Joshua 23 4

Joshua 23:4 kjv

Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

Joshua 23:4 nkjv

See, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward.

Joshua 23:4 niv

Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain?the nations I conquered?between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Joshua 23:4 esv

Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west.

Joshua 23:4 nlt

I have allotted to you as your homeland all the land of the nations yet unconquered, as well as the land of those we have already conquered ? from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Joshua 23 verses

Joshua 23 4 Meaning

Joshua 23:4 declares God's complete and sovereign act of designating the entire land of Canaan to Israel as their possession. It affirms that the Lord has specifically apportioned to the Israelites all the native peoples, encompassing both those already defeated and destroyed, as well as those remaining within the boundaries from the Jordan River to the Great Sea (Mediterranean Sea). This grand act of divine "allotment" is for the specific purpose of an eternal inheritance, to be distributed among the twelve tribes of Israel, underscoring God's unfailing faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Joshua 23 4 Context

Joshua 23 forms a significant portion of Joshua's farewell address to the assembled leaders of Israel, delivered near the end of his life. This solemn speech, given after Israel had largely settled in the land but before its final, complete conquest, functions as a powerful summary of God's faithfulness and a dire warning about future disobedience. The preceding chapters in Joshua (13-22) detail the division of the land by lot among the tribes, signifying God's fulfillment of His covenant promise to provide an inheritance. Thus, Joshua 23:4 directly echoes the accomplished reality of God's land grant. However, as the verse subtly indicates by mentioning "nations that remain," the human responsibility of fully expelling all pagan inhabitants had not been completed. This crucial detail sets the stage for Joshua's exhortations in the remainder of the chapter (verses 5-13) to fully drive out the remaining nations and to guard against intermarriage and idolatry, lest Israel fall from divine favor and forfeit the complete enjoyment of their inheritance. The historical context shows Israel's establishment as a nation, but also the ever-present temptation of syncretism with surrounding cultures.

Joshua 23 4 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): This interjection serves as a rhetorical device to command immediate attention and emphasize the profound significance and certainty of the divine declaration that follows. It underscores the weight and truthfulness of God's words.
• I have allotted (הִפַּלְתִּי, hippaltî, Hiphil perfect of נָפַל, naphal): The verb naphal means "to fall." In the Hiphil stem, it signifies "to cause to fall" or, as in this context, "to apportion by lot" or "to designate." This emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and method in dividing the land; the inheritance was determined by divine decree, often through the sacred act of casting lots, highlighting that it was a direct gift from Him, not merely conquered territory.
• to you: Specifically designates the nation of Israel as the recipient, emphasizing the covenantal nature of this divine grant and God's personal relationship with His chosen people.
• these nations that remain (הַגּוֹיִם הַנִּשְׁאָרִים, hagoyim hannish'arim): Refers to the indigenous Canaanite peoples and other groups who still dwelt in portions of the land God had promised and allocated to Israel. This phrase acknowledges the incomplete state of the physical conquest at that time from Israel's perspective, yet simultaneously affirms that even these remaining peoples, along with their territories, were divinely included in Israel's assigned inheritance. They represent both a continuing task for Israel and a test of their obedience.
• along with all the nations that I have already cut off (וְכָל-הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר הִכְרַתִּי, vekhol-hagoyim asher hikhrātti, from כָּרַת, kārath): "Cut off" implies total destruction or decisive removal. This highlights God's previous, powerful acts of victory and expulsion over numerous mighty nations in Canaan. It serves as a potent reminder of God's faithfulness and ability to deliver on His promises, forming a contrast with the "remaining nations" and setting a precedent for what God expects of Israel in completely possessing their inheritance.
• from the Jordan to the Great Sea westward: These are precise geographical markers, defining the full east-to-west extent of the promised land. "The Jordan" (הַיַּרְדֵּן, hayyardēn) forms the eastern boundary, and "the Great Sea" (הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל, hayyam haggadol), the Mediterranean Sea, constitutes the western boundary. This clear delineation confirms that the entirety of the territory, regardless of unexpelled pockets, was legally and spiritually Israel's according to divine will.
• for an inheritance (לְנַחֲלָה, lenachalah, from נַחֲלָה, nachalah): A profound theological term signifying a divinely given possession or lasting legacy, intrinsically tied to God's covenant promises. This land was not earned or merited by Israel's own righteousness, but graciously bestowed as a permanent and inalienable possession, contingent upon their continued faithfulness to God's covenant laws.
• among your tribes (לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם, leshivteykhem): Emphasizes that the land was designated for the entire collective nation of Israel, meticulously distributed to each of its tribal units according to God's precise plan. This highlights the unity of God's people in receiving His blessing and the corporate nature of their covenant relationship.

• I have allotted to you these nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off: This powerful statement frames God's comprehensive control and completed act from a divine perspective. It conveys that, even with inhabitants still present, God views the entire promised territory, including those people, as completely given to Israel. This tension—God's declared past act versus Israel's incomplete human action—underscores God's sovereignty and sets the context for Israel's ongoing responsibility.
• from the Jordan to the Great Sea westward: This specific geographical boundary marker asserts the vast and definitive extent of the land God has provided. It affirms that the inheritance is complete and bounded precisely as God intended, eliminating any ambiguity regarding its divine grant.
• for an inheritance among your tribes: This phrase encapsulates the core purpose and beneficiary of God's act. The land is presented as an enduring, collective gift, integral to the identity and destiny of each tribe and the nation as a whole. It stresses the covenantal nature of their possession, not merely conquered spoils, but a divine legacy binding the tribes to each other and to God.

Joshua 23 4 Bonus section

The concept of "allotted" (נָפַל, naphal) via the casting of lots was deeply significant in ancient Israel. It served to remove human bias or perceived merit from the land division, unequivocally establishing it as a divine act and grant, ensuring that the inheritance was received purely from the hand of God. This emphasized His sovereign determination and meticulous provision for each tribe. Furthermore, the explicit mention of "nations that remain" prefigures the testing of Israel's faithfulness, as highlighted later in Judges 3:1-4. These unconquered peoples were allowed by divine providence to test whether Israel would faithfully keep God's commands and avoid idolatry, proving the conditional nature of their continued enjoyment and secure possession of this divinely provided inheritance. The verse, therefore, sets a critical theological precedent: God's work of giving is complete, but Israel's work of faithful obedience to fully claim and cleanse the inheritance is ongoing.

Joshua 23 4 Commentary

Joshua 23:4 functions as a foundational theological assertion in Joshua's valedictory speech, anchoring Israel's present and future in God's past faithfulness. It declares the unwavering fact that the Lord has already and definitively given the entire promised land, from its eastern border at the Jordan to the western Great Sea, to Israel as a permanent inheritance. This "allotment" includes not only the nations already vanquished but significantly, also the "nations that remain," highlighting God's complete grant despite Israel's unfinished conquest. The verse underscores God's omnipotence and unwavering commitment to His covenant. While the physical expulsion was incomplete, God's grant was total, reminding Israel that their full security and rest depended on continuous obedience in dealing with these lingering foreign elements, rather than their own strength. It points to a divine gift that must be fully received through faithful action.