King James Version

What Does Joshua 23:4 Mean?

Joshua 23:4 in the King James Version says “Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, wit...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward . westward: Heb. at the sunset”

Joshua 23:4 · KJV

Context

2

And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

3

And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

4

Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward . westward: Heb. at the sunset

5

And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

6

Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

Read Joshua 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. Joshua's statement "I have divided unto you" (hippaltitit lakhem, הִפַּלְתִּי לָכֶם) uses the verb napal (נָפַל), which in the Hiphil form means to cause to fall—the same root as goral (גּוֹרָל, lot). The sacred lot-casting distributed inheritance by divine guidance, not human favoritism or military prowess.

The phrase "nations that remain" (ha-goyim ha-nish'arim, הַגּוֹיִם הַנִּשְׁאָרִים) acknowledges incomplete conquest—a recurring theme in Joshua-Judges. While major military resistance was broken, many Canaanite populations remained in the land. Joshua 13:1-7 lists extensive territories "yet to be possessed." This tension between promise and partial fulfillment required ongoing faith and obedience. The remaining nations tested Israel's covenant loyalty (Judges 2:20-3:4).

The geographical markers "from Jordan... even unto the great sea westward" establish the inheritance boundaries from the Jordan River in the east to the Mediterranean in the west. The phrase "all the nations that I have cut off" (kol ha-goyim asher hikhrati, כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר הִכְרַתִּי) uses the verb karat (כָּרַת, to cut off/destroy), the same term used for covenant-making ("cutting" covenant). God cut off enemies while cutting covenant with Israel—judgment and mercy proceeding from the same divine holiness.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The incomplete conquest described here set the stage for the entire Judges period. Judges 1:27-36 catalogs specific cities and regions where Canaanites remained: "Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean... Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer... Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron." These failures resulted from military difficulty, disobedience, and eventually compromise—making covenants with peoples God commanded them to destroy.

Archaeological surveys show continuity of Canaanite culture in many regions during the Iron Age I period (1200-1000 BCE), supporting the biblical picture of gradual rather than instantaneous conquest. Israelite and Canaanite settlements coexisted in many areas, with full Israelite control achieved only under David's united monarchy. This historical reality underscores Joshua's warning—the remaining nations would become snares if Israel compromised.

The lot-casting system for tribal allotments appears in Joshua 13-21 with detailed boundary descriptions. This distribution method ensured fairness and recognized God's sovereignty over land allocation. Similar lot-casting for decision-making appears in selecting Saul as king (1 Samuel 10:20-21), determining Jonah's guilt (Jonah 1:7), and choosing Matthias as an apostle (Acts 1:26).

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you respond when God's promises seem only partially fulfilled in your experience—with continued faith or with compromise and accommodation?
  2. What "remaining nations" (persistent sins, unconquered areas of character) has God allotted to you to overcome through ongoing obedience?
  3. How does understanding inheritance as both gift and responsibility shape your approach to spiritual growth and sanctification?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
רְאוּ֩1 of 19

“Behold”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

הִפַּ֨לְתִּי2 of 19

“I have divided”

H5307

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

לָכֶ֜ם3 of 19
H0
אֶֽת4 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַגּוֹיִם֙5 of 19

“unto you by lot these nations”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֥ים6 of 19

“that remain”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

הָאֵ֛לֶּה7 of 19
H428

these or those

בְּנַֽחֲלָ֖ה8 of 19

“to be an inheritance”

H5159

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

לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם9 of 19

“for your tribes”

H7626

a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan

מִן10 of 19
H4480

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

הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן11 of 19

“from Jordan”

H3383

jarden, the principal river of palestine

וְכָל12 of 19
H3605

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

הַגּוֹיִם֙13 of 19

“unto you by lot these nations”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

אֲשֶׁ֣ר14 of 19
H834

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

הִכְרַ֔תִּי15 of 19

“that I have cut off”

H3772

to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt

וְהַיָּ֥ם16 of 19

“sea”

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

הַגָּד֖וֹל17 of 19

“even unto the great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

מְב֥וֹא18 of 19

“westward”

H3996

an entrance (the place or the act); specifically sunset or the west; also (adverb with preposition) towards

הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃19 of 19
H8121

the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

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 23:4 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 23:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 13:6-7Joshua 18:10Joshua 13:2

Places in This Verse

Great SeaBody of Water · Modern: Mediterranean Sea · 31.80°N, 34.17°E36 verses across 14 books
JordanRiver · Modern: Jordan River · 31.76°N, 35.56°E202 verses across 21 books
View all places in Joshua 23 →

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