What connections exist between Joshua 13:2 and God's covenant with Abraham? Setting the Scene in Joshua 13:2 “ ‘This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites…’ ” (Joshua 13:2) What God Promised Abraham • Genesis 12:7—“To your offspring I will give this land.” • Genesis 15:18–21—“On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates…’” • Genesis 17:8—“I will give to you and your descendants… all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Direct Land Overlap • “Regions of the Philistines” (Joshua 13:2) align with the coastal strip included in Genesis 15:19–20 (the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites). • “Geshurites” appear in the northern section of the promised territory, near the area stretching “to the great river, the Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). • Both Philistine and Geshurite zones sit inside the larger borders God formally deeded to Abram. Why Joshua 13:2 Still Matters to Abraham’s Covenant • It highlights unfinished business: land promised but not fully possessed. • It proves God’s promises are specific—He names peoples and regions centuries in advance. • It reassures Israel that the remaining territory is already theirs by divine title; they need only occupy it (cf. Deuteronomy 7:1–2). • It underscores that God’s faithfulness spans generations: from Abraham (Genesis 15) to Joshua’s day—and beyond (Psalm 105:8–11). Foreshadowing Future Fulfillment • Judges shows continued skirmishes over Philistine land (Judges 3:1–4). • David finally pushes Philistines back (2 Samuel 5:17–25), inching Israel closer to the covenant borders. • Solomon rules “all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines” (1 Kings 4:21), offering a snapshot of the covenant picture realized. Takeaways for Today • God’s promises may unfold gradually, yet every detail stands secure (Numbers 23:19). • Delays do not signal denial; they invite faith-filled obedience until the inheritance is complete (Hebrews 6:12). |
    |