Joshua 13:7 is a directive from God, spoken through Joshua, to begin the process of dividing the land of Canaan among the remaining Israelite tribes. Let's break down the meaning:
"Now therefore...": This connects the verse to the preceding context. The previous verses describe the lands that still remained to be conquered.
"...divide this land...": This is the core instruction. "This land" refers to the territory of Canaan that the Israelites were promised by God. It doesn't necessarily mean the entirety of Canaan at this point, but rather the portions that had already been conquered or subdued enough to allow for settlement.
"...for an inheritance...": The land wasn't just being handed out; it was being given as a permanent possession, a birthright, an inheritance for each tribe. This signified God's promise being fulfilled and the tribes establishing their home in the promised land.
"...to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”: This specifies which groups were to receive land allotments at this particular stage.
Remember that the tribe of Levi was not given a specific territorial inheritance, as they were devoted to priestly service and their inheritance was God Himself (meaning they would be supported through tithes and offerings from the other tribes).
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the other half-tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan River (Joshua 13:8-33).
Therefore, this verse addresses the distribution of land west of the Jordan to the remaining nine tribes and the western half of Manasseh.
In summary, Joshua 13:7 is a command to begin the process of allocating land west of the Jordan River to the nine tribes and the western half of the tribe of Manasseh as their permanent, inherited possession. It marked a significant step in fulfilling God's promise to the Israelites and establishing them as a nation in the land of Canaan. It's important to remember that this division wasn't just a land grab; it was a divinely ordained distribution, meant to ensure each tribe had a place and responsibility in the Promised Land.
Joshua 13:7 is a directive from God, spoken through Joshua, to begin the process of dividing the land of Canaan among the remaining Israelite tribes. Let's break down the meaning:
"Now therefore...": This connects the verse to the preceding context. The previous verses describe the lands that still remained to be conquered.
"...divide this land...": This is the core instruction. "This land" refers to the territory of Canaan that the Israelites were promised by God. It doesn't necessarily mean the entirety of Canaan at this point, but rather the portions that had already been conquered or subdued enough to allow for settlement.
"...for an inheritance...": The land wasn't just being handed out; it was being given as a permanent possession, a birthright, an inheritance for each tribe. This signified God's promise being fulfilled and the tribes establishing their home in the promised land.
"...to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”: This specifies which groups were to receive land allotments at this particular stage.
Remember that the tribe of Levi was not given a specific territorial inheritance, as they were devoted to priestly service and their inheritance was God Himself (meaning they would be supported through tithes and offerings from the other tribes).
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the other half-tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan River (Joshua 13:8-33).
Therefore, this verse addresses the distribution of land west of the Jordan to the remaining nine tribes and the western half of Manasseh.
In summary, Joshua 13:7 is a command to begin the process of allocating land west of the Jordan River to the nine tribes and the western half of the tribe of Manasseh as their permanent, inherited possession. It marked a significant step in fulfilling God's promise to the Israelites and establishing them as a nation in the land of Canaan. It's important to remember that this division wasn't just a land grab; it was a divinely ordained distribution, meant to ensure each tribe had a place and responsibility in the Promised Land.