What is the meaning of Joshua 13:2? This is the land that remains: The LORD pauses the conquest narrative to spotlight unfinished work. “This is the land that remains” (Joshua 13:2) is God’s gracious reminder that His promise to give Israel the whole land (Joshua 1:3) still stands, even though Joshua is “advanced in years” (Joshua 13:1). • The phrase stresses divine faithfulness—what God pledges, He completes (Numbers 23:19; 1 Kings 8:56). • It also exposes Israel’s partial obedience; the remaining land is proof that the task is not yet finished (Joshua 18:3; Deuteronomy 7:22). • For believers today, the verse models how God identifies gaps in our obedience, not to condemn us, but to call us forward (Philippians 3:12-14). All the territory of the Philistines God specifies the coastal strip dominated by five Philistine city-states—Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17). • Though promised since Abraham’s day (Genesis 15:18-21), this land is still under hostile control, highlighting Israel’s need for continued trust and action (Judges 3:1-4). • The Philistines later become Israel’s chief oppressors in the time of Samson and Samuel (Judges 13:1; 1 Samuel 4:1). The unfinished conquest here foreshadows those future conflicts. • God’s listing of Philistine territory confirms its rightful inclusion within Israel’s inheritance, reinforcing that spiritual battles left unattended can resurface with greater force (Ephesians 4:27; 1 Peter 5:8-9). and the Geshurites These Geshurites occupied a smaller enclave bordering Philistia (Joshua 13:2) and a northern region near Bashan (Joshua 12:5), both left unconquered. • Their presence later intersects Israel’s story when David marries Maacah, princess of northern Geshur, and Absalom flees there (2 Samuel 3:3; 13:37). • The southern Geshurites’ land, like the Philistine coast, remained outside Israel’s control because Joshua “did not drive out” its inhabitants (Joshua 13:13). • God’s mention underscores that no portion of the promise is expendable; every square mile matters to Him—and so do the seemingly small areas we leave untouched in our own walk (Luke 16:10). summary Joshua 13:2 records God naming the unfinished parts of Israel’s inheritance—the Philistine coast and the Geshurite enclaves—to affirm His unwavering promise and to urge His people toward complete obedience. The verse warns against settling for partial victory and invites us to trust God to finish what He has started, both in ancient Israel and in our lives today (Philippians 1:6). |
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