Joshua 13: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Joshua 13 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

God instructs Joshua that he is old, yet much land remains to be possessed (vv. 1-2). Joshua is to allocate the areas of the Philistines and the Geshurites, stating the boundaries from Shihor to Ekron, and the land of the Canaanites and Sidonians (vv. 3-6). Joshua must divide this land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh (v. 7).

Key verse

“Now Joshua was old and well advanced in years. Yahweh said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.”
Joshua 13:1 (WEB)

Outline

Joshua 13:1–7 God's Instruction to Joshua
Joshua 13:8–14 Inheritance of Reuben and Gad
Joshua 13:15–23 Details of Reuben's Territory
Joshua 13:24–28 Gad's Inheritance Described
Joshua 13:29–32 Half-Tribe of Manasseh's Land
Joshua 13:33 Levi's Unique Inheritance

Discussion questions

In v6, what land does God instruct Joshua to allocate to Israel?
What specific areas does Moses designate for the children of Reuben in vv. 9-10?
The mention of Geshur and Maacath in v13: why were they not driven out by Israel?
Moses’ inheritance distribution in vv. 32-33: what does this indicate about the role of the Levites?
When have you felt guided to claim something promised, as in v6?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Joshua 13: Joshua 12, Numbers 32, Deuteronomy 3.

Before next time: read Joshua 14.