Joshua 20:1

Modern

Then the LORD said to Joshua,

Traditional

The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,

Literal

And YHWH spoke to Joshua, saying,

Latin

Et locutus est Dominus ad Josue, dicens: Loquere filiis Israël, et dic eis:

Hebrew

English

Then the LORD said to Joshua,

These verses review the law about cities of refuge (see also Numbers 35:6–34).

Before they fully divided the land, Joshua had to establish six cities of refuge and assign cities in which the Levites would live.

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 7:10
But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face?
Joshua 5:14
“Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?”
Joshua 13:1–7
Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and well along in years, but very much of the land remains to be possessed.
Joshua 6:2
And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor.

Joshua: Moses' assistant who led Israel into Canaan