But we move on to chapter 18. Verses 1 through 10 find all Israel in Shiloh. They set up the tabernacle. And then Joshua has something to say to the last seven tribes who haven’t received their land yet. I’ll warn you. It doesn’t relieve the concern we’ve had. It actually continues it. Let’s read verses 2 through 6.
Joshua 18:2-6
[Joshua 18:2 ¶ And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. 3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you? 4 Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north. 6 Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.]
Do you see what’s happening here? There are 7 tribes that are quite content to just roam around with the rest of the congregation of Israel. Joshua accuses them of slackness. It seems these folks have lost interest in possessing the land. So Joshua orders them to send out men to divide the land. And then since they don’t really care which portion they get, Joshua’s just going to give them whatever falls to them. And so that’s just what we see in 18:1 through to 19:48. The first tribe chosen by lot was Benjamin in verses 11-28 of chapter 18.
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