1. Joshua 21:43 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Where did the LORD swore to give the land of Canaan to the fathers?

Joshua 21:43 (ESV)

43 Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there.

Fathers most likely refers to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Joshua 1:6; Joshua 24:3–4; Exodus 6:8 Deuteronomy 10:15).1 God made promises to them about descendants and land in the book of Genesis (Genesis 12:6–7; Genesis 13:14–15; Genesis 15:7, Genesis 15:18–21; Genesis 17:8; Genesis 17:24; Genesis 26:3–4; Genesis 28:13–14; Genesis 35:12; Genesis 48:3–4; Genesis 50:24). In terms of time, it would have been around 450-500 years since the promise of land in Canaan was first given to Abraham (see Genesis 15:13–16).