Reu'ben, as the eldest son of Ja'cob, was entitled to the first rank among the tribes, and to a double share in the inheritance of Ca'naan. But he had lost those privileges by committing a great sin, and by leading a life which did not do him credit. Ja'cob therefore predicted that Reu'ben's descendants would hold a place of little importance in the inheritance of the twelve tribes.
The territory allotted to Reu'ben by Mo'ses was on the east side of the Jor'dan and the Dead Sea, extending from the borders of Gad on the north to the land of Mo'ab on the south, and was about thirty miles wide. it was mountainous and well watered. Although the section lying along the Dead Sea was useless for human habitation or for pasturage, the remainder of this territory was well adapted to stock-raising, and was given to the tribe of Reu'ben because of these advantages.
Two hundred and fifty years before the occupation of Ca'naan by the Is'ra-el-ites, Ja'cob had predicted that the tribe of Le'vi would be scattered throughout all the other tribes of the nation. Then, forty years before Is'ra-el entered the Promised Land, Mo'ses had directed that the male members of this tribe should be set apart for religious services as assistants to the priests, and that no inheritance or allotment be given to them. So, in the division of Ca'naan by Josh'u-a, no allottments were made to this tribe.
Provision was made for them, however, in the appointment of forty-eight cities throughout the various tribes for their residence. While these cities were not owned by the Le'vites, nor occupied by them alone, enough houses were set aside to meet their needs. Provision was made for their support by requiring the people of all the tribes to present tithes from their products of the land and from the increase of their sheep and cattle. Thus these religious workers were distributed throughout the land of Is'ra-el, and their needs were provided for so that all the people could be served by them.
Having completed the allotments of territory for all the tribes of Is'ra-el settled west of the Jor'dan, and having confirmed the allotments made by Mo'ses east of the river, Josh'u-a solemnly warned the people that the Ca'naan-ites must be completely driven out of the territory allotted to each tribe. He then sent all the tribes to the territories to which they had been assigned, and took up residence in the special allotment which had been provided for him. He had faithfully served the interest of the Nation under Mo'ses for forty years; and for seven years he had led Is'ra-el in a continuous war in conquering much of the land of Ca'naan. He retired to a well earned and much deserved period of rest.
