The Division of Canaan refers to the allocation of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel, as detailed in the Old Testament, primarily in the Book of Joshua. This event marks the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give their descendants a land of their own (Genesis 12:7, 26:3, 28:13).

Historical Context

After the Exodus from Egypt and the subsequent 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, entered Canaan. The conquest of the land involved a series of military campaigns against the existing Canaanite inhabitants, as recorded in Joshua chapters 6 through 12. The successful conquest was attributed to divine intervention and the Israelites' obedience to God's commands.

Process of Division

The division of the land is described in Joshua chapters 13 through 21. The process began after the major military campaigns had subdued the land, although not all Canaanite inhabitants were completely driven out. The land was divided by lot, a method believed to reflect God's sovereign will, as stated in Joshua 14:2: "Their inheritance was assigned by lot in the presence of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, by the hand of Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel."

Tribal Allotments

1. Reuben, Gad, and Half-Tribe of Manasseh: These tribes received their inheritance east of the Jordan River, as they had requested from Moses (Numbers 32). Their territory included the lands of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan.

2. Judah: The tribe of Judah received a large portion of land in the southern part of Canaan, including the city of Hebron (Joshua 15). This area would later become significant as the birthplace of King David and the location of Jerusalem.

3. Ephraim and the Other Half-Tribe of Manasseh: These tribes, descendants of Joseph, were given territories in central Canaan. Ephraim's land included the city of Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was set up (Joshua 16-17).

4. Benjamin: Situated between Judah and Ephraim, Benjamin's territory included the city of Jerusalem, although it was not fully controlled by the Israelites at the time (Joshua 18).

5. Simeon: This tribe's inheritance was within the territory of Judah, as Judah's portion was too large for them alone (Joshua 19:1-9).

6. Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan: These tribes received their inheritances in the northern regions of Canaan (Joshua 19). Dan initially struggled to secure its territory and later migrated to the north, capturing the city of Laish and renaming it Dan (Judges 18).

7. Levi: The Levites, as the priestly tribe, did not receive a specific territory. Instead, they were given cities scattered throughout the other tribes, along with their surrounding pasturelands (Joshua 21).

Significance

The division of Canaan was not merely a distribution of land but a theological event that underscored God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Each tribe's inheritance was a tangible sign of God's provision and a call to live in obedience to His laws. The land was to be a place where Israel could worship God and live according to His statutes, serving as a light to the nations around them.

The division also set the stage for the future history of Israel, with each tribe's location influencing its role in the unfolding narrative of the Old Testament. The allocation of land was a foundational moment in the establishment of Israel as a nation in the land God had promised to their forefathers.