CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE ALLOTMENTS OF THE REMAINING TRIBES
The inheritance of the seven remaining tribes now engages the attention of Joshua and his associates. But first the central place of worship has to be confirmed. Shiloh is selected for this purpose, and the Tent of Meeting, the monument of the weary pilgrimage in the wilderness, is granted a fixed abode on the level ground and in the pleasant environs of Shiloh symbolising the change in Israel, from a nomadic to a settled life. To this central and easily accessible centre representatives of the people make their way for worship. The remaining areas of land are then surveyed, and the lots are cast. This chapter describes the territory granted to Benjamin; the next chapter that allocated to the rest of the tribes.
Convention at Shiloh — vv. 1-7
Representatives of the tribes are summoned to Shiloh, now selected as the centre of worship. A commission is appointed to assess the land remaining, and to divide it into seven parts for the tribes yet to be granted their portions. The Levites, however, are excluded from this allocation of tribal inheritance.
VERSE 1
"And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh" — Previously the camp had assembled at Gilgal (Josh. 14:6). Now, however, Shiloh is selected as headquarters. It is to remain the political and religious centre of the nation for some hundreds of years. The word "congregation" is edah in the feminine gender, and signifies Witness. As the Bride of Yahweh, Israel is expected to witness by her submission to His authority (Isa. 54:15; Eph. 5:22).
"And set up the tabernacle of the congregation there" — In this instance the word "congregation" is moade, and signifies "a set time for meeting". Accordingly, the R.V. renders "tabernacle of congregations" as tent of meeting. Shiloh was in the allotment of Ephraim, Joshua's own tribe, conveniently placed in approx-
imately the centre of the land, in a delightful valley, about 15 miles (24 kms) north of Jerusalem plentifully watered by springs. The word meaning Peace or Tranquil, is appropriate to the peacetul environment of the area. The Tabernacle and Ark remained there until the latter was taken into war by the godless sons of Eli, and was captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:10-11). After the Ark was taken, the Tabernacle was removed to other places including Nob and Gibeah; and Shiloh was abandoned as a place of worship (Psa. 78:60; Jer. 7:12,14; 26:6,9).
"And the land was subdued before them" — This describes the settled conditions that followed the wars of Joshua.
VERSE 2
"And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not received their inheritance" — In anti-typical fulfilment of the type, the restoration of the tribes will be gradual at the return of the Lord, to be allotted their portions according to the cantonments outlined in Ezekiel 48. In this restoration, Judah will be "saved first", as it was first allocated its portion in the land under Joshua (Zech. 12:7).
VERSE 3 "And Joshua said unto the children of
175
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which Yahweh God of your fathers hath given you?" — Having rested so long on the help of Yahweh and the leadership of Joshua, the tribes had lost the initiative to act vigorously on their own account. From this state of apathy Joshua tried to arouse them. There is no place for sloth in the work of Yahweh. Believers are required to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). See also Matt. 11:12; Rom. 12:11; Phil. 3:13-14; 2 Pet. 1:10-11.
VERSE 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"—This commission of 21 or 36 men (according as to whether the three men to a tribe were from the seven remaining tribes, or the twelve tribes) was to make a general survey of the whole territory. In the final analysis, it was found that whilst Ephraim complained of lack of territory Judah had too much, so that Simeon was incorporated into its area. The whole proceedings illustrate the exhortation of Prov. 13:4, and the urging of Peter on the day of Pentecost: "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).
VERSE 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" — These comprise the general directions given by Joshua to the men appointed to do the survey. Basically they are told: "In your survey do not take into consideration the territories of Judah nor that of the sons of Joseph which are found south and north of Shiloh, but carefully survey and describe the territory remaining."
VERSE 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 Yahweh our God" — The allocation was to be according to Divine revelation and appointment. See notes Num. 26:52-56; Psa. 105:11; Prov. 18:18). This inheritance of the land was thus divided into two parts of 5 and 7 tribes, as it will be in the Age to come. Ezekiel, in setting out the Tribal cantonments of the
THE CHRISTADELPHIAN EXPOSITOR
future, separates them into 7 northern tribes, and 5 southern tribes divided by the Holy Oblation, the area set aside for worship and exclusive use of the Prince (Ezek. 48). Five is the number of grace, and seven is that of the covenant; combined they add up to twelve, which is the number of perfect government. The allocation of the 12 tribes having been established by Divine revelation through Ezekiel, the lot will again be used to determine the individual family holdings (Ezek. 47:22; 48:29). All shall be done according to Divine appointment and revelation.
VERSE 7
"But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of Yahweh 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 Yahweh gave them" — For appointments relating to the Levites, see notes at Josh. 13:33; Num. 18:20; and for the 2Vi eastern tribes, see notes at Josh. 13:8.
The Land Surveyed and Divided — vv. 8-10
The appointed Commissioners travel through the land, and return to Joshua with their survey. The results are recorded in a book which must have included charts, geographical divisions, and data of immense importance. It is obvious by the way that the countries of the ancient world were charted, and the journeyings of Israel are minutely recorded, that the principles of geology and mathematics were well known in those times.
VERSE 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 Yahweh in Shiloh" — Like Abraham, the commissioners were invited to walk through the land in preparation to inheriting it. See Gen. 13:17.
VERSE 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" — The surveyors described it by cities because they represented pockets of resistance for the Israelites to conquer, and afterwards in
176
THE CHRISTADELPHIAN EXPOSITOR
which they could dwell; for they were about to change from a nomadic to a settled, rural existence (cp. Deut. 6:10-11). A similar change will occur in the Age to come when the "strangers and pilgrims" of today will overthrow the cities of the Gentiles, and establish life upon a more rural basis (Micah 4:4).
VERSE 10
"And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Yahweh: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions" — A most exciting and intensely interesting ceremony must have taken place at Shiloh in order to determine by lot the inheritance of the remaining seven tribes.
The Lot For Benjamin — vv. 11-28
The lot reveals that Benjamin's inheritance shall lay between those ofJudah and Ephraim, though it does not reach to the Mediterranean Sea. It has Ephraim to its north, with Manasseh to the north of Ephraim. By this arrangement, the unity established during the wanderings in the wilderness when these tribes marched together is preserved in the Land. The land granted Benjamin is about 28 miles (45kms) from east to west and 12 miles (19 kms) north and south. Though it is a small and hilly territory, it is very fertile, and is studded with towns, the chief being Jerusalem, Bethel, Gibeon, Mizpeh and Jericho. On the east it reaches to the Arabah, or deep depression of the Jordan. In the west it extends past Beth-horon as far as the Canaanite city ofGezer where, turning south, it meets the southern boundary at Kirjath-Jearim. Jerusalem lies on the border of Benjamin andJudah.
VERSE 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" — For these allocations see note on Josh. 15:1-8; 16:1-10.
VERSE 12
"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 Beth-aven" — Beth-aven signifies House of Evil. It was close to Bethel on the west.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
VERSE 13
"And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Ataroth-adar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Beth-horon" — Luz signifies Almond, or Perverse (See Dictionary of Bible Names). Luz, the original name of Bethel (see Gen. 28:19) was evidently still maintained by the Canaanites (Jud. 1:22-26). Ataroth-adar signifies Crowns of Glory; and "nether Beth-horon" denotes the Lower Beth-horon. See notes on Josh. 10:11; 16:3; 21:22.
VERSE 14
"And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward from the hill that lieth before Beth-horon southward" — The territory of Benjamin did not reach the Mediterranean, so that this verse should be rendered as it is in the American Standard Bible: "The border extended from there and turned round on the west side southward". At the lower Beth-horon the northern border of Benjamin curved around and ran southward, the lower Beth-horon being its tribe's most westerly point.
"And the goings out thereof were at Kirjath-Baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter" — Kirjath-jearim signifies City of Forests. It was to this place that the Ark was sent by the men of Beth-shemesh when it was returned to them by the Philistines.
VERSE 15
"And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah" — Nephtoah signifies An Opening, that is A Spring. See note Josh. 15:9.
VERSE 16
"And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom" — The Dictionary of Bible Names claims that Hinnom signifies To Make Oneself Drowsy. The valley is a deep, narrow ravine with steep, rocky sides. It runs along the west and south of Jerusalem, separating Mount Zion to the north and the Hill of Evil Counsel, and the Valley of Rephaim to the south (see Jer. 7:31; 1 Kings 11:7).
177
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE CHRISTADELPHIAN EXPOSITOR
0 Miles 20
| /
VIA MARIS
Joppa I
'Shechemf® TAphlk^
KING'S HIGHWAY
way <to> Belh-haggan
Ophr he wilderness
3eth-horon
the Arabah
iv Belh-siiemesh / the road to Timnah Beth-jeshimoth
;he t dwellers way to Ephralh way
the land of the Philistines he wilderness of Moab
way oi
I Kodejh-barnea
the Diviners Oak
the Jordai
the Arabah Ihe Reed Sea
The Main Roads of Palestine in ancient times. A study of these routes will help better to trace the strategy of Joshua. From The Land of the Bible by Y. Aharoni, a valuable work on the Historical Geography of the Land.
178
THE CHRISTADELPHIAN EXPOSITOR
"And which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom" — The valley of the giants is also known as the Valley of Rephaim or Giants. It is a deep, fertile valley that extendes for about 3 miles (5kms) s.w. of Jerusalem, and extending half way to Bethlehem.
"To the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to En-rogel" — Jebusi was the ancient name of Jerusalem. It later became known as the City of David, and called Zion. The name signifies A Place Trodden Underfoot such as a threshing-floor (see Notes Josh. 15:63; Jud. 1:8,21; 19:10). Jebusi, as identified with the city of David (2 Sam. 5:6-7) was situated at the south-east portion of the present old city of Jerusalem. The description of this verse, however, appears to exclude Jebusi from the main city. The border continued south to En-rogel or The Fountain of the Sun. It is in the valley of the Kidron as it moves towards Jericho. Some define the name to read Fountain or the Spies, or Fountain of the Treaders.
VERSE 17
"And was drawn from the north, and went forth to En-shemesh" — This name signifies Spring of the Sun. The border joined with the northern border of Judah (see Josh. 15:7). This place is identified by some as being close to Bethany.
"And went forth toward Geliloth" — This is identified with the Gilgal of Josh. 15:7. This was not the Gilgal close to Jericho, nor that in the north close to Shechem. It was on the northern border of Judah. Geliloth signifies Circles.
"Which is over against the going up of Adummim" — Adummim signifies Red or Bloody. It is identified by some with the area close to what is called the Inn of the Good Samaritan. The term signifies The Ascent of Blood, and formed part of the road to Jerusalem from Jericho.
"And descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben" — See note Josh. 15:6.
VERSE 18
"And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah" — The term Arabah is frequently rendered Plain, and relates to the great depression that forms the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea, and continues to the Gulf of Eilat.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
VERSE 19
"And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward" — See
note Josh. 15:6.
"And the outgoings of the border went at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast" —
The southern border of Benjamin reached to where the Jordan commences to flow into the Dead Sea.
VERSE 20
"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" — About 5 miles of the lower Jordan formed the east border of Benjamin. The territory that was granted the tribe in its totality was small and mountainous. The general level of the district is very high, ranging from 2000 feet (610m} above sea level, and over 3000 feet (914m) above the level of the Arabah and Jordan. It was remarkable for the number of isolated eminences upon which strong cities were built, such as Gibeah (Hill), Mizpeh (Watchtower), Ramah (Height) and so forth. These were of considerable strategic importance.
However, in spite of the mountainous nature of the area, there were numerous spots of great fertility, so that it was self-supporting. Both the self-sufficiency of the country, and the ease with which it could be defended, fostered a spirit of independence in the Benjamites which manifested itself on several occasions during the history of the nation. More easily defended because of its numerous passes and heights, and with warriors of courage and outstanding ability, the tribe of Benjamin successfully resisted for a time the weight of all the other tribes ranged against it (Judg. 20,21). The land allocated to Benjamin being next to Ephraim and Manasseh, the unity established during the wandering in the wilderness when these tribes marched together was preserved in the land. On the west of Benjamin was Dan. Therefore in the inheritance in the land, Benjamin, the son of Rachel, and Dan, the son of Rachel's maid, dwelt next to Ephraim and Manasseh, sons of Joseph, their positions in the land illustrating the exhortation: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" (Psa. 133:1).
179
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
VERSE 21
"Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz" — Jericho (Place of Fragrance) on the west of Jordan is well known. Beth-hoglah (House of the Partridge) is about 4 m S.E. of Jericho. The Valley of Keziz (Abrupt, Cut off) is identified with the Wadi el Kazoz on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem.