Joshua 18-19

Tribal Distribution of the Land. (Courtesy of the Moody Atlas of the Bible.)

CHAPTER 18:
         Verse 1: Shiloh rests at the geographical center of the promised land, within the borders of the lot belonging to Ephraim. This is where the tabernacle is set up and will remain for several centuries until the Philistine invasion in 1 Samuel 4. In addition to being the religious center for the nation, Shiloh will also serve as a seat of government for it’s here that Joshua oversees the division of the rest of the land, assigns the Levites their cities, and where the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh will meet with Joshua again in chapter 22. Shiloh is also where Hannah prays for a son (1 Samuel 1:10-11) and where that answered prayer, Samuel, is called by God to serve as prophet, priest and judge. (1 Samuel 3:10, 20-21)
 
          Verses 2-10: Seven tribes have not yet divided up and settled the remaining land available to them. Verse 3 has the tone of a rebuke from Joshua. He asks, in essence, “What are you waiting for? God has given you this land. Go take it!” He commands the tribes to choose three men each to “…go through the land…” (v.4), scout and map it (v.8), and then return to him to give a report. The chosen men do as Joshua commands and, once their mission is complete, everyone assembles again at Shiloh where Joshua casts lots to determine the borders of each tribe’s parcel of land. (v.9-10)
            These verses make it clear that most of the tribes had failed to complete the settling and colonizing of the promised land. They had won the victories against the Canaanites, but then remained in their tents, living the same nomadic existence that was their life before entering the promised land. In other words, the Israelites had failed to take hold of the blessings God had bestowed upon them! The land was theirs for the taking, yet they held back, unwilling to complete their mission by moving into the empty cities and dividing up the land among them as God had commanded them to do before this whole campaign started.
            So many Christians today behave in the same manner as these remaining tribes whom Joshua rebuked. We obey God when He gives us a direction and an assignment, but then stop at the finish line. Sometimes it’s because of fear, or lack of faith, or we get distracted by worldly matters or temptations. Yes, we get the victory in the spiritual battle, but then we fail to seize the rewards and blessings that God lays out for us.
           For the Israelites, it’s possible that they were afraid of fully settling into the promised land and giving up a nomadic existence that had so long defined their way of life. For us today, this same fear can hold us back in our service for God. It’s hard sometimes to let go of the old way of life and step out on faith when God calls us to a completely new mission for Him. We humans have an inherent fear of the unknown, and for these Israelites they were unsure of what a new life in the promised land would look like. All they had known was a life of tents, and herding livestock, and never living in one place for too long. Now they were commanded to leave their tents behind and move into the cities. They could now farm the land, growing their own crops instead of living off the spoils of their enemies in the wilderness. This was a major change to their way of life, and this naturally caused fear and uncertainty in their hearts.
             Joshua’s rebuke is a call to faith. Faith is an action verb, not a feeling or a mere belief. Faith always results in an action on our part. Joshua reminds the Israelites of their blessings and rewards as part of the covenant laid down by God and given through Moses, His messenger. It’s time for God’s chosen people to give up their nomadic existence and begin a new way of life in the promised land.
 
             Verse 7: There is another reminder here of why the Levites have no land inheritance. Their inheritance is something much greater: “…the priesthood of the LORD…”. (Numbers 18:7, 20, Joshua 13:33) Fulfilling the role of priest is much more than just slaughtering animals and following the prescribed rituals for burning them on the altar. The priests serve as judges, educators, doctors and arbiters in the matters of criminal justice. They are also intercessors between the people and the LORD,  the most critical role of all and not one to be taken lightly or treated carelessly. Thus, the tribe of Levi has the greatest portion of duties and responsibilities of all the tribes and, therefore, God has set them apart for a much greater inheritance and reward.
 
              Verses 11-28: The land allotted to Benjamin is sandwiched between Ephraim to the north and Judah to the south. (v.11) Among the list of cities that are included in Benjamin’s territory is Gibeon whose inhabitants deceived the Israelites. (Joshua 9) This is also where God will appear to King Solomon in a dream, offering him whatever he asks. (1 Kings 3:4-5) Ramah (v.25) is the birthplace of Samuel. (1 Samuel 1:19) It’s also mentioned by Jeremiah in a prophecy that Matthew later references. (Jeremiah 31:15, Matthew 2:17-18) Jericho is eventually rebuilt but at great cost to the builder, as prophesied by Joshua. (Joshua 6:26, 1 Kings 16:34) Jerusalem, of course, is the most notable of the cities listed here. (v.28) The tribe of Judah has the lineage of Christ, the Levites have the priesthood, but Benjamin has Jerusalem.

CHAPTER 19:
            Verses 1-9: The tribe of Simeon is granted portions of land within that which was granted to Judah. The reason for this is given in verse 9: “…for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them…”. This is also in fulfillment of prophecy. (Genesis 49:5-7) Later, during the time of the judges, this co-habitation will also play a crucial role in keeping Israel’s enemies at bay. (Judges 1:3)
          Beersheba is probably the most familiar of the cities listed in this passage as belonging to Simeon. (v.2) (Genesis 21:14, 46:1) Later, the phrase “from Dan to Beer-sheba” will be used to signify the whole land of Israel. (Judges 20:1, 1 Samuel 3:20) Ziklag is also another recognizable name from the era of King David’s reign. (1 Samuel 27:6) Later, after King Solomon’s reign, when the nation splits into the northern and southern kingdoms, the tribe of Simeon is either absorbed into Judah or migrates to the northern territory. (2 Chronicles 15:9, 34:6)
 
           Verses 10-16: Zebulun is up next, sandwiched between Manasseh on the south, Asher on the west, Issachar on the east, and Naphtali on the north. The name Bethlehem that is mentioned in verse 15 is not the same city that is the birthplace of Christ. That famous Bethlehem is in the tribe of Judah. The one listed here will be the birthplace of Ibzan, one of the future judges of Israel. (Judges 12:8-10)
 
            Verses 17-23: The fourth lot goes to Issachar, which is given land in the Beth-shean plain and lower Galilee. Rather than describing the borders by compass direction as with the previous lots, the author lists the cities that delineate the borders. Shunem (v.18) is named in 2 Kings 4:8 as a place where the prophet Elisha will have a benefactress. Kishion and En-gannim (v.20-21) are Levitical cities. (Joshua 21:28-29) Mount Tabor (v.22) figures prominently in the story of Barak (Judges 4:6).
 
        Verses 24-31: The fifth lot falls to Asher. (v.24) Its western boundary is the Mediterranean Sea which also includes the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. We know from later passages of scripture that the Israelites never fully eliminate the Canaanites from not only Tyre and Sidon, but also Acco, Sidon, and the Levitical city of Rehob. (Judges 1:31-32) Anna, the prophetess named in Luke 2:36, is from Asher.
 
            Verses 32-39: The tribe of Naphtali draws the sixth lot. Their land is nestled between Asher and Zebulun to the west and Issachar to the south with the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan river on the eastern side. (v.33-34) Much of Jesus’ ministry will be in this region. (Isaiah 9:1-2) The authors of the Moody Bible Commentary speculate that the Messiah’s ministry in this part of Israel are the “goodly words” that Jacob was referring to in his deathbed blessing/prophecy. (Genesis 49:21)
            Only in Naphtali is the description “fenced” used to describe how well fortified and defended its cities are. (v.35) Kedesh is later named a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7), and it’s also the birthplace of Barak. (Judges 4:6)
 
          Verses 40-48: The final lot goes to the tribe of Dan. It’s the smallest of all the allotments, sandwiched between Ephraim (north), Judah (west and south), and Benjamin (east). Zorah, Eshtaol (v.41), and Timnath (v.43) are featured in the account of Samson. (Judges 13:25, 14:1, 16:31) Because the Israelites failed to completely drive out the Canaanites from the promised land, the tribe of Dan is soon banished from their lot into the mountains by the Amorites. (Judges 1:34)
 
            Verses 49-51: The division of the promised land began with Caleb in chapter 14, and now ends with Joshua. (v.49-50) He requests the city of Timnath-serah, which is about 20 miles northwest of Jerusalem, in the territory belonging to Ephraim. (Joshua 24:30, Judges 2:9) Verses 50 states that “…he built the city…” which means that portion of land had nothing on it when Joshua and his family settled there.
         The division of the promised land among the twelve tribes of Israel is almost complete. (v.51) Israel’s transition from a nomadic lifestyle to that of an agrarian one where they will become farmers can now begin. Only two tasks remain: naming the cities of refuge as well as homes for the Levites. Those details are given in chapters 20 and 21.