Joshua 18:28 kjv
And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
Joshua 18:28 nkjv
Zelah, Eleph, Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
Joshua 18:28 niv
Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath?fourteen towns and their villages. This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.
Joshua 18:28 esv
Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath-jearim ? fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin according to its clans.
Joshua 18:28 nlt
Zela, Haeleph, the Jebusite town (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim ? fourteen towns with their surrounding villages.
This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
Joshua 18 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | "To your offspring I will give this land." | Promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 15:18 | "To your descendants I have given this land..." | Covenant reaffirmation of promised land. |
| Num 34:13 | "This is the land you are to inherit by lot..." | Instruction for land distribution by lot. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you. Go in and possess..." | Command to possess the promised land. |
| Deut 32:8 | "He fixed the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel." | Divine orchestration of national borders. |
| Deut 33:12 | "Of Benjamin he said: 'The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety..." | Moses' blessing over Benjamin. |
| Josh 14:2 | "Their inheritance was by lot, as the LORD had commanded through Moses." | Reinforces divine method of land division. |
| Josh 15:8 | "from there the boundary goes up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the southern slope of the Jebusites’ ridge (that is, Jerusalem)..." | Earlier mention of Jerusalem's location in Judah's border description. |
| Judg 1:21 | "The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites." | Jerusalem remained partially un-conquered by Benjamin. |
| Judg 19:10-14 | A Levite travelling from Bethlehem considers lodging in Jebus (Jerusalem). | Indicates Jebus was a non-Israelite city near Benjamin's territory. |
| 2 Sam 5:6-9 | "David and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites..." | David's later conquest of Jebusite Jerusalem. |
| 1 Chr 11:4-7 | Account of David conquering Jebus/Jerusalem. | Parallel account to 2 Samuel 5. |
| Psa 78:55 | "He drove out nations before them... allotted their inheritance by measure." | God distributing land by lot. |
| Psa 122:3-4 | "Jerusalem built as a city that is closely joined together. To which the tribes go up..." | Significance of Jerusalem as a unifying city. |
| Isa 2:3 | "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." | Future spiritual significance of Jerusalem. |
| Zech 12:6 | "And I will make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples..." | Jerusalem's role in future events. |
| Matt 2:1 | Mention of Bethlehem and Herod, showing geographic context of Jerusalem in Israel. | Historical setting of Jerusalem in New Testament. |
| Rom 11:1 | "I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin." | Paul's lineage confirming Benjamin's tribal continuity. |
| Eph 1:11 | "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him..." | Spiritual inheritance in Christ for believers. |
| Col 1:12 | "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." | Spiritual inheritance for believers. |
| Heb 9:15 | "...that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance." | Emphasis on Christ securing eternal inheritance. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | "...into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." | Heavenly, eternal inheritance in Christian faith. |
Joshua 18 verses
Joshua 18 28 Meaning
This verse concludes the precise listing of the final twelve cities assigned by lot to the tribe of Benjamin within their designated territory. It specifically names Zelah, Eleph, Jebusi (identified as Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath, summing up the second group of fourteen cities allocated, each with its surrounding villages. This declaration confirms Benjamin's divinely apportioned inheritance as part of the overall land distribution to the tribes of Israel, fulfilling the promise of the Almighty God.
Joshua 18 28 Context
Joshua chapter 18 details the division of the remaining land west of the Jordan among the seven tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. Following the examples of Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh who received their portions first, the rest of the land was surveyed, mapped into seven parts, and then distributed by lot at the tabernacle in Shiloh, overseen by Joshua and Eleazar the priest. Chapter 18 specifically describes the territory allotted to Benjamin. Verse 28 serves as the concluding summary of Benjamin’s urban inheritance, confirming the boundaries and key cities assigned to them, notably including Jebusi, which would become the highly significant city of Jerusalem. Historically, this phase marks the transition from military conquest to settled possession, setting the stage for the life of the tribes within their designated lands before the period of the Judges.
Joshua 18 28 Word analysis
- And: A simple conjunction (
waw, וְ) indicating a continuation of the listing, linking these final cities to the previously mentioned ones within Benjamin’s territory. - Zelah: (Hebrew: צֵלַע, Tsela‘) A city named among Benjamin's inheritance. Its exact location is debated, but likely situated within the region assigned to Benjamin, possibly related to Saul's family tomb.
- Eleph: (Hebrew: אֶלֶף, Eleph) Another city listed for Benjamin. The name can mean "thousand" or "ox," but here it denotes a place name. Its precise location is uncertain, typical of many ancient minor settlements.
- Jebusi: (Hebrew: יְבוּסִי, Yebusi) Refers to the city of Jebus, inhabited by the Jebusites. This designation emphasizes that at the time of this writing, it was still a foreign enclave, although designated to Benjamin. Its inclusion in Benjamin’s inheritance underlines divine allocation even where complete human conquest was delayed. This reflects the reality that not all promised land was immediately fully occupied by Israel, a point further highlighted in Judges 1.
- which is Jerusalem: (Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, Yerushalayim) This parenthetical clarification is highly significant. It explicitly identifies Jebusi with Jerusalem, the future capital of David's kingdom and a spiritual center. This demonstrates its crucial geopolitical importance even when it was still under Jebusite control, yet destined by the Most High to be part of the land for God's chosen people.
- Gibeath: (Hebrew: גִּבְעָה, Giv‘ah) Meaning "hill," this was a significant city in Benjamin's territory, notably becoming the home of King Saul (1 Sam 10:26). It was also the site of a tragic civil war involving Benjamin (Judges 19-21).
- and Kirjath: (Hebrew: קִרְיַת, Qiryat) This often refers to Kirjath-jearim, which means "city of forests." This city had historical significance as a resting place for the Ark of the Covenant before its transfer to Jerusalem by King David (1 Sam 7:1-2; 2 Sam 6:2-3). It indicates another important landmark in Benjamin’s land.
- fourteen cities: This numerical sum confirms the precise nature of the divinely guided land division, validating the inventory.
- with their villages: This phrase signifies the total inhabited area, encompassing not just walled cities but also the surrounding smaller settlements and agricultural areas that supported them, indicating a full and complete allotment.
- This is the inheritance: (Hebrew: זֹאת הַנַּחֲלָה, zot ha-nachalah) A declaratory statement affirming divine grant and ownership. "Inheritance" (nachalah) carries significant theological weight, referring to something received as a divinely appointed right and enduring possession. It stresses that the land was a gift from the Almighty.
- of the children of Benjamin: Explicitly identifies the recipients of this specific land portion. The tribe of Benjamin, Jacob’s youngest son through Rachel, is confirmed as the rightful possessor of this strategically important region.
- according to their families: (Hebrew: לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם, le-mishp'chotam) Reinforces that the division was organized and precise, distributed not merely by tribe, but meticulously by the recognized family units within the tribe. This ensured fairness and accountability, reflecting the structured order God established for His people.
Joshua 18 28 Bonus section
The precise boundary lists and city allocations, like those in Joshua 18:28, serve not only as historical records of land distribution but also as legal-theological documents. They affirm God's sovereign right to distribute the earth and His faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The mention of Jerusalem still being "Jebusi" within Benjamin's territory underscores a recurring theme in Joshua and Judges: God gave the land, but human faithfulness (or lack thereof) impacted the completeness and timing of its possession. It also foreshadows Jerusalem's eventual unique status, becoming a royal city (later associated primarily with Judah due to David's tribe, yet physically situated on the border and culturally bridging Benjamin and Judah), transcending simple tribal possession and becoming a capital for all Israel and a spiritual beacon. The precise counting of cities (fourteen) reinforces the meticulous nature of the divine plan, highlighting that God’s blessings are both grand in scope and precise in detail, assuring the people of His complete provision.
Joshua 18 28 Commentary
Joshua 18:28 concludes the meticulous record of Benjamin's land allotment, highlighting the divine order and specificity in the division of the promised land. The listing of specific cities, culminating in "Jebusi, which is Jerusalem," underscores a crucial prophetic reality: even before its capture by King David, the strategic future capital of Israel was already divinely designated within the boundaries of Benjamin. This verse implicitly sets up the narrative of future conquest and the unique status of Jerusalem, initially a foreign enclave within Israel's promised territory, later becoming a shared spiritual and political hub that transcended tribal lines due to its strategic and spiritual importance. The "fourteen cities with their villages" illustrate the completeness of the inheritance, emphasizing that every portion of the land, down to the smallest village, was purposed by the Almighty for His people, a fulfillment of ancestral promises. This act of divine allotment serves as a foundational testament to the faithfulness of God in providing for His covenant people.