Bible Strands
Joshua 18:12
On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua narrates the territorial boundaries allotted to the tribe of Benjamin immediately after the first lot was cast. This description occurs during the systematic division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes.
The words — The text uses הַגְּבוּל (ha-gĕḇûl, "the border") and צָפוֹנָה (ṣāp̄ônâh, "northward") to mark the northern starting point of the territory. These terms establish the geographic orientation before the boundary moves westward through the hill country.
The thread — The northern boundary near Jericho and Beth-aven reappears in Joshua 16:1 regarding Joseph’s allotment and in Joshua 7:2 where spies are sent from Jericho toward Ai. These references show how the tribal borders intersected with the movements of the Israelite army.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to recognize that tribal inheritance was defined by precise geographic markers rather than arbitrary claims. It demands attention to how divine allotment translates into concrete territorial boundaries.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth–aven.
Cross-references
- Joshua 16:1 The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.
- Joshua 7:2 Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
- Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
- Joshua 3:16 the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
- Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
- Hosea 4:15 Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
- Hosea 5:8 Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!
- Hosea 10:5 The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn over it with its idolatrous priests—those who rejoiced in its glory—for it has been taken from them into exile.