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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 18:2-10

Here, I. Joshua reproves those tribes which were yet unsettled that they did not bestir themselves to gain a settlement in the land which God had given them. Seven tribes were yet unprovided for, though sure of an inheritance, yet uncertain where it should be, and it seems in no great care about it, Josh. 18:2. And with them Joshua reasons (Josh. 18:3): How long are you slack? 1. They were too well pleased with their present condition, liked well enough to live in a body together, the more the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:6

Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts ,.... Or ye shall describe the land, even the seven parts of it when divided; it seems as if they were first to describe in general all the land not disposed of, and then divide it into seven parts, and make a particular description of each part, or form a plan, or draw a map of every part: and bring the description hither to me ; not by word of mouth, but as written in a book, or marked out in a map, and laid before him, see ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:7

But the Levites have no part among you ,.... And so needed not to send any men out of their tribe to measure the land on their account, and is a reason why the remaining part of the land was to be divided into seven parts only: for the priesthood of the Lord is his inheritance ; not only the office, but what appertained to it, all the perquisites of it, the tithes, firstfruits, parts of the sacrifices, &c.; see Joshua 13:14 , and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:8

And the men arose, and went away ,.... The seven tribes took the advice of Joshua, chose three men out of each tribe, and presented them to him, who gave them their commission and instruction to go and describe the land of Canaan, not yet disposed of, and whether subdued, or not subdued; upon which they prepared for their journey, and took it, after he had given them the following charge: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land ; before they departed from him: saying,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:9

And the men went and passed through the land ,.... Undisturbed by the inhabitants that remained; the fear of the Israelites being still upon them, and the providence of God restraining them, so that the men passed through the whole country, and took a survey of it without any molestation: and described it by cities, into seven parts, in a book ; or map, or rather made seven maps of it, and set down the several cities in each division, with the places adjacent, hills and vales, and marked... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:10

And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord ,.... For the seven tribes, as he had for the two tribes and a half at Gilgal; of the manner of casting lots; see Gill on Numbers 26:55 , and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their division : the land that was divided into seven parts, he distributed to the seven tribes, as the lot came up for them, and then divided these several parts according to the families and households in each tribe. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:7

The priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance - We have already seen that the priests and Levites had the sacrifices, oblations tithes, first-fruits, redemption-money of the firstborn, etc., for their inheritance; they had no landed possessions in Israel; the Lord was their portion. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:9

And described it in a book - This as far as I can recollect, is the first act of surveying on record. These men and their work differed widely from those who had searched the land in the time of Moses; they went only to discover the nature of the country, and the state of its inhabitants; but these went to take an actual geographical survey of it, in order to divide it among the tribes which had not yet received their portions. We may suppose that the country was exactly described... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:9

Verse 9 9.And the men went and passed, etc Here not only is praise bestowed on the ready obedience by which their virtue shone forth conspicuous, but the Lord gives a signal manifestation of his favor by deigning to bestow remarkable success on pious Joshua and the zeal of the people. Had they crept along by subterranean burrows, they could scarcely have escaped innumerable dangers, but now, when they are taking notes of the cities and their sites, of the fields, the varying features of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:1-28

Progress in the great work. The tribes gathered together at Shiloh, set up the common tabernacle for worship, and then proceeded, at Joshua's instance, to complete the division of the land. Several detached considerations may be derived from this chapter. I. THE DUTY OF A PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF GOD . The duty of public worship has been universally recognised in all religions, and is founded in a natural tendency of mankind. Philosophical sects, in which religious... read more

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