1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
4 Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.
5 And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.
6 Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
7 But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
8 And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh.
9 And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.
11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
12 And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.
13 And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.
14 And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
15 And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:
16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,
17 And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,
18 And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:
19 And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.
20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
22 And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
23 And Avim, and Pharah, and Ophrah,
24 And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:
25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26 And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27 And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28 And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
1 And the whole congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 assembled together H6950 at Shiloh, H7887 and set up H7931 the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 there. And the land H776 was subdued H3533 before H6440 them.
2 And there remained H3498 among the children H1121 of Israel H3478 seven H7651 tribes, H7626 which had not yet received H2505 their inheritance. H5159
3 And Joshua H3091 said H559 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 How long are ye slack H7503 to go H935 to possess H3423 the land, H776 which the LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers H1 hath given H5414 you?
4 Give out H3051 from among you three H7969 men H582 for each tribe: H7626 and I will send H7971 them, and they shall rise, H6965 and go H1980 through the land, H776 and describe H3789 it according H6310 to the inheritance H5159 of them; and they shall come H935 again to me.
5 And they shall divide H2505 it into seven H7651 parts: H2506 Judah H3063 shall abide H5975 in their coast H1366 on the south, H5045 and the house H1004 of Joseph H3130 shall abide H5975 in their coasts H1366 on the north. H6828
6 Ye shall therefore describe H3789 the land H776 into seven H7651 parts, H2506 and bring H935 the description hither to me, that I may cast H3384 lots H1486 for you here before H6440 the LORD H3068 our God. H430
7 But the Levites H3881 have no part H2506 among H7130 you; for the priesthood H3550 of the LORD H3068 is their inheritance: H5159 and Gad, H1410 and Reuben, H7205 and half H2677 the tribe H7626 of Manasseh, H4519 have received H3947 their inheritance H5159 beyond H5676 Jordan H3383 on the east, H4217 which Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 gave H5414 them.
8 And the men H582 arose, H6965 and went away: H3212 and Joshua H3091 charged H6680 them that went H1980 to describe H3789 the land, H776 saying, H559 Go H3212 and walk H1980 through the land, H776 and describe H3789 it, and come again H7725 to me, that I may here cast H7993 lots H1486 for you before H6440 the LORD H3068 in Shiloh. H7887
9 And the men H582 went H3212 and passed through H5674 the land, H776 and described H3789 it by cities H5892 into seven H7651 parts H2506 in a book, H5612 and came H935 again to Joshua H3091 to the host H4264 at Shiloh. H7887
10 And Joshua H3091 cast H7993 lots H1486 for them in Shiloh H7887 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 and there Joshua H3091 divided H2505 the land H776 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 according to their divisions. H4256
11 And the lot H1486 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 came up H5927 according to their families: H4940 and the coast H1366 of their lot H1486 came forth H3318 between the children H1121 of Judah H3063 and the children H1121 of Joseph. H3130
12 And their border H1366 on the north H6828 side H6285 was from Jordan; H3383 and the border H1366 went up H5927 to the side H3802 of Jericho H3405 on the north H6828 side, and went up H5927 through the mountains H2022 westward; H3220 and the goings out H8444 thereof were at the wilderness H4057 of Bethaven. H1007
13 And the border H1366 went over H5674 from thence toward Luz, H3870 to the side H3802 of Luz, H3870 which is Bethel, H1008 southward; H5045 and the border H1366 descended H3381 to Atarothadar, H5853 near the hill H2022 that lieth on the south side H5045 of the nether H8481 Bethhoron. H1032
14 And the border H1366 was drawn H8388 thence, and compassed H5437 the corner H6285 of the sea H3220 southward, H5045 from the hill H2022 that lieth before H6440 Bethhoron H1032 southward; H5045 and the goings out H8444 thereof were at Kirjathbaal, H7154 which is Kirjathjearim, H7157 a city H5892 of the children H1121 of Judah: H3063 this was the west H3220 quarter. H6285
15 And the south H5045 quarter H6285 was from the end H7097 of Kirjathjearim, H7157 and the border H1366 went out H3318 on the west, H3220 and went out H3318 to the well H4599 of waters H4325 of Nephtoah: H5318
16 And the border H1366 came down H3381 to the end H7097 of the mountain H2022 that lieth before H6440 the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 and which is in the valley H6010 of the giants H7497 on the north, H6828 and descended H3381 to the valley H1516 of Hinnom, H2011 to the side H3802 of Jebusi H2983 on the south, H5045 and descended H3381 to Enrogel, H5883
17 And was drawn H8388 from the north, H6828 and went forth H3318 to Enshemesh, H5885 and went forth H3318 toward Geliloth, H1553 which is over against H5227 the going up H4608 of Adummim, H131 and descended H3381 to the stone H68 of Bohan H932 the son H1121 of Reuben, H7205
18 And passed along H5674 toward the side H3802 over against H4136 Arabah H6160 northward, H6828 and went down H3381 unto Arabah: H6160
19 And the border H1366 passed along H5674 to the side H3802 of Bethhoglah H1031 northward: H6828 and the outgoings H8444 of the border H1366 were at the north H6828 bay H3956 of the salt H4417 sea H3220 at the south H5045 end H7097 of Jordan: H3383 this was the south H5045 coast. H1366
20 And Jordan H3383 was the border H1379 of it on the east H6924 side. H6285 This was the inheritance H5159 of the children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144 by the coasts H1367 thereof round about, H5439 according to their families. H4940
21 Now the cities H5892 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 according to their families H4940 were Jericho, H3405 and Bethhoglah, H1031 and the valley H6010 of Keziz, H7104
22 And Betharabah, H1026 and Zemaraim, H6787 and Bethel, H1008
23 And Avim, H5761 and Parah, H6511 and Ophrah, H6084
24 And Chepharhaammonai, H3726 and Ophni, H6078 and Gaba; H1387 twelve H8147 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
25 Gibeon, H1391 and Ramah, H7414 and Beeroth, H881
26 And Mizpeh, H4708 and Chephirah, H3716 and Mozah, H4681
27 And Rekem, H7552 and Irpeel, H3416 and Taralah, H8634
28 And Zelah, H6762 Eleph, H507 and Jebusi, H2983 which is Jerusalem, H3389 Gibeath, H1394 and Kirjath; H7157 fourteen H702 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages. H2691 This is the inheritance H5159 of the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 according to their families. H4940
1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there: and the land was subdued before them.
2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet divided their inheritance.
3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah, the God of your fathers, hath given you?
4 Appoint for you three men of each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come unto me.
5 And they shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.
6 And ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring `the description' hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah our God.
7 For the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of Jehovah is their inheritance: and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave them.
8 And the men arose, and went: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah in Shiloh.
9 And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven portions in a book; and they came to Joshua unto the camp at Shiloh.
10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Jehovah: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.
11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
12 And their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
13 And the border passed along from thence to Luz, to the side of Luz (the same is Beth-el), southward; and the border went down to Ataroth-addar, by the mountain that lieth on the south of Beth-horon the nether.
14 And the border extended `thence', and turned about on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lieth before Beth-horon southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kiriath-baal (the same is Kiriath-jearim), a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
15 And the south quarter was from the uttermost part of Kiriath-jearim; and the border went out westward, and went out to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah;
16 and the border went down to the uttermost part of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the vale of Rephaim northward; and it went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En-rogel;
17 and it extended northward, and went out at En-shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim; and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben;
18 and it passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down unto the Arabah;
19 and the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward; and the goings out of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this was the south border.
20 And the Jordan was the border of it on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders thereof round about, according to their families.
21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and Emek-keziz,
22 and Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el,
23 and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24 and Chephar-ammoni, and Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages:
25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26 and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27 and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28 and Zelah, Eleph, and the Jebusite (the same is Jerusalem), Gibeath, `and' Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
1 And all the company of the sons of Israel are assembled `at' Shiloh, and they cause the tent of meeting to tabernacle there, and the land hath been subdued before them.
2 And there are left among the sons of Israel who have not shared their inheritance, seven tribes,
3 and Joshua saith unto the sons of Israel, `Till when are ye remiss to go in to possess the land which He hath given to you, Jehovah, God of your fathers?
4 Give for you three men for a tribe, and I send them, and they rise and go up and down through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance, and come in unto me,
5 and they have divided it into seven portions -- Judah doth stay by its border on the south, and the house of Joseph do stay by their border on the north --
6 and ye describe the land `in' seven portions, and have brought `it' in unto me hither, and I have cast for you a lot here before Jehovah our God;
7 for there is no portion to the Levites in your midst, for the priesthood of Jehovah `is' their inheritance, and Gad, and Reuben, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses servant of Jehovah gave to them.'
8 And the men rise and go; and Joshua commandeth those who are going to describe the land, saying, `Go, and walk up and down through the land, and describe it, and turn back unto me, and here I cast for you a lot before Jehovah in Shiloh.'
9 And the men go, and pass over through the land, and describe it by cities, in seven portions, on a book, and they come in unto Joshua, unto the camp, `at' Shiloh.
10 And Joshua casteth for them a lot in Shiloh before Jehovah, and there Joshua apportioneth the land to the sons of Israel, according to their divisions.
11 And a lot goeth up `for' the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, for their families; and the border of their lot goeth out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.
12 And the border is to them at the north side from the Jordan, and the border hath gone up unto the side of Jericho on the north, and gone up through the hill-country westward, and its outgoings have been at the wilderness of Beth-Aven;
13 and the border hath gone over thence to Luz, unto the side of Luz (it `is' Beth-El) southward, and the border hath gone down `to' Atroth-Addar, by the hill that `is' on the south of the lower Beth-Horon;
14 and the border hath been marked out, and hath gone round to the corner of the sea southward, from the hill which `is' at the front of Beth-Horon southward, and its outgoings have been unto Kirjath-Baal (it `is' Kirjath-Jearim), a city of the sons of Judah: this `is' the west quarter.
15 And the south quarter `is' from the end of Kirjath-Jearim, and the border hath gone out westward, and gone out unto the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah;
16 and the border hath come down unto the extremity of the hill which `is' on the front of the valley of the son of Hinnom, which `is' in the valley of the Rephaim northward, and hath gone down the valley of Hinnom unto the side of Jebusi southward, and gone down `to' En-Rogel,
17 and hath been marked out on the north, and gone out to En-Shemesh, and gone out unto Geliloth, which `is' over-against the ascent of Adummim, and gone down `to' the stone of Bohan son of Reuben,
18 and passed over unto the side over-against Arabah northward, and gone down to Arabah;
19 and the border hath passed over unto the side of Beth-Hoglah northward, and the outgoings of the border have been unto the north bay of the salt sea, unto the south extremity of the Jordan; this `is' the south border;
20 and the Jordan doth border it at the east quarter; this `is' the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, by its borders round about, for their families.
21 And the cities for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, for their families, have been Jericho, and Beth-Hoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
22 and Beth-Arabah, Zemaraim, and Beth-El,
23 and Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24 and Chephar-Haammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities and their villages.
25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26 and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27 and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28 and Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi (it `is' Jerusalem), Gibeath, Kirjath: fourteen cities and their villages. This `is' the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, for their families.
1 And the whole assembly of the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.
2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not been distributed to them.
3 And Joshua said to the children of Israel, How long will ye shew yourselves slack to go to take possession of the land which Jehovah the God of your fathers hath given you?
4 Provide you three men for a tribe; that I may send them, and they shall rise and go through the land, and describe it according to the proportion of their inheritance, and they shall come to me.
5 And they shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall remain in their border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their border on the north;
6 and *ye* shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring [the description] hither to me, and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah our God.
7 But the Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of Jehovah is their inheritance. And Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave them.
8 And the men arose and went away. And Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah in Shiloh.
9 And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven portions, in a book, and they came to Joshua, to the camp at Shiloh.
10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Jehovah. And there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.
11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families. And the territory of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
12 And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up to the mountain westward; and ended at the wilderness of Beth-Aven;
13 and the border passed on from thence toward Luz, to the south side of Luz, which is Bethel: and the border went down to Ataroth-Addar, near the hill that is on the south of the lower Beth-horon.
14 -- And the border reached along and turned on the west side, southward from the hill that is before Beth-horon southward; and ended at Kirjath-Baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, a city of the children of Judah: this is the west side.
15 -- And the south side was from the extreme end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.
16 And the border went down to the end of the mountain that is before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim on the north, and went down the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite on the south, and went down to En-rogel;
17 and it reached along on the north, and went forth to En-shemesh, and went forth towards Geliloth, which is opposite to the ascent of Adummim, and went down to the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben,
18 and passed along towards the side opposite to Arabah northwards, and went down to Arabah;
19 and the border passed on to the side of Beth-hoglah on the north, and the border ended at the tongue of the salt sea northward, at the south end of the Jordan: this is the southern border.
20 -- And the Jordan borders it on the east side. -- This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, according to its borders round about, according to their families.
21 And the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were: Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and Emek-Keziz,
22 and Beth-Arabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
23 and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24 and Chephar-haammonai, and Ophni, and Geba: twelve cities and their hamlets;
25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26 and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27 and Rekem, and Jirpeel, and Tharalah,
28 and Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, that is, Jerusalem, Gibeah, Kirjath: fourteen cities and their hamlets. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
1 The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there: and the land was subdued before them.
2 There remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet divided their inheritance.
3 Joshua said to the children of Israel, How long are you slack to go in to possess the land, which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you?
4 Appoint for you three men of each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come to me.
5 They shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.
6 You shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring [the description] here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God.
7 For the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of Yahweh is their inheritance: and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them.
8 The men arose, and went: and Joshua charged those who went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh in Shiloh.
9 The men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven portions in a book; and they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.
10 Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Yahweh: and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.
11 The lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
12 Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out of it were at the wilderness of Beth Aven.
13 The border passed along from there to Luz, to the side of Luz (the same is Bethel), southward; and the border went down to Ataroth Addar, by the mountain that lies on the south of Beth Horon the lower.
14 The border extended [there], and turned about on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon southward; and the goings out of it were at Kiriath Baal (the same is Kiriath Jearim), a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
15 The south quarter was from the uttermost part of Kiriath Jearim; and the border went out westward, and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah;
16 and the border went down to the uttermost part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim northward; and it went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En Rogel;
17 and it extended northward, and went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim; and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben;
18 and it passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah;
19 and the border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the goings out of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this was the south border.
20 The Jordan was the border of it on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders of it round about, according to their families.
21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth Hoglah, and Emek Keziz,
22 and Beth Arabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
23 and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24 and Chephar Ammoni, and Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages:
25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26 and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27 and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28 and Zelah, Eleph, and the Jebusite (the same is Jerusalem), Gibeath, [and] Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
1 And all the meeting of the children of Israel came together at Shiloh and put up the Tent of meeting there: and the land was crushed before them.
2 But there were still seven tribes among the children of Israel who had not taken up their heritage.
3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel, Why are you so slow to go in and take up your heritage in the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?
4 Take from among you three men from every tribe; and I will send them to go through the land and make a record of it for distribution as their heritage; then let them come back to me.
5 And let them make division of it into seven parts: let Judah keep inside his limit on the south, and let the children of Joseph keep inside their limit on the north.
6 And you are to have the land marked out in seven parts, and come back to me with the record; and I will make the distribution for you here by the decision of the Lord our God.
7 For the Levites have no part among you; to be the Lord's priests is their heritage; and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have had their heritage on the east side of Jordan, given to them by Moses, the servant of the Lord.
8 So the men got up and went; and Joshua gave orders to those who went, to make a record of the land, saying, Go up and down through the land, and make a record of it and come back here to me, and I will make the distribution for you here by the decision of the Lord in Shiloh.
9 So the men went, travelling through the land, and made a record of it by towns in seven parts in a book, and came back to Joshua to the tent-circle at Shiloh.
10 And Joshua made the distribution for them in Shiloh by the decision of the Lord, marking out the land for the children of Israel by their divisions.
11 And the first heritage came out for the tribe of Benjamin by their families: and the limit of their heritage went between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
12 And their limit on the north was from the Jordan, and the line goes up to the side of Jericho on the north and through the hill-country to the west, ending at the waste land of Beth-aven.
13 And from there the line goes south to Luz, to the side of Luz (which is Beth-el), then down to Ataroth-addar, by the mountain to the south of Beth-horon the lower.
14 And the limit is marked as coming round to the south on the west side from the mountain which is south of Beth-horon, and ending at Kiriath-baal (which is Kiriath-jearim), a town of the children of Judah: this is the west part.
15 And the south part is from the farthest point of Kiriath-jearim, and the line goes out to the west to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah:
16 And the line goes down to the farthest part of the mountain facing the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is on the north of the valley of Rephaim: from there it goes down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite on the south as far as En-rogel;
17 And it goes to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth, opposite the way up to Adummim, and it goes down to the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben;
18 And it goes on to the side facing the Arabah to the north, and down to the Arabah;
19 And on to the north side of Beth-hoglah, ending at the north inlet of the Salt Sea at the south end of Jordan; this is their limit on the south.
20 And the limit of the east part is the Jordan. This is the heritage of the children of Benjamin, marked out for their families by these limits on all sides.
21 And the towns of the children of Benjamin, given to them in the order of their families, are Jericho and Beth-hoglah and Emek-kezziz
22 And Beth-arabah and Zemaraim and Beth-el
23 And Avvim and Parah and Ophrah
24 And Chephar-Ammoni and Ophni and Geba; twelve towns with their unwalled places;
25 Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth
26 And Mizpeh and Chephirah and Mozah
27 And Rekem and Irpeel and Taralah
28 And Zela, Eleph and the Jebusite (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath and Kiriath; fourteen towns with their unwalled places. This is the heritage of the children of Benjamin by their families.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on Joshua 18
Commentary on Joshua 18 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 18
This chapter informs us of the setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh, Joshua 18:1; of the notice Joshua took, that seven tribes had not received their inheritance, Joshua 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, Joshua 18:3; and then he cast lots for them, and the first lot came up for Benjamin, Joshua 18:10; the borders of whose lots are described, Joshua 18:12; and the several cities in it enumerated, Joshua 18:21.
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh,.... The whole body of the people, men, women, and children, as well as the camp, Joshua 18:9; at least all that had not received their inheritances in the land. Hither they came from Gilgal, where the camp and tabernacle had been ever since their passage over Jordan; but now the land being in the main subdued, that was too far off both for the camp and tabernacle, and therefore they moved further into the land, and nearer Jerusalem, where in time the tabernacle was to be placed. The place they assembled at, Shiloh, was in the tribe of Ephraim, of which tribe Joshua was, and whose lot and inheritance was now fixed, and it was not far from Jerusalem, about two leagues. Jerom saysF21De loc. Heb. fol. 94. I. it was ten miles from, Neapolis or Shechem, in the country of Acrabatena; and that there were scarce any ruins of it to be seen in his day, only an altar demolished was shownF23Comment. in Soph. c. 1. fol. 94. I. Epitaph. Paul. fol. 59. L. . It seems to have its name from the peaceable condition the land was now in, and very likely was now given it on that account:
and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there; no doubt by the appointment and direction of God, signified to Eleazar the high priest, either by a voice, or by Urim and Thummim; and the removal of it seemed necessary, partly that because several camps which surrounded it were now broken up and settled in their cities, as Reuben, Judah, and Ephraim; and partly that it might be near where Joshua, the governor of Israel, resided, Ephraim being his tribe; and also since Gilgal, on the borders of the land, was too far off for the people to resort to the tabernacle, and therefore it was, proper it should be more in the heart of the country: when this was done, cannot certainly be determined; Kimchi says it was fourteen years after the Israelites came into the land of Canaan; and so saysF24Seder Olam Rabba, c. 11. p. 32. their chronology; but it is highly probable it was before that time, and not longer than seven or eight years at most; here the tabernacle continued, according to the Jewish writersF25 , three hundred sixty nine years, even unto the times of Samuel, when for the sins of the sons of Eli it was removed. EupolemusF26Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30. p. 447. , an Heathen writer, speaks of the holy temple being fixed at Shiloh by Joshua:
and the land was subdued before them: the far greater part of it, and all so as to have no disturbance from, or war with, the inhabitants.
And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes,.... Which were those of Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan:
which had not yet received their inheritance; and for which the lots were not cast.
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel,.... To those of the seven tribes:
how long are you slack to go to possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you? not that they might have taken possession of it of themselves, without having it assigned to them by lot; that they did not do this, is not what is complained of, and they stand reproved for; but that when two tribes and a half had received their inheritance, these seemed indifferent to it, showed no inclination and disposition towards it, and much less eagerness to have a settlement, and did not apply to the court for it; which dilatoriness might arise from the present affluence of all good things they enjoyed through the spoils of the enemy; and partly through slothfulness, being tired of the war, and perceiving that they must be involved in it again to dispossess the Canaanites of some of the cities that would fall to their lot; and, perhaps, their slackness might be the more increased, by observing the dissatisfaction of the tribes with the lot they had received, and therefore waited till things were adjusted to greater satisfaction.
Give out from among you three men for each tribe,.... That is, for each of the seven tribes, in all twenty one; though some think they were to be taken out of all the nine tribes and a half, and were thirty six; and so JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 21. seems to understand it; but then he makes but one out of each tribe to be sent, and but ten in all, which is a great oversight in that historian:
and I will send them; Joshua would not take upon him to name the persons, but left it to their own choice for their greater satisfaction; but when chosen and presented to him, he would give them a commission and directions what to do:
and they shall rise; gird themselves, and prepare for their journey, and set out:
and go through the land; of Canaan; not the whole of it, but that part which as yet was not disposed of; though some think they were to go through and describe the whole land; but I see no reason for that, for what was described was to be divided into seven parts only, and what belonged already to Judah and Joseph, seem plainly to be excepted in Joshua 18:5,
and describe it according to the inheritance of them; take the dimensions of it, and divide it into seven parts, according to the number of the tribes that had not received their inheritance. Jarchi thinks this description and division were not to be made equally, but according to the largeness and smallness of the tribes; but this could not be done by the measurers, since the inheritance of each depended on the lot that was afterward to be cast, which by this means would have been rendered needless:
and they shall come again to me; which seems to be not only a precept or instruction to them, that when they had done their business, they should come to Joshua and give him an account of it; but an assurance also of their safety, that they should receive no disturbance nor hurt from the remaining Canaanites, but should return safe and well.
And they shall divide it into seven parts,.... According to the number of the seven tribes not yet settled; and this they were to describe and divide was all the land subdued, or not subdued, only the following excepted:
Judah shall abide in their coast on the south; on the south of the land of Canaan, where their lot fell, so that needed not to be measured and described; and this tribe was to retain what they were possessed of, unless it should appear they had too much, and others wanted, and they willing to part with some of it to their brethren, as they afterwards did to the tribes of Simeon and Dan:
and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coast on the north; on the north of the tribe of Judah; not of the land of Canaan, for some other tribes lay more northerly.
Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts,.... Or ye shall describe the land, even the seven parts of it when divided; it seems as if they were first to describe in general all the land not disposed of, and then divide it into seven parts, and make a particular description of each part, or form a plan, or draw a map of every part:
and bring the description hither to me; not by word of mouth, but as written in a book, or marked out in a map, and laid before him, see Joshua 18:9,
that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord your God; in Shiloh, at the door of the tabernacle, and so before the Lord who dwelt in it, at whose disposal the lot was, and by which everyone of the seven tribes would have their part and portion assigned them most fitting and convenient for them, according to the will and counsel of God, in which it became them to acquiesce.
But the Levites have no part among you,.... And so needed not to send any men out of their tribe to measure the land on their account, and is a reason why the remaining part of the land was to be divided into seven parts only:
for the priesthood of the Lord is his inheritance; not only the office, but what appertained to it, all the perquisites of it, the tithes, firstfruits, parts of the sacrifices, &c. see Joshua 13:14,
and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them; and so had no share in the division of the land of Canaan, being sufficiently provided for.
And the men arose, and went away,.... The seven tribes took the advice of Joshua, chose three men out of each tribe, and presented them to him, who gave them their commission and instruction to go and describe the land of Canaan, not yet disposed of, and whether subdued, or not subdued; upon which they prepared for their journey, and took it, after he had given them the following charge:
and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land; before they departed from him:
saying, go and walk through the land; and take particular notice, and an exact survey of it, both of the quality and the quantity of it:
and describe it; its cities and towns, hills and dales, the goodness and badness of the soil, and put it down in a book, or lay it out in a map, that it may be discerned by the eye what number of cities, and what space of ground it contains, and what parts are hilly and woody, and what otherwise:
and come again to me; to make a report of it:
that I may cast lots for you before the Lord in Shiloh; that is, for the several tribes which they belonged to, and by whom they were chosen for this purpose.
And the men went and passed through the land,.... Undisturbed by the inhabitants that remained; the fear of the Israelites being still upon them, and the providence of God restraining them, so that the men passed through the whole country, and took a survey of it without any molestation:
and described it by cities, into seven parts, in a book; or map, or rather made seven maps of it, and set down the several cities in each division, with the places adjacent, hills and vales, and marked out a plain and exact chorography of the whole, by which it appears they must be men well skilled in geometry. JosephusF2Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 21. says, that Joshua added to them some that understood geometry; but doubtless the persons each tribe chose and sent were such whom they knew were well versed in that art, and so fit for the business; and which they had, no doubt, learned in Egypt, this being one part of the wisdom and learning of the Egyptians; who boasted of it as an invention of theirs, as Diodorus SiculusF3Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 63. relates; and indeed they were obliged to study it, their country being divided into several homes, and these into lesser districts, and which also were subdivided, and according thereunto were the king's taxes levied upon them; and what with the confusion frequently made by the overflowings of the Nile, they were frequently obliged to measure their land over again; and hence they became expert in this science, which is commonly believed took its rise from them, and passed into Greece, as HerodotusF4Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 109. , and StraboF5Geograph. l. 17. p. 541,542. Vid. Suidam in voce γεωμετρια. , and other authors relate; however, it is certain from this instance in the time of Joshua, that geometry was not the invention of Anaximander, about five hundred years before Christ, as some have assertedF6Vid. Strabo. Geograph. l. 1. p. 5. Lar. l. 2. Vit. Anaximan I. :
and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh; where the camp, as well as the people in common, and the tabernacle, were; they returned, as JosephusF7Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 21.) says, at the end of seven months; and to measure so much land, and make such divisions of it, and give the plans and maps of each division, must take up a considerable time.
And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord,.... For the seven tribes, as he had for the two tribes and a half at Gilgal; of the manner of casting lots; see Gill on Numbers 26:55,
and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their division: the land that was divided into seven parts, he distributed to the seven tribes, as the lot came up for them, and then divided these several parts according to the families and households in each tribe.
And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families,.... This was the first lot of the seven that came up; it was but a small lot, and therefore called "little Benjamin", Psalm 68:27; but the land was very pleasant and fruitful. JosephusF8Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22. says, this lot was very strait, because of the goodness of the soil, for it took in Jericho, and the city of Jerusalem:
and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph; having Judah on the south, and Joseph on the north; this was so ordered by the providence of God, that Benjamin should lie close to Joseph, being own brothers, and the only children of Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife; and that it should be next to Judah, with whom it was to unite, both in religious and civil affairs, and both met in and had a part of Jerusalem, the metropolis of Israel; and this lot fell exactly according to the prediction of Moses, and the order of it, who places Benjamin between Judah and Joseph, the tribe of Levi having no share in the division of the land, Deuteronomy 33:7.
And their border on the north side was from Jordan,.... Which was the eastern boundary of the tribe, and hence proceeded from east to west, and formed its northern border, which is described in like manner as the lot of the children of Joseph, Joshua 16:1,
and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side; from Jordan it went to the north of Jericho, and so took in that place, which was within the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:21,
and went up through the mountains westward; the mountains that were on the north of Jericho; for, as Strabo saysF9Geograph. l. 16. p. 525. , Jericho was surrounded with mountains, see Joshua 2:16; through these mountains the coast went on towards the western border of the tribe:
and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven: a place near Bethel and Ai, to which there was a wilderness adjoining, see Joshua 7:2; here ended the northern border.
And the border went over from thence towards Luz,.... From Bethaven, where the northern border ended, the western began, and went on to Luz:
to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; that is, passed along, leaving that city to the south, which formerly was called Luz, but now Bethel, which though distinct places formerly, yet being very near, might in process of time be joined; See Gill on Joshua 16:2,
and the border descended to Atarothadar, the same with Archiataroth; see Gill on Joshua 16:2, and See Gill on Joshua 16:5,
near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron; so called to distinguish it from Bethhoron the upper, situated on an hill or mountain, Joshua 16:5; this was rebuilt by Solomon, 1 Kings 9:17.
And the border was drawn thence,.... From Bethhoron:
and compassed the corner of the sea southward; it is hard to say what sea is meant, or what by it. FullerF11Pisgah Sight, B. 2. c. 12. p. 251. conjectures, that as the Hebrews call any confluence of water a sea, as we call such a "mere", the great waters in Gibeon may be meant, Jeremiah 41:12; for it cannot mean the Mediterranean sea, for Dan lay between Benjamin and that; and yet if a sea is meant, no other can be; wherefore it is best to render it the "west quarter", as it is in the latter part of this verse; and so the same word is translated, Joshua 18:12; the "west", and not the "sea", as it sometimes is; for the border of Benjamin did not reach the sea any where; though JosephusF12Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22.) makes it to extend to it, and says, that the length of it was from the river Jordan to the sea:
the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; the hill that lay to the south of nether Bethhoron, as in Joshua 18:13,
and the goings out thereof, the end of the western coast:
were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah; of which see Joshua 15:9,
this was the west quarter; as thus described.
And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim,.... Where the western quarter ended:
and the border went out on the west; not directly south, but somewhat westerly. It is, in the original, "the sea", and should be rendered, "from the sea", or "from the west"F13ימה "a mari", Masius; "ab occidente", Noldius, No. 1083. p. 239. ; and Jarchi confesses his ignorance, and says, I know not what sea it is; and well he might, for there was no sea here; but the Mediterranean sea, being to the west of the land of Israel, it is often used for the west in the Hebrew language, and so here:
and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah; See Gill on Joshua 15:9;
And the border came down,.... In the description of the border of Judah, hereabout, it is said to go up, Joshua 15:5; because there, as Jarchi observes, the measure was from east to west, but here from west to east:
to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom; this south border of Benjamin is the same with the north border of Judah; and the same places are mentioned in the description of the one as of the other, see Joshua 15:8. The mountain is Mount Moriah,
and which is in the valley of the giants on the north; on the north of the valley of Rephaim:
and descended to the valley of Hinnom; the border from the end of Mount Moriah to that valley:
to the side of Jebusi on the south; to the south side of Jerusalem, having that city on the south:
and descended to Enrogel; of which See Gill on Joshua 15:7.
And was drawn from the north,.... Turning northward, and looking that way from the west to the east:
and went forth to Enshemesh; or the fountain of the sun, see Joshua 15:7,
and went forth toward Geliloth; called Gilgal, Joshua 15:7,
which is over against the going up to Adummim; a place between Jerusalem and Jericho, see Joshua 15:7,
and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben; see Joshua 15:6.
And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward,.... The same with Betharabah, Joshua 15:6; and so it is called here in the Greek version:
and went down unto Arabah; the same as before, and included it, for it is mentioned among the cities of this tribe, Joshua 18:22.
And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward,.... Inclining somewhat toward the north, but not leaving the city to the north, for it is included in the lot of Benjamin, Joshua 18:21; of which place see Joshua 15:6,
and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea; here ended the southern border of Benjamin, even at the bay or creek of the salt sea, which looked northward, as the southern border of Judah began at that bay of it, which looked southward, Joshua 15:2,
at the south end of Jordan; where it fell into the salt sea:
this was the south coast; as before described.
And Jordan was the border of it on the east side,.... It had Jordan on the east, Dan on the west, Judah on the south, and Joseph or Ephraim on the north:
this was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families; this is the general description of the limits of this tribe, the particular cities in it follow.
Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin,
according to their families, were Jericho,.... Which though destroyed, and not to be rebuilt as a city, was yet a place inhabited, and in future times was rebuilt, and in great splendour, and continued to the time of Christ; of which see Joshua 2:1,
and Bethhoglah, where or near to which was the threshing floor of Atad, at which lamentation was made for Jacob; see Gill on Genesis 1:10, and See Gill on Joshua 15:6,
and the valley of Keziz; or Emekkeziz; so the Greek version calls it Amecasis: it is highly probable it was in the valley or plain of Jericho, and perhaps might have its name from the incision of the balsam tree there; which, as PlinyF14Nat. Hist. l. 12. c. 25. says, was cut with glass or a stone, or with knives made of bone; if cut with iron, it kills it.
And Betharabah,.... Of the first of these; see Gill on Joshua 15:6,
and Zemaraim; one of the sons of Canaan was named Zemira, Genesis 10:18; by whom this city Zemaraim might be built, or however have its name given it, in memory of him; there was a mountain of this name in the tribe of Ephraim, near to which this city might be, 2 Chronicles 13:4.
and Bethel; of the last of these; see Gill on Joshua 7:2.
And Avim, and Parah,.... Of the two first of these we read nowhere else:
and Ophrah is not the same with Ophrah in Judges 6:11; that belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, but rather that which was in the land of Shuah, 1 Samuel 13:17. Jerom calls this place Aphrah, in the tribe of Benjamin, and saysF15De loc. Heb. fol. 88. H. , in his time there was a village called Effrem, five miles from Bethel to the east, which very probably is the same with this.
And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni,.... Of the two first of these no mention is made elsewhere:
and Gaba is the same with Gibeah, a well known place, because of the foul fact committed there, which had like to have been the ruin of this tribe, Judges 19:14; and for being the native place of King Saul, hence called "Gibeah of Saul", 1 Samuel 11:4; it was about six or seven miles from Jerusalem; see Gill on Hosea 5:8; twelve cities with their villages; which agrees with the account of them.
Gibeon,.... Gibeon is the place from whence the Gibeonites came, who deceived Joshua, Joshua 9:3. Jerom saysF16De loc. Heb. fol. 92. A. , in his time there was a village shown of this name, four miles from Bethel to the east, near Ramah, next mentioned:
and Ramah, which Jerom relatesF17Ibid. fol. 94. B. was six miles from Aelia or Jerusalem to the north, against Bethel. Rauwolff, a traveller in those parts, saysF18Travels, par. 3. c. 1. p. 215. Ed. Ray. , that the town of Rama is situated on an ascent, in plain fields, which extend themselves for two leagues to the hill of the city of Jerusalem; these fields are very fruitful and well tilled, and sown with corn, cotton, and Indian millet; the town is pretty large, but very open, like unto a village, very pitifully built, where one may still see here and there some signs of old buildings:
and Beeroth was a city that belonged to the Gibeonites, Joshua 9:17; and Jerom saysF19Vid. Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 618. , in his time was shown the village, seven miles from Aelia or Jerusalem, as you go to Neapolis or Shechem.
And Mizpeh,.... Frequent mention is made of Mizpeh in Scripture; according to FullerF20Pisgah-Sight, B. 2. c. 12. p. 209. , it was about eight miles from Gibeah; it was near Ramathon, which Josephus saysF21Antiqu. l. 8. c. 12. sect. 3. was forty furlongs from Jerusalem:
and Chephirah was one of the cities subject to Gibeon, Joshua 9:17.
and Mozah; there was a place called Motza, near to Jerusalem, where they used to go to get willows at the feast of tabernaclesF23Misn. Succah, c. 4. sect. 5. .
And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah. Of these cities there is no mention made elsewhere.
And Zelaheath,.... Zelah was the buryingplace of Saul and his family, 2 Samuel 21:14.
Eleph is nowhere else mentioned; some join it with Zelah, and make one city of it, but then the number of cities given could not be completed; both Jarchi and Kimchi say they were two cities, as doubtless they were:
and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem; of Jerusalem being called Jebusi, see Joshua 15:63; it belonged partly to the tribe of Judah, and partly to the tribe of Benjamin; Mount Zion belonged to Judah, and Moriah to Benjamin:
Gibeath was a distinct city both from Gaba and Gibeon; by its being mentioned with Jerusalem, it should seem to be near it. JeromF25De loc. Heb. fol. 92. C. speaks of Gabaatha in the tribe of Benjamin, twelve miles from Eleutheropolis, where the grave of the Prophet Habakkuk was shown:
and Kirjath signifies a city, but what city is meant is not known:
fourteen cities with their villages; and just so many are mentioned by name:
this is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families; these cities, with others perhaps not mentioned, were allotted to the tribe of Benjamin for their families to dwell in.