Joshua 13:1

Here begins the second half of the Book of Joshua, the half which relates the division of the land of Canaan among the children of Israel. Scholars are still advocating all kinds of alleged "sources" for this material and at least a half dozen dates for the time when it was written. One insurmountable fact is that Israel accepted these divisions as originating with God Himself through Moses and Joshua, and despite the Israelites' character of never having been able to get along with any other nation in human history, the twelve tribes accepted these divisions, and as far as we have been able to determine never, even one time, engaged in quarrels, disagreements, or wars among themselves over the undisputed boundaries of their possessions! Could such a thing have happened if the origin of these divisions had been otherwise than as indicated in this chapter?

"Who actually made the divisions? Who made the allocations? Joshua 13:7 suggests that it was Joshua; Joshua 14:1 that it was Eleazer the priest and the heads of families; Joshua 14:5 that it was the people as a whole. These, however, are not mutually exclusive."[1]

We may even go a bit further and declare that it was God who made the allocations, by His determination of the issue in the casting of lots. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah" (Proverbs 16:33).

Regarding alternative allegations regarding the date and authorship of these chapters, there is, as yet, no agreement whatever among the scholars and critics. Every seminary has its own theory, and as "prestigious" theologians are replaced by others just as "prestigious," these theories are fluid, constantly changing and being replaced by more theories just as fluid. If one does not wish to be contradicted by the new theories that will be current 10 years from now, let him accept the time-tested understanding of JOSHUA's authorship, as advocated here. Nothing can destroy the conviction of the great majority of mankind that for thousands of years has ascribed these writings to Joshua. Concerning all the suggestions as to alternative dates and authors, Blair also commented that, "On the evidence available, it is difficult to come to any conclusion; ...the basic form of these divisions dates back to the conquest."[2]

These detailed boundaries and scores of particular places mentioned here, "Were vital for the tribes themselves, for these were the title-deeds of their inheritance."[3] We shall not be concerned with a discussion of each one of the places mentioned here, because, as John Calvin said, "Great labor (on that project) would produce little fruit to the reader."[4] About one-fourth of all the place-names given here are absolutely "unknown."[5] Several of them are the grounds of contention among archeologists, with some claiming one site, and others another site, as the location of a given city. Besides that, in a number of other cases, there are as many as four towns with the same name! The important thing is that the people concerned did know and did understand the boundaries which are here outlined. Before moving to a study of the Sacred Text itself, we take time to notice the following:

"The whole land has been subdued (Joshua 11:23-12), but here we read that even in Joshua's old age there remained "very much land to be possessed." This plainly comes through from an older source than Joshua 12, and is very much nearer the true state of things. The later writer, however, in order to bring the statement into harmony with what was written in Joshua 12, proceeds to explain the phrase "very much land" by referring it to distant places in the West and in the North, some of which never came into the possession of Israel at all."[6]

We have included this comment, not for any value in it, there being none at all, but for the purpose of showing the biased and fallacious reasoning of critics. Note that Holmes says that the later writer brought the place into harmony with what was already written, but how could he know that it was not the original author himself who brought about the harmony? Furthermore, the "very much land" in the North and West had already been identified with that Canaan which God promised the Israelites even from the days of Abraham and the later patriarchs! Sure, Israel did not finally possess all of it, but that will be fully explained under Joshua 13:6, below. God's promise to "drive them out" was never an unconditional declaration, but it was always contingent upon Israel's obedience and cooperation, neither of which God received.

Dean Stanley described this portion of the Book of Joshua, as, "The Domesday Book," comparing it to the book of that name which was compiled by William the Conquerer (1085-1086). However, Plummer pointed out the essential differences in the books,[7] but, as far as God's intention of destroying the occupants of Israel's remaining possessions was concerned, it was indeed the Doomsday Book. That Israel failed to carry out God's intention in this matter did not change God's purpose.

The conflict with which we are confronted here in the view of "a task well done" as contrasted "with much yet left to do," is a fact of all life, especially in the spiritual sector. This experience of the secular Israel is a type of the Christian Church, or a type of the human heart.

"The work of subduing God's enemies is gradual. One successful engagement does not conclude the war. The enemy renews his assaults, and when force fails, he tries fraud. When direct temptations are of no avail, he resorts to enticements. The victory belongs only to him who has learned to keep guard over himself, and to direct his ways to the counsels of God."[8]

"Now Joshua was old and well stricken in years; and Jehovah said unto him, Thou art old and well stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. This is the land that yet remaineth: all the region of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites; from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the border of Ekron northward, which is reckoned to the Canaanites; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim, on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongeth to the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the border of the Amorites; and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon toward the sunrising, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon unto the entrance of Hamath; all the inhabitants of the hill-country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians; them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only allot thou it unto Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh."

"Thou art old ..." (Joshua 13:1). "Joshua was 110 years old the year he died (Joshua 24:29); so he must have been more than 90 years old at this time."[9] If one wonders why the age of Joshua is stressed here, "It was a principal reason why he should speedily apply himself to the dividing of that which he had conquered."[10] Henry further observed that, "All people, but especially old people, should set themselves to do quickly that which must be done before they die, lest death prevent them."[11] "Joshua's original commission required that he should `divide the land' to Israel, and his advanced age was a special reason for discharging that duty at once."[12]

"Joshua 13:2-3 name the still unconquered areas in the south, and Joshua 13:4-5, and Joshua 13:6 name those in the north."[13]

"Sihor ..." (Joshua 13:3). "This word originally referred to the Nile river. Here, however, it is located east of Egypt and apparently designates the southern border of Canaan .... the Brook of Egypt (Wady el-'Arish).[14]

"From the south ..." (Joshua 13:4). This connects with what precedes."[15] "This indicates the southern limit of the still unconquered territory, and Joshua 13:3 gives the northern limit."[16] Jamieson pointed out the wisdom of putting these limits and boundaries on record, "As in any case of misunderstanding or dispute about the exact limits of each district of property an appeal could always be made to this authoritative document."[17] This southern limit included the Mediterranean coast as far as the Brook of Egypt. The northern limit was to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites. "This was the Aphek in the allotment to Asher, and the `border of the Amorites' was the northern boundary of the territory of Bashan."[18] We learn from these same sources that Aphek was the site of the Syrian temple of Astarte, dedicated to her as mourning for Tammuz, the ruins of which are still visible. It is not believed that Asher ever actually occupied the territory this far.

"Them will I drive out from before the children of Israel ..." (Joshua 13:6). This was by no means an unconditional promise. Despite this, some people have taken upon themselves to deny the authenticity of Divine revelation on this matter, affirming that, "God promised that Joshua should conquer the whole land,"[19] and then, of course, it did not happen! Again from Clarke, "This is a total mistake."[20] God never absolutely, or UNCONDITIONALLY, promised to put Israel in possession of the whole land of Canaan. The promise of their possessing it DEPENDED upon their fidelity to God. They were NOT faithful, but rebelled against God repeatedly, and that is why Israel actually failed to possess great portions of the promised land. Furthermore, they did not drive out the Canaanites, even where they did possess it, and eventually Israel was seduced and corrupted by the pagan worship that surrounded them to such a degree, and in such an aggravated sense, that God removed Israel, absolutely, and altogether, from their status of being God's Chosen People. From the days of Hosea, and afterward, Israel's status was that of a "slave" and not that of a wife, in the house of God. Read Hosea, especially the 9th chapter. (Also see our full discussion of this question in Vol. 2 of my series on the minor prophets.) "If Israel, through sloth, or cowardice, or affection to those idolaters (of Canaan), sit still and let them alone, they must blame themselves, and not God, if they be not driven out."[21] Although Israel never held all of the land described by these boundaries, this chapter shows that ALL of Canaan was indeed promised by God to Israel, contingent only upon their obedience and cooperation, neither of which they gave.