Joshua 13:15-33
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).
Summary for Josh 13:24-28: 13:24-28 i Gad was Jacob’s seventh son, born to Zilpah, Leah’s servant. Just as Gad’s position in his family was peripheral, the tribe of Gad was peripheral to Israel.
Summary for Josh 13:29-33: 13:29-33 j Manasseh was Joseph’s elder son. Jacob gave Joseph’s sons each a full inheritance, thus giving Joseph a double portion of the birthright (see 14:4 k).
Summary for Josh 13:30-31: 13:30-31 l Jair was a great-grandson of Manasseh (1 Chr 2:21-22 m). Makir was one of Manasseh’s sons. It is unclear whether the land allotted to these tribes in north Gilead was distinguished from the land that the tribe of Gad received there.
Copyright information for
TNotes