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
And the border H1366 was drawn H8388 from the top H7218 of the hill H2022 unto the fountain H4599 of the water H4325 of Nephtoah, H5318 and went out H3318 to the cities H5892 of mount H2022 Ephron; H6085 and the border H1366 was drawn H8388 to Baalah, H1173 which is Kirjathjearim: H7157
Kirjathbaal, H7154 which is Kirjathjearim, H7157 and Rabbah; H7237 two H8147 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
And the men H582 of Kirjathjearim H7157 came, H935 and fetched up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and brought H935 it into the house H1004 of Abinadab H41 in the hill, H1389 and sanctified H6942 Eleazar H499 his son H1121 to keep H8104 the ark H727 of the LORD. H3068 And it came to pass, while H3117 the ark H727 abode H3427 in Kirjathjearim, H7157 that the time H3117 was long; H7235 for it was twenty H6242 years: H8141 and all the house H1004 of Israel H3478 lamented H5091 after H310 the LORD. H3068
And David H1732 arose, H6965 and went H3212 with all the people H5971 that were with him from Baale of Judah, H1184 to bring up H5927 from thence the ark H727 of God, H430 whose name H8034 is called H7121 by the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 that dwelleth H3427 between the cherubims. H3742
So David H1732 gathered H6950 all Israel H3478 together, H6950 from Shihor H7883 of Egypt H4714 even unto the entering H935 of Hemath, H2574 to bring H935 the ark H727 of God H430 from Kirjathjearim. H7157 And David H1732 went up, H5927 and all Israel, H3478 to Baalah, H1173 that is, to Kirjathjearim, H7157 which belonged to Judah, H3063 to bring up H5927 thence the ark H727 of God H430 the LORD, H3068 that dwelleth H3427 between the cherubims, H3742 whose name H8034 is called H7121 on it.
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).