Explanation: Joshua 18 records a pivotal event in the conquest of Canaan and established the basis for the division of the land among the last seven of the twelve tribes of Israel who had not yet received an allotment of territory. The tribes ("the congregation") gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle. The land had been subdued by them, but seven tribes had not yet received their inheritance (1-2).
     Joshua therefore chided the remaining tribes for being slack to take their inheritance. So he told the Israelites to choose three men from each tribe, have them survey the land, and divide it into seven parts. Judah and Joseph would retain the territory they already inherited. The Levites had no inheritance because the priesthood was their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh had their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River (3-7).
     So the surveyors arose and walked through the land, describing it by cities, and writing the results in a book. They presented this book to Joshua in Shiloh; and Joshua cast lots for them before the LORD and divided the land accordingly (8-10).
     The first of these allotments was for Benjamin. Their territory was between the tribes of Judah and Joseph (the house of Ephraim). The chapter gives the details of the various boundaries of their land (11-20).
     And the chapter closes with a list of twenty-six cities which the Benjaminites inherited (21-28).
     [ Sermons: William Still. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: The painting above represents (in an indirect and informal way) the land survey mentioned in Joshua 18. This was a pivotal event in the conquest and established the basis for the division of the land among the last seven of the twelve tribes of Israel who had not yet received an allotment of territory. The tribes ("the congregation") gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle. ]

     ²¹ Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz, ²² And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, ²³ And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah, ²⁴ And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages: ²⁵ Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, ²⁶ And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, ²⁷ And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, ²⁸ And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

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