Joshua 19 51

Joshua 19:51 kjv

These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

Joshua 19:51 nkjv

These were the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided as an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the country.

Joshua 19:51 niv

These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.

Joshua 19:51 esv

These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.

Joshua 19:51 nlt

These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders allocated as grants of land to the tribes of Israel by casting sacred lots in the presence of the LORD at the entrance of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. So the division of the land was completed.

Joshua 19 verses

Joshua 19 51 Meaning

This verse serves as a conclusive summary of the monumental task of land distribution among the tribes of Israel. It emphasizes that the entire process of dividing the promised land was carried out through divine guidance (by lot), under the authoritative spiritual and temporal leadership of Eleazar the priest and Joshua, assisted by the heads of the tribal families. This sacred allocation took place in Shiloh, before the presence of the LORD at the tabernacle, underscoring its divine sanction and fulfillment of God's ancient promises. The verse explicitly states the completion of this critical phase of settling the land.

Joshua 19 51 Context

Joshua 19:51 stands as the culminating verse of Joshua Chapters 14-19, which meticulously detail the specific tribal inheritances of the Promised Land west of the Jordan River. Chapters 1-12 describe the conquest of the land, while Chapters 13-21 focus on its distribution. Verse 51 directly follows the detailing of the last six tribal allotments and, significantly, the inheritance given to Joshua himself (Josh 19:49-50). Historically, this period marks a crucial transition from nomadic conquest to settled life for Israel. The distribution of land was foundational to Israel's identity, fulfilling God's covenant promises to Abraham that his descendants would inherit a specific territory (Gen 12, 15). The tabernacle had recently been established in Shiloh (Josh 18:1), making it the spiritual and administrative center for this process. This act of land division was not merely a logistical arrangement but a profound religious and national event, underscoring God's faithfulness and provision.

Joshua 19 51 Word analysis

• These (וְאֵלֶּה, ve'elleh): "And these." A connective particle establishing continuity, indicating this verse summarizes the preceding sections (Josh 19:1-50) that detailed each tribal inheritance.
• inheritances (נַחֲלָה, nachalah): Refers to the portions of land allotted to each tribe, clan, and family. It was not merely territory but a divinely bestowed patrimony, symbolizing Israel's identity, stability, and secure dwelling in the land promised by God. The term often carries spiritual connotations of an eternal possession from the Lord.
• which Eleazar the priest (אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן, Ele'azar hakkohen): Son of Aaron, head of the priesthood. His presence ensured divine approval and adherence to sacred law. He represented the spiritual authority and acted as a conduit for God's will (e.g., Urim and Thummim, though lot was the method here).
• Joshua the son of Nun (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן, Yehoshu'a bin-Nun): Moses' successor, military and administrative leader of Israel. He represented the temporal authority and executed the practical division. The joint presence of Eleazar and Joshua demonstrates the essential unity of spiritual and temporal leadership in Israel.
• and the heads of the fathers' houses (וְרָאשֵׁי הָאָבוֹת, ve'rashei ha'avot): The leaders or representatives of the patriarchal families within each tribe. Their involvement ensured tribal participation, transparency, and legitimacy of the distribution from the people's perspective. They played a role in surveying the land and registering boundaries.
• of the tribes of the children of Israel (מַטּוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, mattot b'nei Yisra'el): Explicitly stating that this allocation applied to all twelve tribes, emphasizing national scope and communal benefit, uniting the distinct tribal identities under a single national purpose defined by God.
• divided by lot (חִלֵּק בְּגוֹרָל, chillek b'goral): `חִלֵּק` means "to divide," `בְּגוֹרָל` means "by lot." The casting of lots was a common ancient Near Eastern practice but, in Israel, it was a divinely sanctioned method to ascertain God's will and prevent human partiality, manipulation, or disputes. It highlighted God's sovereignty over every portion and boundary.
• in Shiloh (בְּשִׁלֹה, b'Shilo): The location where the tabernacle was first set up after the initial conquest (Josh 18:1). Shiloh became the central spiritual and administrative hub before the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. This location underlined the sanctity and public nature of the process.
• before the LORD (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lifnei Adonai): Directly in God's presence, signifying His oversight, approval, and ultimate authority over the land's distribution. This removed any doubt that the division was human-derived; it was a sacred act of covenant fulfillment.
• at the entrance of the tent of meeting (פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, petach ohel mo'ed): The place where God met with His people. Performing the division here added further gravity and sanctity, connecting the act directly to God's dwelling place among them. It was a public and ritually significant setting.
• So they finished dividing the land (וַיְכַלּוּ לְחַלֵּק אֶת־הָאָרֶץ, vaychallu lechallek et-ha'aretz): `וַיְכַלּוּ` means "and they finished/completed." This final clause provides closure to the land allocation process, signifying a major achievement in fulfilling God's commands and promises. It marks the transition from conquest and distribution to the responsibility of occupying and maintaining the inheritance.

• Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses: This collective leadership group illustrates a divine blueprint for governance within Israel, balancing spiritual authority, military/administrative power, and popular representation. Their joint action ensures legitimacy, obedience to divine will, and practical implementation.
• divided by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting: This phrase underscores the profound theological foundation of the land distribution. Every element—the method (lot), the place (Shiloh, near the Tabernacle), and the divine oversight ("before the LORD")—affirms that the inheritance was God-given and precisely according to His sovereign plan, free from human caprice. It implicitly contrasted with pagan divinatory practices by making it explicitly an act before the true God.

Joshua 19 51 Bonus section

• Polemical Statement: The careful emphasis on casting lots "before the LORD" at the "tent of meeting" is a subtle polemic against surrounding pagan nations' divinatory practices, which attributed outcomes to capricious gods or forces. Here, the divine intervention is explicitly from the one true God, signifying His deliberate and benevolent hand.
• Shiloh's Significance and Warning: Shiloh was Israel's initial national sanctuary and administrative hub, highlighting its strategic importance for this land distribution. However, its later destruction (Jer 7:12-14; Ps 78:60) serves as a stark reminder that even a place of divine presence does not guarantee perpetual favor if the people fall into disobedience and idolatry.
• Typological Resonance: The secured land inheritance in Canaan serves as a tangible type or shadow of the spiritual inheritance and "rest" found in Christ for believers (Heb 4). Just as Israel entered a physical land and "rest" provided by God, believers today enter into a spiritual rest and receive an "unshakable kingdom" (Heb 12:28) as their inheritance through faith.
• Covenant Faithfulness: This verse encapsulates the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His ancient promises to Abraham concerning the land (Gen 12, 15, 17). It showcases the Lord's power to bring His word to pass, despite human obstacles.

Joshua 19 51 Commentary

Joshua 19:51 stands as a concluding affirmation that the complex, pivotal task of dividing the Promised Land was completed according to divine direction. It stresses that this was no mere human bureaucratic exercise but a sacred endeavor, supervised by Eleazar the priest and Joshua, alongside tribal representatives, carried out by divine lot. The setting, "in Shiloh before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting," amplifies its sanctity and signifies God's personal involvement and blessing over the inheritances. This verse not only confirms the orderly fulfillment of God's command but also signals a crucial transition from a people in transit and conquest to a settled nation, beginning their life within the promised boundaries, receiving their specific portion from the Lord's own hand. While the land was now divided, the full possession and purification from remaining enemies was an ongoing task that would require continued faith and obedience from each tribe, setting the stage for future narratives in Judges.