“And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.”
Joshua 18:28 is part of the account where the land of Canaan is being divided among the tribes of Israel. In this particular verse, it mentions the cities that were allotted to the tribe of Benjamin as their inheritance.
Zelah: Zelah was a city located within the territory of Benjamin. It is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, and its exact location is uncertain.
Eleph: Eleph is another city allocated to the tribe of Benjamin. Similarly, there isn’t much information available regarding its precise location or significance.
Jebusi (Jerusalem): Jebusi is an alternate name for Jerusalem. At the time of the division of the land, Jerusalem was still occupied by the Jebusites, a Canaanite tribe. However, this verse implies that Jerusalem was eventually conquered by the Israelites and became part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin.
Gibeath: Gibeath, also known as Gibeah, was a well-known city in the territory of Benjamin. It played a significant role in various events recorded in the Old Testament, including the tragic story of the Levite’s concubine in Judges 19-21.
Kirjath: Kirjath, or Kirjath Baal, was a town in the territory of Benjamin. It is mentioned in other parts of the Bible as well. Kirjath Jearim, another town in the vicinity, was known for housing the Ark of the Covenant for a period of time.
The verse concludes by stating that these fourteen cities, along with their surrounding villages, were the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families. This highlights the division of the land of Canaan according to the tribal allocations, with each tribe receiving a specific portion of territory as their inheritance.
This verse serves as a record of the division of the land among the Israelite tribes and highlights the fulfillment of God’s promise to give them possession of the Promised Land. It also provides historical context regarding the territories allocated to the tribe of Benjamin.
