Joshua 13:3 describes the land that remained unconquered by the Israelites at the time Joshua was old. Let's break down the verse:
"from the Shihor, which is before Egypt": The Shihor is believed to be a river or a stream marking the southwestern border of the land promised to Israel. Its location "before Egypt" indicates it was on the Egyptian border. In other words, this marks the southern boundary of the territory being described.
"even to the border of Ekron northward": Ekron was one of the major Philistine cities. This clause defines the northern border of the unconquered territory in this region. In other words, the area that had not been conquered stretched from the Shihor in the south, northward up to Ekron.
"which is counted as Canaanite": This phrase highlights that despite some of the inhabitants being Philistines, this whole region was considered part of the larger Canaanite territory.
"the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites": This lists the five major Philistine city-states. Each city was ruled by its own "lord" or king. These were Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
"also the Avvim": The Avvim were another group of people inhabiting the area, likely related to the Canaanites. They were later displaced by the Philistines.
In summary, this verse describes the coastal plain area that was still under the control of the Philistines and other Canaanite groups when Joshua was nearing the end of his leadership. It specifies the geographical boundaries of this unconquered land, running from the Egyptian border up to the northern border of Ekron, and lists the major Philistine cities that controlled the territory. This verse emphasizes that the Israelites had not yet fully achieved their conquest of the Promised Land at this point in the biblical narrative.
Joshua 13:3 describes the land that remained unconquered by the Israelites at the time Joshua was old. Let's break down the verse:
"from the Shihor, which is before Egypt": The Shihor is believed to be a river or a stream marking the southwestern border of the land promised to Israel. Its location "before Egypt" indicates it was on the Egyptian border. In other words, this marks the southern boundary of the territory being described.
"even to the border of Ekron northward": Ekron was one of the major Philistine cities. This clause defines the northern border of the unconquered territory in this region. In other words, the area that had not been conquered stretched from the Shihor in the south, northward up to Ekron.
"which is counted as Canaanite": This phrase highlights that despite some of the inhabitants being Philistines, this whole region was considered part of the larger Canaanite territory.
"the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites": This lists the five major Philistine city-states. Each city was ruled by its own "lord" or king. These were Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
"also the Avvim": The Avvim were another group of people inhabiting the area, likely related to the Canaanites. They were later displaced by the Philistines.
In summary, this verse describes the coastal plain area that was still under the control of the Philistines and other Canaanite groups when Joshua was nearing the end of his leadership. It specifies the geographical boundaries of this unconquered land, running from the Egyptian border up to the northern border of Ekron, and lists the major Philistine cities that controlled the territory. This verse emphasizes that the Israelites had not yet fully achieved their conquest of the Promised Land at this point in the biblical narrative.
