Joshua 13 16

Joshua 13:16 kjv

And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;

Joshua 13:16 nkjv

Their territory was from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the ravine, and all the plain by Medeba;

Joshua 13:16 niv

The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba

Joshua 13:16 esv

So their territory was from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland by Medeba;

Joshua 13:16 nlt

Their territory extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Gorge (including the town in the middle of the gorge) to the plain beyond Medeba.

Joshua 13 verses

Joshua 13 16 Meaning

Joshua 13:16 details a portion of the geographical inheritance given to the tribe of Reuben in the Transjordan region, east of the Jordan River. It specifically defines its southern boundary starting from Aroer, located by the Arnon Valley, extending across the tableland towards Medeba, thereby outlining key markers of their allotted territory. This inheritance was established by Moses before Israel entered the Promised Land of Canaan.

Joshua 13 16 Context

Joshua 13 begins with the declaration that Joshua is old, and much land remains to be conquered. However, before describing the conquest and division of the land west of the Jordan, the chapter focuses on the territories already given by Moses east of the Jordan River. These allotments were for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Joshua 13:16 specifically details the portion granted to Reuben. This detail emphasizes the completion of the first phase of the land distribution, fulfilling the promises of God through Moses, even before the primary conquest under Joshua. Historically, the land east of the Jordan had been conquered from King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan by Moses, prior to Israel's entry into Canaan. The Reubenites, being a tribe primarily engaged in livestock, requested and were granted this pasture-rich Transjordanian territory.

Joshua 13 16 Word analysis

• And their territory was: Hebrew: וַיְהִי גְּבוּלָם (vay'hiy gĕvulâm). This phrase introduces the description of the boundary. Gevulâm (their territory/border) signifies the defined, demarcated land assigned to them, establishing clear limits of ownership.
• from Aroer: Hebrew: מֵעֲרֹעֵר (meĂrôēr). Aroer refers to a strategic city. There were several places called Aroer, but the context here strongly points to Aroer on the north bank of the Arnon, which marked the southern boundary of the Amorite kingdom conquered by Moses, and consequently, the southern extent of Reuben's inheritance. Its placement highlights its significance as a key boundary marker.
• which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon: Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר עַל־שְׂפַת־נַחַל אַרְנוֹן (asher ‘al-śěp̄at-naḥal ‘Arnôn).Śĕp̄at(edge/bank) denotes its precise location by the Wadi (seasonal river) Arnon.Naḥal ‘Arnôn` (Valley/Wadi of Arnon) is a major, deep gorge that naturally formed a significant and formidable boundary in the ancient Near East, flowing into the Dead Sea. This explicit mention reinforces the natural, distinct southern border. The valley itself served as a defensive barrier.
• and the city that is in the middle of the valley: Hebrew: וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹךְ־הַנָּחַל (vəhā‘îr ‘ăšer bətôḵ-hanāḥal). This phrase points to a specific town or fortification situated within the valley or torrent bed. This is not uncommon for strategic points, providing control over a river crossing or trade route through the valley. This indicates detailed geographical knowledge and a precise definition of the territory, including strong points within the natural boundary itself. Some scholars identify this city as the 'Ar of Moab' or simply a fortification that dominated the valley.
• and all the tableland by Medeba: Hebrew: וְכֹל־הַמִּישׁוֹר עַל־מֵידְבָא (vəḵol-hamîshôr al-Mêyḍəḇā’).Mîshôr(tableland/plain) describes a flat, elevated plateau suitable for agriculture and pasturage. This land was particularly desirable for the Reubenites, who had many livestock (Num 32:1). Medeba (Mêyḍəḇā’) was a prominent city located on this fertile plateau north of the Arnon, which later saw conflicts with Moab. Its inclusion clarifies that Reuben’s territory extended well into this prime agricultural and pastoral region.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• from Aroer… to the Arnon… and the city that is in the middle of the valley: This complex phrase pinpoints the precise southern frontier. It's not just "Aroer" but Aroer on the bank of the Arnon, emphasizing the river as the dominant boundary, and further including a strategic point within the Arnon valley. This indicates meticulous border demarcation, leaving little room for ambiguity concerning the tribal land's limits. It suggests divine care in assigning clear, defendable boundaries for Israel.
• all the tableland by Medeba: This phrase identifies a significant northern portion of Reuben's inheritance beyond the southern Arnon boundary. The mishor (tableland) around Medeba represents valuable, arable land that attracted the livestock-rich Reubenites. It clarifies that their inheritance extended northward into the plateau region, indicating not just a line, but a broad area of possession. This specific geographical feature links to later historical events, as control over this fertile mishor became a recurring point of contention, particularly with the Moabites.

Joshua 13 16 Bonus section

The extreme geographical precision found in the book of Joshua, particularly in its land allocation chapters, is striking. This level of detail validates the historical accuracy and divine authenticity of the narrative, emphasizing that the land given to Israel was not a vague concept but a definite, tangible inheritance. The recurring mention of "Aroer which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon" throughout the Pentateuch and Joshua serves as a consistent geographical landmark, establishing a clear southern border for Israel's Transjordanian territory. The phrase also suggests the strategic importance of the city and its surrounding valley, which formed a formidable natural defense. This section of land, known as the mishor or tableland, was contested repeatedly throughout Israel's history with its eastern neighbors, particularly Moab, signifying its valuable agricultural and pastoral nature.

Joshua 13 16 Commentary

Joshua 13:16 serves as a precise cartographical marker, outlining a significant segment of Reuben's allotted territory. It underscores the meticulously detailed nature of God's fulfillment of His promises, specifically concerning the land. The explicit mention of well-known geographical features like the Arnon Valley, Aroer, and the Medeba tableland provided a clear and undeniable definition of the boundaries for the original Israelite audience. This precision affirmed that their inheritance was a real, tangible possession given by divine decree through Moses. It highlights the divine wisdom in providing the Reubenites, a tribe focused on animal husbandry, with suitable pasturage on the productive Transjordanian plateau. The verses preceding and following also detail this land division, affirming the fulfillment of Numbers 32 and Deuteronomy 3.