God prepared this land to be allocated fairly among His people.
When the Lord commanded Joshua, “Now therefore, apportion this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh” (v.7), He was directing the formal division of Canaan among the remaining tribes. Joshua, who fits into the historical timeline as Moses’ successor around 1400 BC, was responsible for distributing territories to Israel’s descendants. Nine of the tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh were to receive their inheritance on the western side of the Jordan River, whereas the other two and a half tribes had already settled across the eastern side. This division symbolized the beginning of a new era where each tribe could establish itself in the land that God promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7).
The instruction to apportion land for inheritance highlighted God’s promise and sovereignty, as well as Israel’s responsibility to trust and obey. The half-tribe of Manasseh can be traced back to Manasseh, who was Joseph’s firstborn son (Genesis 48:14). This tribe’s older roots served as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the importance of carrying out His directives in unity among the tribes. While some areas of Canaan would still require conquest, God was demonstrating that each tribe should faithfully occupy and steward its territory.
The directive “Now therefore, apportion this land for an inheritance…” (v.7) also underscores God’s intention for each tribe to dwell in peace and rely on Him for their security. This was not simply about geographical boundaries—it was the continued unfolding of God’s covenantal setup. Hundreds of years later, when Jesus came, He would proclaim that in His Father’s house there are many dwelling places (John 14:2), signifying an even greater spiritual inheritance for those who follow Him.
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Joshua 13:7 meaning
When the Lord commanded Joshua, “Now therefore, apportion this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh” (v.7), He was directing the formal division of Canaan among the remaining tribes. Joshua, who fits into the historical timeline as Moses’ successor around 1400 BC, was responsible for distributing territories to Israel’s descendants. Nine of the tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh were to receive their inheritance on the western side of the Jordan River, whereas the other two and a half tribes had already settled across the eastern side. This division symbolized the beginning of a new era where each tribe could establish itself in the land that God promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7).
The instruction to apportion land for inheritance highlighted God’s promise and sovereignty, as well as Israel’s responsibility to trust and obey. The half-tribe of Manasseh can be traced back to Manasseh, who was Joseph’s firstborn son (Genesis 48:14). This tribe’s older roots served as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the importance of carrying out His directives in unity among the tribes. While some areas of Canaan would still require conquest, God was demonstrating that each tribe should faithfully occupy and steward its territory.
The directive “Now therefore, apportion this land for an inheritance…” (v.7) also underscores God’s intention for each tribe to dwell in peace and rely on Him for their security. This was not simply about geographical boundaries—it was the continued unfolding of God’s covenantal setup. Hundreds of years later, when Jesus came, He would proclaim that in His Father’s house there are many dwelling places (John 14:2), signifying an even greater spiritual inheritance for those who follow Him.