Joshua 18:1-13 ▼

1 Then the whole congregation of Israel (he wrestles with God) assembled at Shiloh (place of rest) and set up the Tent of Meeting there. And though the land was subdued before them,

2 there were still seven tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) who had not yet received their inheritance.

3 So Joshua (YHWH saves) said to the Israelites (God prevails), “How long will you⁺ put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of your⁺ fathers, has given you⁺?

4 Appoint three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to survey the land and map it out, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me

5 and divide the land into seven portions. Judah (praised) shall remain in their territory in the south, and the house of Joseph (YHWH has added) shall remain in their territory in the north.

6 When you⁺ have mapped out the seven portions of land and brought it to me, I will cast lots for you⁺ here in the presence of the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu}.

7 The Levites, however, have no portion among you⁺, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD {YHWH}. And Gad (troop), Reuben (behold a son), and half the tribe of Manasseh (causing to forget) have already received the inheritance that Moses (drawn out) the servant of the LORD gave them beyond the Jordan (flowing down) to the east.”

8 As the men got up to go out, Joshua (YHWH saves) commanded them to map out the land, saying, “Go and survey the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will cast lots for you⁺ here in Shiloh (place of rest) in the presence of the LORD {YHWH}.”

9 So the men departed and went throughout the land, mapping it city by city into seven portions. Then they returned with the document to Joshua (YHWH saves) at the camp in Shiloh (place of rest).

10 And Joshua (YHWH saves) cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD {YHWH} at Shiloh (place of rest), where he distributed the land to the Israelites (God prevails) according to their divisions.

11 The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin (son of the right hand). Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah (praised) and Joseph (YHWH has added):

12 On the north side their border began at the Jordan (flowing down), went up past the northern slope of Jericho (city of palms), headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven (house of wickedness).

13 From there the border crossed over (almond tree) to the southern slope of Luz (that is, Bethel (house of God)) and went down to Ataroth-addar (crowns of glory) on the hill south of (house of hollowness) Lower Beth-horon.