Translation commentary on Joshua 13:32 - 13:33

Verse 32 is a summary statement of the division of the land east of the Jordan, and verse 33 states again the reason why the tribe of Levi was assigned no territory (see verse 14). The Hebrew text says only “The LORD the God of Israel he (is) their inheritance,” which Good News Translation has taken to mean that they were to receive a share of the offerings made to the Lord.

This is how Moses divided the land is more literally “These are the inheritances which Moses distributed” (Revised Standard Version). The entire verse may be rendered, “Moses divided among the people of Israel all the territory of Moab in the Jordan Valley east of Jericho.”

It is to be noticed that in the concluding words of verse 33, the Hebrew says “as he said to them”; the subject could be Moses (so Good News Translation, He told them) or the Lord.

A portion of verse 33 may be turned into direct discourse: “But Moses did not assign any land to the tribe of Levi. Instead he told them, ‘Your possession is to be a share of the offerings which the people of Israel give to the LORD God.’ ” Or “… he said, ‘In place of land the tribe of Levi will have as their possession a share of the offerings which the people of Israel make to the LORD God.’ ”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 13:33

13:33a

To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance: The tribe of Levi was the only tribe that did not receive land of their own.

The Hebrew text places the phrase To the tribe of Levi at the beginning of the sentence. In Hebrew this shows emphasis. In some languages it may not be natural to begin a sentence with this phrase. Use a way that is natural to emphasize that the tribe of Levi was different from the other tribes.

This verse is similar to verse 13:14.

13:33b

The LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance: The phrase their inheritance indicates that the tribe of Levi had a special relationship with Yahweh, the God of Israel. They were the only tribe that served Yahweh at his altar in the Tent of Meeting. The words here are similar to Numbers 18:20.

just as He had promised them: The clause just as He had promised them indicates that Yahweh had previously promised this privilege to the tribe of Levi. See, for example, Deuteronomy 18:1-2.

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