Joshua 18 12

Joshua 18:12 kjv

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 Bethaven.

Joshua 18:12 nkjv

Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the mountains westward; it ended at the Wilderness of Beth Aven.

Joshua 18:12 niv

On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the wilderness of Beth Aven.

Joshua 18:12 esv

On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan. Then the boundary goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill country westward, and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Joshua 18:12 nlt

The northern boundary of Benjamin's land began at the Jordan River, went north of the slope of Jericho, then west through the hill country and the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Joshua 18 verses

Joshua 18 12 Meaning

Joshua 18:12 precisely details a significant segment of the northern border of the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. This segment originates from the Jordan River, proceeds westward alongside Jericho, ascends into the mountainous region, and finally terminates at the wilderness region known as Beth-aven. This meticulous delineation underscores the divinely ordered and fixed nature of the tribal inheritances in the Promised Land, reflecting God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to Israel.

Joshua 18 12 Context

Joshua chapter 18 details the division of the remaining land in Canaan among the seven tribes that had not yet received their inheritance. After the initial conquests and the settlement of Judah and Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) and the Transjordan tribes, Joshua challenges the idle tribes to survey the remaining territory. Commissioners are sent out to map the land into seven portions, which are then distributed by lot before the Lord at Shiloh, where the Tabernacle had been set up. Joshua 18:12 specifically delineates a portion of the northern boundary of the territory given to Benjamin, a strategically important tribe due to its location between Judah and Ephraim, and its capital, Jerusalem. This detailed description is part of the methodical fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants, ensuring a distinct, tangible inheritance for each clan and family within Israel.

Joshua 18 12 Word analysis

• ויהי גבולם (vayhi gevulam) - "And their border was":

  • ויהי (vayhi): "And it was," a common narrative conjunction marking the start of an event or description.
  • גבולם (gevulam): From גבול (gevul), meaning "boundary," "border," "limit." The suffix -am denotes "their." Significance: Emphasizes a precise, fixed, and acknowledged demarcation, not a fluid or vague line. It speaks to order and divine provision.

• לפאה צפון (laf'eah tzafon) - "on the north side":

  • לפאה (laf'eah): From פאה (pe'ah), meaning "corner," "side," or "direction." The prefix ל (la) means "to" or "on."
  • צפון (tzafon): "North." Significance: Clearly specifies the cardinal direction of this border segment, aiding in the accurate geographical identification of the territory.

• מירדן (mi-yarden) - "from Jordan":

  • מירדן (mi-yarden): מן (min) means "from," and ירדן (Yarden) is the Jordan River. Significance: The Jordan River served as a prominent and unmistakable eastern landmark in Canaan. Its mention anchors the border's starting point to a universally recognized geographical feature.

• ועלה הגבול אל כתף יריחו מצפון (v'alah ha-gevul el ketef Yericho mitzafon) - "and the border went up to the side of Jericho northward":

  • ועלה (v'alah): "And went up." From עלה (alah), "to ascend," "go up." Geographically accurate, as traveling westward from the Jordan valley often involves an ascent into the Central Highlands.
  • הגבול (ha-gevul): "The border."
  • אל כתף (el ketef): "To the side of." כתף (katef) literally means "shoulder," figuratively "side" or "flank."
  • יריחו (Yericho): Jericho, a significant and well-known city, recently conquered.
  • מצפון (mitzafon): "Northward" or "on the north." Significance: Indicates the border's trajectory relative to Jericho. It implies the border passed by Jericho, northward of the city, not through it, ensuring Jericho itself remained within the proper territory (initially Judah's border then became a Benjaminite city within the Ephraim tribal zone due to tribal land sharing complexities; in Joshua 18, it's just a marker).

• ועלה בהר ימה (v'alah ba-har yamah) - "and went up through the mountains westward":

  • ועלה (v'alah): "And went up" (repeated).
  • בהר (ba-har): "In/through the mountain." הר (har), "mountain," "hill country."
  • ימה (yamah): "Westward" or "towards the sea." Significance: Describes the challenging, hilly topography Benjamin occupied and reiterates the westward movement. The Central Highlands formed a natural barrier and a key defensive area.

• והיו תוצאתיו מדבר בית און (v'hayu totz'otav midbar Beit-Aven) - "and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.":

  • והיו תוצאתיו (v'hayu totz'otav): "And its goings out were." תוצאות (totz'ot), "goings out," "exits," referring to the terminal points or limits of a boundary line. The suffix -av means "its."
  • מדבר (midbar): "Wilderness," "desert."
  • בית און (Beit-Aven): Beth-aven. Literally "House of Iniquity." In this context, it is a specific geographical landmark, likely an ancient settlement or place name, in the wilderness region to the east of Bethel. Significance: Provides a definitive endpoint for this segment of the northern border, crucial for precision. While later prophetically linked to idolatry (Hosea), in Joshua, it's a geographic identifier.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And their border on the north side was from Jordan": This phrase establishes the eastern starting point of the northern boundary using a prominent natural landmark, making the initial demarcation clear and verifiable. It sets the foundational reference point for the entire segment.
• "and the border went up to the side of Jericho northward": This portion details the border's immediate progression westward, indicating its relation to a major, conquered city. It highlights that the boundary skirted, rather than encompassed, Jericho, showcasing deliberate and precise mapping around important urban centers. The "went up" verb suggests an elevation change from the Jordan Valley.
• "and went up through the mountains westward": This describes the next stage of the boundary's trajectory through the natural topography of the land. It emphasizes the rugged, elevated terrain (the Central Highlands) characteristic of Benjamin's allotted area, underscoring the realism of the survey. The continued "westward" movement maintains the general direction.
• "and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven": This phrase defines the specific terminus or ending point of this particular northern border segment. Naming a "wilderness" area and a particular site within it ("Beth-aven") provides an unambiguous end mark, preventing vagueness and ensuring the clarity of Benjamin's territory limits.

Joshua 18 12 Bonus section

• The repetitive use of geographical indicators and directional terms ("north," "westward," "from Jordan," "through the mountains," "wilderness of Beth-aven") signifies the extraordinary efforts by the biblical authors to provide a verifiable and accurate description of the boundaries, testifying to the historicity and practicality of the land distribution.
• The inclusion of specific, sometimes obscure, place names like Beth-aven adds to the authentic ancient feel of the text. Such specific markers served as mnemonic devices and legal definitions for the ancient Israelite tribes concerning their property.
• The divine command to survey the land before casting lots (Josh 18:4-6) highlights the combination of human effort and divine sovereignty in the land's distribution. While humans did the surveying, God, through the casting of lots, ultimately determined the specific portion for each tribe, thus ensuring fairness and divine approval for each inheritance.

Joshua 18 12 Commentary

Joshua 18:12 serves as a prime illustration of the meticulous care exercised in allocating the land of Canaan to the tribes of Israel, echoing the divine promise and providential oversight. The highly specific geographical details – from the well-known Jordan River to the mountainous terrain near Jericho and the specific location of Beth-aven – demonstrate an unprecedented level of surveying accuracy for its time. This precision was not merely administrative; it represented God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises, providing each tribe with a clear, inalienable inheritance. It minimized potential future disputes over territory and underscored the organized establishment of God's people in the Promised Land. The detailing of natural landmarks and existing settlements provided irrefutable markers for future generations to uphold the boundaries, ensuring tribal identity and stability.