The Book of
Joshua 18
28 verses≈ 5 min1 personBSB
Images are artistic interpretations.
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In this chapter
Where we are
- 1–5Crossing overInto the land
- 6–12Taking the landThe LORD fights for Israel
- 13–21Dividing the landAn inheritance for each tribeChapter 18
- 22–24Choose this dayServe the LORD
The Remainder Divided
Then the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. And though the land was subdued before them, there were still seven tribes of Israel who had not yet received their inheritance.
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So Joshua said to the Israelites, “How long will you put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?
Joshua 18:3
The Levites, however, have no portion among you, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received the inheritance that Moses the servant of the LORD gave them beyond the Jordan to the east.”
As the men got up to go out, Joshua commanded them to map out the land, saying, “Go and survey the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will cast lots for you here in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD.”
So the men departed and went throughout the land, mapping it city by city into seven portions. Then they returned with the document to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.
Reflect
How long?
Seven tribes sat in camp with the land already given and not yet walked. Joshua asked them, “How long will you put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?” In Christ God has already given you much: forgiveness, His Spirit, His Word, a place among His people. What has He given you that you have not yet taken hold of? Write it down, and next to it what has kept you waiting. Then pray: Lord, I do not want to sit still in what You have given. Help me take the next step today.
Benjamin’s Inheritance
The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:
The borders
Benjamin’s borders
North
From the Jordan past Jericho
On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Over by Bethel to Ataroth-addar
From there the border crossed over to the southern slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth-addar on the hill south of Lower Beth-horon.
West
Curving south to Kiriath-jearim
On the west side the border curved southward from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south and came out at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the western side.
South
On to the Waters of Nephtoah
On the south side the border began at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim and extended westward to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah.
Down the Valley of Hinnom to En-rogel
Then it went down to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of Ben-hinnom at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim and ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the southern slope of the Jebusites and downward to En-rogel.
En-shemesh to the Stone of Bohan
From there it curved northward and proceeded to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth facing the Ascent of Adummim, and continued down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
Beth-arabah, down into the valley
Then it went on to the northern slope of Beth-arabah and went down into the valley.
Beth-hoglah to the Salt Sea
The border continued to the northern slope of Beth-hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan. This was the southern border.
East
The Jordan
On the east side the border was the Jordan.
All around
Benjamin’s borders all around
These were the borders around the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
Stylised map · locations approximate
On the map
Benjamin’s lot
Benjamin’s land was a narrow strip between Judah and Joseph. Its border ran from the Jordan by Jericho up past Bethel to Beth-horon, then back along the south by Kiriath-jearim and the valley below Jerusalem, called Jebus then, down to the Salt Sea. Gibeon and Ramah lay inside it. Ataroth-addar, the Waters of Nephtoah and the Stone of Bohan are uncertain and not shown, and the line is only a sketch.
The towns
Benjamin’s cities
Twelve cities
Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz
These were the cities of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin:
Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,
Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel
Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
Avvim, Parah, Ophrah
Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, Geba
Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.
Fourteen cities
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah
Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,
Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah
Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities, along with their villages.
This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
Question
Quick question
After the survey came back, Joshua cast the first of the seven lots at Shiloh.
Whose lot came up first at Shiloh?
You’ve experienced
Joshua 18
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A verse to carry with you
How long will you put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?
Joshua 18:3
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