With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them; From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon; And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon; And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah; All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out. Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day(Josh. 13:8-13).
In today’s reading, the Israelites enter into a period of transition. So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war (Josh. 11:23). For seven years, they had been on the offensive, initiating battles and actively working to clear the land God had given them of its previous inhabitants. Now, the time had come for them to switch gears. The time for preparing the land for settlement had passed; it was now time for them to take full possession and assert their ‘ownership’ of the land they had been given. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh (13:7).
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses (22:9). For the children of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, this time would have been bittersweet. The cessation of war meant the time had come for them to part from their brethren and return home to their families and the land they had chosen across the river Jordan. By their own request, they would receive no inheritance within the boundaries of the land which God had established for His people. They had requested for their inheritance (and received) possession of land on the far side of the river. Joshua 13 contains an official recording of that inheritance, with verses 15-32 serving as a deed of record. Although the choice had been made many years earlier, before even setting foot into Canaan, this chapter finalizes their separation from the remaining tribes and underscores the permanent nature of that separation.
As we continue our study of God’s Word, we will find very few additional references to these two-and-a-half tribes, either positive or negative, as if when they withdrew from full fellowship, they also withdrew from participation in God’s narrative and faded back into the world. Until, at last, we read:
And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day(I Chr. 5:25-26).
Thought For TodayThere can be no peaceful life for those who live without God; peace is a blessing only He can offer.
Word Studies11:4 hosts = army; 11:5 were met together = joined forces; 11:6 hough = hamstring; 12:3 Sea of Chinne-roth = Sea of Galilee; Sea of the plain, even Salt Sea = Dead Sea; 13:22 soothsayer = diviner, fortune teller.
Christ Portrayed:By Moses the servant of the Lord (Josh. 12:6). Jesus was the Servant of God. Behold My Servant, whom I have chosen (Matt. 12:18).
Pray For Government Officials:Rep. David Joyce (OH) • Country: Tunisia (10,937,521) Northern Africa • Major Languages: Arabic, French • Islamic state • 99.1% Muslim; 0.8% Other (Christian, Jewish, Shia, Muslim, Bahai) • Prayer Suggestion: Intercede in prayer for others by name (Luke 22:31-32).
Optional Reading:John 8