Joshua 13:23 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

The Portion of Reuben (Joshua 13:15-23).

Joshua 13:15

‘ And Moses gave to the tribe of Reuben according to their families.'

The division of the land took account of the sizes of the tribes (Numbers 26:53-54). Note how the ‘numbers' are expressed as ‘according to their families'. Thus ‘families' is basically a number word in these contexts. The word for ‘tribe' also signifies a staff or rod of authority, also used for chastisement. It is used especially in formal lists and descriptions where authority over, and responsibility for chastisement of, the people is in mind. In a sense the tribe was the rod, to direct and to punish.

Between Joshua 13:14-15 LXX adds ‘This is the division which Moses divided to the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab beyond Jordan over against Jericho.' This was clearly an insertion in order to explain ‘Moses gave'. It is stressed that the original division in the land Beyond Jordan Eastward was arranged by Moses.

Related Commentaries of Joshua 13:15

Joshua 13:15-23

15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.

16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;

17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal,b and Bethbaalmeon,

18 And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,

19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,

20 And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah,c and Bethjeshimoth,

21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer,d did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.