Joshua 18:1-10

Division of the Rest of the Land

1 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control,

2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you?

4 Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me.

5 You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.

6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the LORD our God.

7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it to them.”

8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD.”

9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.

10 Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.

Joshua 18:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 18

This chapter informs us of the setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh, Jos 18:1; of the notice Joshua took, that seven tribes had not received their inheritance, Jos 18:2; of the instructions he gave them to send three men out of each tribe, and describe the land not yet disposed of, and bring the account to him, which was accordingly done, Jos 18:3-9; and then he cast lots for them, and the first lot came up for Benjamin, Jos 18:10,11; the borders of whose lots are described, Jos 18:12-20; and the several cities in it enumerated, Jos 18:21-28.

Cross References

• 1. ver 8; Joshua 19:51; Joshua 21:2; Judges 18:31; Judges 21:12,19; 1 Samuel 1:3; 1 Samuel 3:21; 1 Samuel 4:3; 1 Kings 14:2; Psalms 78:60; Jeremiah 7:12; Jeremiah 26:6; Jeremiah 41:5
• 2. S ver 10; S Exodus 27:21; S Exodus 40:2; Acts 7:45
• 3. ver 8
• 4. Micah 2:5
• 5. Joshua 15:1
• 6. Joshua 16:1-4
• 7. S Leviticus 16:8; Joshua 14:2
• 8. S Joshua 13:33
• 9. Joshua 13:8
• 10. ver 4
• 11. S ver 1
• 12. S Numbers 34:13
• 13. S ver 1; Jeremiah 7:12
• 14. Numbers 33:54; Joshua 19:51