Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Joshua
Book: Joshua
Chapter: 13
Overview:
Bounds of the land not yet conquered.
(1-6) Inheritance of
Reuben.
(7-33)
1-6 At this
Chapter begins the account of the dividing of the
land of
Canaan among the tribes of
Israel By Lot; a narrative
showing the performance of the promise made to the fathers, that
this land should be given to the seed of
Jacob. We are not to
pass over these chapters of hard names as useless. Where
God has
a mouth to speak, and a
Hand to write, we should find an
Ear to
hear, and an
Eye to read; and may
God give us a
Heart to profit!
Joshua is supposed to have been about one hundred years old at
this time. It is good for those who are old and stricken in
years to be
Put in remembrance of their being
So.
God considers
the frame of his people, and would not have them burdened with
work above their strength. And all people, especially old
people, should set to do that quickly which must be done before
they die, lest
Death prevent them, Ec 9:10.
God promise that
he would make the Israelites masters of all the countries yet
unsubdued, though
Joshua was old, and not able to do it; old,
and not likely to live to see it done. Whatever becomes of us,
and however we may be laid aside as despised, broken vessels,
God will do his own work in his own time. We must work out our
Salvation, then
God will work in us, and work with us; we must
resist our spiritual enemies, then
God will tread them under our
feet; we must go forth to our
Christian work and warfare, then
God will go forth before us.
7-33 The land must be divided among the tribes. It is the will
of
God that every
Man should know his own, and not take that
which is another's. The world must be governed, not
By force,
but right. Wherever our
Habitation is placed, and in whatever
honest way our portion is assigned, we should consider them as
allotted of
God; we should be thankful for, and use them as
such, while every prudent method should be used to prevent
disputes about property, both at present and in future.
Joshua
must be herein a
Type of
Christ, who has not only conquered the
gates of
Hell for us, but has opened to us the gates of
Heaven,
and having purchased the eternal inheritance for all believers,
will
Put them in possession of it. Here is a general description
of the country given to the two tribes and a half,
By Moses.
Israel must know their own, and keep to it; and may not, under
pretence of their being
God's
Peculiar people, encroach
On their
neighbours. Twice in this
Chapter it is noticed, that to the
Tribe of
Levi Moses gave
No inheritance: see Nu 18:20. Their
maintenance must be brought out of all the tribes. The ministers
of the
Lord should show themselves indifferent about worldly
interests, and the people should take care they want nothing
suitable. And happy are those who have the
Lord God of
Israel
for their inheritance, though little of this world falls to
their
Lot. His providences will supply their wants, his
consolations will support their souls, till they gain heavenly
joy and
Everlasting pleasures.