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 . read more
Border of the Geshurites - See on Joshua 12:5 ; (note). read more
Geshurltes and Maachathites. See note on Joshua 12:5 , of which this passage is little else but a repetition. read more
The writer appends to the command of God Joshua 13:1-7 a statement that the other two tribes and a half had already had their inheritance marked out for them by Moses in the land east of Jordan. The boundaries of this territory as a whole are first set forth Joshua 13:8-14, and afterward the portions assigned within it to the two tribes and a half are severally described Joshua 13:15-33.Joshua 13:14See Deuteronomy 18:1-5 and notes.Joshua 13:15-24Inheritance of the tribe of Reuben. This... read more
Joshua 13:9-11. The city that is in the midst of the river Some interpreters render this clause, The city in the midst of the valley; judging that, as Arnon was but a small brook, it could hardly have a city, or an island large enough for a city to be built on, in the midst of it. But certainly a city might be built on ground lying between two streams of the same river: see on Joshua 12:2. Medeba unto Dibon Two cities anciently belonging to the Moabites, and taken from them by the... read more
13:1-22:34 DIVISION OF THE LANDAll the land that Israel had conquered was now divided among the twelve tribes. The list of tribal boundaries may not make very interesting reading today, but it was necessary for Israel as a permanent and lawful record to which people could refer if any disagreement arose. It also told the tribes of the enemies that had yet to be destroyed, both within their own tribal areas and in lands round about.Overall plan for the division (13:1-14:5)The area west of... read more
Ver. 9-12. From Aroer, &c.— These four verses specify at large the territories on the east of Jordan already occupied by the fore-mentioned two tribes and a half. See Numbers 21:24; Numbers 21:35; Numbers 32:33; Numbers 32:42.Deuteronomy 3:0; Deuteronomy 3:0 and the six first verses of the foregoing chapter. read more
Ver. 11. And the border of the—Maachathites— The Maachathites bordered upon the Geshurites on the north of the land of Canaan, toward mount Hermon. Maacha, their capital, which fell to the half tribe of Manasseh, is the same that Ptolemy calls Epicaeros. The Chaldee paraphrase calls it Aphkeroz in this place, ch. 12: and Deuteronomy 3:14. See commentary on Jos 13:9 read more
This pericope of verses records the boundaries of Israel’s whole transjordanian territory. The peoples the Israelites did not annihilate, and their land that they did not possess, were in the northern part of this area (cf. Joshua 12:5). Gilead (Joshua 13:11) included land on both sides of the Jabbok River east of the Jordan."The Transjordanian tribes receive a disproportionate amount of attention in this book that records the Conquest and division of the land west of the Jordan (cf. Joshua... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 13:7-33
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... read more