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
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
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
These are the inheritances, H5159 which Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 and the heads H7218 of the fathers H1 of the tribes H4294 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 divided for an inheritance H5157 by lot H1486 in Shiloh H7887 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150 So they made an end H3615 of dividing H2505 the country. H776
The LORD H3068 is the portion H4490 of mine inheritance H2506 and of my cup: H3563 thou maintainest H8551 my lot. H1486 The lines H2256 are fallen H5307 unto me in pleasant H5273 places; yea, I have a goodly H8231 heritage. H5159
The lot H1486 causeth contentions H4079 to cease, H7673 and parteth H6504 between the mighty. H6099
And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide H5307 it by lot for an inheritance H5159 unto you, and to the strangers H1616 that sojourn H1481 among H8432 you, which shall beget H3205 children H1121 among H8432 you: and they shall be unto you as born H249 in the country H249 among the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 they shall have H5307 inheritance H5159 with you among H8432 the tribes H7626 of Israel. H3478
And G1161 they crucified G4717 him, G846 and parted G1266 his G846 garments, G2440 casting G906 lots: G2819 that G2443 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G5259 the prophet, G4396 They parted G1266 my G3450 garments G2440 among them, G1438 and G2532 upon G1909 my G3450 vesture G2441 did they cast G906 lots. G2819
To open G455 their G846 eyes, G3788 and to turn G1994 them from G575 darkness G4655 to G1519 light, G5457 and G2532 from the power G1849 of Satan G4567 unto G1909 God, G2316 that they G846 may receive G2983 forgiveness G859 of sins, G266 and G2532 inheritance G2819 among G1722 them which are sanctified G37 by faith G4102 that is in G1519 me. G1691
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 18
Commentary on Joshua 18 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 18
Jos 18:1. The Tabernacle Set Up at Shiloh.
1. the whole congregation … assembled together at Shiloh—The main body of the Israelites had been diminished by the separation of the three tribes, Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh into their respective allotments; and the country having been in a great measure subdued, the camp was removed to Shiloh (now Seilun). It was twenty or twenty-five miles north of Jerusalem, twelve north of Beth-el, and ten south of Shechem, and embosomed in a rugged and romantic glen. This sequestered spot in the heart of the country might have been recommended by the dictates of convenience. There the allotment of the territory could be most conveniently made, north, south, east, and west, to the different tribes. But "the tabernacle of the congregation was also set up there," and its removal therefore must have been made or sanctioned by divine intimation (De 12:11). It remained in Shiloh for more than three hundred years (1Sa 4:1-11).
Jos 18:2-9. The Remainder of the Land Described.
2. there remained … seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance—The selection of Shiloh for the seat of worship, together with the consequent removal of the camp thither, had necessarily interrupted the casting of lots, which was commenced by fixing localities for the tribes of Judah and Joseph. Various causes led to a long delay in resuming it. The satisfaction of the people with their change to so pleasant and fertile a district, their preference of a nomad life, a love of ease, and reluctance to renew the war, seem to have made them indifferent to the possession of a settled inheritance. But Joshua was too much alive to the duty laid on him by the Lord to let matters continue in that state; and accordingly, since a general conquest of the land had been made, he resolved to proceed immediately with the lot, believing that when each tribe should receive its inheritance, a new motive would arise to lead them to exert themselves in securing the full possession.
3. How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you—This reproof conveys an impression that the seven tribes were dilatory to a criminal extent.
4-9. Give out from among you three men for each tribe—Though the lot determined the part of the country where each tribe was to be located, it could not determine the extent of territory which might be required; and the dissatisfaction of the children of Joseph with the alleged smallness of their possession gave reason to fear that complaints might arise from other quarters, unless precautions were taken to make a proper distribution of the land. For this purpose a commission was given to twenty-one persons—three chosen from each of the seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance, to make an accurate survey of the country.
9. The men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book—dividing the land according to its value, and the worth of the cities which it contained, into seven equal portions. This was no light task to undertake. It required learning and intelligence which they or their instructors had, in all probability, brought with them out of Egypt. Accordingly, Josephus says that the survey was performed by men expert in geometry. And, in fact, the circumstantial account which is given of the boundaries of each tribe and its situation, well proves it to have been the work of no mean or incompetent hands.
Jos 18:10. Divided by Lot.
10. Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord—before the tabernacle, where the divine presence was manifested, and which associated with the lot the idea of divine sanction.
11. the lot of … Benjamin came up—It has been supposed that there were two urns or vessels, from which the lots were drawn: one containing the names of the tribes, the other containing those of the seven portions; and that the two were drawn out simultaneously.
the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph—Thus the prophecy of Moses respecting the inheritance of Benjamin was remarkably accomplished. (See on De 33:12).