Joshua 18:5 kjv
And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.
Joshua 18:5 nkjv
And they shall divide it into seven parts. Judah shall remain in their territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory on the north.
Joshua 18:5 niv
You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.
Joshua 18:5 esv
They shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north.
Joshua 18:5 nlt
Let them divide the land into seven sections, excluding Judah's territory in the south and Joseph's territory in the north.
Joshua 18 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 26:53-56 | "To these the land shall be divided for inheritance… according to their numbers…" | Division by lot and population |
| Num 33:54 | "And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families…" | Divine instruction for land division |
| Josh 13:6 | "All the inhabitants of the hill country… will I drive out… I will give it unto the Israelites…" | God's promise of the land for inheritance |
| Josh 14:1 | "And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan…" | Introduction to land distribution |
| Josh 15:1-12 | "This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah…" | Judah's pre-assigned southern inheritance |
| Josh 16:1-4 | "And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho…" | Joseph's (Ephraim) pre-assigned central land |
| Josh 17:1-6 | "There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh…" | Joseph's (Manasseh) extended northern land |
| Josh 18:2-3 | "And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance." | The remaining seven tribes |
| Josh 18:8-9 | "So the men went and passed through the land… and they came again to Joshua at Shiloh." | Surveying and mapping the land |
| Josh 19:51 | "These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua… divided by lot at Shiloh…" | Conclusion of land distribution |
| Deut 1:38 | "Joshua the son of Nun… he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it." | Joshua's role in inheritance |
| Psa 78:55 | "He drove out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line…" | God's work in establishing inheritance |
| Psa 105:44 | "And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;" | Divine provision of inheritance |
| Prov 16:33 | "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." | Divine sovereignty in lot casting |
| Acts 13:19 | "And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot." | God's action in land distribution |
| Heb 4:8-9 | "For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." | Parallel to spiritual inheritance and rest |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you…" | New Testament spiritual inheritance |
| Matt 25:34 | "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you…" | Future spiritual kingdom inheritance |
| Rom 8:17 | "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…" | Believers' joint-heirship with Christ |
| Eph 1:11 | "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him…" | Divine predestination of spiritual inheritance |
| Col 1:12 | "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:" | Readiness for spiritual inheritance |
| Ezek 47:13 | "Thus saith the Lord God; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions." | Future ideal land division, re-emphasizing Joseph's double portion |
Joshua 18 verses
Joshua 18 5 Meaning
This verse details the initial directive for the division of the remaining uninherited land of Canaan among the seven tribes of Israel. It specifically establishes the already possessed territories of the tribes of Judah in the south and the house of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) in the north as fixed reference points. This ensured a systematic and orderly apportionment of the central land for the other tribes who had yet to receive their inheritance.
Joshua 18 5 Context
Joshua chapter 18 follows the initial significant victories and the settlement of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh east of the Jordan, and the extensive inheritances of Judah and the house of Joseph in the west. At this point, the ark of the covenant has been moved to Shiloh (18:1), establishing a central sanctuary. However, the chapter begins by noting the inertia of the remaining seven tribes who had not yet received their portions of the land (18:2-3). Joshua reprimands their procrastination and charges them to send out representatives to survey and map the land (18:4, 6) into seven designated sections. Verse 5 is part of Joshua's detailed instruction for this survey and division, highlighting that the already established borders of Judah to the south and Joseph to the north would serve as the fixed parameters for mapping out the yet-to-be-apportioned central territory. This directive reflects the Lord's consistent emphasis on an orderly and equitable distribution of the Promised Land as per the Mosaic law.
Joshua 18 5 Word analysis
- And they shall divide: The Hebrew verb is chalaq (חָלַק), meaning to divide, apportion, share, or inherit. It indicates a deliberate and systematic distribution, emphasizing an orderly process. This action is commanded, indicating an essential step in fulfilling God's promise.
- it into seven parts: This refers to the seven tribes still awaiting their inheritance: Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. The number "seven" (שֶׁבַע - sheva) frequently symbolizes completion, perfection, or divine order in the biblical narrative. In this context, it signifies that the division will complete the allocation of the Promised Land to all the tribes of Israel, in accordance with God's perfect plan. The "parts" (chalaqim) signifies precise, allocated portions.
- Judah: (יְהוּדָה - Yehudah). The tribe of Judah, having already received their inheritance, occupied a prominent position, physically bordering the remaining unallocated land to the south. Their significant allocation (Joshua 15) and central role within the emerging nation, as foretold by Jacob (Gen 49:10 concerning the scepter), establish their territory as an unwavering landmark.
- shall abide: The Hebrew term yashab (יָשׁב) means to sit, dwell, remain, or settle. It conveys the permanence and security of Judah's established boundary. Their land was not to be re-divided or altered; it served as a stable anchor.
- in their coast: The word for "coast" is gevul (גְּבוּל), which strictly means "border," "boundary," or "territory." It underlines the clear, divinely ordained demarcations already in place. This emphasizes a fixed, non-negotiable southern marker. This meticulous attention to borders stands in contrast to chaotic, unorganized land grabs, asserting a divine legal framework for Israelite possession.
- on the south: Judah's designated territory bordered the land remaining for division directly from the south. This precise directional reference was critical for the survey team.
- and the house of Joseph: (בֵּית יוֹסֵף - beit Yoseph). This refers to the two tribes descended from Joseph: Ephraim and Manasseh. They had also already received their inheritance (Joshua 16-17). Their combined territory, while partially split geographically (Ephraim more central, Manasseh extending north), effectively provided the northern anchor point for the surveying of the remaining central land. Joseph's "house" collectively held a double portion of inheritance, signifying a unique blessing from Jacob (Gen 48:5-6), hence their significant land allocation.
- shall abide: (יָשׁב - yashab) — Reinforces the fixed and enduring nature of Joseph's boundary, similar to Judah's.
- in their coasts on the north: Like Judah, Joseph's tribes occupied a divinely appointed northern border, ensuring that the remaining central territory for the other seven tribes could be measured accurately between these two large, established tribal land blocs. This orderly definition of space reflects a polemic against the often haphazard and disputatious land claims of surrounding polytheistic societies; instead, Israel's inheritance was precisely defined by the one true God.
Joshua 18 5 Bonus section
The instruction in Joshua 18:5 for clear, surveyed boundaries resonates with later biblical principles emphasizing the importance of respecting property lines, such as "Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance" (Deut 19:14, Deut 27:17, Prov 22:28). This command sets a precedent for legal precision and fair allocation, demonstrating divine wisdom in establishing societal order and preventing discord within the community. It shows God's concern for tangible inheritance, but also serves as a picture of how meticulously God allocates spiritual gifts and ministries within the church, each with their own "borders" or spheres of operation for the benefit of the whole body of Christ (Rom 12:4-8, 1 Cor 12:12-27). Just as the tribes had defined land, believers have defined spiritual inheritances and callings to occupy.
Joshua 18 5 Commentary
Joshua 18:5 stands as a testament to God's precise and orderly provision for His people. The verse highlights the practical necessity of defining clear boundaries, even after significant portions of the land had been distributed. The instruction to use Judah's southern and Joseph's northern borders as fixed reference points was crucial for the equitable and systematic division among the remaining seven tribes. This not only ensured fairness but also minimized future disputes regarding land ownership, thereby contributing to societal stability. It underscores the principle that divine blessings often require human effort and organization for their full realization. The pre-assigned territories of Judah and Joseph also prophetically hinted at their future prominence and spiritual leadership within Israel. This meticulous process teaches that spiritual inheritance and callings also require disciplined mapping, intentional efforts, and alignment with God's established truth for proper stewardship and manifestation.