Shiloh Established and the Land Surveyed
Joshua 18:1-10
Jos.18.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקהלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- עדת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלה: PRON,3,f,sg,gen
- וישכינו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- שם: ADV
- את: PRT,acc
- אהל: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והארץ: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נכבשה: VERB,niphal,perf,3,f,sg
- לפניהם: PREP,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 33:7 (verbal): Uses the phrase and function of the 'tent of meeting' (ohel mo'ed) as the place where Israel assembled to meet God, paralleling Joshua's setting up the tent at Shiloh.
- 1 Samuel 1:3 (structural): Describes Israel going up to Shiloh year by year to worship and sacrifice at the sanctuary there, connecting Shiloh as the assembly/site of the tent of meeting in Joshua 18:1.
- Judges 21:19 (thematic): Locates communal religious gatherings and a feast of the LORD at Shiloh, reflecting the town's role as Israel's central meeting place after the conquest.
- Joshua 11:23 (thematic): Summarizes the subjugation of the land and Israel's rest after conquest—paralleling Joshua 18:1's statement that 'the land was subdued before them.'
Alternative generated candidates
- And all the congregation of the sons of Israel gathered at Shiloh, and there they set up the tent of meeting; and the land was subdued before them.
- And all the congregation of the sons of Israel assembled at Shiloh, and they set up there the tent of meeting; and the land was subdued before them.
Jos.18.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויותרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בבני: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,const
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- חלקו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- נחלתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- שבעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבטים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 13:1-7 (structural): Sets the broader framework that portions of the land remained to be allotted and that Joshua was to oversee the distribution—background context for the seven tribes still awaiting their inheritance in Josh 18:2.
- Joshua 14:1-5 (verbal): Describes the formal giving of inheritances by Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal chiefs, paralleling Josh 18:2’s scene of tribes coming to Shiloh to receive their portions.
- Numbers 26:52-56 (thematic): Lays out the principle of dividing the land by lot among the tribes and the requirement that each tribe receive its inheritance—provides legal/administrative basis for the allocations still to be made in Joshua 18.
- Judges 1:1-2, 1:27 (thematic): Reports the incomplete conquest and tribes’ failure to fully drive out inhabitants, explaining why some tribes had not yet taken possession of their allotted land—a theme echoed by the seven tribes in Josh 18:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- And there remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.
- There remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes that had not yet received their inheritance.
Jos.18.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהושע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- אנה: ADV,interrog
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- מתרפים: VERB,hitpael,ptc,pres,2,m,pl
- לבוא: VERB,qal,inf
- לרשת: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אבותיכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 1:2-3 (verbal): Both passages command Israel to go into and take possession of the land that the LORD has given them—similar language of arising, crossing, and possessing the land.
- Deuteronomy 9:1 (thematic): Moses' instruction anticipates the same summons to enter and dispossess the nations; both frame possession of the land as the fulfillment of God’s promise to the fathers.
- Joshua 23:4-5 (thematic): Joshua’s later farewell charge also urges Israel to possess the land fully and warns that continued obedience is required to retain it—same imperative to take possession.
- Judges 1:27-36 (structural): A narrative contrast: these verses recount Israel’s failure to drive out inhabitants and leave Canaanites living among them, illustrating the consequence of the slackness Joshua reproves in 18:3.
- Judges 2:2-3 (allusion): The divine rebuke for making covenants and not driving out the peoples echoes the moral/disciplinary thrust behind Joshua’s challenge about Israel’s delay in taking the land.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “How long will you delay and be lax to go in and possess the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?
- And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "How long will you be slack to go and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?"
Jos.18.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הבו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- שלשה: NUM,m
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לשבט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואשלחם: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- ויקמו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- ויתהלכו: CONJ+VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,pl
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויכתבו: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אותה: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- לפי: PREP
- נחלתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 13:17-20 (verbal): Moses sends men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan—same verb and action of sending men to go through and report on the land.
- Deuteronomy 1:22-23 (thematic): The Israelites ask to send men to scout the land before entering—echoes the practice of surveying the territory prior to allotment.
- Numbers 26:52-56 (structural): Gives the procedural framework for dividing the land among the tribes and assigning inheritances—parallels the administrative purpose of surveying and recording tribal allotments.
- Joshua 14:1-5 (structural): Describes the leaders (Eleazar, Joshua, heads of tribes) overseeing the allotment of the land by lot—closely related to sending officials to map and write the inheritances.
Alternative generated candidates
- Choose for yourselves three men from each tribe, and I will send them. Let them rise and go through the land and write it down according to their inheritances, and bring the report to me.
- Take for yourselves three men from each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land and write it down according to their holdings, and they shall return to me.
Jos.18.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והתחלקו: CONJ+VERB,hitpael,perf,3,m,pl
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- לשבעה: PREP+NUM,card,m,sg
- חלקים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- יעמד: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- גבולו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- מנגב: PREP
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יעמדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- גבולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- מצפון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:1-12 (structural): Detailed description of Judah’s southern boundaries and towns; parallels Josh 18:5’s assignment of Judah on the south and the tribe’s territorial outline.
- Joshua 16:1-10 (structural): Defines the allotment and borders of Ephraim (part of the house of Joseph) in the central/northern hill country, corresponding to Josh 18:5’s placement of Joseph to the north.
- Numbers 34:2-12 (thematic): Gives the overall southern and northern boundaries of the Promised Land; provides the geographic framework within which tribal divisions such as Judah (south) and Joseph (north) are made.
- Judges 1:1-4 (thematic): Describes the tribes’ initiative after Joshua’s death and the selection of Judah to lead the first advance—echoing the special southern position and leadership role attributed to Judah in territorial arrangements.
- Ezekiel 48:1-7 (thematic): Ezekiel’s prophetic re‑division of the land lists tribal portions with a north–south orientation (including Joseph/Manasseh and Ephraim and the placement of Judah), echoing the territorial ordering found in Josh 18:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- Divide the land into seven portions. Judah shall hold its border toward the south, and the house of Joseph shall hold their border toward the north.
- You shall divide the land into seven parts; Judah shall stand on his border toward the south, and the house of Joseph shall stand on their border toward the north.
Jos.18.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתם: CONJ+PRON,2,pl
- תכתבו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- שבעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חלקים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והבאתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- הנה: PART
- ויריתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- גורל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פה: ADV
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 33:54 (verbal): Explicit instruction to divide the land by lot for inheritance—closely parallels Joshua's commission to write up portions and cast lots before the LORD.
- Numbers 26:55 (verbal): States that the land shall be divided for an inheritance by lot according to the tribes—earlier legislation underlying Joshua’s allotment process.
- Joshua 14:2 (structural): Narrative description of the land being allotted by lot to the tribes—part of the same distribution sequence that includes Joshua 18:6.
- Joshua 18:10 (structural): Immediate narrative outcome: the land is divided by lot before the LORD for the remaining tribes—direct continuation/fulfillment of the instruction in 18:6.
- Proverbs 16:33 (thematic): Sums up the theological principle behind casting lots: although lots are cast, their outcome is under the Lord’s sovereign disposal—reflects Joshua’s practice of casting lots ‘before the LORD.’
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall write the land into seven portions and bring them to me here; then I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
- And you shall write the land into seven portions and bring it to me here, and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
Jos.18.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- חלק: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ללוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בקרבכם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,const+PRON,2,pl,m
- כי: CONJ
- כהנת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- נחלתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs,suff:3,m
- וגד: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וראובן: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וחצי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המנשה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לקחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- נחלתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- מעבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לירדן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מזרחה: ADV,dir
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 18:20 (verbal): God tells Aaron/Levites they shall have no inheritance among the Israelites because the LORD is their inheritance — a near verbal parallel to Joshua 18:7's claim that the priests/Levites have no portion, for the LORD is their lot.
- Deuteronomy 10:9 (verbal): Declares that Levi has no part or inheritance with his brothers and that the LORD is his inheritance — language closely mirrored in Joshua 18:7.
- Deuteronomy 18:1 (thematic): States that the priests (Levites) shall have no portion or inheritance among Israel and describes their support from the LORD's offerings, thematically explaining why they receive no territorial share.
- Joshua 21:1-3 (structural): Narrative account of the Levites receiving cities from the other tribes because they had no territorial inheritance; explains and implements the principle stated in Joshua 18:7.
- Joshua 13:8 (structural): Records that Moses gave the lands east of the Jordan to Gad, Reuben, and the half‑tribe of Manasseh — parallel to Joshua 18:7's mention that those tribes took their inheritance beyond the Jordan given by Moses.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the Levites have no inheritance among you; the LORD is their inheritance. And to the families of Gad, Reuben, and the half‑tribe of Manasseh was their possession given beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
- For the Levites have no portion among you; the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. And Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have taken their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
Jos.18.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקמו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- ויצו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהושע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ההלכים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- לכתב: PREP+INFN,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לכו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- והתהלכו: VERB,hitp,imp,2,m,pl
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- וכתבו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- אותה: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- ושובו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ופה: CONJ+ADV,loc
- אשליך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- גורל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בשלה: PREP+NOUN,pr,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 26:55-56 (verbal): God's command that the land be apportioned ‘‘by lot’’ among the tribes closely parallels Joshua's procedure—survey the land and then cast lots for inheritance.
- Joshua 14:1-4 (structural): Same allotment episode in the Joshua narrative: some territories remained and the distribution of the land among the tribes was to be completed by lot, providing immediate narrative context to 18:8.
- 1 Chronicles 6:54 (verbal): Reports that Levitical cities and inheritances were assigned ‘‘by lot,’’ reflecting the same Israelite legal/practical pattern of distributing territory by casting lots.
- Acts 1:26 (allusion): The early church casts lots to determine God’s will in choosing Matthias; this echoes the Israelite practice of seeking divine decision through lots (as in Joshua 18:8).
- 1 Samuel 10:20-24 (thematic): The Israelites cast lots to select Saul as king—another instance of using lots to determine leadership or allocation, thematically parallel to Joshua's use of lots at Shiloh.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the men rose and went. And Joshua charged the men who had gone to write the land, saying, “Go, walk through the land and write it down; then return to me, and there I will cast lots for you before the LORD at Shiloh.”
- The men rose and went; and Joshua commanded the men who went to survey the land, saying, "Go, walk through the land and write it down, and return to me; and here I will cast the lot for you before the LORD at Shiloh."
Jos.18.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויעברו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויכתבוה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl,obj:3,f,sg
- לערים: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לשבעה: PREP+NUM,m,sg
- חלקים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- יהושע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- המחנה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שלה: PRON,3,f,sg,gen
Parallels
- Numbers 34:16-29 (structural): God commands the appointment of leaders to describe the land boundaries and assign it to the tribes — a procedural parallel to the men surveying, recording cities, and reporting to Joshua for allotment.
- Numbers 26:52-56 (thematic): Instructions for dividing the land by lot among the tribes; thematically parallels the surveying and writing up of cities 'in seven parts' for distribution.
- Joshua 14:1-5 (structural): Narrative account of the allotment process and the setting aside of inheritances among the tribes — a direct structural parallel within the same conquest/allotment tradition.
- Ezekiel 47:13-23 (thematic): Ezekiel’s prophetic apportioning of the land among Israel’s tribes echoes the theme of surveying and dividing territory found in Joshua 18:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the men went and passed through the land and wrote it on a scroll, dividing it into seven portions; and they came to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh.
- So the men went and passed through the land and wrote it down in a book into seven parts, and came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.
Jos.18.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- יהושע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גורל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בשלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויחלק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
- יהושע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לבני: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כמחלקתם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+SUFF,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 26:55 (verbal): Explicit law that the land is to be apportioned by lot ('the land shall be divided by lot'), paralleling Joshua's casting of lots to distribute tribal inheritances.
- Numbers 33:54 (verbal): States that Israel is to inherit the land 'by lot according to your divisions,' language closely echoed in Joshua's division of the land 'according to their divisions.'
- Joshua 14:1-2 (structural): An earlier summary statement in Joshua's narrative that the tribal inheritances 'fell to them by lot,' situating Joshua 18:10 within the same program of allotment (administrative/legal procedure).
- Joshua 21:43-45 (thematic): Narrative summary of the conquest and the giving of the land to Israel—the outcome to which the allotment by lot in Joshua 18:10 contributes (possession and fulfillment of promise).
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh before the LORD, and there Joshua apportioned the land to the sons of Israel according to their divisions.
- Then Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh before the LORD; and Joshua distributed the land to the sons of Israel according to their portions.
And all the congregation of the people of Israel gathered there; they set up the Tent of Meeting there, and the land was subdued before them. And among the people of Israel there remained seven tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you be slack to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?”
“Appoint three men from each tribe, and I will send them.” So they appointed them and sent them: “Go, walk through the land and write a description of it according to your inheritances, and come back to me.”
“You shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall stand on his border toward the south, and the house of Joseph shall stand on their border toward the north.”
“You shall write down the land in seven portions and bring them to me here; and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.”
For the Levites have no portion among you; the LORD himself is their inheritance. And to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben and to half the tribe of Manasseh was given their possession beyond the Jordan, eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
Then the men rose and went; and Joshua commanded those who were to write out the land, saying, “Go, walk through the land and write it down; then return to me, and here I will cast lots for you before the LORD at Shiloh.” So the men went and walked through the land and wrote it down, city by city, and divided it into seven portions in a book; and they came to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh. And Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh before the LORD; and there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel according to their divisions.