Joshua 13 2

Joshua 13:2 kjv

This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,

Joshua 13:2 nkjv

This is the land that yet remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all that of the Geshurites,

Joshua 13:2 niv

"This is the land that remains: All the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites,

Joshua 13:2 esv

This is the land that yet remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites

Joshua 13:2 nlt

This is the territory that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites,

Joshua 13 verses

Joshua 13 2 Meaning

Joshua 13:2 details significant territories and peoples within the promised land that Israel had not yet fully dispossessed, despite God's previous victories through Joshua. Specifically, it highlights the coastal regions occupied by the powerful Philistines, with their five major cities, and the territory of the Geshurites in the northeast, along with the Avvites. This serves as a divine reminder of the remaining task for Israel to fully inhabit and possess their God-given inheritance. It emphasizes the gap between divine promise and the people's partial obedience, setting the stage for the distribution of land that still required future conquest.

Joshua 13 2 Context

Joshua 13:2 begins a new phase in the book of Joshua. Chapter 13 opens by establishing that Joshua is now old and advanced in years, yet a "very much land remains to be possessed" (v. 1). This shifts the focus from unified military campaigns led by Joshua to the tribal inheritance and the individual tribal responsibility to complete the conquest. The verse provides a specific list of the significant territories and peoples still occupying the land, despite the major victories Israel had achieved under Joshua. This inventory serves to highlight the substantial task still ahead and underscores that the promise of inheritance, while sure, also required ongoing effort and faith from the Israelites. It implicitly sets up the narrative of land division, which accounts for both already conquered lands (e.g., east of Jordan in 13:8-33) and those that were promised but not yet secured, such as the regions listed in verse 2.

Historically, the Philistines, originating likely from the Aegean region, settled the southwestern coastal plain of Canaan and grew into a formidable force by the time of the Judges and early Monarchy. Their organization into a pentapolis (five city-states) and their later technological advantage (iron monopoly) made them persistent adversaries for centuries. The Geshurites were a smaller Aramean kingdom situated east of the Jordan, near Bashan, and also remained largely unconquered for some time, notably having ties with King David. The inclusion of these distinct groups indicates the complex ethnic landscape of Canaan and the partial nature of Israel's conquest at this point.

Joshua 13 2 Word analysis

• "All the borders" (Hebrew: gevûlōth): Refers to the geographical boundaries or full extent of the territory. It emphasizes the comprehensive scope of the promised land, extending to regions currently occupied by others. God's original promise was expansive.
• "of the Philistines" (Hebrew: Pəlištîm): A powerful group of "Sea Peoples" who migrated from the Aegean, settling in the coastal plain of Canaan. Their presence in the land highlights a major unfulfilled aspect of the conquest. They became a persistent enemy and a "thorn in the side" for Israel, often dominating the plains and restricting Israel's expansion. The very presence of these invaders, holding sacred land, was a point of tension and a test of Israel's faithfulness.
• "and all Geshuri, and the Geshurites" (Hebrew: wə-kol-ha-gəšûrî wə-ha-gəšûrî): Refers both to the territory of Geshur and its inhabitants. Geshur was a small kingdom in the Bashan region, east of the Sea of Galilee. Their listing here signifies another area within the promised inheritance not yet brought under Israelite control. Their later connection to David's lineage (Absalom's mother, Maacah, was a Geshurite princess; 2 Sam 3:3) suggests their continued existence and integration rather than total conquest.
• "from Sihor, which is before Egypt" (Hebrew: Mi-haššîḥōr ʾăšer ʿal-pənê Miṣrāyim): "Sihor" or "Shihor" often refers to the "Brook of Egypt" (Wadi el-Arish), marking the southwest boundary of Canaan, bordering Egypt. This phrase defines the southern extent of the Philistine territory that was still outstanding. It connects the unconquered lands to the divinely promised borders given to Abraham and Moses.
• "even unto the borders of Ekron northward": Ekron was the northernmost of the five Philistine cities, on the edge of their coastal plain territory. This defines the northern extent of the Philistine regions being described, emphasizing their substantial land holding within the promised Canaan.
• "which is counted to the Canaanite": This statement clarifies that the land, although occupied by Philistines and others, still falls within the designated "land of Canaan" (Hebrew: ha-Kəna‘ănî), confirming God's rightful claim and Israel's divine mandate over it. It reasserts the theological principle that these territories, irrespective of current occupation, are part of Israel's heritage.
• "five lordships of the Philistines": Refers to the independent city-states that comprised the Philistine confederation. The term "lordships" (səranîm) is unique to Philistine rulers, indicating their distinctive political structure. This highlights their formidable, organized resistance.
• "the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites": The naming of the five principal Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron), forming the "Philistine Pentapolis," underlines their collective power and strategic importance. These cities were centers of Philistine might and culture, posing a direct threat to Israel for centuries.
• "also the Avites": (Hebrew: wə-hā‘Awîm): A group likely dwelling in the Philistine territory, particularly near Gaza, mentioned as having been displaced by Caphtorim (another term for Philistines) in Deut 2:23. Their inclusion indicates a diversity of unconquered peoples within the broader region specified for Israel.

Joshua 13 2 Bonus section

• The specification of borders in Joshua 13:2, from "Sihor... before Egypt" northward to Ekron, precisely matches the maximum historical extent of the promised land often described as "from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates" (Gen 15:18), although Israel rarely possessed the extreme eastern Euphrates regions.
• The term "Canaanite" applied to the Philistine territory underlines a polemic point: though these were Aegean immigrants, the Lord considered the entire region, even lands occupied by foreign powers, as part of His promised inheritance for Israel, established through the covenant with Abraham. This refutes any claim to the land based solely on current occupation.
• The Philistines' five lords (seranim) represent a distinctive cultural and political organization, later observed in texts found in archaeological sites like Ugarit and Ebla, for non-Israelite city-states. Their unique designation sets them apart from the traditional "kings" or "chieftains" of Canaanite city-states previously encountered.
• The presence of these unconquered peoples ensured that Israel would not forget warfare, preventing spiritual complacency, though this became a trial due to their disobedience rather than a tool for consistent righteous growth. (Jdg 3:2).

Joshua 13 2 Commentary

Joshua 13:2 acts as a stark opening to the allocation of tribal lands, immediately following the divine declaration that "very much land remains to be possessed" (v.1). This verse is not merely a geographical description but a theological statement. It reveals the scope of God's promise and the reality of Israel's unfinished work. By detailing the unconquered Philistine territory (complete with their strategic cities) and the Geshurite regions, the text highlights the significant challenges that lay ahead for the Israelites. The ongoing presence of these strong, idolatrous peoples within Israel's divinely promised inheritance served as both a test of their obedience and a perpetual spiritual and military threat.

The precise naming of the five Philistine cities emphasizes the tangible and formidable nature of these adversaries. This specificity demonstrates God's awareness of the obstacles but also His implicit expectation that Israel would continue to act on His commands to dispossess them. However, as subsequent biblical narratives confirm (e.g., Judges, 1 Samuel), Israel largely failed to fully drive out these inhabitants, leading to cycles of oppression and warfare. The verse therefore carries a subtle note of both divine faithfulness (in specifying the extent of the promised land) and a foreshadowing of human failure to fully live up to God's expectations and enjoy the totality of His blessings through complete obedience. It is a reminder that the spiritual inheritance, though given by grace, often requires diligent effort in obedience to fully experience.