only cause it to fall to Israel for an inheritance as I have commanded thee.

All the inhabitants of the hill country .... Not in Judea but in and about Lebanon as follows:

from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim; of which see Joshua 11:8

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:

them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: which though it may have a special respect unto the Sidonians with whom the clause is closely connected yet may include all the above lands unconquered out of which as well as Sidon the Lord promises to drive the inhabitants to make way for the children of Israel; that is on condition of their obedience for it appears that not only the Sidonians but many others even the chief and most of those mentioned were never possessed by them:

only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance; that is the whole land as Abarbinel rightly remarks 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:

as I have commanded thee; now at this time.

 

Joshua 13:7  7 Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”

   YLT  7`And now apportion this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half of the tribe of Manasseh ' –

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 Numbers 34:16

and the half tribe of Manasseh; that half which had no inheritance on the other side Jordan and for which a prince of the children of Joseph was appointed to divide Numbers 34:23.

 

Joshua 13:8  8 With the other half-tribe the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance which Moses had given them beyond the Jordan eastward as Moses the servant of the Lord had given them:

   YLT  8with it the Reubenite and the Gadite have received their inheritance which Moses hath given to them beyond the Jordan eastward as Moses servant of Jehovah hath given to them;

With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance .... That is along with the half tribe of Manasseh but not with that half of it before mentioned who was to haven division of a part with the nine tribes but with the other half of the tribe settled beyond Jordan; with them the tribes of Reuben and Gad had received their portion at their own request and so were to have no share in the present distribution:

which Moses gave them beyond Jordan eastward; at their desire Numbers 32:1 and upon certain conditions to be performed by them Numbers 32:20

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.

 

Joshua 13:9  9 from Aroer which is on the bank of the River Arnon and the town that is in the midst of the ravine and all the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon;

   YLT  9from Aroer which [is] on the edge of the brook Arnon and the city which [is] in the midst of the brook and all the plain of Medeba unto Dihon

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 Numbers 21:13

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 Isaiah 17:2; and so differently situated at that river:

and all the plains of Medeba unto Dibon; of these two places see Numbers 21:30; 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 Joshua 13:17 Dibon itself was in a plain.

 

Joshua 13:10  10 all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon as far as the border of the children of Ammon;

   YLT  10and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorite who reigned in Heshbon unto the border of the Bene-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 Numbers 21:26

unto the border of the children of Ammon; which was the river Jabbok Deuteronomy 3:16.

 

Joshua 13:11  11 Gilead and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites all Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salcah;

   YLT  11and Gilead and the border of the Geshurite and of the Maachathite and all mount Hermon and all Bashan unto Salcah;

And Gilead .... 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:

and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites; of which see Deuteronomy 3:14

and all Mount Hermon; called also Sirion Shenir and Sion Deuteronomy 3:9

and all Bashan unto Salcah; another part of the dominions of Og Deuteronomy 3:10.

 

Joshua 13:12  12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei who remained of the remnant of the giants; for Moses had defeated and cast out these.

   YLT  12all the kingdom of Og in Bashan who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei; he was left of the remnant of the Rephaim and Moses doth smite them and dispossess them;

All the kingdom of Og in Bashan who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei .... See Gill on Joshua 12:4

who remained of the remnant of the giants; was descended from those that remained in Ashtaroth after the rest were cut off by Chedorlaomer Genesis 14:5; called there the Rephaim as here:

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 Joshua 13:13.

 

Joshua 13:13  13 Nevertheless the children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

   YLT  13and the sons of Israel dispossessed not the Geshurite and the Maachathite; and Geshur and Maachath dwell in the midst of Israel unto 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:

but the Geshurites and the Maachathites 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 2 Samuel 3:3.

 

Joshua 13:14  14 Only to the tribe of Levi he had given no inheritance; the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance as He said to them.

  YLT  14Only to the tribe of Levi he hath not given an inheritance; fire-offerings of Jehovah God of Israel is its inheritance as He hath spoken to it.

Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance .... Neither the Lord nor Moses by his order nor did he appoint any inheritance for them either beyond Jordan or on this side it for the Lord was to be their inheritance Numbers 18:20;

the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance as he said unto them; Deuteronomy 18:1; and which are put for the whole of what was granted to them for their subsistence as tithes firstfruits &c.

 

Joshua 13:15  15 And Moses had given to the tribe of the children of Reuben an inheritance according to their families.

   YLT  15And Moses giveth to the tribe of the sons of Reuben for their families;

And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. According to the number of them and sufficient for them.

 

Joshua 13:16  16 Their territory was from Aroer which is on the bank of the River Arnon and the city that is in the midst of the ravine and all the plain by Medeba;

   YLT  16and the border is to them from Aroer which [is] on the edge of the brook Arnon and the city which [is] in the midst of the brook 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 Joshua 13:9; from whence it appears that it was his country which was given to Reuben though not all of it:

and the city that is in the midst of the river; See Gill on Joshua 13:9

and all the plain by Medeba; which reached unto Dibon Joshua 13:9.

 

Joshua 13:17  17 Heshbon and all its cities that are in the plain: Dibon Bamoth Baal Beth Baal Meon

   YLT  17Heshbon and all its cities which [are] in the plain Dibon and Bamoth-Baal and Beth-Baal-Meon

Heshbon and all her cities that are in the plain .... Which was by Medeba and reached to Dibon:

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; see Numbers 22:41; perhaps this is the same with Bamoth in the valley Numbers 21:20; and Bethbaalmeon is the same with Baalmeon in Numbers 32:38; where it is highly probable was a temple of Baal since both "beth" signifies an house and "meon" an habitation.

 

Joshua 13:18  18 Jahaza Kedemoth Mephaath

   YLT  18and Jahazah and Kedemoth and Mephaath

And Jahazah .... Called Jahaz Numbers 21:23 where the battle was fought between Sihon and Israel:

and Kedemoth; near to which was a wilderness which took its name from it from whence Moses sent messengers with words of peace to Sihon Deuteronomy 2:26

and Mephaath; thought to be the Maipha of PtolemyF6Geograph. l. 6. c. 7. ; here Jerom saysF7De loc Heb. fol. 93. D. in his time was a garrison of Roman soldiers because of the desert that was near. It was a city with its suburbs given to the Levites as were the two preceding Joshua 21:36; AdrichomiusF8Theatrum Ter. Sanct. p. 179. takes it to be the same with Malle which Josephus says F9Antiqu. l. 12. c. 8. sect. 3. was called the city of the strangers.

 

Joshua 13:19  19 Kirjathaim Sibmah Zereth Shahar on the mountain of the valley

   YLT  19and Kirjathaim and Sibmah and Zareth-Shahar in the mount of the valley

And Kirjathaim .... Of which See Gill on Numbers 32:37

and Sibmah; of which See Gill on Numbers 32:3 and See Gill on Numbers 32:38

and 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; perhaps it is the same place JosephusF11Antiqu. l. 13. c. 15. sect. 4. calls Zara to which he joins the valley of the Cilicians and mentions it along with Heshbon Medeba and other cities of Moab; according to AdrichomiusF12Ut supra (Theatrum Ter. Sanct.) p. 130. it was in the mount of the valley of Bethpeor which next follows.

 

Joshua 13:20  20 Beth Peor the slopes of Pisgah and Beth Jeshimoth—

   YLT  20and Beth-Peor and the springs of Pisgah and Beth-Jeshimoth

And Bethpeor .... So called from Peor the idol of the Moabites and where very likely there had been a temple built to the honour of it; over against this place was a valley where Israel abode some time Deuteronomy 3:29

and Ashdodpisgah; of which see Deuteronomy 3:17

and Bethjeshimoth; of which see Numbers 33:49.

 

Joshua 13:21  21 all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon whom Moses had struck with the princes of Midian: Evi Rekem Zur Hur and Reba who were princes of Sihon dwelling in the country.

   YLT  21and all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorite who reigned in Heshbon whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba princes of Sihon inhabitants of the land.

And all the cities of the plain .... In the champaign country as well as those in the mountainous part:

and all the kingdom of Sihon; or as Masius renders the words "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 Joshua 13:27

king of the Amorites which reigned in Heshbon; as in Joshua 13:10

whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian Evi and Rekem and Zur

and Hur and Reba; not at the same time that Sihon was smitten by him but afterwards in a war with Midian Numbers 31:8; 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:

which were dukes of Sihon dwelling in the country; for Midian as Kimchi supposes and not without reason was under the government of Sihon and these were his nobles though they dwelt in the land of Midian.

 

Joshua 13:22  22 The children of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam the son of Beor the soothsayer among those who were killed by them.

   YLT  22And Balaam son of Beor the diviner have the sons of Israel slain with the sword among their wounded ones.

Balaam also the son of Beor the soothsayer did the children of Israel slay with the sword .... At the same time that the princes of Midian were slain and which is also observed; see Gill on Numbers 31:8. Kimchi supposes that he returned to Midian on hearing that the counsel he gave to them to ensnare Israel with their daughters had taken effect in order to receive his wages and so received his righteous doom and just reward; it is commonly said by the JewsF13T. Bab. Sanhedrin fol. 106. 2. Kimchi in loc. that he was slain by Phinehas:

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 Numbers 31:7.

 

Joshua 13:23  23 And the 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 their villages.

   YLT  23And the border of the sons of Reuben is the Jordan and [its] border; this [is] the inheritance of the sons of Reuben for their families the cities and their villages.

And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan and the border thereof .... As their border eastward was Aroer on the river Arnon so their border westward was the river Jordan:

this was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families the cities and the villages thereof; which Moses gave them on the other side Jordan; and next follow an account of the inheritance of the tribe of Gad in those parts.

 

Joshua 13:24  24 Moses also had given an inheritance to the tribe of Gad to the children of Gad according to their families.

   YLT  24And Moses giveth to the tribe of Gad to the sons of Gad for their families;

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

even unto the children of Gad according to their families: according to the number and largeness of them dividing to each their part and portion.

 

Joshua 13:25  25 Their territory was Jazer and all the cities of Gilead and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer which is before Rabbah

   YLT  25and the border is to them Jazer and all the cities of Gilead and the half of the land of the Bene-Ammon unto Aroer which [is] on the front of Rabbah

And their coast was Jazer .... Their southern coast; of Jazer see Numbers 21:32; where it is called Jaazer and is mentioned in Isaiah 16:8; and in Jeremiah 48:32 where it is spoken of as a city of Moab as it was in the days of those prophets:

and all the cities of Gilead; 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 Joshua 13:31

and half the land of the children of Ammon; not what then belonged to them but what had been taken from them by the Amorites; and which Israel taking from them had a right to retain though they were forbid meddling with any of their land in present possession; see Deuteronomy 2:19 Judges 11:13

unto Aroer that is before Rabbath; Aroer was a city of Moab situated on the river Arnon Joshua 13:9; and stood over against Rabbath a city of the Amorites since called Philadelphia the same that Joab took 2 Samuel 12:26; though Reland thinksF14Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 583. that according to the situation of these cities another Aroer must be here meant and which belonged to the Amorites.

 

Joshua 13:26  26 and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir

   YLT  26and from Heshbon unto Ramath-Mispeh and Betonim and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir

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 Joshua 13:7; to these places mentioned; Ramathmizpeh the same with Ramothgilead which JeromF15De loc. Heb. fol. 99. A. says was a village in his time and lay two miles from Philadelphia or Rabbath before mentioned to the east; it should be to the west; of Betonim we nowhere else read it seems to have been near to Ramath:

and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir; the former of these was the place where the angels met Jacob and who gave it the name from thence; and in later times a city of this name was built there and was near the river Jabbok Genesis 32:2; Debir is different from that in the tribe of Judah Joshua 15:15; in the Septuagint version here it is called Daibon perhaps the same with Dibon the tribe of Gad rebuilt and is called Dibongad Numbers 32:34; unless Lidbar here should be the same with Lodebar in Gilead 2 Samuel 17:27.

 

Joshua 13:27  27 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 as far as the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth on the other side of the Jordan eastward.

   YLT  27and in the valley Beth-Aram and Beth-Nimrah and Succoth and Zaphon the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon the Jordan and [its] border unto the extremity of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward.

And in the valley Betharam .... The same with Bethharan; see Gill on Numbers 32:36

and Bethnimrah; sometimes called Nimrah Numbers 32:3; near to which were some waters called the waters of Nimrim Isaiah 15:6; It was in Jerom'sF16De loc. Heb. fol. 93. I. time a large village; it seems to have its name from leopards which perhaps had their haunts hereabout:

and Succoth: the place where Jacob pitched his tent after he had passed over Jabbok; it is called in the Jerusalem TalmudF17T. Hieros. Sheviith fol. 38. 4. Thaarabah:

and Zaphon; which in the same Talmud is Amatho or Amathus which Jerom saysF18De loc. Heb. fol. 88. E. is a village beyond Jordan twenty one miles from Pella to the south though he places it in the tribe of Reuben:

the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon; which was not given to the tribe of Reuben Joshua 13:21

Jordan and his border; that is the cities which were near it as Kimchi; or that were upon the bank of it as Jarchi:

even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth; the same with the lake of Gennesaret Luke 5:1

on the other side Jordan eastward; the other from that in which the inheritance of Gad lay which was beyond Jordan from the land of Canaan.

 

Joshua 13:28  28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families the cities and their villages.

   YLT  28This [is] the inheritance of the sons of Gad for their families the cities and their villages.

This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families .... As described in Joshua 13:27

the cities and their villages; the cities given them some of which are mentioned by name and the villages adjacent and belonging to them were included in them.

 

Joshua 13:29  29 Moses also had given an inheritance to half the tribe of Manasseh; it was for half the tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families:

   YLT  29And Moses giveth to the half of the tribe of Manasseh; and it is to the half of the tribe of the sons of Manasseh for their families.

And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh .... Whether at their request or of himself there being land enough for them and the two tribes of Gad and Reuben is not certain:

and this is the possession of the half tribe of Manasseh by their families; which is after related and described.

 

Joshua 13:30  30 Their territory was from Mahanaim all Bashan all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan and all the towns of Jair which are in Bashan sixty cities;

   YLT  30And their border is from Mahanaim all Bashan all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan and all the small towns of Jair which [are] in Bashan sixty cities;

And their coast was from Mahanaim .... A place in the tribe of Gad Joshua 13:26; which was the boundary of the half tribe that way:

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

all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan; which besides Bashan took in the kingdom of Argob or Trachonitis half the land of Gilead all which was possessed by the half tribe of Manasseh: see Deuteronomy 3:13

and all the towns of Jair which are in Bashan threescore cities; of Jair and his relation to Manasseh and of his taking these cities and the number of them see Numbers 33:41.

 

Joshua 13:31  31 half of Gilead and Ashtaroth and Edrei cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan were for the children of Machir the son of Manasseh for half of the children of Machir according to their families.

   YLT  31and the half of Gilead and Ashteroth and Edrei cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan [are] to the sons of Machir son of Manasseh to the half of the sons of Machir for 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 see Deuteronomy 3:12

and Ashtaroth and Edrei cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan; which are particularly mentioned because royal cities Joshua 13:10; see Deuteronomy 1:4

were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh; and who was his only son; however to his posterity only was this inheritance given though not to them all:

even to one half of the children of Machir by their families; which seems to confirm it that Manasseh had no other son since his whole posterity both the half tribe on the other side as well as that in the land of Canaan were denominated from him; though he seems to have had another son who perhaps died without issue 1 Chronicles 7:14.

 

Joshua 13:32  32 These are the areas which Moses had distributed as an inheritance in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho eastward.

   YLT  32These [are] they whom Moses caused to inherit in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan [by] Jericho eastward;

These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab .... Which is particularly described that each might know their proper portion:

on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward; of the land of Canaan; of Jordan by Jericho; see Gill on Numbers 22:1.

 

Joshua 13:33  33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance as He had said to them.

   YLT  33and to the tribe of Levi Moses gave not an inheritance; Jehovah God of Israel Himself [is] their inheritance as He hath spoken to 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 though they were his own tribe; which shows him to be a disinterested man that 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; see Numbers 18:20.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. Joshua 13:5 Or Giblites
  2. Joshua 13:6 Hebrew Misrephoth Maim