3. Apportioning the Promised Land

God’s instructions to Joshua: Apportion the Land

13:1-7

• Joshua is old, so God tells him, ‘Much of the Land still needs to be taken from the natives; I will drive out the Land’s inhabitants;
• you must apportion the Land to the 9½ tribes’

[This apportioning by lottery is done in 14:1 – 19:48 / see also God’s instructions to Moses, Num 26:53-56]

Land east of the Jordan (2½ tribes)

No land for Levi (1 tribe)

13:8-33

• List: The borders & areas of land that Moses had apportioned to the 2½ tribes of Reuben, Gad, & half-tribe^#1 of Manasseh
• v14, v33, The tribe of Levi did not receive [tracts of] land [only cities, 21:1-42], but they do receive offerings & God is their inheritance [cf. Dt 18:1-8]

Land west of the Jordan (9½ tribes)

14:1-5

• This is how the [Promised] Land was divided between the 9½ tribes [as follows…]

A. The tribe of Judah (1 tribe)

14:6-15

• Caleb asks Joshua for the land of the Anakites [cf. 15:13-19]

[Anakites were the most feared inhabitants of Canaan, but not to Caleb (Num 13:28-33) who trusted in God’s promises (Ex 34:11, Num 14:24, Dt 9:1-3)]

15:1-12

• List: The borders of the land apportioned to Judah

15:13-19

• Caleb fights the Anakites in Hebron & Debir (cf. 10:36-39) with the help of Othniel, his brother

[Othniel became leader of Israel after Joshua’s death & first of the ‘Judges’, see Judges 3:9-11]

15:20-63

• List: Judah’s cities
• v63, They couldn’t take Jerusalem [cf. Jdg 1:8, v21, 19:10-12, 2 Sam 5:6-9]

B. The tribes of Joseph (1½ tribes)

16:1 – 17:13

• List: Borders of land apportioned to Ephraim & half- tribe^#2 of Manasseh
• 16:10, 17:11-13, Some natives are not driven out
• 17:3-4, Zelophehad’s daughters receive land [cf. Num 27:7]

17:14-18

• The tribes of Joseph say their portion is too small; Joshua tells them to claim the forests [they must fight!]

C. The remaining tribes (7 tribes)

18:1

• The Tabernacle is set up at Shiloh [the Ark of the Covenant remained there until 1 Sam 4:3-4]

18:2-9

• Men are sent out to survey the rest of the unclaimed land (so it can be apportioned by lottery)

18:10 – 19:48

• List: Borders & cities for Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali & Dan

D. Joshua

19:49-51

• Joshua is given a town in Ephraim’s territory
• All land was apportioned by lottery at Shiloh

Levite towns

ch. 20

• God says, ‘Set apart Cities of Refuge for those who accidentally kill’, so three cities are set apart

[see instructions at Num 35:9-34 & Dt 19:1-13. Moses had already set apart 3 cities in Dt 4:41-43]

21:1-42

• Levites ask for cities [to live in, see instructions at Num 35:1-8], so cities are given to the Levites

4. Living in the Promised Land

God has been good to Israel

21:43-45

• God has given Israel the Land, defeated their enemies and fulfilled all His good promises

The tribes east of the Jordan

22:1-9

• The eastern tribes kept their promise [see 1:12-18], so Joshua sends them home & blesses them

22:10-34

• The memorial altar: The eastern tribes build a large altar.
• The western tribes suspect it is for idolatry & prepare to fight [any idolaters], but they are told, ‘The altar is not designed for sacrifices, but as a memorial to show that the eastern tribes belong to Yahweh!’

Joshua’s final sermons and his death

ch. 23

• Joshua speaks to the leaders:

i. God will give you the remaining land;

ii. Keep the Law;

iii. Cling to & love God;

iv. Do not intermarry with the natives & do not break God’s Law

24:1-15

• At Shechem: Joshua reminds the people of their nation’s history & invites them to serve God

24:16-28

• The witness stone: The people promise to serve God (Joshua erects a stone to act as witness)

24:29-33

• Joshua dies & is buried
• Joseph’s bones are buried [cf. Gen 50:24-26]
• Eleazar [high priest] dies

Num / Deut / JOSH / Jdg / Ruth