and in the valley Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a boundary, to the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse details the land allocated to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, but a crucial detail is that it's described as "the rest of the kingdom of Sihon." This wording highlights that Israel is inheriting land after it has been conquered and taken from its previous inhabitants, underscoring God's direct role in their victory and provision. It's not just an empty territory; it's a defeated enemy's former domain, placing the conquest firmly in God's hands.
and in the valley Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a boundary, to the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse details the allocated territory for the tribe of Gad, specifically the northern portion of the former kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located east of the Jordan River. It follows the division of land given to Reuben and concludes the description of these Transjordanian inheritances before Joshua turns to the remaining tribes.
This verse details specific cities and a region that were once part of a powerful enemy's territory. How does God's redistribution of this land speak to His ultimate authority?
Joshua 13:27 highlights that the land being described was 'the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon.' This is crucial context. Sihon was a formidable Amorite king who had defeated many, including the Moabites, and refused passage to the Israelites.
The Jordan River is mentioned as both a boundary and a feature of the landscape. What does this boundary signify beyond just geography?
The verse specifies that the inheritance extends 'Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth.' The Jordan River, a powerful and often turbulent body of water, served as a significant natural boundary.
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Understand the original words
mamlakah · Hebrew Noun
A term often denoting the geographic domain or sovereign authority exercised by a ruler over a specific area. In the biblical context, kingdoms often represent distinct cultural or political entities that opposed or were eventually subsumed by the expansion of Israel as part of God's judgment and promise.
This passage details the precise boundaries of the inheritance for the tribes of Reuben and Gad, lands east of the Jordan River that were conquered from Sihon. It highlights the importance of clearly defined borders for inheritance and peace, a practical necessity after the wars of conquest.
c. 1400 BC
Israel's Conquest of Canaan Begins
Following the death of Moses, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River to begin the conquest of the Promised Land, fulfilling God's promises.
c. 1400 BC
Sihon and Og Defeated
Before entering Canaan proper, the Israelites decisively defeat Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, who ruled territories east of the Jordan River.
c. 1400 BC
Land East of Jordan Distributed
The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with half of Manasseh, are granted the lands conquered from Sihon and Og east of the Jordan River.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua's Conquest of Canaan Proper
Joshua leads the main Israelite force in conquering the land west of the Jordan, facing numerous kings and city-states.
c. 1400 BC
Division of Land West of Jordan
After the conquest, the remaining land west of the Jordan is systematically divided among the remaining tribes and the other half of Manasseh.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Finalizing Tribal Allotments
Joshua is depicted here as detailing the boundaries of the lands allotted to each tribe, including those east of the Jordan, to ensure clear inheritance and prevent future disputes.
This passage directly discusses the inheritance given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad east of the Jordan, establishing the historical context for the cities and territories mentioned in Joshua 13:27.
Genesis 33:17This verse provides the origin of the name 'Succoth,' one of the cities listed in Joshua 13:27, connecting it back to Jacob's journey and establishing its historical significance within the region.
Joshua 12:1-6This chapter lists the lands and kingdoms that Israel had already conquered, including the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, which directly relates to the 'rest of the kingdom of Sihon' described as part of the inheritance in Joshua 13:27.
Deuteronomy 3:12-17This passage details the initial division of the conquered lands east of the Jordan, including the territories of Reuben and Gad, which forms the background for the specific enumeration of cities and boundaries in Joshua 13:27.
calvinJoshua 13:15-33: "And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families."
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.
Et omnes urbes planitiei, et universum regnum Sihon regis Aemorrhaei, qui regnabat in Hesbon, quem percussit Moses: et prin…
gillJoshua 13:27: "And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward."
And in the valley, Betharam,.... The same with Bethharan; see Gill on Numbers 32:36 , and Bethnimrah; sometimes called Nimrah, Numbers 32:3; near to which were some waters, called the waters of Nimrim, Isaiah 15:6; It was in Jerom's (p) time a large village; it…
This verse details the land allocated to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, but a crucial detail is that it's described as "the rest of the kingdom of Sihon." This wording highlights that Israel is inheriting land after it has been conquered and taken from its previous inhabitants, underscoring God's direct role in their victory and provision. It's not just an empty territory; it's a defeated enemy's former domain, placing the conquest firmly in God's hands.
This verse details the allocated territory for the tribe of Gad, specifically the northern portion of the former kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located east of the Jordan River. It follows the division of land given to Reuben and concludes the description of these Transjordanian inheritances before Joshua turns to the remaining tribes.
This verse details the allocated territory for the tribe of Gad, specifically the northern portion of the former kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located east of the Jordan River. It follows the division of land given to Reuben and concludes the description of these Transjordanian inheritances before Joshua turns to the remaining tribes.
"and in the valley Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a boundary, to the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan." — This verse details the land allocated to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, but a crucial detail is that it's described as "the rest of the kingdom of Sihon." This wording highlights that Israel is inheri…
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Last reviewed October 2026