Joshua 18:11

_AND THE LOT OF THE TRIBE OF THE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN CAME UP ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES: AND THE COAST OF THEIR LOT CAME FORTH BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH AND THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH._ The lot of ... Benjamin came up. It has been supposed that there were two urns or vessels from which the lots were drawn, one containing the names of the tribes, the other containing those of the seven portions, and that the two were drawn out simultaneously. THE COAST OF THEIR LOT ... BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH. It lay intermediate on the south of Ephraim and northeast of Judah (cf. Joshua 15:5). Its northern border, commencing on the east from the Jordan, extended on the north of Jericho as far as the wilderness of Beth-aven. From this point its western border ran to the nether Beth-horon, whence, west (not by "the sea," as in our version), it descend

In the lot of Benjamin nothing occurs particularly deserving of notice, unless that a small tribe takes precedence of the others. I admit, indeed, that its limits were narrowed in proportion to the fewness of its numbers, because it obtained only twenty-six cities; but still an honor was bestowed upon it in the mere circumstance of its receiving its inheritance before more distinguished tribes. We may add, that in this way they were conjoined and made neighbors to the other (165) children of Joseph, with whom their relationship was more immediate. For they were placed in the middle between the children of Ephraim and Manasseh on the one side, and those of Judah on the other. They had also the distinguished honor of including Jerusalem in their inheritance, though they afterwards granted it by a kind of precarious tenure to the children of Judah for a royal residence. (166) It is strange,...

11-28 The boundaries of each portion were distinctly drawn, and the inheritance of each tribe settled. All contests and selfish claims were prevented by the wise appointment of God, who allotted the hill and the valley, the corn and pasture, the brooks and rivers, the towns and cities. Is the lot of any servant of Christ cast in affliction and sorrow? It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good. Are we in prosperity and peace? It is from above. Be humbled when you compare the gift with your own unworthiness. Forget not Him that gave the good, and always be ready to resign it at his command....

Verse Joshua 18:11. _AND THE LOT - OF BENJAMIN CAME UP_] On the manner of casting the lot, see on Joshua 14:2, and Numbers 26:55. There were probably two _urns_, one of which contained the names of the seven tribes, and the other that of the seven portions. They therefore took out one name out of the first urn, and one portion out of the second, and thus the portion was adjudged to that tribe....

See the marginal references. There are many indications found in this and the next chapter that the text is in great disorder, and many of the places are still unknown. Joshua 18:14 AND COMPASSED THE CORNER ... - Render “and turned on the west side southward.” The meaning is, that at lower Beth-horon the northern boundary-line of Benjamin curved round and ran southward - Beth-horon being its extreme westerly point. Joshua 18:21 The “Valley of Keziz,” or “Emek-Keziz,” is perhaps the “Wady el Kaziz,” at no great distance east of Jerusalem. Joshua 18:22 Zemaraim, i. e.

EXPOSITION THE CONTINUED DIVISION OF THE LAND.— JOSHUA 18:1 CONGREGATION. The word signifies a body of persons gathered together at a spot before indicated. The LXX. renders by συναγωγή. The idea is evidently that of an assembly gathered together for some specific acts of worship. This passage teaches the duty of a national recognition of religion. Whatever evils there might be in Israel at that time, the absence of a general and formal acknowledgment of God was not one of them. When that public acknowledgment of Him ceased, the downfall of the nation was at hand. It was the absence of such acknowledgment that was the ruin of Israel, while the hypocritical and purely external recognition of God by Judah was equally o

AND THE LOT OF THE TRIBE OF THE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN CAME UP ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES,.... This was the first lot of the seven that came up; it was but a small lot, and therefore called "little Benjamin", Psalms 68:27; but the land was very pleasant and fruitful. Josephus h says, this lot was very strait, because of the goodness of the soil, for it took in Jericho, and the city of Jerusalem: AND THE COAST OF THEIR LOT CAME FORTH BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH AND THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH; having Judah on the south, and Joseph on the north; this was so ordered by the providence of God, that Benjamin should lie close to Joseph, being own brothers, and the only children of Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife; and that it should be next to Judah, with whom it was to unite, both in religious and civil affairs, and both met in and had a part of Jerusalem, the metropolis of Israel; and

6. THE PORTION OF THE REST OF THE TRIBES CHAPTER 18 _ 1. The tabernacle at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1)_ 2. The remaining seven tribes (Joshua 18:2) 3. The lot of Benjamin (Joshua 18:11) The tabernacle of the congregation is now set up at Shiloh. Shiloh means “peace,” “security.” The land was then subdued before them. Shiloh is now the center. From there the operations proceed. Seven times after this Shiloh is mentioned in the book of Joshua: Joshua 18:8; Joshua 19:51;...

CAME FORTH. i.e. from the bag containing the Urim and Thummim, See note on Exodus 28:30; Numbers 26:55....

Boundaries of the Tribe of Benjamin 11. _between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph_ When the lots were now cast "before the Lord," the lot of Benjamin came forth first, and we have an account of (_a_) the boundaries, and then (_b_) of the cities of this tribe, which, we are here told, lay between the sons of Judah on the south and the sons of Joseph on the north....