Joshua 18:1-10

Joshua 18:1-10

[1] 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  [2] And there remained  among the children  of Israel  seven  tribes,  which had not yet received  their inheritance.  [3] And Joshua  said  unto the children  of Israel,  How long are ye slack  to go  to possess  the land,  which the LORD  God  of your fathers  hath given  you? [4] Give out  from among you three  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. [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.  [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  the LORD  our God.  [7] But the Levites  have no part  among  you; for the priesthood  of the LORD  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 the LORD  gave  them. [8] And the men  arose,  and Joshua  charged  them that went  to describe  the land,  saying,  and walk  through the land,  and describe  it, and come again  to me, that I may here cast  lots  for you before  the LORD  in Shiloh.  [9] And the men  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.  [10] And Joshua  cast  lots  for them in Shiloh  before  the LORD:  and there Joshua  divided  the land  unto the children  of Israel  according to their divisions. 

What does Joshua 18:1-10 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

After the process of assigning land to the three Cisjordanian tribes mentioned above (those on the western side of the Jordan River), Israel"s attention turned to relocating the tabernacle in a more central location ( Joshua 18:1). God undoubtedly made the choice of Shiloh (lit. rest; cf. Deuteronomy 12:11). [1] The name of this town was significant because of Jacob"s prophecy of Shiloh ( Genesis 49:10) and the association of God"s name with the Israelites" rest. God"s people could find rest where He abode. The tabernacle stood at Gilgal ( Joshua 5:10;. Joshua 10:15; Joshua 10:43), Shiloh ( Joshua 18:1; Joshua 18:9-10), Bethel ( Judges 20:18-28; Judges 21:1-4), Shiloh ( 1 Samuel 1:3), Mizpah ( 1 Samuel 7:5-6), Gilgal ( 1 Samuel 10:8; 1 Samuel 13:8-10; 1 Samuel 15:10-15), Nob ( 1 Samuel 21:1-9; 1 Samuel 22:11; 1 Samuel 22:19), and finally at Gibeon ( 1 Chronicles 16:39-40; 1 Chronicles 21:29; 1 Kings 3:4; 2 Chronicles 1:3). These may not be all the places where it stood, but these are the places that the text names. Solomon"s temple in Jerusalem then replaced it.
Perhaps the break in the allotment proceedings plus continuing Canaanite intimidation influenced the leaders of the remaining tribes to delay distributing the rest of the land. Joshua had to scold them for procrastinating ( Joshua 18:3). He then appointed a special group of men, three from each of the seven remaining tribes, to act as a surveying crew. These men studied the land and divided it into seven parts. This may be the earliest instance of land surveying on record. [2] This may have been the same method they used to determine the earlier allotments, though the writer did not state this in the text. The casting of lots proceeded when this work was complete ( Joshua 18:10). This evidently took place at the tabernacle (i.e, before the LORD, Joshua 18:6).
"For the Christian, the establishment of a sanctuary and centre at Shiloh testifies to how God fulfils his promises. God has given his people the blessing of his presence among them. They must respond in obedience by occupying the land and living according to the divine covenant. The fundamental importance of the sanctuary is illustrated by its central position among the tribes (in the central hill country) and by its position in the midst of the allotments of Joshua 13-21. Christians are also called upon to see the worship of God as central to their lives. As with the gatherings at the Shiloh sanctuary so regular meetings for worship are a chief means to provide unity and common encouragement for faithful living ( Hebrews 10:25)." [3]