Joshua 13-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 13

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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 13:1-6

Here, I. God puts Joshua in mind of his old age, Josh. 13:1. 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... read more

Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 13

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 13:1

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 13:2

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 13:3

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 traveller F1 Jodocus a Gistella... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 13:4

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 13:5

And the land of the Giblites ,.... This was another country that remained unconquered; the Greeks call it Byblus, and near to which Pliny F5 Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 20.) speaks of a place called Gabale, and is now called Gibyle; it is F6 Maundrel'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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 13:6

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... read more

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