Untitled Sermon

Joshua 13–19 CSB

Joshua was now old, advanced in age, and the Lord said to him, “You have become old, advanced in age, but a great deal of the land remains to be possessed. This is the land that remains: All the districts of the Philistines and the Geshurites: from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvites in the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians to Aphek and as far as the border of the Amorites; the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon east from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath—all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, all the Sidonians. I will drive them out before the Israelites, only distribute the land as an inheritance for Israel, as I have commanded you. Therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.” With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and Gadites had received the inheritance Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the Lord’s servant had given them: From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, all the Medeba plateau as far as Dibon, and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the Ammonites; also Gilead and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah—the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei; he was one of the remaining Rephaim. Moses struck them down and drove them out, but the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites and Maacathites. So Geshur and Maacath still live in Israel today. He did not, however, give any inheritance to the tribe of Levi. This was their inheritance, just as he had promised: the food offerings made to the Lord, the God of Israel. To the tribe of Reuben’s descendants by their clans, Moses gave this as their territory: From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plateau as far as Medeba, with Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau—Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley, Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth—all the cities of the plateau, and all the kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Moses had killed him and the chiefs of Midian—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the princes of Sihon who lived in the land. Along with those the Israelites put to death, they also killed the diviner, Balaam son of Beor, with the sword. The border of the Reubenites was the Jordan and its plain. This was the inheritance of the Reubenites by their clans, with the cities and their settlements. To the tribe of the Gadites by their clans, Moses gave this as their territory: Jazer and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites to Aroer, near Rabbah; from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir; in the valley: Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon—the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon. Their land also included the Jordan and its territory as far as the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth on the east side of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the Gadites by their clans, with the cities and their settlements. And to half the tribe of Manasseh (that is, to half the tribe of Manasseh’s descendants by their clans) Moses gave this as their territory: From Mahanaim through all Bashan—all the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, including all of Jair’s Villages that are in Bashan—sixty cities. But half of Gilead, and Og’s royal cities in Bashan—Ashtaroth and Edrei—are for the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh (that is, half the descendants of Machir by their clans). These were the portions Moses gave them on the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. But Moses did not give a portion to the tribe of Levi. The Lord, the God of Israel, was their inheritance, just as he had promised them. The Israelites received these portions that the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the family heads of the Israelite tribes gave them in the land of Canaan. Their inheritance was by lot as the Lord commanded through Moses for the nine and a half tribes, because Moses had given the inheritance to the two and a half tribes beyond the Jordan. But he gave no inheritance among them to the Levites. The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. No portion of the land was given to the Levites except cities to live in, along with pasturelands for their cattle and livestock. So the Israelites did as the Lord commanded Moses, and they divided the land. The descendants of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord promised Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the Lord’s servant sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land, and I brought back an honest report. My brothers who went with me caused the people to lose heart, but I followed the Lord my God completely. On that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have followed the Lord my God completely.’ “As you see, the Lord has kept me alive these forty-five years as he promised, since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then. Now give me this hill country the Lord promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised.” Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as an inheritance. Therefore, Hebron still belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance today because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, completely. Hebron’s name used to be Kiriath-arba; Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. After this, the land had rest from war. Now the allotment for the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans was in the southernmost region, south to the Wilderness of Zin and over to the border of Edom. Their southern border began at the tip of the Dead Sea on the south bay and went south of the Scorpions’ Ascent, proceeded to Zin, ascended to the south of Kadesh-barnea, passed Hezron, ascended to Addar, and turned to Karka. It proceeded to Azmon and to the Brook of Egypt and so the border ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This is your southern border. Now the eastern border was along the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jordan. The border on the north side was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. It ascended to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and ascended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. Then the border ascended to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to the Gilgal that is opposite the Ascent of Adummim, which is south of the ravine. The border proceeded to the Waters of En-shemesh and ended at En-rogel. From there the border ascended Ben Hinnom Valley to the southern Jebusite slope (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces Hinnom Valley on the west, at the northern end of Rephaim Valley. From the top of the hill the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, went to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then curved to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim). The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah. Then the border reached to the slope north of Ekron, curved to Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went to Jabneel, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. Now the western border was the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. This was the boundary of the descendants of Judah around their clans. He gave Caleb son of Jephunneh the following portion among the descendants of Judah based on the Lord’s instruction to Joshua: Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak). Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir, which used to be called Kiriath-sepher, and Caleb said, “Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher, I will give my daughter Achsah to him as a wife.” So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother, Kenaz, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as a wife. When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” She replied, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me the springs also.” So he gave her the upper and lower springs. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans. These were the outermost cities of the tribe of the descendants of Judah toward the border of Edom in the Negev: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), Amam, Shema, Moladah, Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah, Baalah, Iim, Ezem, Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, with their settlements. In the Judean foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim—fourteen cities, with their settlements; Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, Dilan, Mizpeh, Jokthe-el, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish, Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities, with their settlements; Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, with their settlements; Ekron, with its surrounding villages and settlements; from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, with their settlements; Ashdod, with its surrounding villages and settlements; Gaza, with its surrounding villages and settlements, to the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir), Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities, with their settlements; Arab, Dumah, Eshan, Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, with their settlements; Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities, with their settlements; Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six cities, with their settlements; Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah—two cities, with their settlements. In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six cities, with their settlements. But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah today. The allotment for the descendants of Joseph went from the Jordan at Jericho to the Waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness ascending from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. From Bethel it went to Luz and proceeded to the border of the Archites by Ataroth. It then descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, received their inheritance. This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar on the east to Upper Beth-horon. In the north the border went westward from Michmethath; it turned eastward from Taanath-shiloh and passed it east of Janoah. From Janoah it descended to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and went to the Jordan. From Tappuah the border went westward along the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans, together with the cities set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of the descendants of Manasseh—all these cities with their settlements. However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites still live in Ephraim today, but they are forced laborers. This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn. Gilead and Bashan were given to Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh and the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war. So the allotment was for the rest of Manasseh’s descendants by their clans, for the sons of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, by their clans. Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They came before the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our male relatives.” So they gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the Lord’s instruction. As a result, ten tracts fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which are beyond the Jordan, because Manasseh’s daughters received an inheritance among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of Manasseh’s sons. The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem. It then went southward toward the inhabitants of En-tappuah. The region of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself on Manasseh’s border belonged to the descendants of Ephraim. From there the border descended to the Brook of Kanah; south of the brook, cities belonged to Ephraim among Manasseh’s cities. Manasseh’s border was on the north side of the brook and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. Ephraim’s territory was to the south and Manasseh’s to the north, with the Sea as its border. They reached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean, Ibleam, and the inhabitants of Dor with their surrounding villages; the inhabitants of En-dor, Taanach, and Megiddo—the three cities of Naphath—with their surrounding villages. The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they imposed forced labor on the Canaanites but did not drive them out completely. Joseph’s descendants said to Joshua, “Why did you give us only one tribal allotment as an inheritance? We have many people, because the Lord has been blessing us greatly.” “If you have so many people,” Joshua replied to them, “go to the forest and clear an area for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, because Ephraim’s hill country is too small for you.” But the descendants of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who inhabit the valley area have iron chariots, both at Beth-shean with its surrounding villages and in the Jezreel Valley.” So Joshua replied to Joseph’s family (that is, Ephraim and Manasseh), “You have many people and great strength. You will not have just one allotment, because the hill country will be yours also. It is a forest; clear it and its outlying areas will be yours. You can also drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and are strong.” The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land had been subdued before them, but seven tribes among the Israelites were left who had not divided up their inheritance. So Joshua asked the Israelites, “How long will you delay going out to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, gave you? Appoint for yourselves three men from each tribe, and I will send them out. They are to go and survey the land, write a description of it for the purpose of their inheritance, and return to me. Then they are to divide it into seven portions. Judah is to remain in its territory in the south and Joseph’s family in their territory in the north. When you have written a description of the seven portions of land and brought it to me, I will cast lots for you here in the presence of the Lord our God. But the Levites among you do not get a portion, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the Lord. Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have taken their inheritance beyond the Jordan to the east, which Moses the Lord’s servant gave them.” As the men prepared to go, Joshua commanded them to write down a description of the land, saying, “Go and survey the land, write a description of it, and return to me. I will then cast lots for you here in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord.” So the men left, went through the land, and described it by towns in a document of seven sections. They returned to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions. The lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans, and their allotted territory lay between Judah’s descendants and Joseph’s descendants. Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, ascended to the slope of Jericho on the north, through the hill country westward, and ended at the wilderness around Beth-aven. From there the border went toward Luz, to the southern slope of Luz (that is, Bethel); it then went down by Ataroth-addar, over the hill south of Lower Beth-horon. On the west side, from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south, the border curved, turning southward, and ended at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the descendants of Judah. This was the west side of their border. The south side began at the edge of Kiriath-jearim, and the border extended westward; it went to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah. The border descended to the foot of the hill that faces Ben Hinnom Valley at the northern end of Rephaim Valley. It ran down Hinnom Valley toward the south Jebusite slope and downward to En-rogel. It curved northward and went to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth, which is opposite the Ascent of Adummim, and continued down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. Then it went north to the slope opposite the Arabah and proceeded into the plains. The border continued to the north slope of Beth-hoglah and ended at the northern bay of the Dead Sea, at the southern end of the Jordan. This was the southern border. The Jordan formed the border on the east side. This was the inheritance of Benjamin’s descendants, by their clans, according to its surrounding borders. These were the cities of the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, with their settlements; Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath—fourteen cities, with their settlements. This was the inheritance for Benjamin’s descendants by their clans. The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of his descendants by their clans, but their inheritance was within the inheritance given to Judah’s descendants. Their inheritance included Beer-sheba (or Sheba), Moladah, Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities, with their settlements; Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities, with their settlements; and all the settlements surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah in the south). This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon’s descendants by their clans. The inheritance of Simeon’s descendants was within the territory of Judah’s descendants, because the share for Judah’s descendants was too large. So Simeon’s descendants received an inheritance within Judah’s portion. The third lot came up for Zebulun’s descendants by their clans. The territory of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid; their border went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam. From Sarid, it turned due east along the border of Chisloth-tabor, went to Daberath, and went up to Japhia. From there, it went due east to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon, curving around to Neah. The border then circled around Neah on the north to Hannathon and ended at Iphtah-el Valley, along with Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem—twelve cities, with their settlements. This was the inheritance of Zebulun’s descendants by their clans, these cities, with their settlements. The fourth lot came out for the tribe of Issachar’s descendants by their clans. Their territory went to Jezreel, and included Chesulloth, Shunem, Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez. The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan—sixteen cities, with their settlements. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar’s descendants by their clans, the cities, with their settlements. The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher’s descendants by their clans. Their boundary included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal and reached westward to Carmel and Shihor-libnath. It turned eastward to Beth-dagon, reached Zebulun and Iphtah-el Valley, north toward Beth-emek and Neiel, and went north to Cabul, Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as greater Sidon. The boundary then turned to Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre; it turned back to Hosah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea, including Mahalab, Achzib, Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob—twenty-two cities, with their settlements. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Asher’s descendants by their clans, these cities with their settlements. The sixth lot came out for Naphtali’s descendants by their clans. Their boundary went from Heleph and from the oak in Zaanannim, including Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan. To the west, the boundary turned to Aznoth-tabor and went from there to Hukkok, reaching Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east. The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor, Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh—nineteen cities, with their settlements. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants by their clans, the cities with their settlements. The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan’s descendants by their clans. The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, Elon, Timnah, Ekron, Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the territory facing Joppa. When the territory of the descendants of Dan slipped out of their control, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and struck it down with the sword. So they took possession of it, lived there, and renamed Leshem after their ancestor Dan. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Dan’s descendants by their clans, these cities with their settlements. When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them. By the Lord’s command, they gave him the city Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, which he requested. He rebuilt the city and lived in it. These were the portions that the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the family heads distributed to the Israelite tribes by lot at Shiloh in the Lord’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.

Overview:

13-19 - two major segments: allocations to Judah/Joseph (14-17); remaining 7 tribes (18-19)

Chap 13 - Good, Better, and Best — Already, Not Yet, and God(cf 13:1 and cf 11:23)

— subdued land (Jsh 18:1)

— taking and possessing land depend on “Allegiance to God and obedience to the law of Moses is as necessary to possessing the land as it is to taking it.” (Beal)

— 13:22 - Balaam, et al, examples of faithlessness

— call to obedience reemphasized (Jsh 13:6-8)

— Levites inherit God

— Tabernacle at Shiloah — God dwelling in midst of people;

— Jesus in the church (1 Pet 2:5, 9) and the New Creation

Chap 14 - The Inheritance of God is Received by All Those of Faith

— Inheritance — “Property that changes ownership to a descendant (especially to a firstborn male) upon the death of a parent (usually the father).”

— this is given by the Lord (lot) who never dies — entirely a gift

— see repeated use of “inheritance” and “allotment”

— “the Lord’s land, a gift to Israel, to be taken by faith.”1

1 Bruce K. Waltke, “Joshua,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 255.

 — Chap 18 — before tent of meeting, reminder of covenant

— in the presence of the Lord your God (18:6)

— 19:50 - “By the Lord’s command”

— faithful persistence in claiming the land

— bookended by Caleb and Joshua — demonstrate faith that takes the land

— both persevered into old age, trusting they would enter the land

— Joshua divides the land according to God’s instruction, fulfilling Moses’ ministry, in God’s presence: he is the true Israelite

— includes foreigners (Rahab, Gibeonites, Caleb), women (Caleb’s daughter Aksah, daughters of Zelophehad) / 4 land-grand narratives (C, Aksah, dofZ, J) / Rahab, Aksah, and daughters of Z (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah) all make demands — models of faith (wanting father’s name to be remembered and God records theirs)

— Bold imperatives from Rahab, Aksah (like Caleb), d of Z - “those who are persistent in claiming what is theirs possess the land.” The other tribes should follow suit.

— “Moses remains the Lord’s servant (v. 8), but it is always Moses and not Joshua who is cited as granting the Transjordanian lands. In this way, the faithless request to remain outside the land is associated with the wilderness generation under Moses (Num 32).”1

1 Lissa M. Wray Beal, Joshua, ed. Tremper Longman III, The Story of God Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2019), 286.

— “did not drive out” see Joshua 13:13, 16:10, 17:13, Jdg 1

— marked by diminishment and disintegration

— both halves end in failure (17:14-17; 19:40-48, Dan’s migration, rejection of land)

— shrinking faith of Josephites took hold (vs Caleb, Aksah, DoZ)

— cf Manasseh’s descendents/Joseph’s Complaint (17:12-18)

Problematic (ending 17 on negative note)

1) cf “blessed” to Caleb’s account 14:12; he had faith to take hill country

2) “numerous” - Joshua uses against them

— failed to use size to take the land, allowing inhabitants to remain

— failure of faith (they’ve defeated chariots before)

— cf remaining seven tribes (Jsh 18:3-10)

NT — spiritual inheritance: God (Rev 21:3), eternal life (Matt 19:29; Mark 10:17; Luke 10:25; Tit 3:7), salvation (Heb 1:14), a blessing (1 Pet 3:9), Kingdom of Son (Col 1:12), of God (1 Cor 6:9–10; Gal 5:21), which is imperishable (1 Cor 15:50); New Heavens and New Earth (Rev 21:7)—mutuality (Rev 21:3-4)

— we inherit via Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:14; Col. 3:24; Heb. 9:15)

— we are all priests (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6, 5:10): God is our inheritance

— we are qualified to share in inheritance (Col 1:12): the kingdom of the Son

— we are called to live obediently within the land (Col 1:9-10)

— we are heirs by faith and not works of the Law (Rom 4:14; Gal 3:26-29)

Chaps 15-19 — The Lord Keeps His Word (Joshua 21:43-45)

— After 45 years to Caleb (Jsh 14:7-9)

— Descriptions of inheritance: God

— God is in the “boring bits”

The Hebrew root thus appears five times in the first five verses (compared to only four times in the rest of chs. 14–15; 14:9, 13, 14; 15:20) and clearly defines the character of the land allocation; it is indeed Israel’s inheritance received from the Lord and a fulfillment of the promise of 1:6. All that takes place by way of land allotment in these chapters demonstrates God’s faithfulness to his promise given to Joshua.1

1 Lissa M. Wray Beal, Joshua, ed. Tremper Longman III, The Story of God Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2019), 297.

13:1-7 — Land Remaining to Be Taken

land remaining (13:1) vs “too the entire land” (11:23)

BEAL — “Allegiance to God and obedience to the law of Moses is as necessary to possessing the land as it is to taking it.” (cf Jsh 1:7-8)

— 13-24 deal with taking the land

— 13-21 deal with allocation of land gifted to Israel

NBC — At any given point during the process of possessing the land, it can be said God fulfilled his promise. Moreover, each individual fulfilment was a part of the ultimate fulfilment and could be reckoned as such. The NT presents the same tension regarding the kingdom of God: it is already here but in its fullest sense ‘not yet’.1

1 Bruce K. Waltke, “Joshua,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 251.

13:14, 33 — Levi references point to something better

14-19 — Distribution of Land West of Jordan

section framed by inheritances of Caleb (14:6-15) and Joshua (19:49-50) — exemplary

NBC — Egyptians referred to this land as “Canaan”

— distribution by lot w/ Eleazar the priest, Joshua and heads of tribal clans mediating decision and administrating it

— 9.5 western tribes

14:6-17:18 — early allotments at Gigal; Judah and Joseph

NBC — CALEB — “followed the Lord my God completely” (3x; 8,9,14)

— claim by faith (6b-9), by faith&war (10-12), Joshua’s grant (13-15)

— God promised him the land (so not by lots)

ESVSB — Caleb is one of four narrative passages (land-grant narratives) in 14-19 that focus on individuals (Achsah, d of Z, Joshua).

BEAL — Interwoven “with Judah’s allotment is rhetorical presentation (to Judah, and even to all Israel!) of the faith that receives the land.”

— contrary to those who “melting in fear” — “They “rebel” (14:9), “grumble” (14:2, 27), held the Lord “in contempt” (14:11, 23), and “refused to believe” the Lord despite many miraculous signs (14:11). In short, they “sinned” (14:19) and “were unfaithful” (14:33).”1 1 Lissa M. Wray Beal, Joshua, ed. Tremper Longman III, The Story of God Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2019), 299.

— 10-12 alternates between past/present showing “Caleb’s anticipation of present success rests on his ongoing belief that God is as present and powerful now as he was then. More, that Caleb’s own faith is as vibrant today as it was then. By God’s help, Caleb has faith to accomplish now what Israel failed (through faith) to accomplish then.”

—”Caleb is like Rahab and Gibeon before him, who were incorporated into Israel “to this day” (6:25; 9:27). Once more, a foreigner is granted place and prominence within Israel. For a final time, Caleb’s possession is attributed to his wholeheartedness (v. 14; cf. vv. 8, 9). The emphasis on his wholehearted faith sets him up as a paradigm for all Israel to emulate as they receive their allotted inheritance.”1

1 Lissa M. Wray Beal, Joshua, ed. Tremper Longman III, The Story of God Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2019), 301.

15-19 — Inheritance Allotted to the Tribes

NBC — “allotment” (actual casting of lots)

15 - Judah’s allotment (future prominence)

— despite its significant size and examples of Caleb and Aksah, it fails to drive out Canaanites and possess the key city

16-17 - Joseph (given double-blessing by Jacob)

— south border, Ephraim, Manasseh,

— 17:12-13 - could not possess cities or drive out completely (downfall)

— 17:14-18 - “complaint exposes spiritual failure: sloth, timidity and lack of vision.” Joshua encourages faith (clear and drive out)

18-19 - the rest of the tribes at Shiloh

— Jsh 18:1 tent of meeting - in the Lord’s presence; it is his land, to be used for him

— Joshua chides remaining 7 tribes for failing to keep covenant (18:3)

— “delay” (Heb “to be slack”), failed to “be strong and courageous” (Jsh 1:7-9, 11)

— sends surveyors and then distributes by lot

— Jsh 19:40-48 - Dan, last tribe, “represents climax of failure to possess the land” (see Jdg 1:34; Jdg 18)

CONCLUSION — Joshua’s inheritance (Jsh 19:49-50) and concluding report (51)

NBC — “summary is important for the theology of this book”

Joshua - exemplifies faith’s obedience

Lot - the Lord’s land, a gift to Israel, to be taken by faith.