Joshua 13:10
and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonites;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just listing conquered territory; it’s showing that the very cities ruled by Sihon, a powerful king of the Amorites, are now part of the inheritance God promised Israel. Even the heart of Amorite power, Heshbon, now marks the boundary of Ammon, signifying a dramatic shift in the region's ownership.
Joshua is now old, and God instructs him to begin the monumental task of dividing the promised land among the tribes, even though much of it is still occupied by enemies. This passage describes the territories that were conquered from powerful Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, like Sihon who reigned in Heshbon, and marks out their former boundaries as part of the inheritance. These descriptions are crucial for understanding which lands were already secured and which still needed to be taken from the Canaanites and other nations.
Joshua is old, and much land remains. How can the Israelites possibly take possession of it all?
The instruction to divide the land, even the parts not yet conquered, served a crucial purpose for the Israelites. It wasn't just a practical matter of assigning territory; it was a spiritual exercise.
A Divine Promise:
God commanded the division of the entire promised land, including areas still held by enemies. This act served as a powerful reminder that the land was already promised and belonged to Israel by divine right. It was an 'earnest of certain possession,' as Calvin puts it, a tangible sign of God's faithfulness.
Motivation for Action:
Having portions assigned in enemy territory meant that the tribes living there, even temporarily, were constant reminders of the task ahead. It spurred them on, acting like 'task-masters,' urging them and others to continue the conquest and claim what was rightfully theirs. It prevented complacency and kept the vision of full possession alive.
Who was Sihon, and why is his territory specifically mentioned in this land division?
The inclusion of Sihon's cities in the land division is not arbitrary; it marks a significant turning point in the conquest.
A Ruthless King:
Sihon was an Amorite king who had violently seized territory from the Moabites, making Heshbon his capital. He represented a formidable obstacle to Israel's advance into the Promised Land. His reign in Heshbon was characterized by Amorite power.
A Pivotal Victory:
When Israel requested safe passage, Sihon refused and instead attacked them. God gave Israel victory over Sihon (Numbers 21:21-31), and this conquest was crucial. It opened up the Transjordanian region to them and demonstrated God's power to defeat even the strongest adversaries. The cities that once belonged to Sihon now became part of Israel's inheritance, a testament to God's faithfulness in dispossessing the inhabitants as He had promised.
Understand the original words
Emori · Hebrew Noun
A major ethnic and political group in the Transjordan region. They were often viewed as enemies of Israel, representing the obstacles and foreign powers that stood in opposition to God's purpose for His people.
This verse is part of the massive undertaking of dividing the Promised Land after the initial military victories. It highlights that even conquered territories were divinely allocated, reminding the Israelites (and us) that God's promises are to be possessed and managed according to His specific instructions.
c. 1400 BC
Israel's Wilderness Wanderings
After the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, a period of judgment and preparation.
c. 1300 BC
Conquest of Sihon and Og
The Israelites, led by Moses, defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, seizing their territories east of the Jordan River.
c. 1300 BC
Division of Land East of Jordan
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh received their inheritance in the conquered lands east of the Jordan, as assigned by Moses.
c. 1300 BC
Joshua Assumes Leadership
Upon Moses' death, Joshua was appointed leader of the Israelites, tasked with leading them into and conquering the Promised Land west of the Jordan.
This passage directly recounts Israel's conquest of Sihon's territory, including Heshbon, which is the very land mentioned in Joshua 13:10, showing the Amorite king's defeat and the subsequent claim to his land.
Deuteronomy 2:26-37This chapter details God's command for Israel to bypass and later conquer the land of Sihon, paralleling the narrative in Joshua by highlighting the divine decree and the Amorite king's refusal to allow passage, leading to his downfall and the possession of his cities.
Psalm 135:11This psalm references the conquest of Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites, as examples of God's mighty acts for Israel, connecting the historical event in Joshua 13:10 to a broader theological perspective of God's deliverance and sovereignty.
Joshua 12:2-5This passage lists Sihon king of the Amorites and his kingdom among the defeated kings whose land Israel took, providing context for Joshua 13:10 by showing that Sihon's cities were part of a larger defeated enemy force.
calvinJoshua 13:1-14: "Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."
From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
A Nilo qui est e regione AEgypti usque ad terminum Ecron, qui es…
gillJoshua 13:10: "And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;"
And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon,.... A city he took from the Moabites, and made it his royal seat, Numbers 21:26 , unto the border of the children of Ammon; which was the river Jabbok, Deuteronomy 3:16.
This verse isn't just listing conquered territory; it’s showing that the very cities ruled by Sihon, a powerful king of the Amorites, are now part of the inheritance God promised Israel. Even the heart of Amorite power, Heshbon, now marks the boundary of Ammon, signifying a dramatic shift in the region's ownership.
Joshua is now old, and God instructs him to begin the monumental task of dividing the promised land among the tribes, even though much of it is still occupied by enemies. This passage describes the territories that were conquered from powerful Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, like Sihon who reigned in Heshbon, and marks out their former boundaries as part of the inheritance. These descriptions are crucial for understanding which lands were already secured and which still needed to be taken from the Canaanites and other nations.
Joshua is now old, and God instructs him to begin the monumental task of dividing the promised land among the tribes, even though much of it is still occupied by enemies. This passage describes the territories that were conquered from powerful Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, like Sihon who reigned in Heshbon, and marks out their former boundaries as part of the inheritance. These descriptions are crucial for understanding which lands were already secured and which still needed to be taken from the Canaanites and other nations.
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The verse mentions the 'border of the children of Ammon.' What does this tell us about the boundaries of the land Israel was to possess?
The mention of Sihon's territory extending 'unto the border of the children of Ammon' provides a specific geographical marker for the land division.
Established Boundaries:
God had a precise plan for the extent of Israel's inheritance. The boundaries were clearly defined, not left to chance or ambiguity. Sihon's former kingdom, stretching to the Ammonite border, represented a significant portion of the land east of the Jordan that was now designated for Israel. This helped delineate where the inheritance of the tribes settled east of the Jordan would end and where other territories began.
Respecting Neighboring Territories:
While the Ammonites were not directly conquered at this stage, their border served as a recognized limit. This suggests a principle of not encroaching upon lands belonging to other nations unless specifically commanded by God. The focus was on taking what God had promised and clearly designated as Israel's inheritance.
c. 1300 BC— this verse
Distribution of Land West of Jordan
Joshua, now elderly, begins the God-commanded task of dividing the remaining land west of the Jordan among the nine and a half tribes, including the territories formerly held by Sihon.
"and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonites;" — This verse isn't just listing conquered territory; it’s showing that the very cities ruled by Sihon, a powerful king of the Amorites, are now part of the inheritance God promised Israel. Even the hea…
