Bible Commentaries
Joshua 18

Introduction

Overview

Joshua 18:1, The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh; Joshua 18:2, The remainder of the land is described, and divided into seven parts; Joshua 18:10, Joshua distributes it by lot; Joshua 18:11, The lot and border of Benjamin; Joshua 18:21, Their cities.

Verse 1

Shiloh: Shiloh was situated on a hill in the tribe of Ephraim, though near the borders of Benjamin, about fifteen miles north of Jerusalem, and, according to Eusebius, twelve, or according to Jerome, ten miles - south from Shechem or Nablous. It was but a little north from Bethel or Ai, and near the road from Shechem to Jerusalem - Judges 21:19. In Jerome's time, Shiloh was ruined; and nothing remarkable was extant, but the foundations of the altar of burnt offerings which had been erected when the tabernacle stood there. Joshua 19:51, Joshua 21:2, Joshua 22:9

set up: Judges 18:31, 1 Samuel 1:3, 1 Samuel 1:24, 1 Samuel 4:3, 1 Samuel 4:4, 1 Kings 2:27, 1 Kings 14:2, 1 Kings 14:4, Psalms 78:66, Jeremiah 7:12-14, Jeremiah 26:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 26:30 - rear up the tabernacle Numbers 32:22 - land Deuteronomy 12:5 - But unto Deuteronomy 12:11 - a place Deuteronomy 26:2 - go unto Joshua 9:27 - in the place Joshua 16:6 - Taanathshiloh Joshua 22:19 - wherein Judges 19:18 - the house Judges 20:18 - house of Judges 20:27 - the ark Judges 21:2 - the house Judges 21:12 - virgins 1 Samuel 2:29 - habitation 2 Samuel 7:6 - I have not 1 Kings 11:29 - Shilonite Nehemiah 9:24 - thou subduedst Psalms 78:60 - General Jeremiah 41:5 - Shiloh Acts 7:44 - the tabernacle Acts 7:45 - Which

Verse 3

How long are: Judges 18:9, Proverbs 2:2-6, Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 15:19, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Zephaniah 3:16, Matthew 20:6, John 6:27, Philippians 3:13, Philippians 3:14, 2 Peter 1:10, 2 Peter 1:11

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:4 - three

Verse 4

three: Joshua 18:3, Joshua 3:12, Joshua 4:2, Numbers 1:4, Numbers 13:2

describe: Joshua 18:6, Joshua 18:9

Reciprocal: Job 42:15 - gave Micah 2:5 - cast

Verse 5

Judah shall: Joshua 15:1-12, Joshua 19:1-9

the house: Joshua 16:1 - Joshua 17:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:1 - the south 1 Kings 11:28 - the house Proverbs 16:33 - General Jeremiah 13:19 - cities Amos 5:6 - the house

Verse 6

that I may cast: Joshua 18:8, Joshua 18:10, Joshua 14:2, Numbers 26:54, Numbers 26:55, Numbers 33:54, Numbers 34:13, Psalms 105:11, Proverbs 16:33, Proverbs 18:18, Acts 13:19

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:4 - describe Joshua 19:1 - second lot Joshua 19:10 - third Joshua 21:8 - by lot

Verse 7

the Levites: Joshua 13:14, Joshua 13:33, Numbers 18:20, Numbers 18:23, Deuteronomy 10:9, Deuteronomy 18:1, Deuteronomy 18:2

and Gad: Joshua 13:8-31, Numbers 32:29-41, Deuteronomy 3:12-17, Deuteronomy 4:47, Deuteronomy 4:48

Verse 8

Go: Genesis 13:17

that I may here: Joshua 18:6, Joshua 18:10, Joshua 7:16-18, Joshua 13:7, Joshua 14:1, Joshua 14:2, Joshua 15:1, 1 Samuel 14:41, Acts 1:24-26, Romans 14:19

Reciprocal: Isaiah 34:17 - he hath cast

Verse 9

described: The surveyors seem to have formed some kind of map of the country, as well as a description of it in writing. The Egyptians, from the situation of their fields, as annually overflowed by the Nile, acquired great skill in mensuration and land surveying; and some of the Israelites had, no doubt, learned these from them, without a knowledge of which they could not properly have divided the land. This is probably the first act of surveying on record.

into seven: Acts 13:19

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:4 - describe 1 Samuel 17:31 - sent for him Jeremiah 32:10 - subscribed the evidence

Verse 10

cast lots: Joshua 18:6, Joshua 18:8, Proverbs 18:18, Ezekiel 47:22, Ezekiel 48:29, Matthew 27:35, Acts 13:19

before the Lord: Psalms 16:5, Psalms 16:6, Psalms 47:4, Psalms 61:5, John 17:2, Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:12

Reciprocal: Leviticus 16:8 - cast lots Numbers 26:55 - by lot Joshua 19:51 - in Shiloh Joshua 23:4 - Behold 1 Chronicles 24:5 - they divided by lot Nehemiah 11:1 - cast lots Proverbs 16:33 - General Micah 2:5 - cast Acts 1:26 - they

Verse 11

between the children: Joshua 15:1-8, Joshua 16:1-10, Deuteronomy 10:1-22, Deuteronomy 13:12

Reciprocal: Leviticus 16:8 - cast lots Numbers 26:55 - by lot Numbers 33:54 - give the less inheritance Numbers 34:17 - are the names Deuteronomy 33:12 - The beloved Joshua 18:20 - General Joshua 19:10 - third Judges 1:21 - General

Verse 12

Jericho: Joshua 2:1, Joshua 3:16, Joshua 6:1, Joshua 16:1

the wilderness: Joshua 7:2, Hosea 4:15, Hosea 5:8, Hosea 10:5

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:15 - by the way Joshua 18:21 - Jericho 1 Samuel 13:5 - Bethaven John 11:54 - Ephraim

Verse 13

side of Luz: Joshua 16:2, Genesis 28:19, Judges 1:22-26

Bethhoron: Joshua 10:11, Joshua 16:3, Joshua 21:22

Reciprocal: Joshua 16:5 - Atarothaddar 1 Samuel 13:18 - Bethhoron Nehemiah 11:31 - Aija

Verse 14

Kirjathbaal: Joshua 15:9, Joshua 15:60, 1 Samuel 7:1, 1 Samuel 7:2, 2 Samuel 6:2, 1 Chronicles 13:5, 1 Chronicles 13:6

Reciprocal: Joshua 9:17 - Kirjathjearim Joshua 18:19 - this was the Joshua 21:22 - Bethhoron 1 Samuel 6:21 - Kirjathjearim 1 Samuel 13:18 - Bethhoron Jeremiah 26:20 - Kirjathjearim

Verse 15

Nephtoah: Joshua 15:9

Verse 16

the valley of the son: Joshua 15:8, 2 Kings 23:10, 2 Chronicles 28:3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Isaiah 30:33, Jeremiah 7:31, Jeremiah 7:32, Jeremiah 19:2, Jeremiah 19:6, Jeremiah 19:11, Jeremiah 32:35

the valley of the giants: See note on Joshua 15:8. Joshua 18:16, 1 Chronicles 14:9

Jebusi: Mount zion, south of Jerusalem; for Jebusi or Jebus was the ancient name of that city. Joshua 18:28, Joshua 15:63, Judges 1:8, Judges 1:21, Judges 19:10

Enrogel: Joshua 15:7, 2 Samuel 17:17, 1 Kings 1:9

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 11:30 - the valley Isaiah 17:5 - the valley

Verse 17

Enshemesh: The fountain of the Sun; whether a town, or simply a fountain, is uncertain.

Geliloth: Geliloth is probably the same as Gilgal; though as the word may signify border or limits, some think that it is probably not the proper name of a place: "And went forth towards the borders which are over against the ascent to Adummim." Others render Geliloth circuits or roundings, or the hills about Jordan, tumuli Jordanis. Vulgate: pertransit usque ad tumulos.

the stone: Joshua 15:6

Reciprocal: Joshua 15:7 - Adummim

Verse 18

Arabah: or, the plain, Joshua 15:6, Joshua 15:61

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:22 - Betharabah 2 Kings 23:34 - Eliakim

Verse 19

bay: Heb. tongue, Joshua 15:2, *marg. Isaiah 11:15

the salt: Joshua 3:16, Joshua 12:3, Genesis 14:3, Genesis 19:25, Numbers 34:3, Deuteronomy 3:17

this was the: The borders of this tribe on the north were the same as those of Ephraim on the south, and his southern boundaries the same as the northern borders of Judah; but drawn from west to east, instead of from east to west - Joshua 15:1-12, Joshua 16:1. As the inheritance of Benjamin did not extend to the Mediterranean sea, and no other sea or lake is known to have been in those parts, perhaps this depression, "compassed the corner of the sea southward," - Joshua 18:14, should be rendered, "made a circuit on the side next the sea towards the south;" for it seems to connect the northern border, in the preceding verses, with the southern which follows.

Reciprocal: Joshua 15:6 - Bethhogla Joshua 18:21 - Bethhoglah

Verse 20

Joshua 18:11

Reciprocal: Joshua 15:6 - Bethhogla 1 Kings 4:18 - Benjamin

Verse 21

Jericho: Joshua 18:12, Joshua 2:1, Joshua 6:1, Luke 10:30, Luke 19:1

Bethhoglah: Joshua 18:19, Joshua 15:6

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:40 - all the country Jeremiah 6:1 - O ye Ezekiel 48:23 - Benjamin Obadiah 1:19 - Benjamin

Verse 22

Betharabah: Joshua 18:18, Joshua 15:6

Zemaraim: Genesis 10:18, 2 Chronicles 13:4

Bethel: 1 Kings 12:29-32

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:8 - of Bethel Judges 4:5 - between

Verse 23

Ophrah: Situated, according to Eusebius, five miles east of Bethel. 1 Samuel 13:17

Reciprocal: Judges 6:11 - an angel Micah 1:10 - Aphrah

Verse 24

Ophni: Probably the same as Gophna (ע being often pronounced as G); which, according to Josephus, was about fifteen miles from Jerusalem, towards Shechem, says Eusebius (Onom. in צבסבדמ גןפסןץע.)

Gaba: Gaba or Geba, according to Josephus, was not far from Rama, forty stadia from Jerusalem, and, according to Eusebius, five miles from Gophna, towards Shechem. Joshua 21:17, Ezra 2:26, Nehemiah 7:30

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 13:3 - Geba 1 Kings 15:22 - Geba 1 Chronicles 6:60 - Geba 2 Chronicles 16:6 - Geba Nehemiah 11:31 - from Geba Isaiah 10:29 - Ramah

Verse 25

Gibeon: Joshua 9:17, Joshua 10:2, 1 Kings 3:4, 1 Kings 3:5, 1 Kings 9:2, Isaiah 28:21

Ramah: Situated, according to Eusebius, six miles from Jerusalem towards Bethel; though Jerome places it near Gaba, seven miles from Jerusalem. 1 Samuel 1:1, Ramathaim-zophim, Joshua 7:17, Joshua 15:34, Jeremiah 31:15, Matthew 27:57, Arimathea

Beeroth: Eusebius says Beeroth was seven miles from Jerusalem, towards Nicopolis or Emmaus. Jerome, however, reads Neapolis or Shechem; but Reland prefers the former.

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:17 - Gibeon Judges 4:5 - between Judges 19:13 - Gibeah 2 Samuel 2:12 - Gibeon 2 Samuel 4:2 - Beeroth 2 Samuel 20:14 - Berites 1 Kings 15:17 - Ramah Ezra 2:26 - Ramah Nehemiah 7:29 - Kirjathjearim Nehemiah 7:30 - Ramah Nehemiah 11:33 - Ramah Isaiah 10:29 - Ramah Jeremiah 40:1 - Ramah

Verse 26

Mizpeh: Situated not far from Rama, forty stadia from Jerusalem. Judges 10:17

Chephirah: Joshua 9:17, Ezra 2:25

Reciprocal: Joshua 11:3 - land Judges 19:13 - Gibeah Judges 20:1 - in Mizpeh 1 Kings 15:22 - Mizpah 2 Chronicles 16:6 - Mizpah

Verse 28

Zelah: 2 Samuel 21:14

Jebusi: Joshua 18:16, Joshua 15:8, Joshua 15:63, 2 Samuel 5:8

Gibeath: Judges 19:12-15, Judges 20:4, Judges 20:5, 1 Samuel 10:26, 1 Samuel 13:15, 1 Samuel 13:16, Isaiah 10:29, Hosea 10:9, Gibeah

according: Numbers 26:54, Numbers 33:54

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:3 - king of Jerusalem Judges 19:10 - Jebus Judges 19:13 - Gibeah 1 Samuel 13:2 - in Gibeah 2 Samuel 5:6 - the Jebusites 1 Chronicles 8:28 - dwelt 1 Chronicles 11:4 - Jebus 2 Chronicles 13:2 - Gibeah