Joshua 13:15–33
15 So Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the sons of Reuben according to their families.
16 Their territory was from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, with the city which is in the middle of the valley and all the plain by Medeba;
17 Heshbon and all its cities which are on the plain: Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,
18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill of the valley,
20 Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth-jeshimoth,
21 even all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the leaders of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the leaders of Sihon, who lived in the land.
22 The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner, with the sword among the rest of their dead.
23 The border of the sons of Reuben was the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the sons of Reuben according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24 Moses also gave an inheritance to the tribe of Gad, to the sons of Gad according to their families.
25 Their territory was Jazer and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the sons of Ammon, as far as Aroer which is opposite Rabbah;
26 and from Heshbon as far as Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim as far as the border of Debir;
27 and in the valley, Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan as a border, as far as the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan to the east.
28 This is the inheritance of the sons of Gad according to their families, the cities and their villages.
29 Moses also gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh; and it was for the half-tribe of the sons of Manasseh according to their families.
30 Their territory was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities;
31 also half of Gilead, with Ashtaroth and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh, for half of the sons of Machir according to their families.
32 These are the territories which Moses apportioned as an inheritance in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho to the east.
33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He had promised to them.
Two and a Half Tribes Settled in the East
Territories inherited
The half-tribe of Manasseh, the tribe of Rueben, and the tribe of Gad crossed the Jordan River and fought in the conquest of Canaan with the other nine tribes. Now, the Lord had given them the land east of the Jordan River. (1) The detailed areas of the territory are listed in the order of the tribe of Rueben, the tribe of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. It seems irrelevant to us today, but this was an extremely important list for the Israelites. (2) They learned that all the lands they inherit were gifts from God and that they must use the land for the given purpose. (3) Additionally, they learned that they have ownership of the land, but at the same time, they shall not trample on the rights of their neighbors. Wherever we live, whatever land we acquire, all are gifts from the Lord. Let’s take a moment to self-evaluate, whether or not we are utilizing the things given by God in an effective way as good stewards. Also, let’s remember that the acquirement of land on earth is a foreshadow of the eternal dwelling we are to receive in the future in heaven and confess the hope we have in Christ. God is preparing an eternal dwelling place for us.
Other items
(1) Things concerning Balaam the diviner are mentioned. Balaam attempted to curse the Israelites but failed, as God had prohibited them from doing so. He then lured the Israelites into Baal worship using the daughters of Moab, accompanied by sexual temptations. Balaam was slain with a sword. Those who curse Israel will be destroyed. (2) Again, things concerning the Levites are recorded. They were not given any land as an inheritance. They received portions from the sacrifices brought by other tribes. In the New Testament, it is taught that all believers are priests. Even when poor, we have all things. Christ himself is our inheritance.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the promise of an eternal dwelling. May I use the wealth given to me in this earthly life as a good steward. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.