Joshua 18 explained: Mapping the Land, Starting with Benjamin

The tent settles at Shiloh (v. 1)

The portable worship tent that had traveled with Israel through the wilderness was now set up to stay at Shiloh, a town near the middle of the country. It remained the main place of worship for a long time, until Shiloh later fell, and the prophet Jeremiah pointed to its ruin as a warning.

Joshua prods seven tribes (vv. 2-4)

Seven tribes still had no land of their own, and Joshua asks how long they will wait. The text does not say why they held back; old interpreters guessed comfort, weariness of war, or fear of the Canaanite towns still standing.

Who is left out, and why (vv. 5-7)

Judah and the tribes descended from Joseph already had territory. Gad, Reuben and half of Manasseh had settled east of the Jordan under Moses, and the Levites, the priestly tribe, got no region because serving at worship was their share; they later received scattered towns instead.

Surveyors map the land (vv. 8-10)

Three men from each waiting tribe, 21 in all, walked the land and wrote it up town by town in seven parts, which helped keep the division fair. Joshua then cast lots at the worship tent, a sacred drawing meant to leave the choice to God, though exactly how it was done is not known.

Benjamin's borders (vv. 11-20)

The first lot gave Benjamin a narrow strip between the large tribes of Judah to the south and Joseph to the north. Its southern line ran along the Hinnom Valley just below Jerusalem, a valley that later became notorious for child sacrifice.

Benjamin's towns (vv. 21-28)

Though small, the territory held important places like Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Gibeah and Jerusalem, called here the Jebusite city because the Jebusite people still held it. Israel did not take Jerusalem until much later, under King David.

Key verse: Joshua 18:10

Something to think about

Why might people hold back from claiming something already within reach, even when they want it?