Joshua 13:15

Translations

Modern

This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Reuben:

Traditional

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

Literal

And Moses had given to the tribe of the sons of Reuben by their clans.

Latin

Dedit ergo Moyses possessionem tribui filiorum Ruben juxta cognationes suas.

Original

Hebrew

English

This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Reuben:

Notes

Joshua 13:15–23

Reuben, Jacob's first son by Leah, lost his inheritance because he slept with his father's concubine (Genesis 29:32; 35:22). As a result, his tribe's inheritance was not very important. Although the tribe received productive land, it was hard to defend from nearby nations. Eventually, the tribe of Reuben lost the southern part to Moab.

Joshua 13:1–21:45

As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.
The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.
In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Inheriting the Land