Joshua 18
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1The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The land was subdued before them. 2Seven tribes remained among the children of Israel, which had not yet divided their inheritance. 3Joshua said to the children of Israel, “How long will you neglect to go in to possess the land, which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you? 4Appoint for yourselves three men from each tribe. I will send them, and they shall arise, walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come to me. 5They shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall live in his borders on the south, and the house of Joseph shall live in their borders on the north. 6You shall survey the land into seven parts, and bring the description here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God. 7However, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of Yahweh is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance east of the Jordan, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them.” 8The men arose and went. Joshua commanded those who went to survey the land, saying, “Go walk through the land, survey it, and come again to me. I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh in Shiloh.” 9The men went and passed through the land, and surveyed it by cities into seven portions in a book. They came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh. 10Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Yahweh. There Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions. 11The lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families. The border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph. 12Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward. It ended at the wilderness of Beth Aven. 13The border passed along from there to Luz, to the side of Luz (also called Bethel), southward. The border went down to Ataroth Addar, by the mountain that lies on the south of Beth Horon the lower. 14The border extended, and turned around on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon southward; and ended at Kiriath Baal (also called Kiriath Jearim), a city of the children of Judah. This was the west quarter. 15The south quarter was from the farthest part of Kiriath Jearim. The border went out westward, and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16The border went down to the farthest part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim northward. It went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En Rogel. 17It extended northward, went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim. It went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 18It passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah. 19The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the south border. 20The Jordan was its border on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders around it, according to their families. 21Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 22Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24Chephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages. 25Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, 27Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28Zelah, Eleph, the Jebusite (also called Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
World English Bible (public domain)
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
Joshua 18:18
Summary
In Joshua chapter 18, the Israelites gather at Shiloh, where the tabernacle is established, and the land has been divided among the tribes. However, seven tribes had yet to receive their inheritance, prompting a call for action to claim their portions. Joshua encourages these tribes to appoint men to explore the unassigned land and outline areas suitable for their inheritance. After surveying the land, the men report back, and Joshua casts lots to determine the final boundaries for each tribe, demonstrating God's sovereign provision in dividing the land among His people. This chapter emphasizes the importance of taking possession of God’s promises and the necessity of active participation in the fulfillment of God’s plans.
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Chapter outline
How Joshua 18 unfolds
Joshua 18:1–2 Gathering at Shiloh
The Israelites assemble at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting, indicating a central place for worship among them.
Joshua 18:3–4 Call to Action for Inheritance
Joshua prompts the seven tribes to actively seek their land inheritance that Yahweh has promised them, emphasizing the need for initiative.
Joshua 18:5–7 Instructions for Land Division
Joshua instructs the tribes to appoint men to survey the land and outlines how the division will occur, excluding the Levites.
Joshua 18:8–10 Surveying the Land
The appointed men survey the territory and report back to Joshua, who casts lots in Shiloh to determine their inheritances.
Joshua 18:11–20 Inheritance of Benjamin
The chapter details the specific borders and cities assigned to the tribe of Benjamin, illustrating the land's division.
Joshua 18:21–28 Cities of Benjamin Listed
A comprehensive list of cities belonging to the tribe of Benjamin is provided, including notable locations and villages.
Key verses
Joshua 18:18Joshua 18:18 emphasizes God's role in decision-making, underscoring the sovereignty that governs the land's division.
Main themes in Joshua 18
God's sovereignty
God's sovereignty is evident in Joshua 18 when he casts lots to allocate land among the tribes, specifically noted in verse 6. This practice serves as a visible reminder that the distribution of the Promised Land is not left to chance but is guided by divine authority. The chapter emphasizes that God's will is paramount in determining the future of Israel, reinforcing His control over their inheritance.
faith and action
The call for the tribes to appoint men to survey the land reflects the theme of faith and action in Joshua 18. The tribes must take initiative to claim their inheritance, illustrating that faith often requires active participation. This theme emphasizes that God's promises necessitate a response from His people.
community and shared responsibility
The gathering of the tribes at Shiloh, as mentioned in verse 1, highlights the theme of community and shared responsibility. The tribes are called to collaborate in surveying and dividing the land, which not only fosters a sense of unity but also reflects their collective commitment to God's directive. This cooperative effort illustrates that the fulfillment of God's plans requires active participation from the community as a whole.
inheritance and promise
In Joshua 18, the theme of inheritance and promise is central, particularly in the allocation of land that fulfills God's covenant with Israel, as shown in verse 10. The detailed boundaries and cities designated for the tribe of Benjamin underscore the significance of this promise in shaping Israel's identity and future. This emphasis on land as a tangible gift highlights how God's faithfulness to His covenant is realized through the inheritance granted to His people.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Joshua 18
- Joshua 15This passage connects as it outlines the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, establishing a context for the divisions in Joshua 18.
- Joshua 16Joshua 16 develops the themes of territorial allotment and tribal inheritance, providing a background for the subsequent allocations.
- Joshua 19This echoes the ongoing distribution of land among the tribes, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promises across multiple chapters.
- 1 Samuel 1This connects as it shows the significance of land and inheritance in the life of Israel, influencing later narratives.
- Joshua 21This passage develops the theme of Levite cities, paralleling the inheritance distribution in Joshua 18.
- 1 Samuel 13This connects through the historical context of land ownership and tribal identity, influencing Israel's leadership dynamics.
Study questions
Questions for studying Joshua 18
- What significance does Shiloh hold for the Israelites in this chapter?
- How does Joshua's leadership influence the tribes' actions regarding their inheritance?
- What role do the lots play in dividing the land among the tribes?
- Which cities are mentioned as part of Benjamin's inheritance, and why are they important?
- How does the exclusion of the Levites from land inheritance affect the narrative?
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