Joshua 18:11 kjv
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.
Joshua 18:11 nkjv
Now the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
Joshua 18:11 niv
The first lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin according to its clans. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:
Joshua 18:11 esv
The lot of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to its clans came up, and the territory allotted to it fell between the people of Judah and the people of Joseph.
Joshua 18:11 nlt
The first allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. It lay between the territory assigned to the tribes of Judah and Joseph.
Joshua 18 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Allotment & Providence | ||
| Num 26:55 | But the land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers... | Land distribution by divine lot. |
| Josh 13:6 | ...all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians, I myself will drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance... | God ensures the land is divided by lot. |
| Josh 14:2 | By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes... | Divine command for land allocation. |
| Josh 19:51 | These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot... | Official record of lot-based distribution. |
| Prov 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. | God's sovereignty over the lot's outcome. |
| Ps 78:55 | He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. | God providing Israel with their inheritance. |
| Ps 16:6 | The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. | Affirmation of blessed inheritance from God. |
| Acts 1:26 | And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. | Continuation of lot-casting for divine choice. |
| Benjamin's Position & Significance | ||
| Deut 33:12 | Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders. | Benjamin's secure and central location. |
| 1 Sam 9:1 | Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish... a mighty man of power. | Introduction of Saul from Benjamin. |
| Judg 1:21 | And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. | Early reference to Jerusalem's tribal border. |
| 2 Sam 5:6 | And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites... which said unto David, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither... | Jerusalem (partly in Benjamin) taken by David. |
| Ezr 2:25 | The children of Geba, six hundred twenty and one. | Places associated with Benjamin's territory. |
| Neh 11:31 | The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel... | List of Benjaminite settlements. |
| Rom 11:1 | I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. | Paul identifies as a Benjamite. |
| Phil 3:5 | Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews... | Paul again highlights his tribal origin. |
| Fulfillment of Promises | ||
| Gen 12:7 | And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land... | Initial promise of the land to Abraham's seed. |
| Gen 15:18 | In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: | Covenant reaffirming land promise. |
| Deut 1:8 | Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers... | Command to enter and possess the promised land. |
| Josh 21:43 | And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. | General fulfillment of land promise. |
| Josh 23:14 | And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. | God's faithfulness to all promises. |
| Heb 4:1 | Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. | Spiritual parallel of entering God's rest. |
Joshua 18 verses
Joshua 18 11 Meaning
Joshua 18:11 records the outcome of the divine lottery for the tribe of Benjamin, specifically stating that their allotted land emerged geographically between the major territories already assigned to the tribes of Judah and Joseph. This verse marks a pivotal moment in the systematic distribution of the Promised Land to the remaining seven tribes after the initial allocations to Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh (children of Joseph). It highlights God's specific arrangement for Benjamin, placing them in a strategic central position.
Joshua 18 11 Context
Joshua 18:11 is set in the period of Israel's conquest and distribution of the Promised Land, specifically after the initial major campaigns and the first divisions for Judah, Ephraim, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Chapters 13-19 of Joshua detail this systematic process. At this point, seven tribes (Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan) had not yet received their inheritance. Joshua 18 opens with Joshua reproving the Israelites for their delay in claiming their full inheritance, after which he commissions three men from each of the seven remaining tribes to survey the land, divide it into seven portions, and bring their findings back to him at Shiloh. The allocation itself was then determined by the casting of lots before the LORD at the tabernacle in Shiloh, emphasizing divine guidance in the land's apportionment. Verse 11 details the first of these seven, the result for the tribe of Benjamin, which historically holds a central and strategic position between the northern and southern tribal blocs, eventually including Jerusalem's crucial territory within or near its bounds.
Joshua 18 11 Word analysis
- Now: A common narrative particle (וְ, wə) serving as a connective or transition, indicating a progression in the account of land distribution.
- the lot: (גּוֹרָל, gōrāl, Hebrew: lot, portion, destiny) This refers to the method used for land distribution. Casting lots was a divinely sanctioned practice in ancient Israel for discerning God's will and making decisions, indicating that the land boundaries were not humanly contrived but ordained by God.
- of the tribe: (שֵׁבֶט, shēḇeṭ, Hebrew: rod, staff, tribe) Designates one of the twelve fundamental family units of Israel, descended from one of Jacob's sons or grandsons. The inheritance was by tribal affiliation.
- of the children of Benjamin: Refers to the descendants of Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son. This specific identification is crucial as it details which tribal group is now receiving their territory.
- came up: (עָלָה, ‘ālāh, Hebrew: to go up, ascend, arise) In the context of lots, it signifies that Benjamin's lot was the first drawn or revealed among the seven, or that the divine determination for their territory "came up" into manifestation. It suggests an action of being presented or disclosed from a higher power.
- according to their families: Emphasizes that the division within the tribe was also structured by clans and ancestral houses. This ensured order, equitable distribution, and adherence to patriarchal lines, preventing disputes and preserving tribal identity rooted in genealogy.
- and the territory: (גְּבוּל, gĕḇûl, Hebrew: boundary, border, territory) Refers to the physical geographical area, its borders, and limits, which were divinely defined for the tribe of Benjamin.
- of their lot: Specifies that the physical territory was directly determined by the drawing of the lot, reinforcing divine design in land apportionment.
- came out: (יָצָא, yāṣāʾ, Hebrew: to go out, emerge, proceed forth) This verb describes the outcome or result of the lot-casting. While "came up" relates to the process of drawing, "came out" relates to the revelation of the defined territory.
- between the children of Judah: Refers to the powerful tribe of Judah, which received a large southern portion of the land. This geographical proximity implies both alliance and potential future tension.
- and the children of Joseph: Represents the collective territory of Ephraim and Manasseh (sons of Joseph), which occupied significant central and northern regions. Benjamin's land forming a bridge between these two major tribal blocs has deep historical and political significance.
Words-group analysis:
- "the lot... came up" and "the territory... came out": These two phrases highlight distinct yet interconnected aspects of the divine allocation process. "Came up" pertains to the casting of the lot as the mechanism of God's choice, while "came out" describes the resulting geographical reality that was revealed by that choice. God's divine will (the lot) led directly to a tangible, defined outcome (the territory).
- "according to their families": This phrase emphasizes the orderly and structured nature of God's provision. It wasn't random but distributed in a way that preserved genealogical integrity and social cohesion within the tribe. This attention to detail underscores divine wisdom and foresight in establishing the nation.
- "between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph": This is the most crucial geographical descriptor. It signifies Benjamin's strategic, central, and often conflicted position in Israel's future history. Being geographically positioned between these two dominant northern and southern powers meant Benjamin often served as a critical nexus, or a source of contention (e.g., during the period of the judges, and the split kingdom after Solomon). Significantly, Jerusalem eventually fell on or near the border of Judah and Benjamin, giving Benjamin a vital role in Israel's religious and political heartland.
Joshua 18 11 Bonus section
The tribal inheritance of Benjamin being placed between Judah and Joseph prefigured Benjamin's unique role throughout Israel's history. It often acted as a buffer or a bridge, frequently aligning with Judah, but at times caught between the rivalries of the larger northern and southern houses. The inclusion of the area where Jerusalem would later be established (specifically the temple mount area) within or right on the border of Benjamin's allotment provided deep religious and historical significance to this small tribe. Its location facilitated unity but also marked it for contention, ultimately becoming home to both King Saul, the first king of Israel (1 Sam 9:1), and later pivotal for Jerusalem's identity with the Southern Kingdom (Judah).
Joshua 18 11 Commentary
Joshua 18:11 signifies the crucial initial step in allotting land to the remaining Israelite tribes, underscoring the divine providence and systematic nature of the distribution. The phrase "the lot... came up" emphasizes God's sovereign control over the process, assuring Israel that their inheritance was divinely appointed, not humanly arbitrary. The specified geographical placement of Benjamin "between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph" is highly significant. This strategic location made Benjamin a central and pivotal tribe, bridging the powerful northern tribes (Joseph/Ephraim) and the dominant southern tribe (Judah). This position would have profound implications for Israel's future history, particularly regarding the site of Jerusalem, which largely fell within Benjamin's territory, making Benjamin vital to the nation's spiritual and political core. The detailed account of the boundaries in subsequent verses reinforces the meticulous fulfillment of God's covenant promises regarding the land.