from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland of Medeba as far as Dibon;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse lists cities and lands, but "the city that is in the midst of the river" isn't just another geographical marker. It points to a place uniquely situated, possibly on an island or between river branches, highlighting the strategic or perhaps precarious nature of settlements along the Arnon River, which served as a significant border. This detail emphasizes how even seemingly small, specific geographical features play a role in defining territory and history.
from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland of Medeba as far as Dibon;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joshua, now an old man, begins the daunting task of distributing the remaining land to the tribes. This passage describes the inheritance allotted to the Reubenites, marking the southern boundary of their territory east of the Jordan River. This region was previously held by Sihon, the Amorite king defeated by Israel.
Joshua is old, the fighting is mostly done, yet God reveals there's still 'very much land to be possessed.' How can this be?
Even after significant victories, the inheritance promised by God isn't fully secured. This highlights a crucial tension: God's promises are certain, but their full realization often requires ongoing effort and perseverance from His people.
This verse meticulously details a border: 'From Aroer... on the bank of the river Arnon.' Why this level of detail?
The specific geographical markers, like the Arnon River and the cities along its banks, weren't just arbitrary points on a map. They served critical functions:
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The plains of Medeba and the city of Dibon are mentioned as boundaries. What's the story behind these places?
The inclusion of Medeba and Dibon isn't just a list of locations; it represents the complex history and divine purpose behind Israel's inheritance:
This verse describes the southern boundary of the territory allotted to the tribe of Reuben, a region that had a complex history of conquest and shifting control between the Moabites, Amorites, and Israelites.
~1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin conquering the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt and 40 years in the wilderness.
After conquest, before Joshua's death— this verse
Land Divided by Lot
After the initial military victories, Joshua, now old, oversees the division of the remaining conquered lands among the nine and a half tribes by casting lots.
During the Judges period
Moabite Resurgence
Following the period of conquest and division, the Moabites, who had lost territory to the Amorites and then the Israelites, gradually reasserted control over some of their former lands.
c. 9th Century BC
Moabite Stone Records
The Moabite Stone, discovered at Dibon, details Moabite kings' claims to lands previously held by Israel and conflict with the Omride dynasty of Israel.
This passage also marks the Arnon River as a significant boundary, setting the stage for the territorial descriptions in Joshua and highlighting the ongoing importance of these geographical markers in the Israelites' expansion.
Deuteronomy 2:36This verse establishes that the cities east of the Arnon, including Aroer and those in the plain, were taken from Sihon the Amorite, directly linking the land described in Joshua to a prior conquest and divine promise.
Joshua 12:2This verse lists Sihon and Og as kings defeated by Israel, providing the historical context for the lands now being described and divided, emphasizing that this territory was hard-won.
Isaiah 15:2This prophecy against Moab mentions Medeba and Dibon, showing that these cities, described in Joshua as part of Israel's inheritance, would later be reclaimed by Moab, reflecting the shifting political landscape after the conquest.
1 Corinthians 10:13While seemingly different, this verse speaks to God's faithfulness in providing a way of escape from temptation, mirroring how God provided a land for Israel even when it was occupied, offering a spiritual parallel to God's provision of land.
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…
clarkeJoshua 13:9: "From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;"
From Aroer - See on Joshua 12:2 (note).
The verse lists cities and lands, but "the city that is in the midst of the river" isn't just another geographical marker. It points to a place uniquely situated, possibly on an island or between river branches, highlighting the strategic or perhaps precarious nature of settlements along the Arnon River, which served as a significant border. This detail emphasizes how even seemingly small, specific geographical features play a role in defining territory and history.
Joshua, now an old man, begins the daunting task of distributing the remaining land to the tribes. This passage describes the inheritance allotted to the Reubenites, marking the southern boundary of their territory east of the Jordan River. This region was previously held by Sihon, the Amorite king defeated by Israel.
Joshua, now an old man, begins the daunting task of distributing the remaining land to the tribes. This passage describes the inheritance allotted to the Reubenites, marking the southern boundary of their territory east of the Jordan River. This region was previously held by Sihon, the Amorite king defeated by Israel.
"from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland of Medeba as far as Dibon;" — The verse lists cities and lands, but "the city that is in the midst of the river" isn't just another geographical marker. It points to a place uniquely situated, possibly on an island or between riv…
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Last reviewed October 2026