Joshua Chapter 18

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October 7, 2025

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🏕️ The Big Meeting at Shiloh

All the people of Israel came together in a special place called Shilohᵃ. They brought God’s special tent called the Tabernacleᵇ and set it up there. This was like God’s house where they could worship Him! The fighting was finally over, and the land was peaceful. But there was a problem – seven groups of God’s people still didn’t have their new homes yet! They were just sitting around, not doing anything about it.

🗺️ Joshua Gets Everyone Moving

Joshua, their brave leader, had to give them a talking-to. He said, “Hey everyone! How long are you going to wait around? God has given you this amazing land – it’s time to go claim it!” Then Joshua came up with a smart plan. “I want each tribe to pick three men. These men will be like explorers! They’ll walk all around the land, draw maps, and write down everything they see. Then they’ll come back and tell us all about it.”

🎯 Making It Fair

Joshua explained how it would work: “We’ll divide the land into seven pieces, like cutting a pizza into slices! The tribe of Judah already has their piece in the south, and Joseph’s family has their piece in the north. We need to figure out the other seven pieces.” “When the explorers bring back their maps, I’ll use special stones called lotsᶜ to let Yahweh show us which tribe gets which piece of land. It’s like drawing names out of a hat, but God decides!” Joshua also reminded them: “Remember, the Levites won’t get land because their job is to be priests and take care of God’s house. And Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh already got their land on the other side of the Jordan River from Moses.”

🚶‍♂️ The Great Adventure Begins

So the 21 brave explorers (three from each of the seven tribes) set off on their big adventure! They walked all over the land, through hills and valleys, past rivers and towns. They carefully wrote down everything they saw and drew maps of all the different areas. When they finished their important job, they hurried back to Joshua at Shiloh with their scrollsᵈ full of information.

🎲 God Chooses the Winners

Now came the exciting part! Joshua gathered everyone together in front of God’s tent. He took out the special stones and prayed to Yahweh to show them His choice. Then he cast the lots to see which tribe would get which piece of land. It was like the most important game ever – but God was the one making the choices!

🏆 Benjamin Gets Their Prize

The first tribe to get their land was Benjamin! Their piece of land was right between their big brother Judah and their cousin Joseph’s family. It was like being the middle child who gets to sit between their favorite relatives! Benjamin’s land had some really cool borders:
  • On the north, it started at the Jordan River near Jericho (remember that city with the walls that fell down?ᵉ)
  • It went through the hills and valleys
  • On the south, it included parts near Jerusalem
  • The Jordan River made a natural fence on the east side

🏘️ Benjamin’s New Cities

Benjamin’s tribe got 26 awesome cities to live in! Some of the most famous ones were:
  • Jericho – the city where the walls fell down
  • Bethel – where Jacob dreamed about angels on a ladder
  • Jerusalem – which would become the most important city of all
  • Gibeon – where the sun stood still for Joshua
Each city came with villages around it, kind of like how a big city today has suburbs around it.

🎉 A Happy Ending

And that’s how the tribe of Benjamin got their new home! God kept His promise to give His people a wonderful land to live in. Every family now knew exactly where their new home would be, and they were so excited to start their new lives there. God always keeps His promises, and He had the perfect plan for where each family should live!

📚 Cool Facts for Kids:

  • Shiloh: This was like the first capital city of Israel! It’s where they kept God’s special tent for many years.
  • Tabernacle: This was God’s portable house that the Israelites carried with them in the desert. It was like a tent, but super fancy with gold and beautiful curtains!
  • Lots: These were like dice or drawing straws, but the Israelites believed God controlled how they landed to show His choice.
  • Scrolls: Before there were books, people wrote on long pieces of paper that rolled up like toilet paper – but much fancier!
  • Jericho’s walls: This is from the famous story where Joshua and the Israelites marched around the city and the walls fell down when they shouted and blew trumpets!
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Footnotes:

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Footnotes:

  • 1
    And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
  • 2
    And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
  • 3
    And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long [are] ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
  • 4
    Give out from among you three men for [each] tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come [again] to me.
  • 5
    And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.
  • 6
    Ye shall therefore describe the land [into] seven parts, and bring [the description] hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
  • 7
    But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD [is] their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
  • 8
    And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh.
  • 9
    And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came [again] to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
  • 10
    And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.
  • 11
    And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
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    And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.
  • 13
    And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which [is] Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that [lieth] on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.
  • 14
    And the border was drawn [thence], and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that [lieth] before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which [is] Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this [was] the west quarter.
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    And the south quarter [was] from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:
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    And the border came down to the end of the mountain that [lieth] before the valley of the son of Hinnom, [and] which [is] in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,
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    And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which [is] over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,
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    And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:
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    And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this [was] the south coast.
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    And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This [was] the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
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    Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
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    And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
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    And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
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    And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:
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    Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
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    And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
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    And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
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    And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which [is] Jerusalem, Gibeath, [and] Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This [is] the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
  • 1
    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,
  • 2
    there were still seven tribes of Israel who had not yet received their inheritance.
  • 3
    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?
  • 4
    Appoint three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to survey the land and map it out, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me
  • 5
    and divide the land into seven portions. Judah shall remain in their territory in the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory in the north.
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    When you have mapped out the seven portions of land and brought it to me, I will cast lots for you here in the presence of the LORD our God.
  • 7
    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.”
  • 8
    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.”
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    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.
  • 10
    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.
  • 11
    The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:
  • 12
    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.
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    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.
  • 14
    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.
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    On the south side the border began at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim and extended westward to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah.
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    Then it went down to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of 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.
  • 17
    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.
  • 18
    Then it went on to the northern slope of Beth-arabah and went down into the valley.
  • 19
    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.
  • 20
    On the east side the border was the Jordan. These were the borders around the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
  • 21
    These were the cities of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,
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    Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
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    Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
  • 24
    Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.
  • 25
    Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
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    Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,
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    Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
  • 28
    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.

Joshua Chapter 18 Commentary

Drawing Lines in the Promised Land

What’s Joshua 18 about?

Seven tribes are still homeless in the Promised Land, and Joshua’s had enough of their procrastination. Time for some divine real estate surveying that reveals as much about human nature as it does about ancient property law.

The Full Context

Picture this: you’ve just witnessed one of history’s greatest military campaigns. The walls of Jericho have fallen, the giants have been defeated, and the Jordan River parted like the Red Sea before it. The Promised Land is finally within Israel’s grasp. Yet here we are in Joshua 18, and seven tribes are still living like refugees in temporary camps while their inheritance sits unclaimed.

This chapter takes place during the second phase of Israel’s settlement, after the initial conquests recorded in chapters 1-12 and the first wave of territorial distributions to Judah and the Joseph tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh) in chapters 13-17. We’re somewhere around 1400 BC, and the conquest momentum has stalled. The remaining seven tribes – Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan – seem content to let others do the hard work of actually claiming their promised inheritance. Joshua, now an aging leader, recognizes that this spiritual lethargy threatens everything they’ve fought for. What unfolds is a masterclass in leadership, divine guidance, and the very human tendency to settle for less than God’s best when the path forward requires effort and faith.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew word yathalelu appears in verse 3 when Joshua asks, “How long will you be slack to go in to possess the land?” That word “slack” literally means “to be weak” or “to let oneself go.” It’s the same root used to describe someone who’s given up, who’s lost their fight. Joshua isn’t just frustrated with their procrastination – he’s witnessing a spiritual crisis.

The surveying process described here uses the Hebrew word kathab, meaning “to write” or “describe.” But this isn’t just cartography; it’s theology in action. These men are literally writing down God’s promises, mapping out divine inheritance. Every boundary line, every city listed, every geographical marker becomes a tangible expression of God’s faithfulness.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase “describe the land” in verse 4 uses a Hebrew construction that implies both writing and drawing. These surveyors weren’t just making lists – they were creating visual maps, literally sketching out God’s promises on papyrus or leather scrolls.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

When ancient Israelites heard this story, they would have immediately understood the weight of Joshua’s frustration. In their honor-shame culture, allowing prime real estate to sit unclaimed while living in temporary settlements would have been deeply embarrassing. It suggested either cowardice or a dangerous contentment with less than what God had promised.

The sacred lot-casting described in verses 6-10 wasn’t gambling – it was covenant theology. Ancient Near Eastern peoples regularly used lots to determine divine will, but Israel’s lot-casting was different. This was lifnei YHWH – “before the LORD” – a technical term for seeking God’s direct guidance in sacred space. When those lots fell, everyone present understood they weren’t witnessing chance, but divine appointment.

The detailed boundary descriptions that follow would have resonated powerfully with people who understood that land wasn’t just property – it was identity, security, and spiritual inheritance rolled into one. Every spring, hill, and valley mentioned represented not just geography, but theology.

Did You Know?

The tabernacle at Shiloh mentioned in verse 1 wasn’t just a temporary worship site – archaeological evidence suggests it remained Israel’s central sanctuary for over 300 years, making it more permanent than many assume.

But Wait… Why Did They Hesitate?

Here’s what’s genuinely puzzling: these seven tribes had front-row seats to God’s miraculous power. They’d seen walls collapse, rivers part, and giants fall. Yet when it came time to claim their inheritance, they hesitated. Why would people who’d witnessed such clear divine intervention suddenly develop cold feet?

The answer might lie in the difference between conquest and settlement. Conquering cities in a military campaign is dramatic and exciting – there’s adrenaline, divine signs, clear enemies to defeat. But surveying boundaries, establishing towns, and building sustainable communities? That’s slow, methodical work that requires sustained faith rather than dramatic miracles.

Perhaps these tribes had fallen into the trap of preferring the familiar discomfort of temporary camps to the uncertain work of building permanent homes. Sometimes the known struggle feels safer than the unknown blessing.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Why does Benjamin get such detailed boundary descriptions when they receive the smallest tribal territory? The text suggests that sometimes God’s greatest attention goes to what seems smallest – Benjamin’s tiny inheritance would later produce Israel’s first king and house the temple.

Wrestling with the Text

This chapter forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: it’s possible to be positioned for God’s blessing yet fail to actually receive it through our own passivity. These seven tribes weren’t rebellious or idolatrous – they were just… stuck. They’d become comfortable with incomplete obedience.

Joshua’s solution is brilliant in its simplicity: he transforms passive waiting into active participation. Instead of assigning land arbitrarily, he requires the tribes to survey it themselves. They have to walk every boundary, describe every landmark, catalog every resource. Before they can inherit the land, they must intimately know the land.

The lot-casting that follows isn’t about removing human responsibility – it’s about combining human effort with divine sovereignty. God honors their work by providing clear direction, but only after they’ve done the hard work of preparation.

“Sometimes God’s greatest blessings require us to move from spectators to surveyors, from wishing for inheritance to walking through it step by step.”

How This Changes Everything

Joshua 18 reveals a pattern that echoes throughout Scripture: God’s promises often require our participation to become our possession. The land was already theirs by divine decree, but it became theirs in reality only through human action guided by divine wisdom.

This principle transforms how we understand everything from spiritual growth to ministry calling to answered prayer. God’s “yes” often comes with a “go” attached. His promises frequently include our participation, not because he needs our help, but because the process of receiving his gifts often transforms us into people capable of stewarding them well.

The surveying process also demonstrates the importance of detailed obedience. These men couldn’t just make rough estimates or general observations – they had to document specific boundaries, particular cities, exact landmarks. God’s blessing often comes through careful attention to seemingly mundane details.

Finally, this chapter shows us that divine guidance often follows human preparation rather than preceding it. The lots provided clear direction, but only after the surveyors had done their homework. God’s will becomes clearest to those who’ve invested effort in understanding their circumstances.

Key Takeaway

Don’t let spiritual procrastination rob you of promised blessings – sometimes the land God has given you requires the faith to survey it before you can settle it.

Further Reading

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