JOSHUA 13

LAND DISTRIBUTED EAST OF THE JORDAN RIVER

Because Joshua is growing old, God instructs him to only allot the land to the Israelites for an inheritance, not allowing the remaining nations to pass down the remaining land to be conquered.

Some of the tribes want to remain East of the Jordan River, so Joshua divides the land between the tribes. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh settle East of the river in the land known as the trans-Jordan. These tribes request this land in Numbers 32, but promise to help secure the land of Canaan before residing there. Once the land of Canaan was fully distributed, they would return to their land.

The Levites are not given a land inheritance, but are scattered across the land throughout the tribes to serve as priests and spiritual leaders.