Joshua 13:6 kjv
All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
Joshua 13:6 nkjv
all the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon as far as the Brook Misrephoth, and all the Sidonians?them I will drive out from before the children of Israel; only divide it by lot to Israel as an inheritance, as I have commanded you.
Joshua 13:6 niv
"As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you,
Joshua 13:6 esv
all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out from before the people of Israel. Only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.
Joshua 13:6 nlt
and all the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, including all the land of the Sidonians. "I myself will drive these people out of the land ahead of the Israelites. So be sure to give this land to Israel as a special possession, just as I have commanded you.
Joshua 13 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 23:29-30 | "I will not drive them out before you in one year... Little by little I will drive them out before you..." | God's gradual expulsion promise |
| Exod 33:2 | "And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites..." | God's agency in driving out enemies |
| Exod 34:11 | "I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites..." | God reiterates His active role |
| Deut 9:3 | "Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and subdue them..." | God leading the conquest and destruction |
| Num 33:53 | "You shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess." | Divine gift and human responsibility to dispossess |
| Num 26:55 | "The land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit." | Command for land division by lot |
| Num 34:13 | "This is the land that you shall inherit by lot..." | Specification of lot distribution for tribes |
| Josh 14:2 | "Their inheritance was by lot, as Yahweh had commanded Moses, for the nine and a half tribes." | Confirmation of lot method as per command |
| Josh 18:6 | "You shall divide the land into seven portions and bring them here to me, and I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God." | Joshua's role in casting lots |
| Josh 19:51 | "These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses... divided by lot at Shiloh." | Finality of land division by lot |
| Judg 1:21-36 | Series of failures where various tribes did not drive out inhabitants, showing incomplete obedience. | Israel's later failure to fully dispossess |
| Judg 2:1-3 | "I brought you up from Egypt... But you have not obeyed my voice... Therefore I tell you, I will not drive them out before you." | Divine rebuke for disobedience leading to unfulfilled expulsion |
| Judg 3:1-3 | Nations were left "to test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of Yahweh." | Remnant nations serving as a test |
| Ps 78:55 | "He drove out nations before them... He allotted their inheritance by measure..." | God's action in driving out and allotting land |
| Gen 12:7 | "To your offspring I will give this land." | Original promise of land to Abraham |
| Gen 15:18-21 | Covenant with Abraham detailing the land boundaries from River of Egypt to Euphrates. | Extent of the land promise |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that Yahweh swore to your fathers..." | Command to take possession |
| Josh 21:43-45 | "Thus Yahweh gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give... Not one word of all the good promises of Yahweh had failed." | Theological assertion of God's complete faithfulness |
| Josh 23:14-16 | Joshua's warning: if disloyal, God will not continue to drive out enemies; disasters will befall them. | Consequence of disobedience and non-dispossession |
| Heb 4:8-9 | "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day... So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." | The incomplete rest/inheritance foreshadows ultimate spiritual rest |
| Rom 4:13-16 | Abraham's inheritance was not through the law but through faith. | Inheritance by divine promise and faith |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | "If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself." | God's faithfulness despite human failure |
Joshua 13 verses
Joshua 13 6 Meaning
Joshua 13:6 signifies a pivotal moment in the division of the Promised Land. Despite significant portions of the land, particularly in the north, remaining unconquered, God commands Joshua to proceed with the land distribution among the Israelite tribes. The verse highlights God's unwavering promise to "drive out" the remaining inhabitants—specifically the inhabitants of the northern hill country, extending to Lebanon and Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians. This divine promise underscores God's sovereignty and His commitment to His covenant. Critically, the division is to be made "by lot," reinforcing that the land is a divinely appointed inheritance and not solely dependent on Israel's military might, but on God's active involvement and faithful distribution. The command also serves as a test of faith and obedience, instructing Israel to act on the promise even before its full physical manifestation.
Joshua 13 6 Context
Joshua 13 marks a significant shift in the book of Joshua. After a long period of military campaigns and conquests, Joshua is now "old and advanced in years" (Josh 13:1). Despite the victories achieved, verse 1 also explicitly states, "there remains yet very much land to possess." This introduces the critical tension: God has promised the entire land and has acted powerfully, yet complete conquest has not occurred. In this specific verse, God gives a directive to Joshua, highlighting a substantial part of the remaining unconquered territory in the north (Lebanon, Misrephoth-maim, Sidonians). Crucially, God, in His sovereignty, assures that He "will drive out" these formidable inhabitants, yet simultaneously commands Joshua to divide the land as if it were already fully possessed. This sets the stage for the distribution of the land to the tribes based on divine promise and lot, not merely on their present military success or occupation.
Joshua 13 6 Word analysis
- All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon as far as Misrephoth-maim: This phrase defines the northern extent of the Promised Land that remained unconquered. "Lebanon" (לְבָנוֹן - Levanōn) refers to the prominent mountain range, known for its cedars and association with the Phoenician territories to the north. "Misrephoth-maim" (מִשְׂרְפוֹת מַיִם - Misrefôt Mayim) literally means "burning of waters" or "smeltings of waters." Its exact location is debated but it is generally identified as a coastal area, possibly near present-day Tyre or Sidon, perhaps related to glassmaking kilns, salt-refining operations, or hot springs. The description here delineates a significant, powerful, and strategic area largely still occupied by foreign nations.
- and all the Sidonians: The Sidonians (צִידוֹנִים - Ṭı̂ydônı̂ym) were a major Phoenician people known for their maritime prowess, trade, and strong walled cities (like Sidon). Their inclusion highlights the formidable nature of the remaining resistance and the valuable coastal territory yet to be subdued.
- I will drive out: (אֲנִי אֶגָּרְשֶׁנּוּ - ani eg̱gaṟshěnu) - This powerful declaration ("I myself will dispossess/drive them out") uses the Hebrew verb גָּרַשׁ (garash), meaning "to drive out, expel, cast out." It explicitly attributes the act of dispossession to God Himself. This is a divine promise of intervention and future action, setting it apart from human effort. It serves as a direct polemic against any notion that Israel's failure or limited success indicated weakness in their God, affirming Yahweh's ultimate power over all nations.
- from before the children of Israel: This emphasizes that God will perform the action ahead of and for the benefit of Israel, positioning them as the beneficiaries of His divine intervention.
- Only divide it by lot: "Only" (רַק - raq) acts as a strong emphasis, shifting the focus immediately to the command. "Divide it" (חִלַּקְתָּהּ - ḥillaq-tāh), from חָלַק (ḥalaq), means "to divide, allot, distribute." "By lot" (בְּגוֹרָל - b'gôrāl), from גּוֹרָל (goral), refers to the use of casting lots. This method removed human favoritism or strategic planning, indicating that the land distribution was divinely ordered and based on God's sovereign will and promise, making each tribal inheritance a direct gift from God. This act of distributing by lot, even for land yet unconquered, was an act of faith, asserting God's guaranteed future completion of the conquest.
- to the Israelites for an inheritance: The land is bestowed as a "possession" or "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה - naḥalāh), an eternal gift promised by God to Abraham and his descendants. This highlights the covenantal basis of the land grant.
- as I have commanded you: This phrase confirms that the current instruction is a reiteration or fulfillment of previous divine commands (e.g., Num 26:55, Num 33:53-54). It validates Joshua's actions as directly sanctioned by God, ensuring continuity with the Law given through Moses.
Joshua 13 6 Bonus section
The inclusion of "Misrephoth-maim" in this specific verse is noteworthy because its identification as a key northern boundary for un-conquered territory suggests a specific, historical understanding of the land promised by God, even into strategic Phoenician areas. It emphasizes the expansive nature of the divine land grant beyond Israel's initial reach. This passage sets up a critical theological dynamic: while God absolutely pledges to drive out the inhabitants, the command to divide the land prior to their full expulsion necessitates Israel's ongoing obedience and courageous faith. The future historical context of the Judges period sadly confirms Israel's partial failure to obey this ongoing command, turning God's conditional promise (blessing contingent on obedience) into a testament of their shortcomings, resulting in the continued presence of nations like the Sidonians as a test and temptation. This also foreshadows that the ultimate "rest" and full inheritance is something only God fully grants and is not achieved merely by human effort, hinting at a greater spiritual rest (Heb 4).
Joshua 13 6 Commentary
Joshua 13:6 presents a profound theological truth about the interplay between divine promise and human responsibility. Despite a significant portion of the land remaining under enemy control, God emphatically states, "I will drive out" those formidable adversaries. This highlights God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. He calls Israel to act in faith, commanding Joshua to "divide it by lot" as if the entire land was already conquered. This division by lot underscores that the land is a gracious, divine gift, not merely a reward for military achievement. It implicitly requires Israel to trust in God's future fulfillment of His promise even as they are obligated to carry out their immediate command. The historical reality recorded later in Judges reveals that Israel did not fully dispossess these remaining peoples, leading to cycles of disobedience and oppression. This verse, therefore, acts as a divine call to an obedience rooted in faith, and simultaneously serves as a backdrop to understanding Israel's subsequent struggles arising from incomplete adherence to God's clear will.