King James Version

What Does Joshua 13:6 Mean?

Joshua 13:6 in the King James Version says “All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out f...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 13 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.”

Joshua 13:6 · KJV

Context

4

From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: Mearah: or, the cave

5

And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising , from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

6

All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.

7

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

8

With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;

Read Joshua 13 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.

This verse addresses the tension between completed conquest (11:23) and remaining territory. God acknowledges that significant areas remain unconquered—particularly the Lebanese mountain ranges and Phoenician coastal regions. The promise "them will I drive out" (anokhi orishennu, אָנֹכִי אוֹרִישֶׁנּוּ) places responsibility squarely on divine action, not human military capacity. The emphatic pronoun "I" (anokhi, אָנֹכִי) stresses that Yahweh Himself will complete what Joshua's generation began, provided Israel maintains covenant faithfulness.

The command "only divide thou it by lot" (raq hap'ileha leYisrael benachalah, רַק הַפִּלֶהָ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּנַחֲלָה) instructs Joshua to allocate even unconquered territory, demonstrating faith in God's promises. This requires remarkable trust—distributing land not yet possessed based solely on divine promise. The lot-casting (goral, גּוֹרָל) removes human favoritism, allowing God to determine each tribe's inheritance (Proverbs 16:33). This method anticipates the apostolic practice of casting lots before Pentecost (Acts 1:26), after which the Spirit's direct guidance made lots unnecessary.

Reformed theology sees here the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God promises to drive out enemies, yet Israel must actively possess their allotted territory (13:1 notes Joshua's age and much land remaining). God's promises don't eliminate human action; they motivate and empower it. This balance appears throughout Scripture: God works, therefore we work (Philippians 2:12-13). The tragic failure of some tribes to fully possess their inheritance (Judges 1) demonstrates that divine promises, though certain, require human appropriation through faith-filled obedience.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The unconquered territories—Lebanon, Phoenician coast, Philistine pentapolis—would remain thorns in Israel's side throughout the monarchy. The Sidonians (Phoenicians) maintained independent city-states including Tyre and Sidon, becoming both trading partners and sources of religious corruption (1 Kings 16:31; Jezebel was Sidonian). Israel's failure to drive them out, despite God's promise, resulted from covenant unfaithfulness, not divine inability.

The lot-casting practice appears throughout ancient Near Eastern cultures, but Israel's use was distinct—rather than divining fate through impersonal forces, lots discerned God's sovereign will. Urim and Thummim (probably a lot-type mechanism) provided yes/no answers to specific questions. Archaeological discoveries include dice-like objects and inscribed stones that may have served in ancient lot-casting, though exact methods remain uncertain. The key theological point is that God controlled outcomes, ensuring just distribution (Proverbs 18:18).

The detailed boundary descriptions in chapters 13-19 serve practical and theological purposes. Practically, they prevented tribal disputes by establishing clear territorial limits. Theologically, they demonstrate God's attention to detail and orderly administration of His gifts. The preservation of these ancient boundary markers in Scripture, though tedious to modern readers, testified to each tribe that their specific inheritance was divinely ordained, not arbitrarily assigned. Every tribe mattered to God; every family had designated place in His plan.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's command to distribute unconquered land by faith challenge us to claim God's promises before seeing their fulfillment?
  2. What does Israel's later failure to fully possess their inheritance teach about the difference between God's promises and our appropriation of them?
  3. In what areas of Christian life do we need to balance trusting God's sovereignty ("I will drive them out") with active obedience (possessing our inheritance)?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
כָּל1 of 21
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

יֹֽשְׁבֵ֣י2 of 21

“All the inhabitants”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

הָ֠הָר3 of 21

“of the hill country”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

מִֽן4 of 21
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַלְּבָנ֞וֹן5 of 21

“from Lebanon”

H3844

lebanon, a mountain range in palestine

עַד6 of 21
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

מִשְׂרְפֹ֥ת7 of 21
H0
מַ֙יִם֙8 of 21

“unto Misrephothmaim”

H4956

misrephoth-majim, a place in palestine

כָּל9 of 21
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

צִ֣ידֹנִ֔ים10 of 21

“and all the Sidonians”

H6722

a tsidonian or inhabitant of tsidon

אָֽנֹכִי֙11 of 21
H595

i

אֽוֹרִישֵׁ֔ם12 of 21

“them will I drive out”

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

מִפְּנֵ֖י13 of 21

“from before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

בְּנֵ֣י14 of 21

“the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙15 of 21

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

רַ֠ק16 of 21
H7535

properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although

הַפִּלֶ֤הָ17 of 21

“only divide thou it by lot”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙18 of 21

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

בְּֽנַחֲלָ֔ה19 of 21

“for an inheritance”

H5159

properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion

כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר20 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

צִוִּיתִֽיךָ׃21 of 21

“as I have commanded”

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 13:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 13:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 11:8Judges 2:21-23Joshua 23:13Exodus 23:30-31Joshua 23:4Numbers 33:54

Places in This Verse

LebanonRegion · Modern: Jezzine · 33.54°N, 35.58°E57 verses across 16 books
Misrephoth-maimRiver · Modern: Litani River · 33.34°N, 35.25°E2 verses across 1 book
View all places in Joshua 13 →

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