Bible Strands
Joshua 13:3
from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites;
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua addresses the tribal leaders regarding the unallocated western territories remaining after the initial conquest. He delineates the boundary of the Philistine region to clarify what remains for future division.
The words — The text identifies the boundary marker שִׁיחוֹר (Shihor) as the eastern limit near Egypt, paired with גְּבֻל (geVul) to designate the specific border of Ekron. These terms establish a precise geographical demarcation for the Philistine territory.
The thread — The five Philistine rulers and the Avvites reappear in Judges 3:3 and Deuteronomy 2:23, where their territorial presence and destruction are recorded. Jeremiah 2:18 later references the route to Egypt, echoing the same geographical corridor.
Why it lands — The text explicitly maps the Philistine domain to show that conquest was incomplete and allotment was pending. It demands a reader acknowledge that territorial promises require ongoing fulfillment beyond initial military victories.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 2:23 And the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, were destroyed by the Caphtorites, who came out of Caphtor and settled in their place.)
- Judges 3:3 the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.
- Jeremiah 2:18 Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
- Genesis 10:6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- Genesis 10:15 And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,
- Numbers 34:2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:
- Joshua 13:13 but the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites. So Geshur and Maacath dwell among the Israelites to this day.
- 1 Samuel 6:4 “What guilt offering should we send back to Him?” asked the Philistines. “Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, “according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.
- 1 Samuel 6:16 And when the five rulers of the Philistines saw this, they returned to Ekron that same day.
- Zephaniah 2:4 For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.