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lesson #9
Joshua 13 - 21

Chapter 13 begins the second half of the book of Joshua. Most of the exciting, calamitous adventure is over. Hollywood would probably stop right here! However, in the midst of this time of apportioning the land, dividing the spoils, when the administrator is in greater demand than the soldier -- a figure emerges whose faith shines like a beacon in the darkness of Israel’s spiritual mediocrity.
God had promised something special to Caleb, and he had waited patiently for it -- almost 50 years. Now, finally, his time had come.

What does it say? What does it mean?
Joshua 13:1-33

1 When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the LORD said to him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. 2 "This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites: 3 from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite (the territory of the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron -- that of the Avvites); 4 from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek, the region of the Amorites, 5 the area of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.
6 "As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, 7 and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh." 8 The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the LORD, had assigned it to them. 9 It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. 11 It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salecah -- 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei and had survived as one of the last of the Rephaites. Moses had defeated them and taken over their land. 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.
14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them. 15 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, clan by clan: 16 The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba 17 to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth 21 -- all the towns on the plateau and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba -- princes allied with Sihon -- who lived in that country. 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination. 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, clan by clan. 24 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, clan by clan: 25 The territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah; 26 and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir; 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth and Zaphon with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth). 28 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites, clan by clan. 29 This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, clan by clan: 30 The territory extending from Mahanaim and including all of Bashan, the entire realm of Og king of Bashan -- all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns, 31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). This was for the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh -- for half of the sons of Makir, clan by clan.
32 This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

According to verse 1 of chapter 13, is the fighting completely finished? What is left to be gained?





Focusing on verses 15, 24, and 29 -- which tribes were these?





Where was their land? (verses 8,32)





What was the Levite’s portion? (verse 33)





Read Joshua 14:6-15
How old is Caleb at this point?




Taking the information in verses 7 and 10, plus the fact that the wilderness wanderings took 38 years, how long did it take Joshua to conquer the land?




Although much of the land had already been taken, much still remained. What is Joshua’s attitude towards the people in regard to this? (Read 18:3)




Read these three verses and give two reasons why the Israelites didn’t take all the land: Joshua 15:63, 17:12, 17:13.




Caleb

Caleb first appears in Numbers 13; what kind of a man is he? (Numbers 13:30-33)




What does he choose to receive? (see Joshua 14:12,13)




What is special about that place? (see Genesis 13:18, 18:1, 23:19)




Who did Caleb have to drive out of his land? (see Joshua 15:13,14)




They were the descendants of whom? (see Numbers 13:33)




One commentator writes, concerning the 10 spies’ reaction in Numbers 13:

"They saw the formidable sons or descendants of Anak, a race of men of such enormous stature and strength, that they were accounted of the same stock with the "Nephilim," the giants that lived before the flood, men of violence, oppression, and cruelty.

George Bush, Numbers


Have you ever been in a situation where the odds seemed overwhelmingly against you, and your peers were fearful, and yet you sensed that God would supply what was needed? What did you do?


One particular phrase is consistently used to describe Caleb’s character. What is it?

Numbers 14:24


Deut. 1:36


Joshua 14:8,9



Caleb conquers his land in 15:13-19. Yet there is still an interesting postscript to his story in Joshua 21:11-13. What happens?







APPLICATION -
So What Does
This Mean in
My Life?

1. From all that we know of Caleb, he appears to have had one particular quality that is rare among people: consistency. Single-mindedness. Not "driven and tossed by the wind." His eyes were focused on one thing. Are you that way? Do you know someone who is like that? What is one thing you could do this week to become more like Caleb?





2. Read this statement from Francis Schaeffer’s commentary on Joshua. How does it translate into a principle for the Christian life?

"The people of God did not go on to do what God told them to do for two reasons. First, they wanted peace at any cost and in spite of God’s commands. Second, they wanted wealth. They were practical materialists. For the sake of ease and money, they did not go forward and do what God told them to do. "Tribute! Tribute! Tribute!" they demanded. And they let the people stay in the land. And through the time of the judges and beyond, instead of gaining ground the Israelites slowly lost it, because they had not possessed their possessions on the basis of God’s promise."





3. What five adjectives would you use to describe Caleb? Which do you admire and why?






4. How are people who are passionate and full of faith perceived or accepted in our society?





5. What’s the worst thing that can happen if we believe God and act totally like we really believe Him?