Joshua 13 9

Joshua 13:9 kjv

From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;

Joshua 13:9 nkjv

from Aroer which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the town that is in the midst of the ravine, and all the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon;

Joshua 13:9 niv

It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon,

Joshua 13:9 esv

from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland of Medeba as far as Dibon;

Joshua 13:9 nlt

Their territory extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Gorge (including the town in the middle of the gorge) to the plain beyond Medeba, as far as Dibon.

Joshua 13 verses

Joshua 13 9 Meaning

Joshua 13:9 precisely outlines a specific segment of the territory designated for the tribe of Reuben on the eastern side of the Jordan River. It identifies the boundary originating from Aroer, situated by the Arnon River, extending through a city within that valley, and encompassing the entire plateau of Medeba, with Dibon serving as its northern marker for this specific description. This verse details a portion of the land given by Moses before the crossing into Canaan, reinforcing the meticulous and accurate nature of the land distribution as promised by God.

Joshua 13 9 Context

Joshua 13:9 forms part of the detailed geographical accounts found in the book of Joshua concerning the division of the Promised Land. The immediate context, specifically verses 8-13, reiterates the portions of land that Moses had already allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the eastern side of the Jordan River. This verse, like others in these chapters, served to precisely delineate tribal boundaries.

The broader chapter (Joshua 13) opens with God's instruction to an aging Joshua that despite vast tracts of land yet to be conquered, the process of dividing the land by inheritance must begin. This section confirms the portions settled before the main campaign west of the Jordan began. Historically, these areas were conquered by Israel from the Amorite kings Sihon and Og under Moses' leadership (Numbers 21-32; Deuteronomy 2-3). The meticulous listing of geographical features and cities, such as Aroer, the Arnon River, Medeba, and Dibon, served not merely as a map but as an affirmation of God's faithful fulfillment of His covenant promise to provide a physical land for His chosen people. Such details were crucial for tribal administration, land ownership, and preventing inter-tribal disputes in the nascent nation of Israel.

Joshua 13 9 Word analysis

• from Aroer (מֵעֲרוֹעֵר, me-Aro'er):
  • Word: "from." Indicates the starting point of the boundary.
  • Word: "Aroer." A strategically important city often marking the southern boundary of Israel's Transjordanian territory. It was one of the key places captured during the initial conquest of Sihon's kingdom.
  • Significance: Clearly defines the beginning of the specified land parcel. Its mention highlights an established, recognizable landmark for the ancient Israelite audience.
• which is on the bank of the Arnon River (אֲשֶׁר עַל-שְׂפַת נַחַל אַרְנוֹן, asher al-sefat Nachal Arnon):
  • Word: שְׂפַת (sefat). "Bank" or "lip." Refers to the edge or shore.
  • Word: נַחַל (nachal). "Wadi," "river," or "stream." Refers to the Arnon River (modern Wadi Mujib).
  • Significance: Provides a precise geographical context for Aroer, placing it specifically along the major Arnon gorge. The Arnon was a prominent natural border, especially between the Amorites and Moabites, and subsequently became part of Israel's southern border in Transjordan.
• and the city that is in the middle of the valley (וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹךְ הַנַּחַל, veha'ir asher betokh haNachal):
  • Word: הָעִיר (ha'ir). "The city." Interpreted by some as another name for Aroer, highlighting its unique position within the deep Arnon valley/wadi.
  • Word: בְּתוֹךְ (betokh). "In the middle of," "in the midst of."
  • Word: הַנַּחַל (haNachal). "The wadi/valley." Referring to the Arnon's valley.
  • Significance: Adds detailed cartographic specificity, emphasizing the exact location of Aroer not just on the bank but effectively within the profound depression of the valley itself.
• and all the plain of Medeba (וְכֹל הַמִּישֹׁר דֵּיבֹא מֵדְבָא, vekhol hamMishor Medeba):
  • Word: וְכֹל (vekhol). "And all." Indicates the inclusion of the entire region, not just the city.
  • Word: הַמִּישֹׁר (hamMishor). "The plain," "the plateau," "tableland." Refers to a fertile, elevated flat region east of the Jordan.
  • Word: "Medeba." A significant Moabite city and the broader agricultural plateau around it.
  • Significance: Describes the extension of the territory northward to encompass a vast, important agricultural and strategic area. The term "Mishor" defines a distinct geographical feature of Transjordan.
• to Dibon (עַד-דִּיבֹן, ad Dibon):
  • Word: עַד (ad). "Unto," "as far as," "to." Denotes the end-point of this described segment of the boundary.
  • Word: "Dibon." A major city in Reuben's territory (sometimes associated with Dimon, Isa 15:9), known for the discovery of the Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone). Its conquest was vital for Israel.
  • Significance: Marks another critical point within Reuben's northern boundary on this particular stretch, connecting the Arnon valley region to the Medeba plateau.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "from Aroer, which is on the bank of the Arnon River, and the city that is in the middle of the valley": This opening phrase sets a precise and highly localized southern boundary. The description goes beyond merely naming a town to clarify its exact physical situation in relation to a significant natural feature, highlighting the ancient scribes' careful observation of the landscape. This particular Aroer likely refers to the twin towns of Aroer-of-the-Arnon, which spanned both banks and thus effectively sat "in the middle of the valley."
• "and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon": This phrase describes the continuation of the territory northward, indicating that Reuben's land included not just cities but also significant geographical expanses. "The plain of Medeba" refers to the fertile agricultural plateau, vital for sustaining the tribe. This section moves from specific points to a broader region, concluding at another major city, Dibon, further north within the territory.

Joshua 13 9 Bonus section

The extensive boundary lists throughout the book of Joshua, including Joshua 13:9, serve several interconnected purposes beyond simple geography:

1. Covenantal Fulfillment: They underscore the literal fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 15:18-21) to give his descendants a physical land. Every border and city mentioned is a testament to God's faithfulness in delivering on His word.
2. Legal & Administrative Function: These lists provided the framework for land ownership, taxation, judicial administration, and tribal identity. They functioned as vital historical and legal records for the fledgling nation of Israel, reducing disputes over territory.
3. Divine Sovereignty: The detailed nature demonstrates that God is sovereign over all the earth, establishing not only His people but also their very dwelling place with precision. He assigns boundaries for nations (Acts 17:26), and He did so definitively for Israel.
4. A Theological Picture of Inheritance: For the believer, these detailed descriptions of a physical inheritance serve as an earthly shadow of the greater, spiritual inheritance promised in Christ—an inheritance that is imperishable and unfading (1 Pet 1:4; Eph 1:11). Just as Israel received a physical dwelling, believers receive an eternal spiritual home.
5. A Basis for Prophecy: The naming of specific places allows for future prophetic developments and fulfillments to be clearly traced to their historical context. Medeba and Dibon, for example, reappear in later prophetic judgments against Moab (Isa 15:2; Jer 48:18), further establishing their historical and geographical significance within biblical narrative.

Joshua 13 9 Commentary

Joshua 13:9 is a testament to God's precise fulfillment of His covenant promises, specifically regarding the giving of the land to Israel. The meticulous geographical detail found here is not incidental but deeply purposeful, illustrating the reality and exactness of divine provision. This segment delineates a portion of the inheritance belonging to the tribe of Reuben on the eastern side of the Jordan. It highlights key historical and natural landmarks—Aroer, the Arnon River, the Medeba plain, and Dibon—all of which were crucial for ancient Israel's identity, administration, and secure settlement. The exactness in naming towns and topographical features validates the historical accuracy of the biblical narrative and affirms the tangible nature of the land promised by God. This detail also implicitly stresses the importance of clearly defined boundaries in ancient society for avoiding territorial disputes and maintaining order within the tribes, all under the sovereign hand of the Lord.