Joshua 13 20

Joshua 13:20 kjv

And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,

Joshua 13:20 nkjv

Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth?

Joshua 13:20 niv

Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth?

Joshua 13:20 esv

and Beth-peor, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,

Joshua 13:20 nlt

Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth.

Joshua 13 verses

Joshua 13 20 Meaning

Joshua 13:20 lists specific geographical locations within the territory allocated to the tribe of Reuben on the eastern side of the Jordan River. These places include Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth. Far from being a mere dry list of names, this verse grounds the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise of land within specific, historically significant sites for the Israelites, highlighting their designated inheritance alongside locations of profound spiritual and historical memory.

Joshua 13 20 Context

Joshua chapter 13 serves as a pivotal point, transitioning from the conquest narrative to the detailed allocation of the land. Joshua is reminded that significant portions of the land remain unconquered, yet God commands him to begin the distribution of the inheritance. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over the entire land, regardless of Israel's current military progress, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. Within this chapter, verses 15-23 specifically detail the inheritance of the tribe of Reuben, a Transjordanian tribe, whose territory extended eastward from the Jordan River. Joshua 13:20, therefore, is an integral part of delineating Reuben's western boundary, specifying prominent geographical markers that also hold deep historical and spiritual significance for the nation. Historically, these sites were crucial points during the exodus generation’s final approach to the Promised Land.

Joshua 13 20 Word analysis

• and (waw, וּ): A common Hebrew conjunction, functioning here to list sequential or additive elements. In this context, it links the various named locations that constitute part of the tribal inheritance, underscoring their collective inclusion in the Reubenite territory.

• Beth-peor (Bēth Pe'ôr, בֵּית פְּעוֹר): Meaning "house of Peor." Beth (בֵּית) is the Hebrew word for "house" or "place of." Peor (פְּעוֹר) likely refers to a geographical feature, perhaps a cleft or opening. This site is profoundly significant as it is near where the infamous incident of Baal-peor occurred (Num 25), where Israelites engaged in idolatry and sexual immorality with Moabite women, incurring a devastating plague. It is also mentioned as a place near Moses’s burial site (Deut 34:6). Its inclusion in Reuben's inheritance would serve as a constant reminder of both Israel's vulnerability to sin and God's severe judgment.

• and the slopes of Pisgah (weʾašdōth happiṣgāh, וְאַשְׁדֹּת הַפִּסְגָּה): Ashdot (אַשְׁדֹּת) means "slopes," "foot-hills," or "streams descending from." Pisgah (הַפִּסְגָּה) refers to a specific peak within the Abarim mountain range, directly associated with Mount Nebo. This is the very mountain from which Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death (Deut 34:1), and where he received a final panoramic revelation of God’s faithfulness in providing the inheritance (Deut 3:27). For Reuben, possessing these slopes linked their land directly to Moses' final moments and God’s visual affirmation of the covenant land.

• and Beth-jeshimoth (weḇêṯ hayəšîmōṯ, וּבֵית הַיְשִׁימוֹת): Meaning "house of desolations" or "place of the wastes/wilderness." This name suggests a location near the wilderness or desert plains. It was an important staging ground for the Israelites before crossing the Jordan (Num 33:49), marking the point where their wilderness wanderings concluded and they prepared to enter Canaan. Its presence in Reuben’s territory reflects their position as a frontier tribe, bordering the eastern wilderness.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Beth-peor, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth": These three locations collectively represent the vital geographic and historical context for the tribe of Reuben. They signify the endpoint of the wilderness wandering (Beth-jeshimoth), the passing of Mosaic leadership and the divine promise (Pisgah), and a profound lesson about idolatry and judgment (Beth-peor). Placing these sites within Reuben's allocated territory highlights that their inheritance was not merely arbitrary land, but a land imbued with Israel’s recent past, acting as a perpetual spiritual and historical marker. These places underscore Reuben’s unique position as the vanguard among the Transjordanian tribes, establishing Israel's claim to land adjacent to former pagan strongholds and the wilderness.

Joshua 13 20 Bonus section

The placement of Reuben's inheritance, incorporating these specific, memory-laden locations, underscores the idea that God's people carry their history with them. Even in new seasons of blessing and settlement, the lessons of the past remain embedded in their physical and spiritual landscape. This is a call to continuous remembrance: of God’s deliverance from the wilderness (symbolized by Beth-jeshimoth), of the vision and limitations of Mosaic law (Pisgah), and the dangers of idolatry (Beth-peor). For the church, it mirrors the journey of faith: emerging from spiritual wilderness into spiritual inheritance, guided by Christ (our greater Joshua), while ever-mindful of past failures and the ongoing call to remain separate from the world’s idolatry.

Joshua 13 20 Commentary

Joshua 13:20, seemingly a list of place names, is rich with significance for Israel’s identity and inheritance. For the tribe of Reuben, possessing Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth meant that their very land embodied the history of God's covenant dealings. Beth-peor served as a solemn reminder of Israel's spiritual fragility and the consequences of apostasy, yet also of God's jealous devotion and discipline. Pisgah represented the fulfillment of God’s promise to Moses, providing a vision of the promised land, even as Moses could not physically enter. It stands as a powerful symbol of prophetic insight and divine faithfulness over human limitation. Beth-jeshimoth, on the border of the wilderness, marked the end of a long, formative journey and the precipice of settled life. In receiving these places as their inheritance, Reuben was continually positioned at a nexus of memory: past failures, God’s ultimate faithfulness, and the ongoing transition from wandering to settled life within God's covenanted land. This specific allotment demonstrated God's precise fulfillment of His word, even incorporating locations fraught with difficult historical lessons, integrating them into the fabric of Israel's promised blessing.