What is the meaning of Joshua 13:3? The Shihor east of Egypt “from the Shihor east of Egypt…” (Joshua 13:3) • Shihor, likely the “Brook of Egypt” (Numbers 34:5; Joshua 15:4), marks Israel’s southwestern border. • Jeremiah 2:18 and Isaiah 23:3 show Shihor as a known Egyptian waterway, underscoring a literal geographic limit set by God. • By naming this boundary, the Lord reminds Joshua that His promise stretches right to Egypt’s doorstep—territory still awaiting conquest despite years of warfare (Joshua 13:1). • God’s precision in borders affirms His faithfulness; every piece of land He promised (Genesis 15:18) remains secure in His plan even when Israel has not yet possessed it. To the territory of Ekron on the north “…to the territory of Ekron on the north…” (Joshua 13:3) • Ekron was the northernmost Philistine city (1 Samuel 5:10–11; Amos 1:8). • Mentioning Ekron fixes the coastal boundary from south (Shihor) to north, framing the entire Philistine plain as still unconquered. • God’s inclusion of Ekron anticipates later judgments (Zephaniah 2:4–7) and David’s victories (1 Samuel 17:52), showing He sees the end from the beginning. Canaanite territory “(considered to be Canaanite territory)…” (Joshua 13:3) • Though Philistines occupied the coast, God still labels it “Canaanite,” linking it to the nations He earlier marked for removal (Deuteronomy 7:1–2). • The label reminds Israel that cultural influence does not rewrite divine titles; what God has marked for His people remains theirs, no matter who currently lives there (Exodus 23:31). • This reinforces that partial obedience—leaving pockets of enemy control—falls short of God’s full intent (Judges 1:27–36). The five Philistine rulers “…that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron…” (Joshua 13:3) • Scripture repeatedly speaks of “five rulers” (1 Samuel 6:4, 17–18; Judges 3:3; 16:5), confirming the historical reality of this pentapolis. • Each city became a thorn when Israel failed to drive them out; Samson fought in Gaza (Judges 16:1), the ark was captured at Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1–2), and Gath produced Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4). • God lists them individually to spotlight the specific strongholds still opposing His people and to call for complete conquest. • The precision underscores that God’s promises are equally detailed; every city listed was eventually subdued under David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:1; 1 Kings 4:24). The Avvites “…as well as that of the Avvites;” (Joshua 13:3) • The Avvites were an earlier coastal people displaced by the Caphtorites/Philistines (Deuteronomy 2:23). • 2 Kings 17:30 notes their later idolatry, showing why God ordered their removal. • By naming a group largely overshadowed by Philistines, God highlights that no pocket of paganism is insignificant; holiness tolerates no lingering compromise. • Their mention encourages Israel—and today’s believer—to address even the “small” areas left unconquered in life and land. summary Joshua 13:3 draws a literal map of territory still to be possessed—from Egypt’s Shihor up to Ekron—emphasizing God’s exact borders, Israel’s unfinished task, and the certainty that every promise will be fulfilled. Naming each Philistine city and the Avvites shows God’s comprehensive concern for purity and obedience: partial victories are not enough. The verse calls God’s people to trust His faithfulness, confront every stronghold, and press on until the whole inheritance is theirs. |
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