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
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
And Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun H5126 sent H7971 out of Shittim H7851 two H8147 men H582 to spy H7270 secretly, H2791 saying, H559 Go H3212 view H7200 the land, H776 even Jericho. H3405 And they went, H3212 and came H935 into an harlot's H2181 house, H802 H1004 named H8034 Rahab, H7343 and lodged H7901 there.
And the border H1366 went up H5927 to Bethhogla, H1031 and passed H5674 along by the north H6828 of Betharabah; H1026 and the border H1366 went up H5927 to the stone H68 of Bohan H932 the son H1121 of Reuben: H7205
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
And G1161 Jesus G2424 answering G5274 said, G2036 A certain G5100 man G444 went down G2597 from G575 Jerusalem G2419 to G1519 Jericho, G2410 and G2532 fell among G4045 thieves, G3027 which G3739 G2532 stripped G1562 him G846 of his raiment, G1562 and G2532 wounded G4127 G2007 him, and departed, G565 leaving G863 him half dead. G2253 G5177
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).