Joshua 13:12-22

Jos 13:12

All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.

 

Ashtaroth was about 22 miles (35 KM) east of the Sea of Chinnereth and Edrei was about 15 miles (24 KM) southeast of Ashtaroth.  The remainder of the giants was called Rephaim.  And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, (Genesis 14:5)  Moses had smitten Kings Og and Sihon and the giants were living among them and then were cast out when they were defeated.

 

Jos 13:13

Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

 

The Geshurites and Maachathites were not defeated or expelled either in the time of Moses or Joshua.  They continued to remain in the cities they had occupied during those times.

 

Jos 13:14

Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.

 

The tribe of Levi was given no inheritance among the tribes.  And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. (Numbers 18:20)  They were to be dedicated to the work of the LORD in the temple and in the tabernacle services.  It is like the believer, we really do not have any inheritance in this earth but we have an inheritance in the new Heaven and new earth.  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)  All the needs of the Levites would be taken care of by the individual tribes.

 

Jos 13:15

And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.

 

Then Joshua began the official placements of the tribes according to the writings of Moses.  Moses starts with Reuben because he was the first-born of Israel (Jacob).

 

Jos 13:16

And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that

is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;

 

Aroer was a city on the bank of the river Arnon ran into the Dead Sea and was formerly the southern border of the Ammonites with Moab.  The plain of Medeba was about 20 miles (32 KM) north of the river Arnon.  The midst of the river was the way they marked boundaries in ancient times, each neighbor was considered owning half of the river.  There is a city in Virginia and Tennessee named Bristol.  It is divided by a road going down the center of town.  If you cross the street you are in the other state.

 

Jos 13:17

Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon,

 

Heshbon was about 10 miles (16 KM) north of Medeba.  Dibon was a close neighbor to Aroer close to the River Arnon. Beth-Baal-meon was a close neighbor to Medeba.  Bamoth-Baal was about 5 miles (8 KM) northwest of Medeba.

 

Jos 13:18

And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,

 

Kedemoth was about 5 miles (8 KM) northeast of Aroer.  Jahazah was about 5 miles (8 KM) northeast of Kedemoth.  The location of Mephaath is unknown.  It was given to the Levites as a city.  Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities. (Joshua 21:37) 


Jos 13:19

And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley,

 

Kirjathaim was about 6 miles (10 KM) west of Medeba.  Sibmah was about 3 miles (5 KM) southwest of Heshbon.  Zareth-shahar was located on the Dead Sea and was 20 miles (32 KM) southwest of Heshbon.

 

Jos 13:20

And Beth-peor, and Ashdoth-pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,

 

Beth-peor was about 5 miles (8 KM) west of Heshbon.  Beth-jeshimoth was located on the northern border of the Dead Sea and about 13 miles (21 KM) west of Heshbon.  Ashdod-pisgah was located near to Mt. Nebo which would refer to the springs but its exact location is unknown.

 

Jos 13:21

And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

 

The cities of the plain that was in the kingdom of Sihon which was eventually given to both the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad.  These men were the dukes of Sihon which were also called the five kings of the Midianites.  And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. (Numbers 31:8) 

 

Jos 13:22

Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

 

During the time of Moses when he made war with the Midianite kings, Balaam called the soothsayer which means he was occultic in his prophecies.  He had told King Balak of Moab how to weaken and eventually destroy the Israelites.  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14)  Balaam told the king the best way to defeat them is to seduce the men with the most beautiful women they had and to get them to change from the worship of the true God to worship false idols.

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