I. Summary
Yahweh tells Joshua, who has grown old, to apportion the land west of the Jordan to the Israelite tribes. The land that Moses apportioned east of the Jordan is described.
II. Photo
Joshua’s age begins to show: “Joshua was now old, advanced in years. Yahweh said to him, ‘You have grown old, you are advanced in years.’” (v. 1)
III. Select Verses
1-2: Joshua was now old, advanced in years. The LORD said to him, “You have grown old, you are advanced in years; and very much of the land still remains to be taken possession of.
6-7: I Myself will dispossess those nations for the Israelites; you have only to apportion their lands by lot among Israel, as I have commanded you. Therefore, divide this territory into hereditary portions for the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
8: Now the Reubenites and the Gadites, along with the other half-tribe, had already received the shares which Moses assigned to them on the east side of the Jordan — as assigned to them by Moses the servant of the LORD.
13: But the Israelites failed to dispossess the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and Geshur and Maacath remain among Israel to this day.
14: No hereditary portion, however, was assigned to the tribe of Levi, their portion being the fire offerings of the LORD, the God of Israel, as He spoke concerning them.
IV. Outline
1-13. Yahweh’s speech to Joshua
1a. Introduction
1b. Joshua’s age
2-6a. The land yet to be conquered
6b. Yahweh will conquer the land
6c-7. Joshua must apportion the land
8-12. Summary of the previously conquered Transjordanian land assigned to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh
13. The land of the Geshurites and Maacathites remained unconquered
14. Levi has no portion in the land
15-23. Reuben’s cities on the tableland and the chiefs defeated by Moses
24-28. Gad’s cities
29-31. Manasseh’s cities
32. Summary of Moses allotments
33. Levi has no tribal allotment (again)
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo copied from http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Elderly-hand-holding-walking-cane-via-Shutterstock.jpg
