Division of Land

INTRO

All we do is talk about land! God, from the very beginning with Abraham, kept promising land and lots of it. The Israelites finally got to the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. They were having to fight people for land.

TEACHING

Joshua 17:1–13: Joshua divided up the land for the tribe of Manasseh. There was a West Manasseh group and an East Manasseh group. Why was there an east and west? The river divided the land, and half the tribe decided to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan rather than enter the Promised Land.

Joshua 17:14–18: These verses lay out additional inheritances for the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim.

Joshua 18:1: This verse begins with more of the real estate business. The entire community gathered at Shiloh. Shiloh was in the middle of the whole terrain, and it was where the Israelites had set up the tent of meeting. Remember, the tent of meeting was a portable tent and was also referred to as the tabernacle. The Israelites wanted the entire community to be able to experience the presence of God. In time, the tabernacle lead to the temple, and the temple lead to Jesus (1 Samuel 4; Psalm 78:60; Jeremiah 7:14).

I want to walk through the history here. Two men built the tent of meeting in Shiloh (Exodus 31:2–3, 6). These two guys were the general contractors. After the tent was completed, it was taken on a progression throughout the Promised Land:

• Gilgal (Joshua 5:10)
• Gilgal (Joshua 10:15, 43)
• Shiloh (Joshua 18:1)
• Bethel (Judges 20: 27–28)
• Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3)
• Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:9–10)
• Gilgal (1 Samuel 10:8)
• Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39–40)

This tent eventually ended up in Jerusalem where Solomon later built the temple. The tent was moving; it was a lot of work for people to set up and take down. To experience the presence of God, sometimes we have to go out of our way for Him.

Joshua 18:2: Five tribes had already received their inheritances. There were seven more who had not received their inheritance. It was almost as if they were choosing not to.

Joshua 18:3: Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait?” Nelson’s Commentarysays, “It was not enough to defeat the inhabitants of the land; they also had to take possession of it.”¹Nelson’s Commentary goes on to point out that “this laziness disobeyed God’s instructions in Joshua 13:1 and showed a lack of faith in His promises.”²Seven more tribes had not gone after the land! Let’s call out the ones who have not inhabited the land:

Benjamin (Joshua 18:11–28)

Simeon (Joshua 19:1-9)

Zebulun (Joshua 19: 10–16)

Issachar (Joshua 19:17–23)

Asher (Joshua 19:24–31)

Naphtali (Joshua 19:32–39)

Dan (Joshua 19:40–48)

You can see the progression that was coming, but I think it was because Joshua called them out.

In 2 Kings 5:8–11, Naaman was told go into the water seven times and his leprosy would be healed. He left the prophet disappointed and angry. He wanted an instant miracle from the prophet himself. The Israelites wanted their inheritance just handed to them. We have a part to play in our relationship with God. That is why it is called a relationship. In order to get to know God, we have got to pour into Him as well.

Look at Jonah 1:1–3. Sometimes we think that something can only look a certain way, but God continues to show us it has to be His way. In Luke 6:46–48, Jesus asked, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?” When we do not do what the Lord says in His timing, we have to face the ramifications of our disobedience.

Joshua 18:4: Joshua instructed these seven tribes of the Israelites to appoint three men from each tribe, a total of 21 men. These men were to be sent out to survey the land, write down their observations, and report back their findings. Joshua was a good leader because these tribes were procrastinators, and they needed his direction.

Joshua 18:5: The land was to be divided into seven portions. Judah was to remain in the south and Joseph’s family was to reside in the north.

Joshua 18:6–7: Joshua instructed the 21 men that they were to report back on what they found, and then Joshua would cast lots for each tribe in the presence of God. These lots would determine what portion of land each tribe would inherit. Keep in mind the Levites would receive no land because they received the priesthood as their inheritance.

Joshua 18:8–10: As the men prepared to go, Joshua repeated his directions to them. Essentially, they were to go, stay focused, and come back. The 21 men left and wrote down their observations of the towns they were assigned. When they came back together, they put together a document divided into seven sections. Joshua cast lots for the seven Israelite tribes at Shiloh, and then divided the land accordingly.

CLOSING

By the end of chapter 18, the Promised Land was being divided among the Israelites. At the heart of this, Joshua wanted to make sure the Israelites experience the fulfillment of prophecy that went through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joshua was a good leader; he was clear in what he instructed the people to do.