"And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh."
This verse is part of the account where the land of Canaan was being divided among the tribes of Israel under the leadership of Joshua, following the conquest of Jericho and other cities. Let’s break down the verse and explore its context and significance.
Context:The verse takes place after Joshua had cast lots before the Lord to determine the allocation of land for the tribes of Judah, Joseph (represented by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh), and the half-tribe of Manasseh. However, the remaining seven tribes had not yet received their portions.
Description of the Land:Joshua charged a group of men to go and walk through the land of Canaan and provide a detailed description of it. This was an important step before the distribution of the land among the remaining tribes. The land needed to be properly surveyed and understood so that each tribe would receive an appropriate and suitable portion.
Return to Joshua:After completing their survey of the land, the men were instructed to come back to Joshua. This suggests that Joshua would personally oversee the casting of lots for their respective inheritances. Casting lots was a method used to seek God’s guidance and decision in allocating the land fairly among the tribes.
Casting Lots:Casting lots was a common practice in biblical times for making decisions in a way that sought God’s will. It involved using objects such as stones or marked sticks, which were drawn or thrown to determine an outcome. By casting lots before the Lord in Shiloh, Joshua sought divine guidance and wanted to ensure that the division of the land was in accordance with God’s plan.
Significance:Joshua’s careful and methodical approach to distributing the land demonstrates his commitment to following God’s instructions and ensuring fairness among the tribes. The process of surveying and describing the land, as well as casting lots, helped avoid any potential disputes and allowed God to guide the allocation of inheritances.
Overall, Joshua 18:8 highlights Joshua’s leadership and his desire to distribute the land of Canaan in a manner that sought God’s guidance and maintained justice among the tribes of Israel.
It is worth noting that the Bible study can be enhanced by reading the surrounding verses and exploring the broader narrative and themes within the book of Joshua.
