Joshua 18:1-28
The Tent of Meeting at Shiloh
1Then the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. And though the land was subdued before them,
2there were still seven tribes of Israel who had not yet received their inheritance.
3So Joshua said to the Israelites, “How long will you put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?
4Appoint 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
5and divide the land into seven portions. Judah shall remain in their territory in the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory in the north.
6When 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.
7The Levites, however, have no portion among you, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received the inheritance that Moses the servant of the LORD gave them beyond the Jordan to the east.”
8As the men got up to go out, Joshua 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 in the presence of the LORD.”
9So the men departed and went throughout the land, mapping it city by city into seven portions. Then they returned with the document to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.
10And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.
11The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:
12On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
13From there the border crossed over to the southern slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth-addar on the hill south of Lower Beth-horon.
14On the west side the border curved southward from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south and came out at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the western side.
15On the south side the border began at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim and extended westward to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah.
16Then it went down to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of Ben-hinnom at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim and ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the southern slope of the Jebusites and downward to En-rogel.
17From there it curved northward and proceeded to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth facing the Ascent of Adummim, and continued down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
18Then it went on to the northern slope of Beth-arabah and went down into the valley.
19The border continued to the northern slope of Beth-hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan. This was the southern border.
20On the east side the border was the Jordan. These were the borders around the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
21These were the cities of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,
22Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
23Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
24Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.
25Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
26Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,
27Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
28Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
Berean Standard Bible
The whole congregation assembles at Shiloh and sets up the Tent of Meeting there. Seven tribes remain without an allotted inheritance. Joshua asks how long they will delay taking possession of the land the LORD has given them.
Joshua sends three men from each tribe to survey the land. They are to travel through it, describe it, and return with a written record. Joshua will then cast lots before the LORD at Shiloh. The process is organized and public rather than based on whichever family speaks most loudly.
The men divide the land into seven portions and record the cities. Benjamin's portion is then assigned between Judah and Joseph. The chapter names its cities, including Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Jerusalem, and other places that will become part of Israel's continuing story.
The Tent of Meeting gives the division a worshipful center. The land is not being distributed as if Israel were simply dividing spoils after a battle. The people are receiving a place before the LORD, and the work requires both initiative from the surveyors and trust in the lot.
How We Know
This account is best tested by reading it alongside the surrounding witness. Joshua records Israel's entry, settlement, and covenant life in continuity with Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Later books such as Judges and 1 Chronicles assume the people, land allotments, and places named here. Those internal cross-checks do not settle every archaeological question, but they show that Joshua 18:1-28 is part of a sustained historical and covenant record.
Questions
1 What is established at Shiloh?
AnswerThe whole congregation sets up the meeting tent at Shiloh, giving the land division a central place of worship.
2 How many tribes still lack an inheritance?
AnswerSeven tribes remain without an allotted inheritance after the other portions have already been assigned.
3 What must the surveyors do?
AnswerThree men from each tribe must survey the land, describe its portions and cities, and bring a written record.
4 How is Benjamin's portion assigned?
AnswerBenjamin receives land between Judah and Joseph, with its cities named so the tribal inheritance can be identified clearly.
What This Means for Us
Some delays come from fear, confusion, or the hope that responsibility will assign itself. Joshua asks the tribes to take an honest survey and then move forward with the work before them.
Prayer does not remove the need to gather facts, divide work, and make decisions. A household can seek God while also doing the careful preparation that turns a vague intention into responsible action.
Prayer
God of wisdom, help us recognize when delay has become avoidance. Give us patience to gather the facts, courage to begin the work, and humility to make decisions in Your presence. Amen.