Joshua 13:7

Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — God addresses Joshua, instructing him to distribute the remaining western territory to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh following the expulsion of the hill country inhabitants.

The words — The command centers on חַלֵּק (cha.Lek), meaning to apportion or divide, and בְּנַחֲלָה (be./na.cha.Lah), designating the land as a permanent, hereditary holding.

The thread — This allocation directive mirrors the lot-based distribution mandates in Numbers 26:53 and Numbers 33:54, which require dividing the land among tribes according to clan size.

Why it lands — The text requires Joshua to execute a precise, divinely ordered transfer of territory, establishing tribal inheritance as a fixed legal reality rather than a personal or political decision.

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

וְעַתָּ֗הve./'a.Tahand/ therefore חַלֵּ֞קcha.Lekapportion אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָאָ֧רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land הַזֹּ֛אתha./Zot<the>/ this בְּנַחֲלָ֖הbe./na.cha.Lah<in>/ an inheritance לְתִשְׁעַ֣תle./tish.'Atto/ [the] nine הַשְּׁבָטִ֑יםha./she.va.Timthe/ tribes וַחֲצִ֖יva./cha.Tziand/ [the] half of הַשֵּׁ֥בֶטha./She.vetthe/ tribe הַֽמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃Ha/m.na.Sheh<the>/ Manasseh

King James Version

Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

Cross-references

Numbers 26:53 “The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.
Numbers 32:2 So the Gadites and Reubenites came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation, and said,
Numbers 33:54 And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.
Ezekiel 47:13 This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions.
Ezekiel 48:23 As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin will have one portion extending from the east side to the west side.