They shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that Judah and the house of Joseph are to abide in their existing territories, meaning their established positions on the south and north were recognized boundaries, not to be re-evaluated or changed. This highlights how the allocation of land wasn't just about dividing new territory, but also about confirming existing settlements and respecting established claims before the lot was cast for the remaining tribes.
They shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north.
English Standard Version (ESV)
With the Tabernacle now established at Shiloh, Joshua calls together the entire congregation to address the remaining seven tribes who still haven't received their promised inheritance. To accomplish this, surveyors are appointed to map out the yet-undivided land into seven portions, noting that Judah and the house of Joseph, having already received their territories, are referenced as the southern and northern boundaries for this new division. The land will then be allotted by lot before the Lord, ensuring a divinely appointed distribution for all.
Why did Joshua pause the land division? It wasn't just about military campaigns, but about a deeper purpose in God's plan for His people.
After significant victories, the Israelites gather at Shiloh, the new center for worship. Joshua calls them out for their delay in taking possession of their inheritance. He explains that the land needs to be surveyed and divided by lot.
A Time for Order
This wasn't a haphazard distribution. Joshua directs them to survey the land into seven parts. This structured approach ensures fairness and order, reflecting God's own character. Even though some tribes, like Judah and Joseph, had already begun to settle, this process brought everyone under a unified system.
The Surveyors' Courage
The task of surveying was dangerous, as hostile nations still occupied parts of the land. Yet, men were appointed from each tribe to carry out this critical work. Their willingness to go, trusting in God's protection, is a testament to their faith and obedience.
The land wasn't just handed out; it was divided and assigned. What does this tell us about God's relationship with His people and their inheritance?
Joshua's instructions are clear: the land will be divided into seven parts, and then lots will be cast. While Judah and Joseph are mentioned as having their territories somewhat established (south and north respectively), the overarching principle is that God, through the casting of lots, will determine the final inheritance for each tribe.
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Divine Sovereignty in Assignment
This method of dividing the land by lot was not to limit God, but to acknowledge His ultimate authority. It ensured that no tribe could claim favoritism and that each received exactly what God intended for them. Even the existing territories of Judah and Joseph were understood within this larger framework of divine assignment.
The Faithfulness of God's Promise
Despite the challenges and the fact that much of the land was still occupied, the process of division by lot was a concrete step towards fulfilling God's promise. It was a sign of assured possession, assuring the people that God would indeed give them the land.
This verse highlights a crucial moment after the initial conquest, where the remaining land is systematically surveyed and prepared for division by lot. It emphasizes that even with tribal territories pre-defined in principle (like Judah in the south and Joseph in the north), the precise allocation awaited God's sovereign decision through the casting of lots.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Conquer Canaan
After decades of wandering, the Israelites, led by Joshua, cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land of Canaan.
c. 1390 BC
Initial Land Distribution
Joshua, following God's command, oversees the initial distribution of land by lot to the tribes of Judah and Joseph.
c. 1390 BC
Tabernacle Set Up at Shiloh
The Tabernacle is set up at Shiloh, a central location in the hill country of Ephraim, marking a more settled phase after the initial conquests.
c. 1385 BC— this verse
Surveyors Describe Remaining Land
Joshua commissions men from each of the seven remaining tribes to survey the land that has not yet been allocated.
c. 1385 BC
Land Divided by Lot
Joshua casts lots for the remaining seven tribes at Shiloh, dividing the land according to God's instructions and the survey.
This passage establishes the principle that the size of a tribe's inheritance should correspond to its size, with lots determining the specific location, which is the underlying principle for the division described in Joshua.
Joshua 15:1-12This section details the inheritance of Judah, the first tribe to receive its portion, setting a precedent for how boundaries were established before the remaining land was divided and distributed by lot.
Psalm 122:2This psalm speaks of Jerusalem and the temple, reflecting a time after Shiloh when the center of worship was established, indicating that the ark's location at Shiloh in Joshua 18 was a temporary arrangement.
Jeremiah 7:12-15This prophecy references the destruction of Shiloh, showing that even a central place of worship could face God's judgment due to wickedness, serving as a solemn warning about how blessings can be lost.
Ruth 1:1-5This narrative illustrates how famine and migration occurred within the land of promise, showing that tribal territories could shift over time due to various circumstances, which underpins the need for clear divisions.
calvinJoshua 18:1-10: "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."
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.
Tradite ex vobis tres viros per tribum, quos mittam: surgentque et ambulabunt per terram, descr…
clarkeJoshua 18:5: "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."
Judah shall abide - on the south, and the house of Joseph - on the north - Joshua does not mean that the tribe of Judah occupied the south, and the tribe of Ephraim and Manasseh the north of the promised land; this was not the fact: but being now at Shiloh, a considerable way in the territory of Ephraim, and not far from that…
The verse emphasizes that Judah and the house of Joseph are to abide in their existing territories, meaning their established positions on the south and north were recognized boundaries, not to be re-evaluated or changed. This highlights how the allocation of land wasn't just about dividing new territory, but also about confirming existing settlements and respecting established claims before the lot was cast for the remaining tribes.
With the Tabernacle now established at Shiloh, Joshua calls together the entire congregation to address the remaining seven tribes who still haven't received their promised inheritance. To accomplish this, surveyors are appointed to map out the yet-undivided land into seven portions, noting that Judah and the house of Joseph, having already received their territories, are referenced as the southern and northern boundaries for this new division. The land will then be allotted by lot before the Lord, ensuring a divinely appointed distribution for all.
With the Tabernacle now established at Shiloh, Joshua calls together the entire congregation to address the remaining seven tribes who still haven't received their promised inheritance. To accomplish this, surveyors are appointed to map out the yet-undivided land into seven portions, noting that Judah and the house of Joseph, having already received their territories, are referenced as the southern and northern boundaries for this new division. The land will then be allotted by lot before the Lord, ensuring a divinely appointed distribution for all.
"They shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north." — The verse emphasizes that Judah and the house of Joseph are to abide in their existing territories, meaning their established positions on the south and north were recognized boundaries, not to be…
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Last reviewed October 2026