Joshua 18:9 NIV

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 18:9

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

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 18:9-10

Joshua 18:9-10. The men went and passed through the land Josephus tells us they were occupied seven months in taking this survey, and making the description here mentioned. And described it by cities Or, according to the cities to which the several provisions or territories belonged. Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh That is, according to the divisions made by the surveyors, which were so just and equal that all consented the lot should determine what part should belong to them. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:1-28

The seven smaller tribes (18:1-19:51)Allotments were now finished for two and a half tribes on the east of Jordan (Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh) and two and a half tribes on the west (Judah, Ephraim and the other half of Manasseh). The next task was to settle the seven smaller tribes that remained. For this purpose the camp, including the tabernacle, was shifted from Gilgal to a more central location at Shiloh (18:1-2; cf. 5:10; 10:6,15,43; 14:6; 19:51; 22:9,12).Many of the people had by... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Joshua 18:9

in a book. See note on Exodus 17:14 and App-47 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joshua 18:9

9. The men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book—dividing the land according to its value, and the worth of the cities which it contained, into seven equal portions. This was no light task to undertake. It required learning and intelligence which they or their instructors had, in all probability, brought with them out of Egypt. Accordingly, JOSEPHUS says that the survey was performed by men expert in geometry. And, in fact, the circumstantial... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 18:1-10

5. Survey of the remaining land 18:1-10After the process of assigning land to the three Cisjordanian tribes mentioned above (those on the western side of the Jordan River), Israel’s attention turned to relocating the tabernacle in a more central location (Joshua 18:1). God undoubtedly made the choice of Shiloh (lit. rest; cf. Deuteronomy 12:11). [Note: See Israel Finkelstein, "Shiloh Yields Some, But Not All, of Its Secrets," Biblical Archaeology Review 12:1 (January-February 1986):22-41.] The... read more