Simeon’s Lot

Joshua 19:1-9

“And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.

 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah, And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem, And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah, And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah, And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages: Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages: And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. 

Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.” (Joshua 19:1-9) 

The surveyors discovered that the Judah had only occupied the northern portion of the land assigned to them, and concluded they didn’t need as much as they had been given.  The entire southern portion of Judah’s land was reassigned to the tribe of Simeon.  Because it was largely desert, there were far fewer cities, only about seventeen.  Simeon actually received about as much land as Judah.    Later Simeon was absorbed by Judah.  In Genesis 49, Jacob had said Simeon and Levi were not to be allowed to unite because they would incite each other to do wrong.   Placing Simeon at the far southern end, with Judah between them and any of the other tribes minimized that risk, although the lands were assigned by lot.

Taking this piece of land from Judah for Simeon made Ephraim and Manasseh’s lands the largest of any of the tribes, further discrediting their claims that they deserved more.


Zebulon’s Parcel 
Joshua 19:10-16

“And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia. And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah; And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel: And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages. 

This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.” (Joshua 19:10-16)

Zebulon was selected next and given a small portion about midway between the Mediterranean and the sea of Galilee.  The Kishon river formed the boundary between Zebulon and Manasseh on the south.  There were twelve cities or former city states in the region.


Issachar’s Lot
Joshua 19:17-23

"And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 

And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath, And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez; And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. 

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.” (Joshua 19:17-23)

Issachar was located just to the southeast of Zebulon.  They were bordered on the south by Manasseh, while the eastern border was formed by the Jordan River.  The northern boundary was just south of the sea of Galilee, extending to the border with Zebulon.

Sixteen major cities or city states were located within the boundaries of Issachar.  The Bethlehem mentioned here is not the same city as that mentioned in the land of Judah.


Asher’s Inheritance
Joshua 19:24-31

“And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.

 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath; And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon; And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib: Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. 

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.” (Joshua 19:24-31)

Asher was originally given the costal area from the northern border of Manasseh near Dor  to the Phoenecian cities of Tyre and Zidon or Sidon, located in present day Lebanon.  It extended east to about half way between the Mediteranean and the sea of Galilee along the boundaries of Manasseh and Zebulon.  There had been twenty tow city states in the area.

Dividing up the Land

Joshua 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.  And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. ” (Joshua 18:1-2)

Over five years after invading the land, having successfully taking control of the entire region, Judah and Joseph’s families had claimed their land.  None of the others had made any effort to divide up or settle the land, just staying together in single large group.  As long as they were together, their enemies were not much of a threat, and they could let Joshua take most of the responsibility and make the decisions.  Joshua was no longer young, and the responsibility began to wear on him.  He hadn’t intended to become their king when he led them into the land.

“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?  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.  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. 

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.  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.” (Joshua 18:3-7) 

Because a large group makes people feel secure, they are less aware of their responsibility, and it is easy to depend on people rather than God.  The entire tower of Babel incident was the result of this desire to stay together instead of obeying God.  God had to confuse their languages to force them to separate.  In Acts, the church was doing the same thing, and God sent persecution to get them to go to other communities.

Joshua recognized that by staying together, they were avoiding doing what God had planned for them, and missing out on his blessings.  He commanded to choose three men from each tribe to survey the land and see what areas were available.  They would then be responsible for dividing the land up in seven parts for the tribes which had not yet received any.  Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh would keep the land they hade claimed, as would the trans Jordanian tribes, and the Levites would only receive individual cities.

“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 the LORD in Shiloh.  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. 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.” (Joshua 18:8-10)

Joshua instructed the surveyors to report back with physical descriptions of each of the seven divisions, which would then be assigned to each tribe by lot.  Joshua would oversee the process to maintain integrity.  That was the program that was followed.



Benjamin’s Land
Joshua 18:11-28

“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. 

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 Bethaven.  And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.  And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter. 

And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah: And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel, And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah: And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.  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.” (Joshua 18:11-20)

Benjamin received an area between that claimed by Judah to the south and Ephraim to the north.  It was bounded on the east side by the Jordan river starting at the Dead Sea and reaching north to Gilgal.  The northern border was marked by Jericho and Bethel and extended about forty miles before turning south toward Kirjath Jearim.  The southern border stretched as far south as Jerusalem and back to the tip of the Dead sea.  It appears to have been the smallest of the parcels.

“Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz.  And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah, And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages: Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.” (Joshua 18:21-28)

Benjamin received twenty six cities, besides their surrounding villages or suburbs.  Because walking was the primary means of transportation, it was necessary that each city have farmland nearby, but time spent walking to the fields was unproductive time so villages or bedroom communities were built to provide shelter and safety for the workers.  The size of cities was limited by the amount of food which could be grown within reasonable walking distance of the city.

When Israel split after the death of Solomon, Benjamin became part of the nation of Judah.

An Entitlement Mindset

Joshua 17:14-18

“And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?” (Joshua 17:14) 

Seven tribes had not yet received their land but Ephraim and Manasseh are already complaining their piece isn’t big enough.  After all, they are such a great people because God has blessed them so much.  They completely ignored the fact that Manasseh’s land in Bashan and Gilead was about as large as the land of Judah,  and that their combined land on the west side was equally large.  The sense of entitlement is always selfish.

This sense of being entitlement is especially prevalent in our day.  There is a tendency to focus on the recipients of welfare, Social Security and Disability as feeling entitled, but the problem goes much deeper.  In an interview with the author of “The Plutocrats”, she stated that the highly paid executives feel they are owed huge bonuses even though their company is struggling, or that the companies were owed bailouts because they are the key to American success.  American politicians believe they are owed exorbitant retirement benefits because they worked so hard for the people.  Middle class doctors and Lawyers believe they deserve more than others because of their degrees.  Children believe they have a right to everything they want.

It has invaded the church as well, with pastors of small churches refusing to take part time employment to help support themselves, and churches expecting to be supported by other churches or have their buildings donated.  The attitude is summed up in the statement by one preacher whose church was discussing a major purchase.  “We deserve the best because we are serving the Lord.”

“And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.” (Joshua 17:15) 

Joshua’s response was that if they were that great, and they really needed more land they were capable of driving out the Canaanites that lived among them or of taking some of the land in the hills nearby.  They had enough to get by, and it was not everyone else’s responsibility to provide as much as they might want.

“And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.” (Joshua 17:16)

Their response was that it wasn’t fair that they’d have to work for the land because after all, the Canaanites had chariots of iron and would resist.  In the financial crisis, I gained a lot of respect for Ford for not accepting the bailouts like GM and Chrysler, going ahead and dealing with their problems themselves.  By doing as they did, they demonstrated that

Good leadership and hard work could succeed.   While GM has posted some of their largest profits ever, it seldom mentioned that more than half their production has been moved to China, or that a major part of the profit is the product of government subsidies.  For example the Toyota Prius and the Cheverolet Volt cost about the same on the market, but GM receives a hundred thousand dollars from the government to pay for making them, while Toyota does not.  If they are as good, they should be able to produce the same product for a competitive the same price.  If they can’t, they shouldn’t be in that market.

“And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.” (Joshua 17:17-18)

More land was available, and Ephraim and Manasseh were free to take as much as they wanted.  They were not limited to what they had been given, but it was not incumbent on the others to get it for them.  It was their responsibility to earn it themselves.  It would cost the others just as much as it would cost them to get it.  The iron chariots were just an excuse for not taking their responsibility.

In Roman times, the lands of Ephraim and Manasseh on the west of Jordan, together with the lands given to Dan would be known as Samaria.

Joseph’s land

Joshua 16:1-4

“And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel.  And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth, And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea. 

So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.” (Joshua 16:1-4)

Joseph’s descendants received the land just north of Judah stretching across from the Jordan to the Mediterranean.  Joseph’s descendants were Ephraim and Manasseh.  Jacob had promised Joseph would get a double portion in Genesis 48:22.  “Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”  Jacob effectively claimed Joseph’s sons as his own.

Ephraim
Joshua 16:5-10

“And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper; And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah; And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.  The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.” (Joshua 16:5-8) 

Ephraim was given the eastward part of Joseph’s land, from the Jordan north to Naaroth and west to the south side of the brook or river Kanah which runs to the sea.  Their southern boundary ran from Jericho across to Bethel and Mizpeh.

“And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.” (Joshua 16:9)

 The border with Manasseh on the west was not strictly observed with Ephraim controlling several of the cities in Manasseh.

“And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.” (Joshua 16:10)

Though Joshua had conquered the land, Ephraim never finished driving out the Canaanites, forming an agreement to let them stay as long as they paid tribute., contrary to God’s command in Deuteronomy 20:16-17.  “But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:”  It wasn’t that they were unable, nor were they tricked like Gibeon had done, they just wanted the money.

Manasseh
Joshua 17:1-13

"There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.” (Joshua 17:1-2)

One of Manasseh’s sons, Machir, had been given the lands of Gilead and Bashan, on the east side of the Jordan.  As ranchers and frontiersmen, they would willingly take the risk involved with being exposed to enemy attack in exchange for the freedom and space they received.  The descendants of his other six sons were more interested in the sheltered peaceable life to be found surrounded by others.

“But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father. 

And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan; Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.” (Joshua 17:3-6)

God had specified that if a man had no sons, his daughters were to inherit and carry on the family name.  In Numbers 27, Moses had given specific orders that Zelophehad’s daughters were to be given land, and at this time they approached Eleazar the priest to remind him of Moses’ instruction.  Each of the girls was given a piece of land along side their uncles, making ten portions on the west side of Jordan.

“And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah. Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim; And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea: Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.” (Joshua 17:7-10)

 This part of Mannaseh’s land lay to the west of Ephraim, north of the Kanah river. The area around Tappuah was technically Manasseh’s but Ephraim claimed some of the cities.  They were bounded on the north by Asher and by Issachar to the northeast.

“And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.” (Joshua 17:11)

Though they were technically in Asher and Issachar, geographical features made it easier for these town to trade with and relate to Mannaseh than to their own tribes, in a manner similar to what is observed between towns in neighboring counties in the United States.

“Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.  Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.” (Joshua 17:12-13) 

Initially, Manasseh was not initially strong enough to drive out all the Canaanites.  Later, when they became strong enough, they elected to collect tribute from them instead, breaking God’s commandment.

Judah’s Portion

Joshua 15:1-63

“This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.  And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward: And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa: From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast.” (Joshua 15:1-4)

Judah’s southern boundary ran southward from the tip of the dead sea along the boundary with Edom, almost to the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, before turning west to Kadesh Barnea and then catching the river of Egypt to present day El Arish on the Mediterranean shore.

 “And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan.” (Joshua 15:5)

The eastern border of Judah stretched the full length of the Dead Sea, from the southern most point to where the Jordan river entered on the north.

“And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan: And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben: And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel: And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward: And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim: And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah: And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families. 
” (Joshua 15:6-12)

Judah’s northern border actually began at a particular stone just north of the Dead Sea, near Bethhogla, and wandered to the west, sweeping as far south as Jerusalem, eventually including most of the philistine lands and reaching the Mediteranean Sea, which formed the western boundary.


"And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron. And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.” (Joshua 15:13-15) 

The land Caleb received was in the region given to Judah.  When the land was given him he took it, destroying the Giant Anakims at Hebron who had so frightened Israel forty five years before.  Sadly, he was the only one who took the trouble to completely drive out his enemies as God had commanded.  That failure to completely obey God would haunt Israel throughout their history.

“And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. 

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.  And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? 

Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.” (Joshua 15:16-19) 

Caleb offered to give his daughter in marriage to anyone who defeated Kirjathsepher, and Othniel took him up on the offer.  Recognizing the necessity of water, Achsah asked her father to give a source to them.  Caleb gave land with springs at either end.  Many years later, Othniel would become the first Judge of Israel.

“This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. 

And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,  And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet, And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah, Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah, And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:

 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah, And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam, Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah, And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages: 

Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad, And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages: 

Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages: 

Ekron, with her towns and her villages: From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages: Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: ” (Joshua 15:20-47) 

The different cities are grouped according to the different groups that had occupied them.  They were given to the different families of Judah.  The last group, from Ekron to Gaza were Philistine lands.  The Philistines would figure prominently is Israel’s future.

"And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir, And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,  And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:

 Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah, And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages: 

Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah, And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages: 

Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor, And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages: 

Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages: 

In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah, And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.” (Joshua 15:48-62) 

This was the area designated to belong to Judah.  Some of it would be temporarily occupied by other tribes until they were able to take over the land given them.

“As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day. ” (Joshua 15:63) 

The tribe of Judah would not defeat the Jebusites for almost six hundred years, when David finally took Jerusalem to be his capital.  He also defeated the Philistines about the same time.  From the statement here, it is clear the Book of Joshua was written before about 1250-1300 BC.  

Division Of The Western Lands

Joshua 14:1-5

“And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

 By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.  For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.  For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.  As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.” (Joshua 14:1-5) 

The land east of Jordan, described in the previous chapter had been divided among the families of Reuben and Gad and Manasseh’s son, Machir.  The land in Canaan was divided among the other nine tribes and the rest of Manasseh’s family.  The tribe of Levi had no country of their own, just receiving cities in each of the other tribes lands, so they would be close by to teach each tribe about God.  The land was to be divided randomly, by casting lots.

Caleb’s Portion
Joshua 14:6-15

“Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 

Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.  And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 

And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.” (Joshua 14:6-12)

In reading the story, it is easy to forget that we are told Joshua had long war with the peoples of the land, but Caleb brings it back into perspective.  Forty five years after he and Joshua had gone as spies and some five years after Joshua took the leadership, Caleb approached Joshua about the land Moses had promised him, the land where he had gone as a spy.

Forty five years before, the entire nation of Israel had been intimidates by the giants, the sons of Anak.  At eighty five years old, Caleb asked for permission to take the land of the Anakims for his own, because he believed God would give it to him, just as he had believed they could have taken it the first time.

“And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.  Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.  And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.” (Joshua 14:13-15)

For forty five years, Caleb had been prevented from receiving his blessings because of the lack of faith of those around him, but because he remained faithful the whole time he eventually received exactly what God had promised him.

Time to Divide The Land

Joshua 13:1-6

“Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. 

This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.” (Joshua 13:1-5) 

We do not know Joshua’s age at this time except he was old.  We do know that he was in command of the army when Israel was attacked by the Amalekites in Exodus 17, and that he served as one of the twelve spies in Numbers 13.  It is logical to assume he was at least as old as Caleb, making him at least eighty five or ninety years old at this time.  He may have been over a hundred.  In any case he was no longer as vigorous as he had once been.

While they had defeated most of the major armies in the land, there were many small communities yet to be taken.  They had not yet taken the Philistines land, or part of the land toward Egypt.  They also had not taken southern Lebanon and part of Syria.  At his age Joshua would be unable to complete the job.

“All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.” (Joshua 13:6)

In Exodus 23:28-30, God had promised, “And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.”  With the land under their control, a massive military force would not be required to take the rest of the land.  God would gradually drive out the people who were already there as the land was needed.  Joshua just needed to divide up the land so they could begin to occupy it.

Dividing the Land Between The Trans-Jordanian Tribes
Joshua 13:7-32

“Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh, With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them; From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon; And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon; And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah; All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out. 

Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. ” (Joshua 13:7-13)

The newly conquered land only needed to be divided among nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh, as the other half of Manasseh, and Reuben and Gad had received their inheritance on the east of Jordan in the land Moses had captured.   Unfortunately, the trans-Jordan tribes never completely expelled the Geshurites or the Maachathites, allowing some to remain.

“Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them. 

And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba; Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon, And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley, And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth, And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them. 

And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.” (Joshua 13:14-23)

Reuben received the land which had belonged to the Amorite kin, Sihon.  It was the southernmost of the lands east of Jordan, separated from Moab on the south by the river Arnon.  Their eastern border was shared with Ammon. The Dead sea and the Jordan river marked their western and northern boundaries.  We are reminded again that Moab had hired Balaam against Israel, and he had been slain along with the Midianite leaders subject to Sihon in the process of taking that area, as described in Numbers 31:8.

“And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.  And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah; And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir; And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.  This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.” (Joshua 13:24-28)

The tribe of Gad received the rest of Sihon’s lands, stretching from just north of the Dead Sea north to the Sea of Galilee and from the Jordan river to the southern branch of the river Jabok near present day Amman in Jordan.  The Ammonites were their eastern neighbors.

“And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.  And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities: And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.” (Joshua 13:29-31)

The half tribe of Manasseh, the descendants of his son Machir received all the land which had belonged to Og, king of Bashan, east of the Sea of Galilee, reaching as far north as Mount Hermon in present day Syria.  It included a far larger piece of present day Syria than the Golan heights area which Israel recaptured in 1967.

“These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.  But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.” (Joshua 13:32-33)

While the tribe of Levi received some cities on the eastern side of Jordan, they held no land of their own, but were just occupants in the land of the other tribes.  Their special part was their relationship to God.  They illustrate the relationship Christians today are to have with the world, living among them and governed by their laws, but not really a part of them.