Joshua 14:1-5

The Plan for Dividing the Land Joshua 14:1-5

And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
2 By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.
4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
5 As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did and they divided the land.

1.

Why was Eleazar involved in the allotting of the land? Joshua 14:1

Eleazar, the priest, was the son of Aaron who had been Israel's first high priest. Aaron was the brother of Moses and had died while the children of Israel were wandering in the desert. When Joshua was appointed successor to Moses, he was informed that he should go to the high priest for assistance (Numbers 27:18-23). The high priest would make inquiry of the Lord concerning His will in some matters. The Lord's will would then be made known to Joshua, the leader of the people. The allotting of the land was evidently of such importance that the high priest was asked to assist Joshua in making the assignments.

2.

How did they cast lots? Joshua 14:2

The use of lots was especially characteristic of the ancient world. It was a standing custom of the Athenians to assign the land of conquered enemies to colonists by lot. How Joshua took the lot on this occasion we are not told. The Rabbins conjecture that there were two urns, in one had been placed little tablets with the names of the tribes and in the other similar tablets with the names of the districts; and that one of each was drawn at the same time. The decision was made by lot to prevent all disputes with reference to their respective possessions. It was also to remove every ground of discontent and complaint. Each tribe might cheerfully and thankfully accept the share awarded to it as the inheritance intended for it by God, Calvin says that casting of lots is not regulated by opinion, caprice, or authority of men. It is true that it seems as though this might have been easily accomplished if Joshua or the high priest had been divinely inspired to give to every tribe its inheritance. But, men are never so ready to submit cheerfully to the decisions of another man, even though they may be the result of divine inspiration, as they are to a decision arrived at by lot over which the Lord presides; for this seems to raise the choice above human caprice.

3.

Why were Ephraim and Manasseh considered two tribes? Joshua 14:4

Both Ephraim and Manasseh were children of Joseph. When Jacob had come into Egypt and found Joseph alive, he was so thankful for the preservation of his son's life that he adopted the two sons of Joseph as his own sons. He gave them special blessings before he blessed his own sons. By adopting these two sons in the place of Joseph, Jacob thus had thirteen sons, but the tribe of Levi was not considered with the other tribes. For these reasons we still speak of the twelve tribes of IsraelReuben, Simeon, Issachar, Judah, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Dan, Napthail, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. Ephraim and Manasseh received inheritance along with the sons of Jacob, and each was counted as a tribe in Israel. This fact was mentioned here, and it is explained that they received an inheritance along with the descendants of the eleven sons of Jacob.