Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
surveying was well known in Egypt in ancient times, and was regularly carried out
after the annual inundations of the Nile ( Herod. ii. 109; Strabo , xvii. 787; Diod. Sic.
i. 69); so that the Israelites might have learned it there.
But kaatab (OT:3789) does not mean to measure; and it was not a formal
measurement that was required, for the purpose of dividing the land that yet remained
into seven districts, since the tribes differed in numerical strength, and therefore the
boundaries of the territory assigned them could not be settled till after the lots had
been cast. The meaning of the word is to describe; and according to v. 9, it was
chiefly to the towns that reference was made: so that the description required by
Joshua in all probability consisted simply in the preparation of lists of the towns in
the different parts of the land, with an account of their size and character; also with
"notices of the quality and condition of the soil; what lands were fertile, and what
they produced; where the country was mountainous, and where it was level; which
lands were well watered, and which were dry; and any other things that would
indicate the character of the soil, and facilitate a comparison between the different
parts of the land" ( Rosenmüller ). The reasons which induced Joshua to take steps for
the first time now for securing a survey of the land, are given in Josh 14:1. The men
chosen for the purpose were able to carry out their task without receiving any
hindrance from the Canaanites. For whilst the latter were crushed, if not
exterminated, by the victories which the Israelites had gained, it was not necessary
for the twenty-one Israelitish men to penetrate into every corner of the land, and
every town that was still inhabited by the Canaanites, in order to accomplish their
end.
Verse 5-6. "And divide it into seven parts," viz., for the purpose of casting lots.
Judah, however, was still to remain in its land to the south, and Ephraim in its
territory to the north. The seven portions thus obtained they were to bring to Joshua,
that he might then cast the lot for the seven tribes "before the Lord," i.e., before the
tabernacle (Josh 19:51).
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