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
And he called H7121 the name H8034 of that place H4725 Bethel: H1008 but H199 the name H8034 of that city H5892 was called Luz H3870 at the first. H7223
And goeth out H3318 from Bethel H1008 to Luz, H3870 and passeth along H5674 unto the borders H1366 of Archi H757 to Ataroth, H5852 And goeth down H3381 westward H3220 to the coast H1366 of Japhleti, H3311 unto the coast H1366 of Bethhoron H1032 the nether, H8481 and to Gezer: H1507 and the goings out H8444 thereof are at the sea. H3220
And it came to pass, as they fled H5127 from before H6440 Israel, H3478 and were in the going down H4174 to Bethhoron, H1032 that the LORD H3068 cast down H7993 great H1419 stones H68 from heaven H8064 upon them unto Azekah, H5825 and they died: H4191 they were more H7227 which died H4191 with hailstones H1259 H68 than they whom H834 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 slew H2026 with the sword. H2719
And the border H1366 of the children H1121 of Ephraim H669 according to their families H4940 was thus: even the border H1366 of their inheritance H5159 on the east side H4217 was Atarothaddar, H5853 unto Bethhoron H1032 the upper; H5945
And Kibzaim H6911 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bethhoron H1032 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892
And the house H1004 of Joseph, H3130 they also went up H5927 against Bethel: H1008 and the LORD H3068 was with them. And the house H1004 of Joseph H3130 sent to descry H8446 Bethel. H1008 (Now the name H8034 of the city H5892 before H6440 was Luz.) H3870 And the spies H8104 saw H7200 a man H376 come forth H3318 out of the city, H5892 and they said H559 unto him, Shew H7200 us, we pray thee, the entrance H3996 into the city, H5892 and we will shew H6213 thee mercy. H2617 And when he shewed H7200 them the entrance H3996 into the city, H5892 they smote H5221 the city H5892 with the edge H6310 of the sword; H2719 but they let go H7971 the man H376 and all his family. H4940 And the man H376 went H3212 into the land H776 of the Hittites, H2850 and built H1129 a city, H5892 and called H7121 the name H8034 thereof Luz: H3870 which is the name H8034 thereof unto this day. H3117
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).