Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Seven tribes remained with no inheritance assigned. Joshua got them together and demanded to know when they were going to possess the land? They were delaying. He told them to pick three men from each tribe. Joshua would send them out to describe the land (survey it). It would be divided into seven portions, so it was to be described in seven portions. Joshua would cast lots over those descriptions and they’d assign them.

This is not an exciting section of scripture. But again, it shows the particularity of God. He lays down their borders almost to the rock. He was so involved in their lives. It is a loud echo of His promise to fight for them. How can anyone read the last half of Joshua and think that God doesn’t care about the minutiae of our lives? He cared about everything then and He still does now (Hebrews 13:8).

The men went off and did just that. The Levites were not given an inheritance, as they had been told. Joshua stayed in Shiloh and waited. The men finished their jobs and came back. The lots were cast and assignments were given.

Benjamin was first. Their territory was between Judah’s and Joseph’s. They got twelve cities with their villages. This corresponded to the twelve families making up the tribe. They also got fourteen cities and their villages. That was their inheritance.

“and Joshua cast a lot for them at Shiloh before Yahweh, and there he divided the land for the Israelites, to each a portion.” (Joshua 18:10).

Next was Simeon. They were given thirteen cities and villages. They were also given four cities with villages, and then a little more. Some of there territory came out of Judah since Judah’s was so big.

Zebulun got twelve cities and their villages.

Issachar got sixteen cities and their villages.

Asher got twenty-two cities and their villages.

Naphtali got nineteen cities and their villages.

Dan got seventeen regions, lost one, battled Leshem for it and won it back, and renamed it Dan.

Once everything was done and allotted, Joshua himself was given an inheritance. It was chosen by lot. Joshua got it from the Lord because he had asked for it: Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He built up the city and lived in it. It was his inheritance.

These were all the allotments and territories of the land of promise that they inhabited. Joshua, Eleazar the high priest, and the family leaders of the Israelite tribes assigned them at the entrance to the tent of meeting in Shiloh. They had completed the dividing of the land.

Summary

Key Players: God, Joshua, Surveyors

Key Themes: Possession, Inheritance, Working for Reward

Key Verse(s): Joshua 18:1-3, 21-28; 19:47-48, 51