Joshua 14:2
in Joshua 14Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
by the lot of their inheritance, as Jehovah commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.
KJV
By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
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This verse in Joshua 14
Commentary
9 notes on this verseIn allusion to this we are said to obtain an inheritance in Christ ( Eph. i. 11 ), eklerothemen -- we have obtained it by lot, so the word signified; for it is obtained by a divine designation. Christ, our Joshua, gives eternal life to as many as were given him, John xvii.
This site's exposition
these are the portions that the Israelites inherited
on Joshua 14:1-2
The three parties who divide the land were named seven years earlier at Numbers 34:17-18: Eleazar, Joshua and one leader from each tribe. Eleazar stands before Joshua here, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the order from the method: the lot is an appeal to God, so the priest handles it. The lot was commanded at Numbers 26:55, so no man could steer the borders toward his own tribe.
This site's exposition
Their inheritance was assigned by lot
Albert Barnes notes that the manner of casting is never described. He reasons that the lot fixed each tribe's general position and left its size to be set by its numbers, as Numbers 26:54 required. The casting also came in stages, with the last seven tribes drawn at Shiloh in Joshua 18:10.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Just as those who submit to the law, which is the "shadow" of that true law, diligently serve a "shadow and copy" of "heavenly things," so those who divide the inheritance of the land in Judea imitate the "copy and shadow" of a heavenly division. Thus truth was in heaven, "but a shadow and copy" of truth was on earth. And as long as this shadow remained on earth, there was an earthly Jerusalem; there was a temple, an altar and a visible worship; there were priests and high priests; and there existed regions and towns of Judea and all these things that are described in this book and are now recited.
A first and a second distribution of the inheritance is reported. The first is indeed through Moses, but the second, and the more powerful, is depicted as accomplished through Jesus [Joshua]. Across the Jordan, Moses decrees property to the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh, but all the rest receive their inheritance through Jesus [Joshua]. We have already spoken first about how those who had pleased God through the law do not yet reach those things that have been perfected. They precede in time those who attain to the promises through faith in Jesus but must wait for those coming afterwards who will please God in a different time but by one faith, just as the apostle says, "They might not attain perfection without us."
The whole account of the land of Judah and of the tribes is typical of the church in heaven. Let us read Joshua, the son of Nun, or the concluding portions of Ezekiel, and we shall see that the historical division of the land as related by the one finds a counterpart in the spiritual and heavenly promises of the other. What is the meaning of the seven and eight steps in the description of the temple?
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
By lot was their inheritance,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
By lot was their inheritance - Concerning the meaning and use of the lot, see the note on Num 26:55; and concerning the manner of casting lots in the case of the scapegoat, see the note on Lev 16:8, Lev 16:
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
By lot - We are not told in what manner the lot was cast. Perhaps two urns were employed, one containing a description of the several districts to be allotted, the other the names of the tribes; and the portion of each tribe would then be determined by a simultaneous drawing from the two urns. Or a drawing might be made by some appointed person, or by a delegate of each tribe from one urn containing the description of the ten inheritances. The lot only determined in a general way the position in the country of the particular tribe concerned, whether north or south, etc.; the dimensions of each territory being left to be adjusted subsequently, according to the numbers and wants of the tribe to be provided for. Since the predilections and habits of two tribes and a half were consulted in the apportionment to them of the trans-Jordanic territory Num 32:1 there is no objection to the supposition that something of the same kind may have taken place, subject to the divine approval, in the distribution of the lands to the nine and a half other tribes; and the lot would thus be appealed to as finally deciding the matter and foreclosing jealousies and disputes. It is apparent that the casting of the ten lots did not take place simultaneously. The tribe of Judah had precedence, whether by express appointment or because its lot “came up” first, does not appear. It was, as it seems, only after this tribe had settled upon its domains, that further lots were drawn for Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh. After this a pause, perhaps of some duration, appears to have occurred; the camp was moved from Gilgal to Shiloh; and the further casting of lots for the other seven tribes was proceeded with at the instigation of Joshua (see Jos 18:10).
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
That were apportioned to them. They caused them to inherit [their portions].
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּגוֹרַ֖ל | begoral | by [the] allotted portion of | H1486 → | 78 times |
| נַחֲלָתָ֑ם | nachalatam | inheritance their | H5159 → | 222 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| צִוָּ֤ה | tzivah | he had commanded | H6680 → | 494 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| בְּיַד־ | beyad- | by [the] hand of | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| מֹשֶׁ֔ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| לְתִשְׁעַ֥ת | letishat | for [the] nine | H8672 → | 58 times |
| הַמַּטּ֖וֹת | hamatot | the tribes | H4294 → | 252 times |
| וַחֲצִ֥י | vachatzi | and [the] half of | H2677 → | 125 times |
| הַמַּטֶּֽה׃ | hamateh | the tribe | H4294 → | 252 times |
בְּגוֹרַ֖לby [the] allotted portion of
begoralH1486 →78 times
נַחֲלָתָ֑םinheritance their
nachalatamH5159 →222 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
צִוָּ֤הhe had commanded
tzivahH6680 →494 times
יְהוָה֙Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
בְּיַד־by [the] hand of
beyad-H3027 →1618 times
מֹשֶׁ֔הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
לְתִשְׁעַ֥תfor [the] nine
letishatH8672 →58 times
הַמַּטּ֖וֹתthe tribes
hamatotH4294 →252 times
וַחֲצִ֥יand [the] half of
vachatziH2677 →125 times
הַמַּטֶּֽה׃the tribe
hamatehH4294 →252 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 16:33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
it leads to
- Proverbs 18:18
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
- Acts 1:26
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
- Jonah 1:7
“Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
- Proverbs 18:18
Through
Matthew 25:34Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:19–20
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
- James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- Revelation 21:7
The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
- Revelation 13:8
And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was…
- Luke 12:32
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
- 1 Peter 1:19–20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Joshua
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Against Jovinianus 2.34; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 17.1 and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 17.2.