Joshua 18 2

Joshua 18:2 kjv

And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.

Joshua 18:2 nkjv

But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance.

Joshua 18:2 niv

but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

Joshua 18:2 esv

There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned.

Joshua 18:2 nlt

But there remained seven tribes who had not yet been allotted their grants of land.

Joshua 18 verses

Joshua 18 2 Meaning

This verse highlights a significant state of incompleteness in Israel's settlement of the promised land after initial military conquests. Despite the Tabernacle being set up in Shiloh, signifying a degree of rest, seven out of the twelve tribes had not yet taken full possession of their God-allotted territory. This delay points to a collective failure to fully act on God's covenant promises, leaving a substantial portion of the land undistributed and unclaimed.

Joshua 18 2 Context

Joshua chapter 18 follows the initial distribution of land to the tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in chapters 13-17. Prior to this verse, Joshua 18:1 records the significant event of the entire congregation of Israel gathering at Shiloh and setting up the Tent of Meeting there. This established Shiloh as the central place of worship and the de facto capital, indicating a degree of settled life and national unity. However, the subsequent verse, Joshua 18:2, immediately highlights the stark reality that despite this significant religious establishment and apparent stability, the core task of land distribution and complete occupation remained largely unfinished. This sets the stage for Joshua's direct rebuke in the following verse (Josh 18:3), urging the remaining tribes to cease their complacency and claim their allotted portions. The historical context is critical: the generation of Israelites who entered the land under Joshua had witnessed God's mighty acts of conquest, yet they were not fully capitalizing on the victory and divine promises. The period reflects a transition from nomadic wilderness life and intense military campaign to the challenges of settlement, often accompanied by a decline in spiritual zeal and an increase in complacency.

Joshua 18 2 Word analysis

• And there remained (וַיִּוָּ֣תְרוּ wai-yiwāt'rū from יָתַר yathar, to be left over, remain): This emphasizes a lingering condition, an incomplete state. It points to a task unfinished despite significant progress made in other areas (like establishing Shiloh). This highlights a lack of initiative from the Israelites themselves, rather than God's failure to provide.

• among the children of Israel (מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל mib'nē yiśrā'ēl): Indicates this was a collective issue affecting a significant portion of the entire nation, underscoring a national lack of full commitment or an undue delay in appropriating God's provision. It's a internal problem, not external hindrance from enemies primarily.

• seven tribes (שֶׁ֤בַע שְׁבָטִים֙ shevaʿ shəvāṭim): The specific number is significant. Since there were initially twelve tribes (plus Levi without land, Joseph's two half-tribes), this means the majority had not yet received their portions. This isn't a small minority, but a dominant segment of the people, signifying a widespread problem of inactivity. The numerical specificity adds gravity to the delay.

• which had not yet received their inheritance (אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־חָלְק֤וּ אֶת־נַחֲלָתָֽם ʾăsher loʾ-ḥolqū ʾet-naḥălaṯām - 'who had not divided their inheritance'):

  • had not yet (לֹא־ loʾ ... yet): The phrase implies a pending action. The delay was temporary, yet clearly prolonged, suggesting procrastination rather than impossibility. It was within their power and God's will to complete it.
  • received (חָלְק֨וּ ḥolqū from חָלַק ḥalaq, to divide, apportion, share): This refers to the process of division and appropriation of the land, signifying an active step needed on their part. It's not passive reception but an active engagement in dividing and possessing what God had already granted.
  • their inheritance (נַחֲלָתָֽם naḥălaṯām from נַחֲלָה naḥalah, inheritance, possession): This is a crucial theological term in Joshua. It represents God's faithful fulfillment of His covenant promise (Genesis 12:7; 15:18). The land was not merely property but a divinely ordained gift, a sign of their covenant relationship with God and a place of rest and blessing. Failure to fully appropriate this "inheritance" was a neglect of God's direct gift and command. The "their" indicates it was individually appointed to each tribe but still unclaimed.

• Words-group analysis: "seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance": This phrase highlights a major unfulfilled aspect of the Israelite conquest. Despite God's promises and miraculous victories, the human element of faith and diligent action was lacking. It shows a complacency or spiritual laziness among the people who failed to take possession of what was already legally and divinely theirs. The very identity of these tribes was intertwined with their inheritance, and without it, their full identity and destiny were deferred. The "not yet" implies that while the promise stood, its realization depended on their cooperation with God's design. This serves as a pointed critique of their inertia and a prelude to Joshua's direct challenge.

Joshua 18 2 Bonus section

The phrase "not yet received their inheritance" is more literally "had not divided their inheritance." This suggests a two-fold problem: a failure to survey and map the remaining territory, which was a necessary precursor to dividing it by lot, and then a failure to actually claim and settle those territories. It wasn't simply a matter of God not distributing; it was a matter of the Israelites themselves failing to prepare for and take active possession of what had been declared theirs. This lack of initiative indicates a spiritual apathy that developed after the initial thrill of conquest waned. The spiritual condition of these tribes mirrors Israel's pattern throughout its history: initially obedient and fervent, but then lapsing into complacency and failure to fully appropriate God's promises.

Joshua 18 2 Commentary

Joshua 18:2 is a terse but profound verse, laying bare a significant shortfall in the nation of Israel. After years of divine leading and miraculous conquests, the vast majority of the promised land was still unsettled among the tribes. This wasn't because God hadn't given the land, but because a pervasive complacency had settled over seven tribes who "had not yet received their inheritance." This spiritual lethargy meant they had neglected to appropriate what God had already provided, delaying the full experience of the covenant rest and blessing associated with possessing the land. It reveals a critical spiritual principle: God's provision and promise require human action and diligent faith to be fully realized. This "not yet" implies both God's patience and a pending judgment for their inertia. The land was rightfully theirs through God's grant, yet they allowed potential hardships, perceived challenges, or sheer comfort to prevent them from entering their full possession.

For practical application, this serves as a potent reminder for believers today. God has provided all spiritual blessings and authority in Christ (Eph 1:3), and promises a spiritual "rest" (Hebrews 4:9-11). Yet, often due to spiritual sluggishness, fear, or a failure to truly believe in what has been given, believers can live far short of their spiritual inheritance. We may settle for partial obedience, fail to exercise our spiritual authority, or procrastinate in fulfilling the calling God has placed upon us.Examples:

• Knowing God's will for a certain ministry but hesitating to step out in faith.
• Having access to deep spiritual truths in the Bible but failing to diligently study and apply them.
• Understanding principles of spiritual warfare but not actively engaging through prayer and confession.