1Or, Josué était vieux et avancé en âge; et YEHOVAH lui dit: Tu es devenu vieux, tu es avancé en âge, et il reste beaucoup de pays à soumettre. 2Voici le pays qui reste: Tous les districts des Philistins, et tout le territoire des Gueshuriens, 3Depuis le Shichor, qui coule en face de l'Égypte, jusqu'à la frontière d'Ékron, vers le nord; contrée réputée cananéenne, appartenant aux cinq gouverneurs des Philistins, celui de Gaza, celui d'Asdod, celui d'Askélon, celui de Gath, celui d'Ékron, et les Avviens; 4Du côté du midi, tout le pays des Cananéens, et Meara, qui est aux Sidoniens, jusqu'à Aphek, jusqu'à la frontière des Amoréens; 5Le pays des Guibliens, et tout le Liban, vers le soleil levant, depuis Baal-Gad, sous la montagne d'Hermon, jusqu'à l'entrée de Hamath; 6Tous les habitants de la montagne, depuis le Liban jusqu'à Misrephoth-Maïm, tous les Sidoniens. C'est moi qui les chasserai devant les enfants d'Israël; partage seulement ce pays par le sort en héritage à Israël, comme je te l'ai commandé. 7Maintenant donc partage ce pays en héritage aux neuf tribus et à la demi-tribu de Manassé. 8Les Rubénites et les Gadites ont reçu, avec l'autre moitié de la tribu de Manassé, leur héritage, que Moïse leur a donné au delà du Jourdain, à l'orient, comme Moïse, serviteur de YEHOVAH, le leur a donné; 9Depuis Aroër, qui est sur le bord du torrent de l'Arnon, et la ville qui est au milieu du torrent, et tout le plat pays de Médeba jusqu'à Dibon; 10Et toutes les villes de Sihon, roi des Amoréens, qui régnait à Hesbon, jusqu'à la frontière des enfants d'Ammon; 11Et Galaad, et le territoire des Gueshuriens et des Maacathiens, toute la montagne d'Hermon, et tout Bassan, jusqu'à Salca; 12Tout le royaume d'Og, en Bassan, qui régnait à Ashtaroth et à Édréï; il était demeuré de reste des Rephaïm. Moïse les défit, et les déposséda. 13Mais les enfants d'Israël ne dépossédèrent point les Gueshuriens ni les Maacathiens; et les Gueshuriens et les Maacathiens ont habité au milieu d'Israël jusqu'à ce jour. 14Seulement Moïse ne donna point d'héritage à la tribu de Lévi; les sacrifices faits par le feu à YEHOVAH, Dieu d'Israël, voilà son héritage, comme il le lui avait dit. 15Moïse donna donc une part à la tribu des enfants de Ruben, selon leurs familles; 16Et leur territoire fut depuis Aroër, qui est sur le bord du torrent de l'Arnon, et la ville qui est au milieu du torrent, et tout le plat pays près de Médeba, 17Hesbon et toutes ses villes, qui sont dans le plat pays, Dibon, et Bamoth-Baal, et Beth-Baal-Meon, 18Et Jahats, et Kedémoth, et Méphaath, 19Et Kirjathaïm, et Sibma, et Tséreth-Hashachar, sur la montagne de la vallée, 20Et Beth-Peor, les pentes du Pisga, et Beth-Jeshimoth, 21Et toutes les villes du plat pays, et tout le royaume de Sihon, roi des Amoréens, qui régnait à Hesbon, que Moïse défit, avec les princes de Madian, Évi, Rékem, Tsur, Hur, et Réba, princes qui relevaient de Sihon et qui habitaient le pays. 22Parmi ceux qui furent tués les enfants d'Israël firent aussi périr par l'épée Balaam, fils de Béor, le devin. 23Et la frontière des enfants de Ruben fut le Jourdain et son territoire. Tel fut l'héritage des enfants de Ruben, selon leurs familles: les villes et leurs villages. 24Moïse donna aussi une part à la tribu de Gad, aux enfants de Gad, selon leurs familles. 25Et leur territoire fut Jaezer, toutes les villes de Galaad, et la moitié du pays des enfants d'Ammon, jusqu'à Aroër, qui est en face de Rabba, 26Et depuis Hesbon jusqu'à Ramath-Mitspé et Betonim, et depuis Mahanaïm jusqu'à la frontière de Débir; 27Et, dans la vallée, Beth-Haram, Beth-Nimra, et Succoth et Tsaphon, reste du royaume de Sihon, roi de Hesbon, le Jourdain et son territoire, jusqu'au bout de la mer de Kinnéreth, au delà du Jourdain, vers l'orient. 28Tel fut l'héritage des enfants de Gad, selon leurs familles: les villes et leurs villages. 29Moïse donna aussi à la demi-tribu de Manassé une part, qui est demeurée à la demi-tribu des enfants de Manassé, selon leurs familles. 30Leur territoire fut depuis Mahanaïm, tout Bassan, tout le royaume d'Og, roi de Bassan, et tous les bourgs de Jaïr en Bassan, soixante villes; 31Et la moitié de Galaad, Ashtaroth et Édréï, villes du royaume d'Og en Bassan, furent aux enfants de Makir, fils de Manassé, à la moitié des enfants de Makir, selon leurs familles. 32Voilà ce que Moïse, dans les plaines de Moab, avait donné en héritage, au delà du Jourdain de Jérico, vers l'orient. 33Mais Moïse ne donna point d'héritage à la tribu de Lévi; c'est YEHOVAH, le Dieu d'Israël, qui est leur héritage, comme il le leur avait dit.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 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 17:10); 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 7:9); 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,
Qoh 9:10.
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 (
Josh 13:2,
Josh 13:3), some westward, as that which lay towards the Sidonians (
Josh 13:4), some eastward, as all Lebanon (
Josh 13:5), some towards the north, as that in the entering in of Hamath,
Josh 13:5. 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, 2Sam 12:8. 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 (
Josh 13:6):
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 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 (
Josh 13:7):
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 18:18. 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, Josh 13:8. 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,
Josh 13:9, etc. 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,
Josh 13:13. 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 21:21, etc. 2. Of the princes of Midian, who were slain afterwards in another war (
Num 31:8), 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 (
Pss 28:4), for he fell with those that set him on. This was recorded before (
Num 31:8), 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 6:5.
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 5:15,
Judg 5:16. In this tribe lay Heshbon and Sibmah, famed for their fruitful fields and vineyards. See
Isa 16:8,
Isa 16:9;
Jer 48:32. This tribe, with that of Gad, was sorely shaken by Hazael king of Syria (
2Kgs 10:33), and afterwards dislodged and carried into captivity, twenty years before the general captivity of the ten tribes by the king of Assyria,
1Chr 5:26.
[2.] The lot of the tribe of Gad,
Josh 13:24-
Josh 13:28. 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,
Josh 13:26. 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,
Josh 13:29-
Josh 13:31. 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 (
Josh 13:14,
Josh 13:33), for so God had appointed,
Num 18:20. 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 10:9;
Deut 18:2.
