During the fourteen years of fighting and apportioning Canaan to the twelve tribes, the Tent of
Meeting had rested in Gilgal. Now, with most of the Holy Land in Hebrew hands, Joshua
transported the Tabernacle to Shiloh. There it would remain for three hundred and sixty-nine
years, as recorded in an ancient Jewish source.
“And the whole congregation of the Children of Israel assembled themselves
together at Shiloh, and set up the Tent of Meeting there; and the land was
subdued before them.”
Joshua 18 deals with the final stages of completing the dividing of Israel among the twelve
tribes. But not before some drama set in. “And there remained among the Children of Israel
seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. And Joshua said unto the Children of
Israel: How long are you slack to go in to possess the land, which the LORD, the God of your
fathers, has given you?”
Clearly, Joshua was miffed at the seven tribes who had shown indolence about inheriting and
settling their respective lands. Joshua prodded. “Appoint for you three men for each tribe; and I
will send them, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to
their inheritance; and they shall come unto me.”
Joshua commissioned tribal representatives to survey the Holy Land. Surveys helped create a
master plan, in a manner of speaking. With it, Joshua could continue – and complete – the
apportionment of the land. As stated elsewhere, Joshua had not acted unilaterally. He
corroborated with the tribal princes. And, of course, he was aided by Heaven via the casting of
lots. “And they shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south,
and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north. And you shall describe the
land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here
before the LORD our God.”
Abravanel fills in the gaps. Why had the seven tribes dragged their feet and been lax about
gaining a foothold in the Holy Land, touching off a brouhaha with Joshua in the first place? His
explanation follows.
At root, the reason for the seven tribes’ lack of alacrity had to do with fighting Canaanites; they
weren’t keen to battle them. Land division or apportionment could only take place when each
tribe defeated the locals. Hence, the tribes’ lack of gumption and hence Joshua’s disgust.
“And Joshua said unto the Children of Israel: How long are you slack to go in to possess the
land…” Joshua would have none of it. He took the initiative by sending out tribal agents to
survey Israel. In contrast to some tribes’ fearfulness, other tribes showed pluck. “And they shall
divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of
Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.” Owing to Judah and Joseph’s valor and
gallantry, they are mentioned here. Their respective tribes took the initiative, and battled
Canaanites occupying their territories, a subject discussed in previous chapters. They attest to
their fearlessness and eagerness to oust enemy forces.
Abravanel continues, questioning why Joshua sought to “divide it into seven portions?” Simple
math, really. Judah, Ephraim, and half of Manasseh had already taken hold of their portion in
Israel. Reuben, Gad, and the second half of Manasseh had settled land on the east bank of the
Jordan. That equals five tribes. Twelve tribes minus five, leaves us with the final seven that
needed, shall we say, a push. Levites had not received territory in the Holy Land, “For the
Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance.” Joshua
18, then, describes the final stages of the apportionment of Canaan.