ISRAELITE TRIBES ARE ASSIGNED TERRITORY IN THE PROMISED LAND

JOSHUA 15–21

At the Lord’s direction and under Joshua’s capable leadership, all of Israel had joined to break down the major Amorite and Canaanite opposition during their invasion of Canaan. While large portions of the Promised Land required further military attention (Josh. 13:1–7; 17:16), it was now time for Joshua to officially distribute parcels of land to tribes and individuals (Joshua 13–21). Woven into the details, we find a logic that suggests everyone received their portion of the Promised Land for a reason.

The language in the book of Joshua and earlier books of the Bible makes it clear that the Lord is the owner of Canaan and that it was provided to the children of Israel for a reason.7 Under the guiding hand of the Lord, Joshua used topographical features and city lists to designate the land that belonged to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. He also assigned certain cities to individuals or subgroups within Israel. Hints found here and there suggest that there are very practical reasons behind the land distribution.

It is clear that size matters. While all Israel had grown to become a great nation, not every tribe within Israel had grown to the same degree. Recognizing that reality, larger tribes received more land while smaller tribes received less land (Num. 26:52–56).8 Thus this distribution preempted a potential problem. Today good fences make good neighbors because families need to know where their kids can play and who is responsible for cutting what lawn. But in an earlier time the critical need to obtain water, plant grain fields, and graze flocks created a bond between land use and life. An appropriate distribution of the land by tribal size went a long way toward limiting internal fighting over land, which was necessary for unity within the tribes.

In at least one instance (Josh. 14:6–15), land was given specifically to an individual. After the first excursion of Israelite leaders into Canaan, when all but Caleb and Joshua came back to discourage the people from following the Lord (Num. 13:30; 14:5–9; Josh. 14:8), Moses had promised Caleb “the land on which your feet have walked” (Josh. 14:9) for himself and his descendants. When it came time to distribute the land, Caleb laid claim to the Lord’s promise and received Hebron along with a portion of the surrounding lands (Num. 14:24; Josh. 14:12–13).

One tribe, Levi, did not receive a contiguous tribal allocation of land but instead was assigned forty-eight cities distributed throughout the territories given to the other tribes. The Levites were the priests of Israel, and while they periodically served the Lord in the tabernacle at Shiloh in Ephraim, they were to live most of their lives among the other Israelites in order to encourage individual and national faithfulness (Josh. 13:33; 21:1–42).

Distribution of the Promised Land

Territory of Asher (view looking south).

Territory of Gad and the Jabbok River (view looking northeast).

Region of West Manasseh, which later became associated with the northern part of Samaria.

Lest we miss the obvious, we take note of this simple fact: Joshua’s assignments meant that every family received their own piece of the Promised Land. Whenever they shepherded the flock or scratched the soil with a plow, they were reminded that God had kept his promise to deliver into their hands this land flowing with milk and honey, a land suitable for both herding and agriculture (Exod. 3:17). Because the Lord had kept that promise, they could be confident that he would keep the overriding promise linked to the people and the land: the Promised Land would be a podium from which the Israelites were to proclaim the one true, loving God who offers rescue to the entire world.

Thus Israelite tribes were assigned territory in the Promised Land for a reason. Tribal population, meritorious service, and Levitical assignment all contributed to the designation of territory. There were no gaps in the distribution of the land. City by city, wadi by wadi, hill by hill the Hebrew people went to take possession of the land just as the Lord had promised.9 Joshua concludes, “Not one of all the LORD’S good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” (Josh. 21:45). In that light, every family owned evidence that the Lord’s promises for their tribal provisions had been accomplished.