Joshua-Chapter-18

-hebraicstudies.net-

Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts!

Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2“Mechon-Mamre.org (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

YYYYYYY

Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

YYYYYYY

“Joshua Chapter 18”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Joshua Chapter 18 marks a pivotal shift in the ‘conquest’ and ‘settlement’ of the Land of Israel. The focus moves from the individual tribal campaigns to a centralized, national effort as the entire congregation assembles at Shiloh to set up the ‘Tent of Meeting’. While the dominant tribes of Judah and the House of Joseph have already secured their territories, seven tribes remain without an inheritance. Joshua introduces a systematic approach to resolve this by commissioning a survey team to map the land. This chapter highlights the transition from military conquest to administrative organization, ensuring that the distribution of the land is handled with divine sanction and geographic precision.

YYYYYYY

Joshua Chapter 18, verses 1 to 28: Whilst below the verses are the Explanation’s. (The Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the Torah).

Verse 1: “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.

Explanation: Verse 1 describes the gathering of the entire congregation at Shiloh. This marks the establishment of a central spiritual and administrative hub for the nation, signified by the setting up of the Tent of Meeting.

Verses 2-3: And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel: ‘How long are ye slack to go in to possess the land, which יְהוָה - the LORD, the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) of your fathers, hath given you?

Explanation: Verses 2-3 record Joshua’s rebuke of the seven tribes who have been “slack” or hesitant to take possession of the land. He challenges them to move beyond the momentum of the initial conquest and claim their specific portions.

Verses 4-7: Appoint for you three men for each tribe; and I will send them, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come unto me. And they shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north. And ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before יְהוָה - the LORD our אֱלֹהִים - ElohimFor the Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of יְהוָה - the LORD is their inheritance; and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of יְהוָה - the LORD gave them.

Explanation: Verses 4-7 outline Joshua’s plan to send three men from each tribe to walk through the land and describe it in writing. He acknowledges the portions already held by Judah and Joseph, noting that the Levites receive no land inheritance as their portion is the priesthood.

Verses 8-10: And the men arose, and went; and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying: ‘Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come back to me, and I will cast lots for you here before יְהוָה - the LORD in Shiloh’. And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven portions in a book, and they came to Joshua unto the camp at ShilohAnd Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before יְהוָה - the LORD; and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

Explanation: Verses 8-10 follow the execution of this plan. The men survey the land, divide it into seven parts in a book, and return to Shiloh. Joshua then casts lots “before the Lord”, ensuring the distribution is directed by Divine will rather than human preference.

Verse 11: And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families; and the border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph. 

Explanation: Verse 11 identifies the first lot as falling to the tribe of Benjamin. Geographically, their territory is situated strategically between the powerful tribes of Judah to the south and the children of Joseph to the north.

Verses 12-14: And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-avenAnd the border passed along from thence to Luz, to the side of Luz, the same is Beth’el southward; and the border went down to Atroth-addar, by the mountain that lieth on the south of Beth-horon the nether. And the border was drawn and turned about on the west side southward, from the mountain that lieth before Beth-horon southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kiriath-baal the same is Kiriath-jearim, a city of the children of Judah; this was the west side.

Explanation: Verses 12-14 trace the northern and western borders of Benjamin. The line moves from the Jordan, past the northern slope of Jericho, through the hill country to the wilderness of Beth-aven, eventually reaching the side of Luz (Bethel).

Verses 15-19: And the south side was from the uttermost part of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went out westward, and went out to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah. And the border went down to the uttermost part of the mountain that lieth before the Valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the vale of Rephaim northward; and it went down to the Valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En-rogel. And it was drawn on the north, and went out at En-shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim; and it went down to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. And it passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down unto the Arabah. And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward; and the goings out of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan; this was the south border.

Explanation: Verses 15-19 detail the southern border, which mirrors the northern boundary of Judah. It stretches from the edge of Kiriath-jearim to the waters of Nephtoah and down to the end of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan.

Verse 20: And the Jordan was to be the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders thereof round about, according to their families.

Explanation: Verse 20 concludes the geographical survey by defining the eastern border as the Jordan River itself, completing the perimeter of Benjamin’s small but central inheritance.

Verses 21-28: Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and Emek-kezizand Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el; and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah; and Chephar-ammonah, and Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages: Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah; and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah; and Zela, Eleph, and the Jebusite the same is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

Explanation: Verses 21-28 provide an extensive list of the cities granted to Benjamin. These are divided into two main clusters, including significant locations such as Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Ramah, and Mizpah. However, verse 28 specifically mentions “Zela, Eleph, and the Jebusite, the same is Jerusalem”, along with Gibeath and Kiriath. This confirms that the holy city of Jerusalem sat on the border and was included within the tribal portion of Benjamin.

YYYYYYY

My Closing Message:

Joshua Chapter 18 teaches us the importance of moving from ‘inspiration’ to ‘implementation’. The setting up of the Sanctuary at Shiloh provided the spiritual foundation, but it required the practical, diligent work of the surveyors to map out the future of the nation. It serves as a reminder that communal unity, represented by the casting of lots before the Divine is essential when dividing resources. Even the “slackness” of the remaining tribes was overcome by a structured plan and clear leadership, proving that while our inheritance is promised, we must be proactive in defining and claiming it.

YYYYYYY

Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hostsMal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

YYYYYYY

“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

Enter ... 

http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm

 

Enter ... 

https://www.hebraicstudies.net

 

 

 

 

-hebraicstudies.net-

 

 

 

Email the Rabbi

 

RBA@hebraicstudies.net

 

If the email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.

 

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in the mid 1980’,

but there have been occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context

under my name, and thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.

Thus, it is only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...

Copyright © 2025 - “Hebraic Studies” - All rights reserved.