Joshua 13 8

Joshua 13:8 kjv

With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;

Joshua 13:8 nkjv

With the other half-tribe the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses had given them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the LORD had given them:

Joshua 13:8 niv

The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the LORD, had assigned it to them.

Joshua 13:8 esv

With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them:

Joshua 13:8 nlt

Half the tribe of Manasseh and the tribes of Reuben and Gad had already received their grants of land on the east side of the Jordan, for Moses, the servant of the LORD, had previously assigned this land to them.

Joshua 13 verses

Joshua 13 8 Meaning

Joshua 13:8 states that the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River. This was land that Moses, as commanded by God, had distributed to them prior to the entry into Canaan, distinguishing their lot from the territory yet to be assigned by Joshua in the west. The verse acts as a clear historical clarification, noting a completed part of Israel's territorial apportionment before detailing the remaining assignments.

Joshua 13 8 Context

Joshua chapter 13 begins with the Lord instructing an aging Joshua that despite his long service, "very much land still remains to be possessed" (Josh 13:1). This divine commission signals a shift in the nature of conquest from large-scale battles to systematic land division, much of it still inhabited by enemies. Within this context, verse 8 serves as an important parenthetical note. It clarifies that a significant portion of the tribes – the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh – have already received their inheritance from Moses on the eastern side of the Jordan. This distinction sets the stage for the detailed lists and boundaries of the remaining land distributions, which Joshua will undertake on the western side of the Jordan in the chapters that follow. Historically, this confirms the prior divine decree and Moses' obedience, demonstrating God's consistent plan for the settlement of Israel.

Joshua 13 8 Word analysis

• וְעִמּוֹ (v'immo) - "and with him" or "along with him".
  • Lexical: Derived from the preposition עִם (im) "with" and the pronominal suffix וֹ (-o) "him".
  • Significance: "Him" refers to the half-tribe of Manasseh mentioned just prior in Joshua 13:7. This links their land receipt together, implying a collective and significant allocation made earlier by Moses, distinct from Joshua's future allocations. It underlines that this half-tribe, despite their larger tribal connection, shared the destiny of the Transjordanian tribes regarding their inheritance.
• הָרֻאוּבֵנִי (ha-Ru'uveni) - "the Reubenite" or "the tribe of Reuben".
  • Grammar: The definite article הָ (ha) "the" precedes the tribal name, indicating a specific, well-known group.
  • Significance: Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob. His tribe's decision, along with Gad, to settle east of the Jordan is documented in Num 32. This early claim shows the unfolding of God's plan through distinct tribal inheritances.
• וְהַגָּדִי (v'ha-Gadi) - "and the Gadite" or "and the tribe of Gad".
  • Grammar: וְ (v') "and" connects, and הָ (ha) "the" specifies.
  • Significance: Gad, another son of Jacob, partnered with Reuben in requesting the Transjordan land for their livestock. Their inclusion here confirms the fulfillment of that earlier arrangement.
• לָקְחוּ (lakchu) - "they received" or "they took possession of".
  • Grammar: Qal perfect 3rd person plural of לָקַח (lakach) "to take, receive".
  • Significance: The perfect tense indicates a completed action in the past, underscoring that these tribes had already been settled and possessed their inheritance, not awaiting future action by Joshua. This is crucial for distinguishing between Moses' past work and Joshua's continuing task.
• אֲשֶׁר (asher) - "which", "that".
  • Grammar: Relative pronoun.
  • Significance: Connects the act of receiving the land to its source, emphasizing the land was not claimed arbitrarily but was "which Moses gave them."
• נָתַן (natan) - "he gave".
  • Grammar: Qal perfect 3rd person singular of נָתַן (natan) "to give".
  • Significance: Highlights Moses' authoritative role, acting on behalf of God, in distributing the land. It emphasizes that this inheritance was a divine grant through Moses, not a self-acquisition by the tribes. It links to Deut 3 where Moses himself describes giving them this land.
• לָהֶם (lahem) - "to them".
  • Grammar: Preposition לְ (le) "to" + 3rd person plural masculine pronominal suffix הֶם (hem) "them".
  • Significance: Clearly indicates the recipients of the land, specifically the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
• מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh) - "Moses".
  • Significance: The lawgiver and the leader who brought Israel out of Egypt and led them through the wilderness. His prior action establishes a continuity of divine authority and fulfillment of earlier promises. It emphasizes that God's plan unfolds progressively through His chosen leaders.
• בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן (b'Ever haYarden) - "on the other side of the Jordan".
  • Lexical: בְּ (be) "in/on", עֵבֶר (ever) "across, beyond, side", הַיַּרְדֵּן (ha-Yarden) "the Jordan River".
  • Significance: This specific geographic marker identifies the territory. The term עֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן is used often and consistently in the Bible to refer to the Transjordan region, east of the Jordan River, distinguishing it from Canaan proper (west of the Jordan).
• מִזְרָחָה (mizra'chah) - "eastward", "to the east".
  • Lexical: From מִזְרָח (mizrach) "east" + directional suffix ָה (-ah).
  • Significance: Reinforces the specific location of the inheritance, leaving no ambiguity about which "side of the Jordan" is meant from the perspective of an author writing in Canaan. It highlights that this verse is confirming past historical fact concerning land allocation.

Joshua 13 8 Bonus section

The demarcation between the "two and a half tribes" in Transjordan and the "nine and a half tribes" in Canaan proper (west of Jordan) creates a significant geographical and, at times, social/political distinction within Israel. While these tribes east of the Jordan were indeed part of the nation of Israel and were obligated to participate in the conquest of Canaan (Josh 1:12-15), their land tenure and location led to distinct identity markers in later Israelite history, sometimes leading to accusations of separation or different customs (e.g., Josh 22, the altar of Ed). This verse is a foundational statement of their distinct, yet legitimate, initial inheritance. The concept of "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה - nachalah) throughout the Bible is deeply tied to God's faithfulness to His promises, beginning with Abraham, ensuring that His people would possess the land He prepared for them. The physical land inheritance foreshadows the spiritual inheritance believers receive in Christ (Eph 1:11), which is also a fulfillment of God's promises, imperishable, and kept for them by divine faithfulness.

Joshua 13 8 Commentary

Joshua 13:8 functions as an essential parenthetical clause within the broader narrative of land distribution. Its primary purpose is to provide clarity and distinction. Before delving into the specific inheritances Joshua is now tasked to apportion to the remaining tribes west of the Jordan, the text pauses to remind the reader, and perhaps the tribes themselves, that the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already secured their portion east of the Jordan. This portion was given directly by Moses, reflecting the continuity of God's covenantal promises being fulfilled through different leaders. This verse implicitly acknowledges the earlier negotiations and commitments made with these tribes (Num 32; Deut 3) and affirms God's faithfulness in bringing those past promises to fruition, even as new directives for land possession are issued. It highlights that God's plan of bringing Israel into their promised inheritance was multifaceted and progressively unfolding.