Exploring the Meaning of Joshua 18
By New Christian Bible Study Staff, Julian Duckworth
Joshua 18: The rest of the land is divided up among the 7 remaining tribes, and the tribe of Benjamin receives its lot.
After several chapters covering the allocation of the land for Reuben, Gad, Judah, Ephraim and Manasseh, there were still seven tribes to be provided for. Before this was done, Joshua gathered these seven tribes together and told them to choose three men from each tribe. These men went and surveyed the region, divided up all the land and cities into seven parts, and recorded everything in a book. Then they came back to Joshua, who cast lots to decide where the seven remaining tribes would live.
The first of the seven allocations was for the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin was the youngest of the sons of Jacob, and he was a full brother to Joseph. Their mother, Rachel, whom Jacob had loved so much, died giving birth to Benjamin.
The city of Jerusalem was first allocated to Benjamin, but in time became more associated with Judah. In fact, these were the two tribes which later made up the kingdom of Judah, as opposed to the ten northern tribes forming the kingdom of Israel. Benjamin’s territory included the cities of Jericho, Ai and Gibeon, all of which had been significant soon after Israel crossed the River Jordan. Saul, the first king of Israel, was a Benjamite.
This story about surveying the land represents our need to know things as they truly are. This could mean many things: for example, exploring the idea of heaven, or hell, or life in this world, or a spiritual teaching such as providence. It might be to learn about justice and compassion, or true freedom. It may be our need to look honestly within ourselves and recognize some of our self-centred ways (see Swedenborg’s work, Arcana Caelestia 1612).
The Israelite’s findings about the land were recorded in a book, which really would have been a scroll. This is like our ‘book of life’, in which everything about us down to the least detail is preserved so that in eternity, we shall know who we are (see Swedenborg’s Apocalypse Explained 199). Joshua drew lots so the Lord’s will would be clear to the people of Israel.
The spiritual meaning of Benjamin needs some careful explanation. Technically, it means ’the spiritual of the celestial’, and this is our ability to understand the reason for the most loving experiences we can have. It is heightened thinking joining with heightened feeling. Benjamin was the youngest son, the special brother of Joseph, who stands for the Lord (Arcana Caelestia 4585).
With this in mind, it is useful to know that Bethlehem, the town where Jesus was born, lay in the territory of Benjamin. Bethlehem’s name means ‘house of bread’ giving us the idea of nourishment for our physical and our spiritual lives. God came into the world to bring us the food of heaven and nourishment from the Word, so that we may fight our evils and choose what is good (Arcana Caelestia 6247, 4594).
Joshua 19
1
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2
And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or sheba, and Moladah,
3
And Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem,
4
And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5
And Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,
6
And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
7
Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
8
And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9
Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
10
And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
11
And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12
And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then goeth out to daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
13
And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar to Neah;
14
And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el:
15
And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16
This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17
And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18
And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19
And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
20
And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21
And Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez;
22
And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24
And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25
And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26
And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;
27
And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
28
And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29
And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
30
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32
The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33
And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
34
And then the coast turneth westward to Aznoth-tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
35
And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36
And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37
And Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,
38
And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40
And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41
And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,
42
And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43
And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44
And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45
And Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,
46
And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47
And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49
When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
50
According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
51
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.
