NBBC SS: Joshua 18-20

Introduction: With a lesson spanning three chapters, you can probably imagine that we will not be reading every verse in detail today. This implicitly means that there are going to be sections of Joshua 18-20 that we are going to reflect on in some detail and others that will receive some passing observations.

In particular, Joshua 18:11-19:48 are going to receive some general observations. In fact, I want for you to be paying attention to what Joshua asks the people to do and what Joshua does in response. Hopefully this will become clearer when we get beyond the initial few verses and conclude the next portion.

Joshua 18:1–7 “1 Then the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled themselves at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.

There are two primary things that I want for us to notice about this verse.

First, notice what it is that we see the nation of Israel doing here.

They’ve taken a journey to Shiloh and they’ve set up the tent of meeting.

What is the tent of meeting?

It’s an alternate name for the Tabernacle, the temporary “tent” that housed the Ark of the Covenant and symbolized God’s presence with His people.

When we hear a name like “tent of meeting,” what does that suggest for us about the function of this structure?

It’s for God to meet with His people! (BEB)

Decisions could be made here and God would also give His people specific directions (cf. Ex 33:7).

An important question to consider is, “why now?”

Think about what happened at the conclusion of Joshua 17.

The tribe of Joseph, split into the bountiful tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, complained about their inheritance (cf. Josh 17:14-18).

What this suggests for us is dissatisfaction on the part of the people.

Unfortunately, we have seen elsewhere the cancer that dissatisfaction can be within God’s people.

It is this threat to their unity that leads this next action.

What is suggested about the nature of this action when we consider that they’re establishing a permanent location for the Tabernacle at this point?

They’re establishing the designated place where they will worship and meet with the Lord.

Shiloh is rather centrally located to all of the tribal allotments of Israel; hence facilitating their regular visits.

Several important features of Shiloh.

First, the name of this town carries with it the meaning of peace or abundance (Hitchcock; https://ref.ly/logosres/hitchcock01?hw=Shiloh+(2)).

Additionally, it would serve as the spiritual center of Israelite worship until the prophetic ministry of Samuel when the Philistines would capture the Ark of the Covenant.

Importantly, the tent of meeting not only opens this section but also closes it in Josh 19:51.

This suggests for us that the people were seeking the Lord.

And, importantly, the people were also seeking the Lord together throughout this whole episode.

Notice also, what is the condition of the Promised Land before the peoples?

It has been subdued!

In other words, it’s under their control in a general sense.

However, something stands out about the condition of the people in the next verse.

2 There remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes who had not divided their inheritance.

What’s going on here with these seven tribes and their land allotment?

They have not yet divided it among themselves.

Initially, when we read this statement, we’re not given any kind of insight from the Spirit as to whether this is positive or negative.

In fact, we may ask, why is their condition like this.

We might even further speculate into the reasons behind.

Yet, notice how it is that Joshua responds to them in the next verse.

3 So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?

What is the sense that we get from Joshua’s use of the phrase “put off”?

This phrase is employed in Proverbs 18:9 “9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.”

It was the fault of these seven tribes that the land remains without being apportioned to them.

If it’s the fault of these tribes in failing to secure their inheritance of land, how might we describe them?

Negligent.

In fact, this is how the NKJV translates this term.

God’s Spirit does not give us insight into why these tribes had failed in this specific diligence.

That speculation should point us to looking at our own lives.

We don’t know what prompted the negligent response of the Israelites to what it is that God had given them to do.

However, what is it that we do know that no others do?

Our own heart.

Even then, we need help from the Lord to search our heart for wickedness that would offend the Lord (cf. Psalm 139:23-24).

Notice also that Joshua issues to them an important reminder about this land.

Who has given these seven tribes this allotment that they have neglected to diligently apportion and seize?

The Lord.

Specifically the God of their fathers.

What does Joshua mean by calling attention to the truth that this God has given them this land?

God was the One Who initiated contact with the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

God is the One Who made the promise of the land to the patriarchs.

God as seen through His promises to this point!

What we’re seeing here is God’s faithfulness to His Word!

This then serves as the basis for Joshua’s next instructions.

In other words, when we see slackness in the work that God has given us to do rear its ugly head, we need to be reminded that God has faithfully kept His promises and will continue to do so!

Further, sometimes, it’s necessary to use more direct language to lovingly call out someone else’s inactivity - we want to choose words that buildup but not be afraid to confront what’s necessary.

4 “Provide for yourselves three men from each tribe that I may send them, and that they may arise and walk through the land and write a description of it according to their inheritance; then they shall return to me. 5 “They shall divide it into seven portions; Judah shall stay in its territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall stay in their territory on the north. 6 “You shall describe the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7 “For the Levites have no portion among you, because the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance. Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh also have received their inheritance eastward beyond the Jordan, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.””

Notice, that, as a decisive leader, Joshua provides clear instructions to them concerning the survey of the land.

However, Joshua introduces here the first of three times that he will refer to casting lots before the Lord in order to apportion the land for these remaining seven tribes.

It’s important for us to recognize that this not just some luck of the draw, if you will.

Proverbs 16:33 reminds us that the Lord is in control of the lot.

Interestingly enough, and somewhat relevant to this passage is Proverbs 18:18 “18 The cast lot puts an end to strife And decides between the mighty ones.”

What could have been an opportunity for strife and discord, Joshua brings a level head following his success with the tribe of Joseph to this next land apportionment.

It’s important to note that Joshua would undertake this activity before the tent of meeting, right in front of the representation of God’s direct presence among them.

Hence, Joshua is not relying on luck.

Instead, he’s seeking the Lord to direct this activity.

The natural question that arises from here concerns whether or not casting lots is something that the Christian should do.

What I find interesting in the NT is that the last mention of casting lots occurs in Acts 1:26 concerning the decision as to who was going to replace Judas among the disciples.

Furthermore, we also see that, shortly following this episode, the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples.

Additionally, we see references in Acts to the Holy Spirit’s leadership among the Church (cf. Ac 13:2).

I believe that, since the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Church, God’s people, that we therefore have no need to resort to casting lots in decision-making but must, instead, rely on the Holy Spirit to lead our decisions as we faithfully seek to live out the truths of God’s Word in the power of the Spirit.

While this gets into a process of biblical decision-making that is beyond our scope for today, we can confidently say that if the Spirit is in us and we have God’s Word, we have what we need to lead our decisions so that we would please the Lord.

Notice next how it is that the people respond.

Joshua 18:8–10 “8 Then the men arose and went, and Joshua commanded those who went to describe the land, saying, “Go and walk through the land and describe it, and return to me; then I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.” 9 So the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh. 10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the land to the sons of Israel according to their divisions.”

How would we describe the response of the Israelites here?

They’re obedient.

This is really fascinating in terms of how we have seen the people respond before.

When we consider what it is that the people have done here - voluntarily assemble themselves before the tent of meeting during some contention, this sounds somewhat similar to the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16 wherein he was able to get so many of the people on his side and challenge God’s prescribed leadership in Moses and Aaron.

However, that’s not how the people respond here.

Therefore, it’s important for us to reflect on the change that has taken place and give credit where it’s due to God’s transformative work among His people.

Only the Lord could take a naturally rebellious people and transform them into obediently receiving instruction.

Further testimony to the Lord’s working among His people is the fact that, despite the earlier contention with the tribe of Joseph, this confrontation of laziness has resulted in an orderly and peaceful process of dividing the remainder of the land among these seven tribes.

The fact that passions do not take over concerning land size within this large group is a testimony to God’s working among the people to produce peace where there would otherwise be the threat to that peace!

Brothers and sisters, what we have to recognize is that, in the midst of circumstances that we would otherwise not expect, the Lord can bring peaceful relations among us.

And, as we see in Joshua, we need to be willing to be used of the Lord to facilitate that peace with clear instructions and seeking the Lord to direct our choices (cf. Matthew 5:9 “9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”).

At this point, I want to move outside of the chronology of the passage and skip to Joshua 19:49-50.

We’re going to return to some general observations concerning the tribal allotment when we read Joshua 19:51.

Joshua 19:49–50 “49 When they finished apportioning the land for inheritance by its borders, the sons of Israel gave an inheritance in their midst to Joshua the son of Nun. 50 In accordance with the command of the Lord they gave him the city for which he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. So he built the city and settled in it.”

I want for us to consider this leadership profile that is presented in Joshua’s example.

When does Joshua receive his inheritance?

After everyone else does.

What is striking about this image as compared with other leaders like Joshua?

Normally this kind of leader would be eager to take first dibs at grabbing up whatever land he could.

However, is Joshua in charge of his land apportionment?

No.

Who is facilitating Joshua’s land inheritance?

The people, according to the command of the Lord.

The impression that we get is that Joshua is not influencing this effort at all.

Consider the name of this city also.

The “serah” in “Timnath-serah” can be translated something akin to “leftover”.

The cumulative picture that we see here in Joshua’s submission to the people in receiving the last inheritance is that of humility and contentment.

We know that these are characteristics that are unnatural to the human condition.

Therefore, this must be the work of the Lord in Joshua’s life.

It’s really fascinating to consider that this is a man who has led a vast people in successful military campaigns that, at the end of his life, he humbly submits to their authority and contentedly builds his land portion without thought of addition through authority or might.

Next, we conclude the land apportionment with the summary of Joshua 19:51 and some reflections on this activity.

Joshua 19:51 “51 These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the households of the tribes of the sons of Israel distributed by lot in Shiloh before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.”

Importantly, as reflected on earlier, the Lord’s directing hand has been prevalent throughout this whole episode.

We see repeated references to “inheritance” in relation to these seven tribes a total of 15 times (Josh 18:20, 28; 19:1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 16, 23,31, 39, 41, 48)!

Can you imagine how each of these families must have felt in knowing that they had a definite plot that belonged to them?!

The nation of Israel is on the brink of occupying the whole land.

However, there’s a stark omission from these passages when we compare it with Joshua 19:50 “50 In accordance with the command of the Lord they gave him the city for which he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. So he built the city and settled in it.”

What did Joshua do that was different from these other 7 tribes?

He built his territory and settled in it.

Whereas the other tribes are only described as having received the description of the borders of their territory instead of occupying it like how Joshua is described.

Now, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute Bill! What about Dan? Dan journeyed North and captured Leshem and renamed it Dan?!” (cf. Josh 19:47)

This is an interesting verse.

The town of Dan was outside of their allotted borders.

Now we’re compelled to inquire why Dan went outside their borders to capture this city?

Interestingly, the Holy Spirit does not record here why it is that Dan went outside his territory to capture this town.

However, the event is recorded for us in Judges.

Unfortunately, it recalls for us that the Philistines drove Dan from their territory so that they had to go up North and capture Leshem (cf. Judges 18).

The truth is, these last seven tribes have a similar story of being unable to fully possess their portion.

Even Simeon has to receive his portion from the large lot given to Judah (cf. Josh 19:9)!

Have God’s promises failed?

Certainly not!

Then what’s going on here?

It’s a failure on the part of the people.

It was suggested in Joshua’s rebuke to them in Joshua 18:3.

In fact, many of these tribes comprised with the people of the land.

Compromises with sin can bring consequences that diminish future opportunities.

When there is defeat over what it is that God has given us to do, we need to prayerfully seek the Lord to search our heart.

Importantly, we characterize success differently from the world.

We characterize it in terms of faithfulness to the Lord.

What’s interesting is how we shift gears from the remaining land division to what seems like an entirely different subject.

However, I hope that we see the relationship between these passages.

Joshua 20 “1 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 ‘He shall flee to one of these cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and state his case in the hearing of the elders of that city; and they shall take him into the city to them and give him a place, so that he may dwell among them. 5 ‘Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor without premeditation and did not hate him beforehand. 6 ‘He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ” 7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation.”

If you were to read Numbers 35, you would see there much of the same content as what’s included here.

What’s going on here in this section with the cities of refuge?

These cities are so designated in the event that someone commits manslaughter, they can flee there for safety since the killing of another individual was accidental and not premeditated.

The reference to the avenger of blood here concerns that of a close relative of the deceased family member charged with taking the life of the one responsible for the death in question.

On the surface, what does this activity protect against?

Merely taking revenge on someone (BKC).

The setup provides a formal procedure to lawfully address accidental killing.

Yet, there’s an ominous tone that we conclude this passage with.

What is the implication of the fact that these cities are setup for an accidental manslayer?

There will be accidental killings!

Based on what we’ve considered, what’s a consequential reason that an accidental killing might take place? - Land disputes!

Interestingly, the Bible does not record any incidents like this where accidental killings take place.

On the other hand, the fact that these cities are set aside and these rules are established further suggests that we live in a fallen world where death is not just probable but actual.

People will accidentally kill other people.

While it may be difficult to see the relation of this passage to Christians, it’s important to recall that most cultures during this time were practicing unrestrained vengeance.

Has much changed from today?

No, not really.

What the Lord is reminding us of here is that vengeance does not belong to us.

Instead, we leave vengeance up to Him (cf. Rom 12:19; Dt 32:35).

When the culture around us sees our submission to the Lord in this, it will prompt them to wonder what has made the difference - and, the Lord will empower us to share that with them.

Conclusion: Today, we’ve seen God’s faithfulness on abundant display so as to encourage the Israelites out of their negligence of God’s work. We’ve also seen humble and contented leadership displayed in Joshua. Finally, we considered the ominous truth that death exists in this world and that we must humbly follow the Lord in avoiding vengeance. All throughout, we have seen pictured for us the importance of seeking the Lord, the privilege we have through God’s Holy Spirit.