Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox
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Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

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Keil and Delitzsch ong>Commentaryong> on the Old Testament be only eight tribes and a half to be provided for (2 1/2 + 1 + 8 1/2 = 12); but there were really nine and a half, for the sons of Joseph formed two tribes in consequence of the adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh by the patriarch Jacob (Gen 48:5). But although the Levites were to have no share in the land, they were to receive towns to dwell in, with pasture adjoining for their cattle; these the other tribes were to give up to them out of their inheritance, according to the instructions in Num 35:1-8 (see the notes upon this passage). So far as the division of the land itself was concerned, it was to be distributed by lot, according to Num 26:52ff.; but, at the same time, the distribution was carried out with such special regard to the relative sizes of the different tribes, that the more numerous tribe received a larger share of the land than one that was not so numerous. This could only be accomplished, however, by their restricting the lot to the discrimination of the relative situation of the different tribes, and then deciding the extent and boundaries of their respective possessions according to the number of families of which they were composed. (Note: "This was the force of the lot: there were ten lots cast in such a manner as to decide that some were to be next to the Egyptians, some to have the sea-coasts, some to occupy the higher ground, and some to settle in the valleys. When this was done, it remained for the heads of the nation to determine the boundaries of their different territories according to some equitable standard. It was their place, therefore, to ascertain http://207.44.232.113/~bible/comment/ot/k&d/josh/jos83.html (2 of 2) [13/08/2004 01:18:22 p.m.]

Keil and Delitzsch ong>Commentaryong> on the Old Testament how many thousand heads there were in each tribe, and then to adjudicate a larger or smaller space according to the size of the tribe" ( Calvin ). Or, as Clericus observes (Num 26:52), "the lot seems to have had respect to the situation alone, and not to the extent of territory at all.") The casting of the lots was probably effected, as the Rabbins assumed, by means of two urns, one filled with slips having the names of the tribes upon them; the other, with an equal number, representing separate divisions of the land: so that when one slip, with a name upon it, was taken out of one urn, another slip, with a division of the land upon it, was taken from the other. The result of the lot was accepted as the direct decree of God; "for the lot was not controlled in any way by the opinion, or decision, or authority of men" ( Calvin ). See the fuller remarks at Num 26:56. In the account of the casting of the lots, the first fact which strikes us is, that after the tribes of Judah and Joseph had received their inheritance, an interruption took place, and the camp was moved from Gilgal to Shiloh, and the tabernacle erected there (Josh 18:1-9); after which the other tribes manifested so little desire to receive their inheritance, that Joshua reproved them for their indolence (Josh 18:3), and directed them to nominate a committee of twenty-one from their own number, whom he sent out to survey the land and divide it into seven parts; and it was not till after this had been done that the casting of the lots was proceeded with, and each of these seven tribes received its inheritance. The reason for this interruption is not given; and the commentators have differed in their opinions as to the cause (see Keil's former Comm. on Joshua, pp. 347ff.). The following appears to be the most probable supposition. When Joshua received the command from the Lord to divide the land among the tribes, they made an approximative division of the land into nine or ten parts, according to the general idea of its extent and principal features, which they had obtained in connection with the conquest of the country, and then commenced distributing it without any more minute survey or more accurate measurement, simply fixing the boundaries of those districts which came out first according to the size of the tribes upon whom the lots fell. As soon as that was done, these tribes http://207.44.232.113/~bible/comment/ot/k&d/josh/jos84.html (1 of 3) [13/08/2004 01:18:23 p.m.]

<strong>Keil</strong> and <strong>Delitzsch</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Commentary</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> the Old Testament<br />

be <strong>on</strong>ly eight tribes and a half to be provided for (2 1/2 + 1 + 8 1/2 = 12); but there<br />

were really nine and a half, for the s<strong>on</strong>s of Joseph formed two tribes in c<strong>on</strong>sequence<br />

of the adopti<strong>on</strong> of Ephraim and Manasseh by the patriarch Jacob (Gen 48:5). But<br />

although the Levites were to have no share in the land, they were to receive towns to<br />

dwell in, with pasture adjoining for their cattle; these the other tribes were to give up<br />

to them out of their inheritance, according to the instructi<strong>on</strong>s in Num 35:1-8 (see the<br />

notes up<strong>on</strong> this passage).<br />

So far as the divisi<strong>on</strong> of the land itself was c<strong>on</strong>cerned, it was to be distributed by lot,<br />

according to Num 26:52ff.; but, at the same time, the distributi<strong>on</strong> was carried out<br />

with such special regard to the relative sizes of the different tribes, that the more<br />

numerous tribe received a larger share of the land than <strong>on</strong>e that was not so numerous.<br />

This could <strong>on</strong>ly be accomplished, however, by their restricting the lot to the<br />

discriminati<strong>on</strong> of the relative situati<strong>on</strong> of the different tribes, and then deciding the<br />

extent and boundaries of their respective possessi<strong>on</strong>s according to the number of<br />

families of which they were composed.<br />

(Note: "This was the force of the lot: there were ten lots cast in such a manner as to decide that some were<br />

to be next to the Egyptians, some to have the sea-coasts, some to occupy the higher ground, and some to<br />

settle in the valleys. When this was d<strong>on</strong>e, it remained for the heads of the nati<strong>on</strong> to determine the<br />

boundaries of their different territories according to some equitable standard. It was their place, therefore,<br />

to ascertain<br />

<br />

http://207.44.232.113/~bible/comment/ot/k&d/josh/jos83.html (2 of 2) [13/08/2004 01:18:22 p.m.]

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