JOSHUA 18 Introduction This Chapter Gives Us the Gathering of The

Introduction

This chapter gives us the gathering of the children of Israel at Shiloh where the Tent of Meeting (the Tabernacle) was set up. In here also, Joshua blamed the slackness of the remaining seven tribes in claiming their inheritance. He sent men out to survey the remainder of the land, which up to that time had not been divided into portions. Then when the men returned, the remaining land was divided by lot. The remainder of the chapter (vv.11-28) describes the lot of Benjamin.

A. The Delay (vv.1-3)

1 Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. 2 But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. 3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you? a. Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there...(v.1):  Israel’s central encampment had been at Gilgal, near Jericho, where they had observed several religious ceremonies.  Now the entire congregation moved to Shiloh, about 15 miles northwest of Jericho, where they set up the tent of meeting or tabernacle and became an important religious center for the Israelites for several hundred years.  However, it was not to be the permanent place because God would choose a permanent site through David, which one day would be Jerusalem. b. Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you? (v.3):  Instead of fulfilling God’s command to destroy the remaining Canaanites, these seven tribes would often take the path of least resistance.  As nomadic people for more than forty years, they may have been reluctant to settle down, and sometimes they prefer to depend on the people they were supposed to eliminate.  And whenever difficulties arose, they could simply pack up and move.  There are Christians who are just like them. There are people who have left the wilderness of carnality and who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  They’ve entered the Promised Land of the Spirit-filled life, and are experiencing abundance—yet something prevent them to stay in a

1 specific territory or congregation.  People with this mindset think they’re being led by the Spirit, but in reality, they simply don't want accountability or responsibility.  They get involve only if it is comfortable for them, but if they’re asked to do something that stretches them, they’ll leave.

B. The Dispatch (vv.4-9)

4 Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven parts. Judah shall remain in their territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory on the north. 6 You shall therefore survey the land in seven parts and bring the survey here 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, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.” 8 Then the men arose to go away; and Joshua charged those who went to survey the land, saying, “Go, walk through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh.” 9 So the men went, passed through the land, and wrote the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

 Three men from each of the seven tribes who hadn’t claimed their inheritance were sent to survey the land.  Where did they learn this art and science of surveying? Did they learn it while wandering in the wilderness? Did they learn it while fighting in the Promised Land?  I suggest they got the skill from Egypt. The generation who left Egypt, who would have been involved in all kinds of construction projects requiring surveying skills, somehow passed on the knowledge to this generation who entered the promised land.  Sometimes, young people say, “I want to be a missionary. I want to start a church. Why do I need to know math, history, or science?”  They don’t yet realize that the Lord doesn’t waste a thing, the skills and understandings gained from school will be somehow beneficial and important in days to come.  Therefore, I think we ought to remind our kids that learning is important because God will use it for His purposes in ways we don’t see yet.

C. The Division

Benjamin (vv.10-28)

10 Then Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD, and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions. 11 Now

2 the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph. 12 Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the mountains westward; it ended at the Wilderness of Beth Aven. 13 The border went over from there toward Luz, to the side of Luz (which is Bethel) southward; and the border descended to Ataroth Addar, near the hill that lies on the south side of Lower Beth Horon. 14 Then the border extended around the west side to the south, from the hill that lies before Beth Horon southward; and it ended at Kirjath Baal (which is Kirjath Jearim), a city of the children of Judah. This was the west side. 15 The south side began at the end of Kirjath Jearim, and the border extended on the west and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 Then the border came down to the end of the mountain that lies before the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is in the Valley of the Rephaim on the north, descended to the Valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite city on the south, and descended to En Rogel. 17 And it went around from the north, went out to En Shemesh, and extended toward Geliloth, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 18 Then it passed along toward the north side of Arabah, and went down to Arabah. 19 And the border passed along to the north side of Beth Hoglah; then the border ended at the north bay at the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the southern boundary. 20 The Jordan was its border on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, according to its boundaries all around, according to their families. 21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, according to their families, were Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Chephar Haammoni, Ophni, and Gaba: twelve cities with their villages; 25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpah, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah, Eleph, Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

 Benjamin means "son of my right hand"; the tribe, therefore, emphasizes the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is reigning at the right hand of the Father.  Benjamin eventually included Jerusalem as one of its cities (v.28), which was on the border of Judah (ch.15:63).  And this is a perfect picture, because authority (i.e. Benjamin) and praise (i.e. Judah) are beautifully united in this capital city which became God's center in David's reign.  In the history of Israel, Judah and Ephraim were often rivals; since, Benjamin is located between them, it played the role of a peacemaker.  Territorially, Benjamin was the smallest of the tribes; but the inheritance that was given to them is very strategic because in his borders were Shiloh, Jericho, Hebron, Gibeon and Jerusalem.

3 Conclusion

 Now that the boundaries are carefully drawn, the inheritance of each tribe are finally settled (v.10).  All selfish claims were prevented by the wise guidance of God, who allotted the hill and the valley, the corn and the pasture, the brooks and the rivers, and the towns and the cities.  Now that we are a child of God, is the lot given to you causes you to suffer? Rejoice! God allows it for a purpose, let Him do what He sees right in your life.  Or are you in prosperity and peace? Remmember, it is blessing from above; be humble, because you don't really deserve it. Never forget to thank Him and always be ready to give it back at his command.