Joshua 18:1-13 ▼

1 After this, the entire assembly of the Israelis gathered together at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there, where the land lay conquered before them.

2 Seven tribes remained among the Israelis for whom their inheritances had not yet been allocated.

3 So Joshua told the Israelis, |How long will you delay invading and taking possession of the land that the LORD God of your ancestors has given you?

4 Appoint three men from each tribe and I'll send them. They'll begin to go through the land and record a description of it, categorized according to their inheritance, and then they'll report back to me.

5 They'll divide it seven ways. Judah will stay in its territory on the south and the house of Joseph will remain in its territory on the north.

6 Lay out the land in seven divisions, then bring your report here to me. I will then cast lots in the presence of the LORD our God.

7 The descendants of Levi have no allotment among you, since the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance to the east, beyond the Jordan River given to them by Moses the servant of the LORD.|

8 So the men started out, following Joshua's command to those who went to scout the land, |Go through the land and record a description of it, and then return to me. I will then cast lots in the presence of the LORD your God in Shiloh.|

9 Then the men left camp and went throughout the land, describing its cities in a book with seven divisions. Then they returned to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh.

10 Joshua threw lots in Shiloh in the LORD's presence and divided the land accordingly among the Israelis according to their divisions.

11 The allotment of the tribe of the descendants of Benjamin came up according to their families, and their territorial allotment fell between the descendants of Judah and the descendants of Joseph.

12 Their border started on the north side at the Jordan River, proceeded to the slope of Jericho on the north, then westward through the hill country, and terminated at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

13 From there the boundary proceeded south in the direction of Luz to the slope of Luz (also known as Bethel), then proceeded to Ataroth-addar, on the mountain that lies south of Lower Beth-horon.