“And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.”
This verse is part of the account in the book of Joshua where the land of Canaan is being divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land, Joshua led them in conquering various territories. The land was then distributed among the tribes as their inheritance. In Joshua 13:15, we see that Moses, before his death, allocated an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben. The tribe of Reuben was one of the twelve tribes of Israel and was descended from Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob.
The distribution of the land was an important aspect of fulfilling God’s promise to the Israelites. It was a fulfillment of the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where God promised to give their descendants the land of Canaan as an inheritance (Genesis 12:7, 13:15, 17:8). By dividing the land among the tribes, God was fulfilling His promise and establishing the Israelites as a settled people in the land He had promised to them.
It is important to note that the division of the land was not merely a human decision but was carried out under the guidance of God. In Joshua 13:6, God speaks to Joshua and tells him that there is still much land to be possessed. This indicates that the division of the land was part of God’s plan and that there was still work to be done in order to fully possess the land.
This verse serves as a reminder that God is faithful to fulfill His promises. He had promised the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and now, through Moses, He was ensuring that each tribe received its rightful inheritance.
It also emphasizes the importance of obedience and following God’s instructions, as Moses carried out the task of distributing the land according to the families of each tribe.
Overall, Joshua 13:15 highlights the significance of the division of the land among the tribes of Israel as part of the fulfillment of God’s covenant and His faithfulness to His promises.
