Jos 13:15-23 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Josh 13:15-23: 13:15-23 Because Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son by Leah (Gen 29:32 ), forfeited his birthright by sleeping with his father’s concubine (Gen 35:22 ), the inheritance of his tribe was not of central importance. Although the tribe received a fertile portion of land, it was difficult to defend from neighboring nations. The tribe of Reuben eventually lost the southern portion to Moab.

a13:15-23►

bGen 29:32►

cGen 35:22►

d13:21►

eNum 31:8►

f13:22►

gNum 31:16►

hNum 22–25►

‏ Joshua 13:15-23

Summary for Josh 13:15-23: 13:15-23 ^a Because Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son by Leah (Gen 29:32 ^b), forfeited his birthright by sleeping with his father’s concubine (Gen 35:22 ^c), the inheritance of his tribe was not of central importance. Although the tribe received a fertile portion of land, it was difficult to defend from neighboring nations. The tribe of Reuben eventually lost the southern portion to Moab.
13:21 ^d The leaders of Midian were apparently kings (Num 31:8 ^e) or sheiks of small city-states south of Sihon’s kingdom. The nomadic Midianites depended mostly on sheep and goats for their livelihood.
13:22 ^f Balaam son of Beor had initiated a successful plan to seduce Israel into sexually expressed idolatry (Num 31:16 ^g), even though God had forbidden Balaam to curse Israel (Num 22–25 ^h).