Joshua 18 4

Joshua 18:4 kjv

Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.

Joshua 18:4 nkjv

Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me.

Joshua 18:4 niv

Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me.

Joshua 18:4 esv

Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. They shall write a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me.

Joshua 18:4 nlt

Select three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to explore the land and map it out. They will then return to me with a written report of their proposed divisions of their new homeland.

Joshua 18 verses

Joshua 18 4 Meaning

Joshua chapter 18, verse 4 conveys a directive from Joshua to the seven remaining tribes of Israel who had not yet received their land inheritance. Joshua instructs them to choose three men from each tribe to form a survey team. These men are to meticulously traverse the remaining unconquered land, describe it in detail according to what would be suitable for tribal inheritance, and then return with a comprehensive report to Joshua. This initiative was designed to gather necessary information for the equitable and orderly distribution of the land among these tribes, addressing their procrastination in claiming their portion of the Promised Land.

Joshua 18 4 Context

Joshua 18 initiates the resolution of a significant issue after years of conquest: the incomplete distribution of the land of Canaan. Chapters 13-17 detail the allotments for Reuben, Gad, half-tribe of Manasseh (east of Jordan), and the tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and the other half of Manasseh (west of Jordan). However, seven tribes remained without a defined inheritance. They were residing in the conquered land but had not taken active steps to claim their specific portions.

The historical context places this event at Shiloh, a central location where the tabernacle was set up, signifying Israel's spiritual headquarters. Joshua confronts the people's complacency and procrastination in inheriting the promised land (Joshua 18:3). This verse, Joshua 18:4, then details Joshua's practical solution to this stagnation. It highlights a critical shift from military conquest to civil administration and detailed land management. Unlike the spies sent in Numbers 13 who were to assess the land's strength for war, this mission's purpose was for systematic land description and equitable distribution among God's people. This approach underscores divine order and justice, countering any chaotic or arbitrary methods of claiming territory, implicitly standing in contrast to pagan societies' often less structured land ownership or divinely-approved tribal assignments.

Joshua 18 4 Word analysis

• "Provide" (תְּנוּ - tenû): This is a command, an imperative verb. It means "Give!" or "Appoint!" It highlights Joshua's authoritative instruction and places the immediate responsibility squarely on the tribes themselves to act. It's not a suggestion but a direct order to remedy their inaction.
• "for yourselves": The benefit of this action accrues directly to the tribes involved. They are being told to prepare their own inheritance, emphasizing that while God gives, man must act to receive.
• "three men" (שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים - shloshah anashim): A specific, deliberate number. In Hebrew tradition, a group of three often signifies sufficiency, validity, or completion, aligning with the principle of multiple witnesses for confirmation (e.g., Deut 19:15). It provided enough individuals for diverse observation, cross-referencing notes, and shared workload for accuracy and accountability without being overly cumbersome.
• "from each tribe": This ensures tribal representation and involvement, giving each of the seven unallotted tribes direct participation and investment in the process, thus preventing future disputes and ensuring fairness.
• "I will send them" (וְאֶשְׁלָחֵם - ve'eshlaḥem): This signifies Joshua's official commission. He validates their mission and gives it authoritative backing, providing the necessary leadership for the endeavor.
• "rise up and walk through the land" (וְקָמוּ וְהִתְהַלְּכוּ בָּאָרֶץ - vekamu vehithal·lekū ba'arets):
  • "rise up" (קָמוּ - kamu): An active verb, meaning to "stand up" or "get up." It suggests overcoming inertia and starting a decisive action after a period of idleness or sitting. It's a call to move from complacency to action.
  • "walk through the land" (וְהִתְהַלְּכוּ בָּאָרֶץ - vehithal·lekū ba'arets): Implies a thorough, comprehensive traversal, not just a superficial glance. The reflexive stem of the verb (hithpael) often denotes sustained or self-directed action, emphasizing their diligent effort in exploring. This "walking through" indicates a physical appropriation and familiarity with the territory, akin to God's promise in Joshua 1:3.
• "and describe it" (וְכָתְבוּ אֹתָהּ - vekāthvū 'ôtāh): Meaning "and they shall write it." This is crucial. It calls for a precise, written, documented account, implying measurements, delineation of natural features, resources, and boundaries. It signifies a structured survey rather than a casual observation, providing objective data for decision-making. This foresight in documentation ensures order and reduces potential conflicts over land claims.
• "according to their inheritance" (לְפִי נַחֲלָתָם - lephî nachalatām):
  • "according to" (לְפִי - lephî): Literally "according to the mouth of," implying conformity or proportion to something.
  • "their inheritance" (nachalatām): The portion allotted by God. This phrase directs the purpose of the survey: it wasn't for general geographical exploration, but for delineating usable land relevant to establishing specific tribal boundaries and accounting for the varying sizes and needs of the tribes for their dwelling and sustenance.
• "and they shall bring back to me a report" (וְהֵשִׁיבוּ אֵלַי אֶת דְּבָרוֹ - veheshîvū 'êlay 'et dᵊvarô): This establishes accountability and centralizes decision-making. The collected data is for Joshua to review and use for the final allotment, emphasizing his role as God's chosen leader for the land distribution. The "report" (דְּבָרוֹ - dᵊvarô, "its word" or "its account") represents the full written description.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Provide for yourselves three men from each tribe": This highlights delegated responsibility and participatory leadership, involving the very tribes who stood to benefit from the action. It fosters shared ownership of the task.
• "rise up and walk through the land and describe it": This is a comprehensive command for active, diligent exploration and systematic, detailed documentation. It mandates moving beyond idleness to thorough data collection.
• "according to their inheritance": This phrase precisely defines the purpose and scope of the description, directing the focus of the survey team towards information specifically relevant to establishing equitable and proper tribal boundaries.
• "and they shall bring back to me a report": This emphasizes accountability to leadership and the need for organized data to facilitate informed decision-making for the ultimate distribution.

Joshua 18 4 Bonus section

• The practical necessity of mapping and detailed surveying (precursor to modern cartography) is highlighted here, indicating the detailed and orderly nature God desires even in administrative tasks.
• Joshua's action provides an example of good leadership: recognizing a problem (the tribes' procrastination), rebuking it, and then providing a practical, guided solution for moving forward.
• The fact that they were to "bring back to me a report" signifies the importance of central authority and accountability in major communal undertakings, ensuring unity and correct execution of God's plan for Israel.
• The entire process emphasizes a structured and intentional approach to possessing and settling the land, in contrast to arbitrary seizure, reflecting divine principles of justice and order.
• The concept of "walking through the land" (הִתְהַלְּכוּ בָּאָרֶץ) carries spiritual significance. It often implies a lived experience and ownership, reflecting a call to fully embody and appropriate one's spiritual blessings and walk according to God's will.

Joshua 18 4 Commentary

Joshua 18:4 reveals Joshua's proactive and strategic leadership. Faced with the procrastination of seven tribes who neglected to claim their allotted inheritance, Joshua did not simply rebuke them but provided a clear, actionable plan. This verse demonstrates a blend of divine direction and human responsibility. While God had promised and delivered the land, its practical allocation required diligent human effort and methodical planning. The emphasis on sending "three men from each tribe" for a meticulous survey underscores God's commitment to order, fairness, and detail in the lives of His people. The act of "describing" and "writing" indicates the need for objective, verifiable information to ensure a just distribution, setting a standard for careful administration. This meticulous preparation ensured that the inheritance was not haphazard but thoughtfully assigned based on detailed assessment, embodying the principle that blessings often require our active, well-planned participation. Spiritually, it mirrors the necessity for believers to actively engage with, explore, and comprehend the full scope of their spiritual inheritance in Christ, moving beyond passive awareness to active appropriation.