Joshua 13:1 - Meaning and Application

Here, God reminds Joshua of his old age. Joshua was now old and well advanced in years. He and Caleb were the only old men left among the thousands of Israel. Of all those counted at Mount Sinai, only they were still alive. Joshua had been a man of war from his youth (Exodus 17:10), but now he had to yield to the weakness that comes with age. Even the strongest person cannot win a fight against old age.

Joshua seems not to have had the same strength in old age that Moses had. Not everyone grows old in the same way. In general, old age is a hard time, with little pleasure and less strength for service. God pointed out Joshua’s age to him for a wise purpose. Older people need to be reminded that they are growing older. Some have gray hairs and do not notice them (Hosea 7:9). They may not want to think about age, so they need to be told, that they may press on with the work of life and prepare for death, which is drawing near.

God mentions Joshua’s age and weakness for two reasons. First, Joshua should now stop thinking about leading more war. He could not expect the conquest to end soon, because much land still remained, and it was spread out in distant places. It was not right to expect him, at his age, to take on the hard work of renewed warfare over so much ground. He had already reduced the main body of the land. Now let him be gathered to rest with honor, with his people thanking him for his faithful service. The remaining parts of the country could be conquered by those who came after him. Just as Joshua had entered into the labor of Moses, so others would enter into his labor and finish the work, with the top stone added later, as was reserved for David. God knows the strength of his people, and he does not want them burdened with more than they can bear. Older people should not be expected to do all they once did for God and for their country.

Second, Joshua’s age was a reason for him to turn quickly to dividing the land he had already conquered. That work still had to be done, and it had to be done soon. Joshua needed to oversee it, and since he was old and not likely to live much longer, this should be his final act of service to God and Israel. All people, especially older people, should do quickly whatever must be done before they die, so that death does not stop them from finishing it (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

God then gives Joshua a detailed account of the land that was still unconquered, yet intended for Israel. In due time, they would possess it, if they did not bring trouble on themselves. Several regions are named: some in the south, such as the country of the Philistines, ruled by five lords, and the land toward Egypt (Joshua 13:2-3); some on the west, toward the Sidonians (Joshua 13:4); some in the east, including all Lebanon (Joshua 13:5); and some in the north, toward the entrance of Hamath (Joshua 13:5). Joshua was told this, and he made the people aware of it, for several reasons. They should be moved by God’s goodness in giving them such a good land, and so be led to love and serve him. If what they already had seemed too little, God could add more, as he later did for David (2 Samuel 12:8). They should also be careful not to make alliances or close friendships with these neighbors, so that they would not learn their ways. Instead, they should keep some distance from them, since these nations stood between Israel and what was rightfully theirs. And they should stay ready for war, not laying down their armor while any land still remained to be taken. In the same way, we must not lay aside our spiritual armor, or stop watching, until our victory is complete in the kingdom of glory.

God also promises that he himself will make Israel masters of the remaining lands, even though Joshua is old and cannot do it, and may not live to see it done. Whatever becomes of us, and even if we are set aside like broken vessels, God will do his work in his own time (Joshua 13:6). “I will drive them out,” he says. The wording is strong: it is I who will do it, I who can do it after you are dead and gone, and I will do it if Israel does not fail themselves. The Chaldee version says, “I will do it by my Word,” meaning by the eternal Word, the captain of the Lord’s hosts. This promise, that God will drive out the nations before Israel, clearly assumes that Israel must first try to drive them out. They had to go up against them; otherwise, they could not be said to be driven out before them. If later Israel, through laziness, fear, or affection for these idolaters, simply stayed still and left them alone, then they would have themselves to blame, not God, if the nations were not driven out.

We must work out our salvation, and then God will work in us and with us. We must resist our spiritual enemies, and then God will put them under our feet. We must go out into our Christian work and warfare, and then God will go before us.