Joshua 18:6

When you have mapped out the seven portions of land and brought it to me, I will cast lots for you here in the presence of the LORD our God.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joshua addresses the tribal representatives at Shiloh, instructing them to survey and record the land distribution before he proceeds with the divine allocation.

The words — תִּכְתְּב֤וּ (tikh.te.Vu) means "you will describe in writing," and חֲלָקִ֔ים (cha.la.Kim) translates to "portions," highlighting the administrative precision required before the spiritual act of casting lots.

The thread — This lot-casting procedure mirrors the inheritance assignment in Joshua 14:2 and is executed in Joshua 18:10, while Acts 13:19 recalls the broader conquest that made the land distribution possible.

Why it lands — The text demands that human diligence in mapping and reporting precedes reliance on divine guidance, requiring readers to submit their documented work to God’s sovereign decision.

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

וְאַתֶּ֞םve./'a.Temand/ you תִּכְתְּב֤וּtikh.te.Vuyou will describe in writing אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha./'A.retzthe/ land שִׁבְעָ֣הshiv.'Ahseven חֲלָקִ֔יםcha.la.Kimportions וַֽהֲבֵאתֶ֥םva./ha.ve.Temand/ you will bring [it]אֵלַ֖י'e.La/ito/ me הֵ֑נָּהHe.nahhither וְיָרִ֨יתִיve./ya.Ri.tiand/ I will throwלָכֶ֤םla./Khemfor <the>/ youגּוֹרָל֙go.Rala lot פֹּ֔הPohhere לִפְנֵ֖יli/f.Nei<to>/ before יְהוָ֥הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our

King James Version

Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord our God.

Cross-references

Joshua 14:2 Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
Joshua 18:10 And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.
Acts 13:19 And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.
Numbers 26:54 Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.
Numbers 33:54 And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.
Numbers 34:13 So Moses commanded the Israelites, “Apportion this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has commanded that it be given to the nine and a half tribes.
Joshua 18:8 As the men got up to go out, Joshua commanded them to map out the land, saying, “Go and survey the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will cast lots for you here in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD.”
Psalms 105:11 “I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:18 Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.