J
O S H U A
CHAP. XVIII.
In
this chapter we have, I. The setting up of the tabernacle at
Shiloh, ver. 1. II. The stirring
up of the seven tribes that were yet unsettled to look after their lot, and
the putting of them in a method for it, by Joshua, ver. 2-7. III. The
distributing of the land into seven lots, by certain men employed for that
purpose, ver. 8, 9. IV. The determining of these seven portions to the seven
tribes yet unprovided for by lot, ver. 10. V. The particular lot of the tribe
of Benjamin, the borders of it, ver. 11-20. And the cities contained in it,
ver. 21-28. The other six tribes we shall find well provided for in the next
chapter.
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The
Tabernacle at Shiloh.
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B.
C. 1444.
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1 And the whole
congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set
up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before
them.
In the midst of the story of the dividing of the land comes in this account of
the setting up of the tabernacle, which had hitherto continued in its old
place in the centre of their camp; but now that three of the four squadrons
that used to surround it in the wilderness were broken and diminished, those
of Judah, Ephraim, and Reuben, by the removal of those tribes to their
respective possessions, and that of Dan only remained entire, it was time to
think of removing the tabernacle itself into a city. Many a time the priests
and Levites had taken it down, carried it, and set it up again in the
wilderness, according to the directions given them (Num. iv. 5, &c.); but
now they must do it for good and all, not one of the stakes thereof must any
more be removed, nor any of the cords thereof broken, Isa. xxxiii. 20.
Observe,
I. The place to which the tabernacle was removed, and in which it was set up.
It was Shiloh, a city in the lot of Ephraim, but lying close upon the
lot of Benjamin. Doubtless God himself did some way or other direct them to
this place, for he had promised to choose the place where he would make
his name to dwell, Deut. xii. 11. It is most probable God made known
his mind in this matter by the judgment of Urim. This place was pitched upon,
1. Because it was in the heart of the country, nearer the centre than
Jerusalem was, and therefore the more convenient for the meeting of all Israel
there from the several parts of the country; it had been in the midst of their
camp in the wilderness, and therefore must now be in the midst of their
nation, as that which sanctified the whole, and was the glory in the midst
of them. See Ps. xlvi. 5. 2. Because it was in the lot of that tribe of
which Joshua was, who was now their chief magistrate, and it would be both for
his honour and convenience and for the advantage of the country to have it
near him. The testimony of Israel and the thrones of judgment do well
together, Ps. cxxii. 4, 5. 3. Some think there was an eye to the name of the
place, Shiloh being the name by which the Messiah was known in dying
Jacob's prophecy (Gen. xlix. 10), which prophecy, no doubt, was well known
among the Jews; the setting up of the tabernacle in Shiloh gave them a hint
that in that Shiloh whom Jacob spoke of all the ordinances of this worldly
sanctuary should have their accomplishment in a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, Heb. ix. 1, 11. And Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the place where the
tabernacle was set up was therefore called Shiloh, because of the
peaceableness of the land at this time; as afterwards in Salem was his temple,
which also signifies peaceable.
II. The solemn manner of doing it: The whole congregation assembled
together to attend the solemnity, to do honour to the ark of God, as the
token of his presence, and to bid it welcome to its settlement. Every
Israelite was interested in it, and therefore all testified their joy and
satisfaction upon this occasion. See 2 Sam. vi. 15. It is probable those
tribes that were yet encamped when the tabernacle was removed to Shiloh
decamped from Gilgal and pitched about Shiloh, for every true Israelite will
desire to fix where God's tabernacle fixed. Mention is made, on this occasion,
of the land being subdued before them, to intimate that the country,
hereabouts at least, being thoroughly reduced, they met with no opposition,
nor were they apprehensive of any danger, but thought it time to make this
grateful acknowledgment of God's goodness to them in the constant series of
successes with which he had blessed them. It was a good presage of a
comfortable settlement to themselves in Canaan, when their first care was to
see the ark well settled as soon as they had a safe place ready to settle it
in. Here the ark continued about 300 years, till the sins of Eli's house
forfeited the ark, lost it and ruined Shiloh, and its ruins were long after
made use of as warnings to Jerusalem. Go, see what I did to Shiloh,
Jer. vii. 12; Ps. lxxviii. 60.
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Joshua
Reproves the Unsettled Tribes.
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B.
C. 1444.
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2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not
yet received their inheritance. 3 And Joshua said unto the
children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land,
which the LORD
God of your fathers hath given you? 4 Give out from among you
three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise,
and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them;
and they shall come again to me. 5 And they shall divide it
into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house
of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north. 6 Ye shall
therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the
description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD
our God. 7 But the Levites have no part among you; for the
priesthood of the LORD
is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of
Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which
Moses the servant of the LORD
gave them. 8 And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged
them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and
describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before
the LORD
in Shiloh. 9 And the men went and passed through the land, and
described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to
Joshua to the host at Shiloh. 10 And Joshua cast lots for them in
Shiloh before the LORD:
and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to
their divisions.
Here, I. Joshua reproves those tribes which were yet unsettled that they did
not bestir themselves to gain a settlement in the land which God had given
them. Seven tribes were yet unprovided for, though sure of an inheritance, yet
uncertain where it should be, and it seems in no great care about it, v.
2. And with them Joshua reasons (v. 3): How long are you slack?
1. They were too well pleased with their present condition, liked well enough
to live in a body together, the more the merrier, and, like the
Babel-builders, had no mind to be scattered abroad and break good company. The
spoil of the cities they had taken served them to live plentifully upon for
the present, and they banished the thoughts of time to come. Perhaps the
tribes of Judah and Joseph, who had already received their inheritance in the
countries next adjoining, were generous in entertaining their brethren who
were yet unprovided for, so that they went from one good house to another
among their friends, with which, instead of grudging that they were postponed,
they were so well pleased that they cared not for going to houses of their
own. 2. They were slothful and dilatory. It may be they wished the thing done,
but had not spirit to stir in it, or move towards the doing of it, though it
was so much for their own advantage; like the sluggard, that hides his hand
in his bosom, and it grieves him to bring it to his mouth again. The
countries that remained to be divided lay at a distance, and some parts of
them in the hands of the Canaanites. If they go to take possession of them,
the cities must be rebuilt or repaired, they must drive their flocks and herds
a great way, and carry their wives and children to strange places, and this
will not be done without care and pains, and breaking through some hardships;
thus he that observes the wind shall not sow, and he that regards the
clouds shall not reap, Eccl. xi. 4. Note, Many are diverted from real
duties, and debarred from real comforts, by seeming difficulties. God by his
grace has given us a title to a good land, the heavenly Canaan, but we are slack
to take possession; we enter not into that rest, as we might by faith, and
hope, and holy joy; we live not in heaven, as we might by setting our
affections on things above and having our conversation there. How long shall
it be thus with us? How long shall we thus stand in our own light, and forsake
our own mercies for lying vanities? Joshua was sensible of the
inconveniences of this delay, that, while they neglected to take possession of
the land that was conquered, the Canaanites were recovering strength and
spirit, and fortifying themselves in the places that were yet in their hands,
which would make the total expulsion of them the more difficult. They would
lose their advantages by not following their blow; and therefore, as an
eagle stirreth up her nest, so Joshua stirs them up to take possession of
their lot. He is ready to do his part, if they will but do theirs.
II. He puts them in a way to settle themselves.
1. The land that remained must be surveyed, an account taken of the cities,
and the territories belonging to them, v. 4. These must be divided into
seven equal parts, as near as they could guess at their true value, which they
must have an eye to, and not merely to the number of the cities and extent of
the country. Judah is fixed on the south and Joseph on the north of Shiloh, to
protect the tabernacle (v. 5), and therefore they need not describe
their country, but those countries only that were yet undisposed of. He gives
a reason (v. 7) why they must divide it into seven parts only, because
the Levites were to have no temporal estate (as we say), but their benefices
only, which were entailed upon their families: The priesthood of the Lord
is their inheritance, and a very honourable, comfortable, plentiful
inheritance it was. Gad and Reuben, with half of the tribe of Manasseh, were
already fixed, and needed not to have any further care taken of them. Now,
(1.) The surveyors were three men out of each of the seven tribes that were to
be provided for (v. 4), one-and-twenty in all, who perhaps for greater
expedition, because they had already lost time, divided themselves into three
companies, one of each tribe in each company, and took each their district to
survey. The matter was thus referred equally, that there might be neither any
partiality used in making up the seven lots, nor any shadow of suspicion
given, but all might be satisfied that they had right done them. (2.) The
survey was accordingly made, and brought in to Joshua, v. 8, 9.
Josephus says it was seven months in the doing. And we must in it observe,
[1.] The faith and courage of the persons employed: abundance of Canaanites
remained in the land, and all raging against Israel, as a bear robbed of
her whelps; the business of these surveyors would soon be known, and what
could they expect but to be way-laid, and have their brains knocked out by the
fierce observers? But in obedience to Joshua's command, and in dependence upon
God's power, they thus put their lives in their hands to serve their country.
[2.] The good providence of God in protecting them from the many deaths they
were exposed to, and bringing them all safely again to the host at Shiloh.
When we are in the way of our duty we are under the special protection of the
Almighty.
2. When it was surveyed, and reduced to seven lots, then Joshua would, by
appeal to God, and direction from him, determine which of these lots should
belong to each tribe (v. 6): That I may cast lots for you here
at the tabernacle (because it was a sacred transaction) before the Lord our
God, to whom each tribe must have an eye, with thankfulness for the
conveniences and submission to the inconveniences of their allotment. What we
have in the world we must acknowledge God's property in, and dispose of it as
before him, with justice, and charity, and dependence upon Providence. The
heavenly Canaan is described to us in a book, the book of the scriptures, and
there are in it mansions and portions sufficient for all God's spiritual
Israel. Christ is our Joshua that divides it to us. On him we must attend, and
to him we must apply for an inheritance with the saints in light. See John
xvii. 2, 3.
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The
Lot of Benjamin.
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B.
C. 1444.
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11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to
their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of
Judah and the children of Joseph. 12 And their border on the north
side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the
north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out
thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13 And the border
went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Beth-el,
southward; and the border descended to Ataroth-adar, near the hill that lieth
on the south side of the nether Beth-horon. 14 And the border was
drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the
hill that lieth before Beth-horon southward; and the goings out thereof
were at Kirjath-baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, a city of the children
of Judah: this was the west quarter. 15 And the south
quarter was from the end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on
the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah: 16 And
the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the
valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the
giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of
Jebusi on the south, and descended to En-rogel, 17 And was drawn
from the north, and went forth to En-shemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth,
which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the
stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 18 And passed along toward the
side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah: 19
And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward: and the
outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end
of Jordan: this was the south coast. 20 And Jordan was the
border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children
of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their
families. 21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of
Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the
valley of Keziz, 22 And Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and
Beth-el, 23 And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah, 24 And
Chephar-haammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their
villages: 25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, 26 And
Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, 27 And Rekem, and Irpeel, and
Taralah, 28 And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is
Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages.
This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their
families.
We have here the lot of the tribe of Benjamin, which Providence cast next to
Joseph on the one hand, because Benjamin was own and only brother to Joseph,
and was little Benjamin (Ps. lxviii. 27), that needed the protection of great
Joseph, and yet had a better protector, for the Lord shall cover him all
the day long, Deut. xxxiii. 12. And it was next to Judah on the other
hand, that this tribe might hereafter unite with Judah in an adherence to the
throne of David and the temple at Jerusalem. Here we have, 1. The exact
borders and limits of this tribe, which we need not be exact in the
explication of. As it had Judah on the south and Joseph on the north, so it
had Jordan on the east and Dan on the west. The western border is said to compass
the corner of the sea southward (v. 14), whereas no part of the lot
of this tribe came near to the great sea. Bishop Patrick thinks the meaning is
that it ran along in a parallel line to the great sea, though at a distance.
Dr. Fuller suggests that since it is not called the great sea, but only
the sea, which often signifies any lake or mere, it may be meant of the
pool of Gibeon, which may be called a corner or canton of the
sea; it is called the great waters of Gibeon (Jer. xli. 12), and it is
compassed by the western border of this tribe. 2. The particular cities in
this tribe, not all, but the most considerable. Twenty-six are here named.
Jericho is put first, though dismantled, and forbidden to be rebuilt as a city
with gates and walls, because it might be built and inhabited as a country
village, and so was not useless to this tribe. Gilgal, where Israel first
encamped when Saul was made king (1 Sam. xi. 15), was in this tribe. It was
afterwards a very profane place. Hos. ix. 15, All their wickedness is in
Gilgal. Beth-el was in this tribe, a famous place. Though Benjamin adhered
to the house of David, yet Beth-el, it seems, was in the possession of the
house of Joseph (Judg. i. 23-25), and there Jeroboam set up one of his calves.
In this tribe was Gibeon, where the altar was in the beginning of Solomon's
time, 2 Chron. i. 3. Gibeah likewise, that infamous place where the Levite's
concubine was abused. Mizpeh, and near it Samuel's Ebenezer, and also Anathoth,
Jeremiah's city, were in this tribe, as was the northern part of Jerusalem.
Paul was the honour of this tribe (Rom. xi. 1; Phil. iii. 5); but where his
land lay we know not: he sought the better country.
Contents
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