7 "Now therefore, apportion this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe e of Manasseh ." 8 With the other half-tribe, the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance which Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east , just as Moses the servant of the Lord gave to them; 9 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 of Medeba , as far as Dibon ; 10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites , who reigned in Heshbon , as far as the border of the sons of Ammon ; 11 and Gilead , and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites , and all Mount Hermon , and all Bashan as far as Salecah ; 12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan , who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (he alone was left of the remnant of the Rephaim ); for Moses struck them and dispossessed them. 13 But the sons of Israel did not dispossess the Geshurites or the Maacathites ; for Geshur and Maacath live among Israel until this day .
14 Only to the tribe of Levi he did not give an inheritance ; the offerings by fire to the Lord , the God of Israel , are their inheritance , as He spoke to him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 13:7-14
Commentary on Joshua 13:7-33
(Read Joshua 13:7-33)
The land must be divided among the tribes. It is the will of God that every man should know his own, and not take that which is another's. The world must be governed, not by force, but right. Wherever our habitation is placed, and in whatever honest way our portion is assigned, we should consider them as allotted of God; we should be thankful for, and use them as such, while every prudent method should be used to prevent disputes about property, both at present and in future. Joshua must be herein a type of Christ, who has not only conquered the gates of hell for us, but has opened to us the gates of heaven, and having purchased the eternal inheritance for all believers, will put them in possession of it. Here is a general description of the country given to the two tribes and a half, by Moses. Israel must know their own, and keep to it; and may not, under pretence of their being God's peculiar people, encroach on their neighbours. Twice in this chapter it is noticed, that to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance: see Numbers 18:20. Their maintenance must be brought out of all the tribes. The ministers of the Lord should show themselves indifferent about worldly interests, and the people should take care they want nothing suitable. And happy are those who have the Lord God of Israel for their inheritance, though little of this world falls to their lot. His providences will supply their wants, his consolations will support their souls, till they gain heavenly joy and everlasting pleasures.