Joshua 13:8-33
Q.1. Who conquered the territory to be possessed by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh? Was the conquest complete? How specific was the land given to these tribes? Where was their inheritance? – (Josh.13:8-32)
The land on the east side of the Jordan River had been conquered by Israel while led by Moses. It had been given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and part of Manasseh, as they requested (Num.34:13-15). Moses had given Joshua the responsibility to apportion it to them when the Promised Land was conquered and settled by the remaining tribes of Israel – With the other half-tribe, the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance which Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the servant of the Lord gave to them (Josh.13:8 c.f. Num.32:28-33). Though Israel had defeated the key nations – … very much of the land remained to be possessed (Josh.13:1). Joshua allocated the title deeds of the tribal lands that the people had yet to completely possess (Josh.13:9-32). The lands belonging to each tribe were documented very specifically, in order to prevent future disputes.
Q.2. What happened to the false prophet Balaam? What inheritance was given to the tribe of Levi? – (Josh.13:14, 22, 33 c.f. Num.31:8; 2 Pet.2:15-16; Rev.2:14)
The prophet Balaam had been a real thorn in the side of Israel, but he had been slain (Josh.13:22). The apostle John explained – you have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality (Rev.2:14 c.f. Num.31:8; 2 Pet.2:15-16). The tribe of Levi was chosen to represent the people before God, as priests. They were given no tribal allotment as the other tribes were but were scattered throughout the Promised Land in forty-eight cities that included the Cities of Refuge (c.f. Gen.49:7; Num.35:6-8). – Only to the tribe of Levi he did not give an inheritance; the offerings by fire to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as He spoke to him … But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He had promised to them (Num.13:14 & 33). Having not been granted a portion of the land, they lived amongst all the tribes, so that they could help keep them connected with God.