Joshua 18 27

Joshua 18:27 kjv

And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,

Joshua 18:27 nkjv

Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,

Joshua 18:27 niv

Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,

Joshua 18:27 esv

Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,

Joshua 18:27 nlt

Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,

Joshua 18 verses

Joshua 18 27 Meaning

Joshua 18:27 enumerates a specific group of five cities—Zelah, Haeleph, Jebusi (which is identified as Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath—within the territory allocated to the tribe of Benjamin. These, along with other cities mentioned in the preceding verses, sum up to fourteen cities with their dependent villages, firmly establishing this as the divinely appointed inheritance for the families of Benjamin. The verse explicitly marks the boundaries of their allotted land, emphasizing its direct fulfillment of the promise given by God.

Joshua 18 27 Context

Joshua chapter 18 details the division of land for the remaining seven tribes of Israel, including Benjamin. Following the allocations to Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh, Joshua urges the Israelites to survey and map the rest of the land. Once this survey is complete, the territory is divided by lot at Shiloh before the tabernacle. Verses 11-20 describe the specific boundaries of Benjamin's territory, outlining its borders with Judah to the south and Ephraim to the north. Verses 21-28 then provide a detailed list of twenty-six cities within Benjamin's two geographical divisions (eastern and western), affirming the fulfillment of God's promise of inheritance. Verse 27 specifically names key cities in the second group of their eastern allocation, highlighting Jerusalem's original tribal placement and emphasizing the thoroughness of the land distribution record. Historically, this period marks a critical transition from conquest to settlement, where tribal identities and land ownership became foundational to the social and religious life of Israel. The inclusion of Jebusi, or Jerusalem, within Benjamin's lot, while also bordered by Judah, highlights a complex geopolitical reality in which a powerful Canaanite stronghold remained unsubdued by the time of Joshua's record.

Joshua 18 27 Word analysis

• And Zelah (וְהַצֵּלַע - ve-hatz-tse-la): The conjunction "And" connects this city to the preceding list, indicating continuation. Zelah (צֵלַע) means "side" or "rib." It later gains significance as the burial place of King Saul and his family (2 Sam 21:14), confirming its location within Benjaminite territory.
• Haeleph (וְהָאֶלֶף - ve-ha-e-lef): The article "Ha" (the) precedes Eleph (אֶלֶף), meaning "thousand." Its exact location is less certain but places it as another specific point within Benjamin's land.
• and Jebusi (וְהַיְבוּסִי - ve-hay-ye-vu-si): "And the Jebusite." This refers to the stronghold or city of the Jebusites. Its inclusion shows that at the time of the land distribution, the Jebusites, a pre-Israelite people, still inhabited this powerful fortress city.
• which is Jerusalem (הִיא יְרוּשָׁלַיִם - hi ye-ru-sha-la-yim): This explanatory phrase identifies Jebusi as the well-known city of Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם). This clarification for the audience underlines its strategic importance and also the fact that it was not fully taken by the Israelites at the initial division, despite being assigned. It later became the capital under King David.
• Gibeath (וְהַגִּבְעָה - ve-hag-giv-ʻah): "And the hill." Gibeath, commonly known as Gibeah, means "hill" or "height." This city later became infamous for the traumatic incident recorded in Judges 19-21 and served as King Saul's hometown (1 Sam 10:26), solidifying its place as a significant Benjaminite city.
• and Kirjath (וְהַקִּרְיַת - ve-ha-qir-yath): "And the city." Kirjath (קִרְיַת) means "city." While it can be part of a compound name like Kirjath-jearim, here it likely refers to a specific settlement within Benjamin's border simply known as "The City." Its exact identification remains debated, but it's clearly one of the named points of ownership.
• fourteen cities (אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה עָרִים - 'ar-baʻ es-re 'a-rim): This numerical summation refers to the total number of cities explicitly listed for Benjamin in the preceding verses (Josh 18:21-28). It emphasizes the meticulous nature of the record and the comprehensiveness of the allocated territory.
• with their villages (וְחַצְרֵיהֶן - ve-hatz-re-hen): The "villages" (חֲצֵרִים - chatzerim) imply surrounding settlements, agricultural lands, and smaller communities dependent on the main cities. This phrase denotes not just the city centers, but the full administrative and populated area attached to them, forming a complete unit of inheritance.
• This is (זֹאת - zot): The demonstrative pronoun clearly marks the preceding description as the conclusive declaration of Benjamin's allotted portion.
• the inheritance (נַחֲלַת - nachalat): This word signifies a permanent, God-given possession that passes down through generations, distinct from a temporary dwelling or leased land. It underscores the divine authority behind the land division and its enduring nature for the tribe.
• of the children of Benjamin (בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן - bene bin-ya-min): Identifies the specific recipient tribe of this portion of land. Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob, and his tribe was granted a significant and strategically central territory.
• according to their families (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - le-mish-pe-ḥo-tam): This highlights the foundational unit of Israelite society and land distribution. Land was allotted not just to the tribe as a whole but meticulously divided among its clans and families, ensuring everyone received a portion according to God's ordained system (Num 26:52-56).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Zelah, Haeleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath": This specific list of cities from the latter part of Benjamin's tribal land delineates precise geographical points within their assigned inheritance. The inclusion of "Jebusi, which is Jerusalem" is highly significant, showing that while the city was assigned to Benjamin, the Jebusite inhabitants had not yet been fully dispossessed. This dual notation indicates both the divinely apportioned land and the historical reality of ongoing challenges in full conquest. These cities represent crucial centers, strategically important given Benjamin's central location.
• "fourteen cities with their villages": This phrase serves as a summary and confirmation of the comprehensive enumeration of Benjamin's inheritance (as seen from the two preceding groups of cities in verses 21-28). It emphasizes that Benjamin's portion included not only major cities but also their dependent satellite communities, highlighting a complete and functioning territorial unit. This reflects careful and organized land allocation under divine instruction.
• "This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families": This declarative statement definitively concludes the description of Benjamin's land. It reiterates the fundamental concept of inheritance (nachalah), a permanent possession bestowed by God to each family within the tribe. It signifies the fulfillment of God's covenant promises and the establishment of a settled life for Israel in the promised land.

Joshua 18 27 Bonus section

The tribe of Benjamin, despite being one of the smallest tribes numerically, received a geographically central and highly strategic territory, including proximity to future Jerusalem. This central position later led to its critical role during the monarchy (producing the first king, Saul), and its eventual close association with Judah after the kingdom's division (becoming part of the Southern Kingdom). The fact that Jerusalem was assigned to Benjamin but Judah later conquered it showcases the fluidity of ancient land control despite ideal initial divisions. It also prefigures the ultimate unity found in Jerusalem as "the city of the Great King" (Ps 48:2), belonging to all Israel and ultimately becoming a symbol of the spiritual kingdom of God, as referenced in New Testament themes of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Joshua 18 27 Commentary

Joshua 18:27 stands as a testament to the meticulous and divinely guided process of land allocation among the tribes of Israel following their initial conquests. The listing of specific cities like Zelah, Haeleph, Gibeath, and Kirjath provides concrete geographical markers of Benjamin's assigned territory. However, the most profound point of this verse lies in the clear identification of "Jebusi, which is Jerusalem," as part of Benjamin's inheritance. This inclusion is significant because while Benjamin was granted the future capital city by divine decree, neither Benjamin nor Judah (which also bordered Jerusalem) managed to completely dispossess the Jebusites for centuries (Judges 1:21, Judges 1:8).

This detail highlights a tension between divine promise and human action; the land was allotted by God, yet the full possession required ongoing faith and obedience. Jerusalem, central to both Benjamin's boundary and Judah's, underscores the strategic and complex nature of this particular city. Later, it was King David, from the tribe of Judah, who eventually conquered Jerusalem from the Jebusites, establishing it as the political and religious capital for all Israel (2 Sam 5). This development illustrates how divine plans can unfold through subsequent historical events and individuals, sometimes beyond the initial tribal allocations, while still retaining the original geographical assignments as a basis for identity. The meticulous enumeration of "fourteen cities with their villages" underscores the comprehensive nature of the tribal inheritance, not merely central urban areas but also the broader network of communities and agricultural lands that sustained tribal life. This careful detail signifies the fulfillment of God's ancient covenant to Abraham, establishing Israel as a settled nation with clear territorial boundaries.