יהושע, פרק י״ג, פסוק א׳

After years of grueling military campaigns, the leadership of the Israelites reaches a critical turning point. The commander who led the conquest of the land is experiencing physical decline, yet the national mission is far from complete. This complex reality prompts direct divine intervention, shifting the strategy from a centralized national conquest to the distribution of tribal inheritances. Joshua's aging is understood in several ways. The primary approach among commentators explains that he was already mature when the wars began, and the passing years simply took their toll [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others distinguish between his physical appearance and his actual lifespan. One perspective suggests that visible signs of aging, such as white hair and wrinkles, can sometimes appear prematurely, making it necessary to clarify that Joshua had indeed reached an advanced chronological age [מצודת דוד]. Conversely, another view argues that while his chronological age was advanced, it was his frail physical condition and natural weakness that truly prevented him from leading further military campaigns [אברבנאל]. Taking a more critical stance, one perspective suggests that Joshua's rapid aging and approaching death were his own fault. According to this view, he deliberately delayed the continuation of the conquest, mistakenly thinking that doing so would prolong his life. Instead, the result was the opposite: ten years were subtracted from his life, and he died at the age of one hundred and ten rather than reaching the age of one hundred and twenty like Moses [חומת אנך].

Because of Joshua's declining condition, God approaches him to clarify that a vast amount of land remains to be taken. Up to this point, the Israelites had primarily conquered the central mountain region [ביאור שטיינזלץ], leaving large portions of the territory originally promised to Abraham still under foreign control [רש״י]. God's message makes it clear that in his remaining time, Joshua will not be able to complete the war against the remaining kings or conquer the rest of the land [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג].

Recognizing these limitations, God commands a strategic shift. Joshua is instructed to divide the entire land as an inheritance for the nine and a half tribes, treating the unconquered territories as if they were already firmly in their possession [רלב״ג]. This action is designed to transfer responsibility to the next generation, with God promising that He will drive out the remaining enemies after Joshua passes away. Furthermore, dividing the land at this stage ensures that each tribe will fight independently for its own specific inheritance. Splitting the military effort in this way prevents the Canaanite nations from uniting to wage a combined war against the Israelites, a tactic they had used in the past [אברבנאל].