Procedure for Distributing the Land and Levitical Cities
Joshua 14:1-5
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Jos.14.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואלה: CONJ+DEM,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נחלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- כנען: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נחלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אותם: PRON,3,m,pl,obj
- אלעזר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויהושע: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וראשי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,const
- אבות: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- המטות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- לבני: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 34:16 (verbal): Specifies Eleazar the priest and the tribal leaders as agents in assigning the land—parallels Josh 14:1’s naming of Eleazar, Joshua, and the heads of the tribes in the allotment process.
- Joshua 13:7 (thematic): Gives the immediate context for dividing Canaan among the tribes (what remains to be allotted), linking to Josh 14:1’s listing of those who received their inheritance.
- Joshua 18:1-10 (structural): Describes the assembly at Shiloh and the procedure by which Joshua and the tribal leaders survey and assign the remaining land by lot—parallels the institutional process referenced in Josh 14:1.
- Joshua 21:1-3 (verbal): Records the heads of the tribal households coming to Eleazar and Joshua to receive and assign Levitical cities—uses similar language and actors as Josh 14:1 about distribution of territory.
Alternative generated candidates
- These are the inheritances that the Israelites received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the Israelites allotted to them.
- These are the inheritances that the Israelites received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the ancestral tribal fathers of the Israelites allotted to them.
Jos.14.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בגורל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נחלתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- כאשר: CONJ
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לתשעת: PREP+NUM,m,pl,const
- המטות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וחצי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המטה: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 26:55-56 (verbal): Explicit law that the land is to be apportioned by lot among the tribes—same vocabulary and principle of 'lot' (גורל) determining inheritance.
- Numbers 33:54 (verbal): Parallel statement that the Israelites shall inherit the land by lot according to their families, echoing the method of allocation cited in Joshua 14:2.
- Joshua 18:10 (structural): Narrative instance in Joshua where Joshua casts lots at Shiloh to distribute the remaining land—practical application of the command referenced in 14:2.
- Joshua 21:2 (thematic): Describes giving cities to the Levites 'by lot,' showing the same procedure of allotment of inheritance within the book of Joshua.
Alternative generated candidates
- By lot they received their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and the half‑tribe.
- They were allotted by lot, as the LORD commanded through Moses, to the nine tribes and the half‑tribe.
Jos.14.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- נחלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- שני: NUM,m,pl,construct
- המטות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וחצי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המטה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מעבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לירדן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וללוים: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נחלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בתוכם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 13:8 (structural): Earlier statement in Joshua that Moses had given the land beyond the Jordan to the two tribes and the half-tribe—repeats the same allocation language and context.
- Numbers 32:33 (verbal): Direct parallel reporting that Moses gave the lands east of the Jordan to the children of Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh—closely matches the wording and allocation.
- Numbers 18:20 (verbal): God’s declaration to Aaron that the priests/Levites shall have no inheritance or portion among the other tribes—explains the statement that the Levites received no territory.
- Deuteronomy 10:9 (allusion): Affirms the principle that Levi has no part or inheritance with his brothers because the LORD is his inheritance, echoing the claim that the Levites received no land among the tribes.
Alternative generated candidates
- For Moses had given the inheritance to the two tribes and the half‑tribe beyond the Jordan; and to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
- For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half‑tribe beyond the Jordan, and to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
Jos.14.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שני: NUM,m,pl,construct
- מטות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מנשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואפרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- נתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- חלק: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ללוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לשבת: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- ומגרשיהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,suf:3mp
- למקניהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,suf:3mp
- ולקנינם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,suf:3mp
Parallels
- Numbers 18:20-21 (verbal): States that the Levites have no portion or inheritance among the Israelites but are given the LORD's service and receive the tithe—same legal principle expressed in Josh 14:4.
- Deuteronomy 10:9 (verbal): Explicit declaration that Levi has no share or inheritance with his brethren, paralleling Josh 14:4's claim that Levites were not given tribal land.
- Joshua 21:1-3, 41-42 (structural): Narrative account of the allotment of cities and their surrounding pasturelands to the Levites—concrete fulfillment/expansion of the situation summarized in Josh 14:4.
- Numbers 35:1-8 (structural): Prescribes setting aside cities (including cities of refuge) and their open lands for the Levites, paralleling Josh 14:4's mention of cities and commonlands for their livestock and goods.
- 1 Chronicles 6:54-66 (thematic): Lists the Levitical towns and underscores the Levites' settlement in cities rather than a contiguous tribal inheritance, reflecting the same arrangement as Josh 14:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; and they gave no portion to the Levites in the land, only towns to dwell in and their surrounding pasturelands for their cattle and their possessions.
- For the sons of Joseph were two tribes — Manasseh and Ephraim — and the Levites were not given a portion in the land, but only cities to dwell in and their surrounding pastures for their livestock and for their property.
Jos.14.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כאשר: CONJ
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כן: ADV
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויחלקו: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 33:54 (verbal): Commands that the land be taken and divided as an inheritance—language about dividing the land by lot echoes Joshua’s statement that Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
- Numbers 26:55–56 (thematic): Prescribes how the land is to be apportioned ‘according to the number of names’ and by inheritance—background legal material for the allotment described in Joshua 14:5.
- Joshua 18:10 (structural): Records Joshua casting lots in Shiloh and dividing the land among the tribes—a parallel account of the allotment process and its formal procedure.
- Joshua 21:43–45 (thematic): Summarizes the outcome: the LORD gave Israel the whole land and fulfilled His promises—connects the result of the division in 14:5 with divine fulfillment.
Alternative generated candidates
- As the LORD had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did; and they divided the land.
- As the LORD commanded Moses, so the Israelites did; they divided the land.
These are the inheritances that the Israelites received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the ancestral tribes of the Israelites apportioned to them.
By lot their inheritance was allotted, as the LORD had commanded through Moses, to the nine tribes and the half‑tribe.
For Moses had given the inheritance to the two tribes and the half‑tribe beyond the Jordan; to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
For the sons of Joseph were two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim—and they did not give the Levites a hereditary portion in the land, but only cities to dwell in and pasturelands for their cattle and possessions. Thus the Israelites did, as the LORD had commanded Moses; they divided the land.