The Bible Says Commentary on Joshua 13

Joshua 13 begins with God reminding Joshua of his advanced age and the work ahead. Though the Israelites conquered much of Canaan, nearby areas remain unconquered. God instructs the Israelite leader to take the rest of the land west of the Jordan River and divide it among nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Before describing the distribution, the text provides a detailed description of the territory Moses allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the eastern region. The chapter concludes by summarizing the land assignments and specifying why the tribe of Levi received no inheritance. The chapter follows this structure:

1. The LORD charges Joshua to take the remaining Canaanite land and divide it among the other nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh, since two and a half tribes already possessed the land east of the Jordan River (vv. 1-7).
   
   
2. The text recalls the description of the territory Moses gave to the two tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the eastern side of the Jordan River (vv. 8-14).
   
   
3. The text provides a further detailed description of the land Moses allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the eastern side of the Jordan River (vv. 15-31).
   
   
4. The text summarizes the division of the land east of the Jordan River and explains why the tribe of Levi did not receive an inheritance (vv. 32-33).