Joshua 14:2

2 by the lot of their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by Moshe, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.

Joshua 14:2 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 14:2

By lot [was] their inheritance
Every tribe had its part and portion assigned to it, by the casting of lots; which was done to prevent any future quarrels, animosities and strifes among the tribes, the disposition being of the Lord; and to show the exact agreement between the lot and the divine predictions by Jacob and Moses; and to make it appear that the division of the land was not owing to the private combination of the above men, and their private settlement of it; but to the providence of God, the directors of the lot; their chief business was to see that the lot was executed in a faithful manner, and that every tribe had its allotment according to it. In this Canaan was a type of the heavenly inheritance, which the saints obtain by lot, in and through Christ, the antitypical Joshua, ( Ephesians 1:11 ) ;

as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses,
( Numbers 26:55 Numbers 26:56 ) ;

for the nine tribes, and [for] the half tribe;
see ( Joshua 13:7 ) ; the reason why this number of them is particularly mentioned follows.

Joshua 14:2 In-Context

1 These are the inheritances which the children of Yisra'el took in the land of Kana`an, which El`azar the Kohen, and Yehoshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' [houses] of the tribes of the children of Yisra'el, distributed to them,

2 by the lot of their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by Moshe, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.

3 For Moshe had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Yarden: but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.

4 For the children of Yosef were two tribes, Menashsheh and Efrayim: and they gave no portion to the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with the suburbs of it for their cattle and for their substance.

5 As the LORD commanded Moshe, so the children of Yisra'el did; and they divided the land.