Keraia
Joshua 13

Joshua 13:21

Reuben’s Inheritance · Joshua 13:15–23
Read Joshua 13

Translations

Modern
…all the cities of the plateau and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon until Moses killed him and the chiefs of Midian (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), the princes of Sihon who lived in the land.
Traditional
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.
Literal
…and all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorite, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses had struck, and with it the princes of Midian (Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba), princes of Sihon dwelling in the land.
Latin
…et omnes urbes campestres, universaque regna Sehon regis Amorrhæi, qui regnavit in Hesebon, quem percussit Moyses cum principibus Madian: Hevæum, et Recem, et Sur, et Hur, et Rebe duces Sehon habitatores terræ.

Original

Hebrew
English
…all the cities of the plateau and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon until Moses killed him and the chiefs of Midian (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), the princes of Sihon who lived in the land.

Notes

Joshua 13:21

The leaders of Midian were likely kings or sheiks (local rulers of small city-states) south of Sihon’s kingdom (Numbers 31:8). The Midianites lived a nomadic life (they moved from place to place and did not stay in one permanent home). They depended mainly on sheep and goats for their living.

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

Events

People

Amorites: Canaanite people group, enemies of Israel Evi: Midianite king killed in battle against Israel Hur: A Midianite king killed by the Israelites Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt Reba: A Midianite king killed by the Israelites Rekem: A Midianite king killed by the Israelites Sihon: Amorite king of Heshbon, defeated by the Israelites Zur: Midianite king defeated by Israel

Places

Heshbon: Amorite city conquered by Moses, allotted to Reuben Midian: A nation descended from Abraham; oppressed Israel in the time of the judges

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Ammon, Ammonites Ashtaroth, Ashterathite Evi Hur Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Kerioth Midian, Midianite Numbers, Book of Reba Rekem (Person) Tribe of Dan Zur

Topics

Amorites: Allotted to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh Amorites: Chiefs of Duke of the Midianites Evi: Prince of Midian, Killed Hur: A King of Midian Reba: Killed by the Israelites Rekem: A King of the Midianites, Killed by the Israelites Reubenites: Have Their Inheritance East of the Jordan River The Amorites: Land of, Given to Reubenites the Tribe of Reuben: Bounds of Their Inheritance Topography of Canaan Zur: A Prince of Midian