Joshua 13:7-22

13:7 Now, divide up this land ¹  among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”

Tribal Lands East of the Jordan

13:8 The other half of Manasseh, ²  Reuben, and Gad received their allotted tribal lands beyond the Jordan, ³  just as Moses, the Lord’s servant, had assigned them. 13:9 Their territory started ⁴  from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley), included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, 13:10 and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, and ended at the Ammonite border. 13:11 Their territory also included ⁵  Gilead, Geshurite and Maacathite territory, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah – 13:12 the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was one of the few remaining Rephaites.) ⁶  Moses defeated them and took their lands. ⁷  13:13 But the Israelites did not conquer ⁸  the Geshurites and Maacathites; Geshur and Maacah live among Israel to this very day. 13:14 However, Moses ⁹  did not assign land as an inheritance ¹⁰  to the Levites; their inheritance ¹¹  is the sacrificial offerings ¹²  made to the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed ¹³  them.

13:15 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Reuben ¹⁴  by its clans. 13:16 Their territory started at Aroer ¹⁵  (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba, 13:17 Heshbon and all its surrounding cities on the plain, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 13:18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 13:19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 13:20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth. 13:21 It encompassed ¹⁶  all the cities of the plain and the whole realm of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and the Midianite leaders Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (they were subjects of Sihon and lived in his territory). ¹⁷  13:22 The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen reader, ¹⁸  along with the others. ¹⁹ 

[13:7]  ¹ tn Heb “now apportion this land as an inheritance.”

[13:8]  ² tn The MT reads “with him,” which is problematic, since the reference would be to the other half of the tribe of Manasseh (not the half mentioned in v. 7).

[13:8]  ³ tn Heb “received their inheritance, which Moses had assigned to them beyond the Jordan.”

[13:9]  ⁴ tn The words “their territory started” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[13:11]  ⁵ tn The words “their territory also included” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[13:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “from the remnant of the Rephaites.”

[13:12]  ⁷ tn Or “dispossessed them.”

[13:13]  ⁸ tn Or “dispossess.”

[13:14]  ⁹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Moses) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:14]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “did not assign an inheritance.”

[13:14]  ¹¹ tn That is, “their source of food and life.”

[13:14]  ¹² tn Or “offerings made by fire.”

[13:14]  ¹³ tn Or “promised” (Heb “spoke”).

[13:15]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “assigned to the sons of Reuben.”

[13:16]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “their territory was from.”

[13:21]  ¹⁶ tn The words “it encompassed” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[13:21]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “princes of Sihon, inhabitants of the land.”

[13:22]  ¹⁸ tn Or “diviner.”

[13:22]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “Balaam son of Beor, the omen-reader, the Israelites killed with the sword, along with their slain ones.”