Joshua 13:28 kjv
This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.
Joshua 13:28 nkjv
This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and their villages.
Joshua 13:28 niv
These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites, according to their clans.
Joshua 13:28 esv
This is the inheritance of the people of Gad according to their clans, with their cities and villages.
Joshua 13:28 nlt
The towns and their surrounding villages in this area were given as a homeland to the clans of the tribe of Gad.
Joshua 13 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Covenant Promise & Land Fulfillment | ||
| Gen 12:7 | "...To your offspring I will give this land." | God's initial promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 15:18 | "...To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates..." | Defining the full scope of the promised land. |
| Gen 35:12 | "The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you..." | Promise of land inheritance reaffirmed to Jacob. |
| Num 26:55-56 | "...The land shall be divided by lot... by names of the tribes..." | Division of land by divine guidance for tribes. |
| Deut 1:8 | "...See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession..." | Moses reminds Israel of God's command to inherit. |
| Josh 21:43-45 | "...Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass." | God's full faithfulness in fulfilling land promises. |
| Neh 9:8 | "...You kept your promise, for you are righteous." | God's faithfulness to Abraham regarding land. |
| Tribal Allotment & Inheritance (General) | ||
| Num 34:1-12 | Details the specified boundaries of the land of Canaan for the tribes. | Legal outline of Israel's territorial claims. |
| Deut 3:12-17 | Moses distributing land east of Jordan to Reuben, Gad, half Manasseh. | Moses' pre-conquest division on east bank. |
| Josh 14:1 | "...Divided the inheritance among the people of Israel..." | Principle of communal land division. |
| Josh 18:10 | "And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh..." | Joshua overseeing the lot-casting for west bank tribes. |
| Eze 47:13-14 | Prophetic division of land among tribes, emphasizing equal share. | Future equitable distribution of spiritual inheritance. |
| Specific to Reuben & Transjordan Settlement | ||
| Gen 49:3-4 | Jacob's prophecy on Reuben, losing his preeminence. | Reuben's inherited territory still provided despite prior transgressions. |
| Num 32:1-5 | Reubenites and Gadites requesting territory east of the Jordan. | Initial request for their distinct inheritance. |
| Num 32:16-19 | Their commitment to aid west-Jordan tribes in conquest before settling. | Conditionality of their eastern settlement. |
| Deut 3:16 | "To the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Arnon Valley..." | Specific reaffirmation of Reuben's given territory. |
| Josh 22:1-6 | Joshua dismisses Reubenites and others back to their inheritance east of Jordan. | Confirmation of their completed service and secure home. |
| Judg 5:15-16 | Reuben stayed by the "sheepfolds" during a time of battle. | May hint at a historical isolation of Reuben from central Israel. |
| Spiritual & Eternal Inheritance | ||
| Acts 20:32 | "...The word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." | Christian spiritual inheritance through grace. |
| Eph 1:11 | "...In him we have obtained an inheritance..." | Believers' inheritance found in Christ. |
| Col 1:12 | "...Qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." | Believers made worthy of God's spiritual inheritance. |
| Heb 9:15 | "...That those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance..." | Christ's new covenant mediating eternal inheritance. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | "To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you..." | The believer's heavenly, secure, spiritual inheritance. |
Joshua 13 verses
Joshua 13 28 Meaning
Joshua 13:28 records the completion of the inventory of the land given to the tribe of Reuben on the eastern side of the Jordan River. It asserts that this detailed listing, encompassing both principal cities and their surrounding dependent villages, constituted the precise inheritance of the children of Reuben, meticulously distributed according to their various families or clans. This declaration underscores the comprehensive fulfillment of God's promise concerning their allotted territory, emphasizing its specificity and divine ratification.
Joshua 13 28 Context
Joshua chapter 13 transitions from the main military conquests of Canaan to the systematic division of the land among the Israelite tribes. Although many regions still remained unconquered (Josh 13:1), God commanded Joshua to proceed with the land allotment. Chapters 13-19 meticulously detail this distribution, which includes territories west of the Jordan River. However, Joshua 13 specifically outlines the territories east of the Jordan that Moses had already apportioned before his death to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (Josh 13:8-12). Verses 15-23 list the cities and towns of Reuben's inheritance, and Joshua 13:28 serves as the concluding summary statement for Reuben's specific land allocation, validating their boundaries and holdings as officially recorded and sanctioned. This historical record emphasizes the orderly and precise fulfillment of God's covenant promises, ensuring that each family within the tribe had a specific and divinely assigned portion of the land.
Joshua 13 28 Word analysis
- This was (זוֹאת - zō't, נַחֲלַת - naḥălaṯ): The demonstrative pronoun "this" emphasizes the specific, described territory. Coupled with "was" (implied "is"), it affirms the definitive nature and established reality of Reuben's allotted inheritance. It signifies closure and official recording.
- the inheritance (נַחֲלַת - naḥălaṯ): This key term, naḥalah, denotes a permanent, usually hereditary, possession or allotment, often with a theological overtone of being a divinely bestowed portion. It refers not just to land but also to a spiritual or familial heritage. For Israel, it embodies God's faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient promises to give them the land.
- of the tribe (מַטֵּה - maṭṭēh): Literally "staff" or "rod," this word is commonly used to mean "tribe" or "branch" in a genealogical sense, indicating one of the twelve divisions of Israel, distinct and identified by a common patriarchal ancestor.
- of the children of Reuben (בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן - bənê Rə’ûvên): "Sons of Reuben," refers to the entire lineage and descendants of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. It indicates the collective entity receiving this land grant, uniting them under a common tribal identity for the purpose of the inheritance. Note: Some user inputs may incorrectly refer to "Benjamin" for this verse; however, biblical manuscripts universally identify the tribe here as "Reuben."
- according to their families (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - ləmišpāḥōṯām): The term mishpaḥah refers to clans, extended families, or subdivisions within a tribe. This phrase underscores that the land was not merely given to the tribe as a whole but was further partitioned precisely among its constituent family units. This ensures a fair and equitable distribution, rooted in ancient social structures and preventing disputes.
- and the cities with their villages (וְהֶעָרִים וְחַצְרֵיהֶם - wəhā’ārîm wəḥaṣrêhem): This comprehensive phrase indicates that the land grant included not only the walled, urban centers (‘ārîm) but also all their surrounding rural settlements, hamlets, or encampments (ḥaṣrêhem). This ensures complete territorial possession, encompassing both strategic centers and agricultural or pastoral lands essential for livelihood and security.
- The Inheritance of the Tribe: This phrase highlights God's systematic and permanent allocation of land, demonstrating His fulfillment of the covenant promise. Each tribe received a divinely ordained, fixed portion that served as its identity and sustenance.
- According to their Families: This specific detailing shows the internal organization and precision of the land division within each tribe, ensuring that individual family units had their own distinct, rightful claim within the larger tribal territory. It reflects the deeply ingrained family-centric societal structure of ancient Israel.
- Cities with their Villages: This full expression of property indicates comprehensive ownership. It clarifies that the tribal allotment included both populated centers and their essential surrounding areas (farmlands, pasturing grounds, smaller settlements), crucial for the economy and self-sufficiency of the inhabitants.
Joshua 13 28 Bonus section
The mention of Reuben's inheritance on the east bank of the Jordan (Transjordan) is significant due to the tribe's unique request in Numbers 32 to settle there before the full conquest of Canaan. While this area was agriculturally desirable, it placed them at a geographic distance from the other tribes who would settle west of the Jordan. Historically, this location made Reuben, along with Gad and half-Manasseh, more vulnerable to attacks from eastern powers and potentially led to some isolation from the political and religious centers that developed in central Israel. Despite Jacob's prophecy concerning Reuben's instability (Gen 49:3-4), God's grace and covenant faithfulness are evident in the meticulous and assured provision of a defined territory for them. This verse affirms God's commitment even to those who may have faltered, as long as they remained within the covenant framework and participated in the common endeavors of Israel.
Joshua 13 28 Commentary
Joshua 13:28 serves as a formal concluding statement regarding the detailed territorial possession granted to the tribe of Reuben. Coming after a specific enumeration of Reuben's cities, this verse encapsulates the divine faithfulness in distributing the promised land with order and precision. The inclusion of "cities with their villages" emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the inheritance, securing not only urban centers but also the agricultural and pastoral areas essential for tribal life. The phrase "according to their families" highlights the internal integrity and fairness of the allocation process, ensuring that every lineage within Reuben received its due portion. This verse is not just a geographic detail; it is a profound declaration of God’s covenant fidelity, a foundational act establishing Israel's physical presence and identity in the promised land. It speaks to the secure, legally recorded, and divinely sanctioned nature of their territorial claim, providing a clear title for their descendants for generations.