Joshua 18:6
New International Version
After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the LORD our God.

New Living Translation
And when you record the seven divisions of the land and bring them to me, I will cast sacred lots in the presence of the LORD our God to assign land to each tribe.

English Standard Version
And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
You shall therefore survey the land in seven parts and bring the survey here to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

New American Standard Bible
And you shall write a description of the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. Then I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

NASB 1995
“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.

NASB 1977
“And you shall describe the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

Legacy Standard Bible
So you shall write a description of the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God.

Amplified Bible
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.

Christian Standard Bible
When you have written a description of 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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When you have written a description of 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.

American Standard Version
And ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah our God.

English Revised Version
And ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me: and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You must describe the seven parts of the land and report to me here. I will draw lots for you here in the presence of the LORD our God.

Good News Translation
Write down a description of these seven divisions and bring it to me. Then I will draw lots to consult the LORD our God for you.

International Standard Version
Lay out the land in seven divisions, then bring your report here to me. I will then cast lots in the presence of the LORD our God.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
But as for you, map out the land into seven regions and bring it to me. I will draw lots for you here before the LORD our God.

New Heart English Bible
You shall survey the land into seven parts, and bring the description here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

Webster's Bible Translation
Ye shall therefore describe the land in seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

World English Bible
You shall survey the land into seven parts, and bring the description here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you describe the land [in] seven portions, and have brought [it] to me here, and I have cast a lot for you here before our God YHWH;

Young's Literal Translation
and ye describe the land in seven portions, and have brought it in unto me hither, and I have cast for you a lot here before Jehovah our God;

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye shall write the land seven portions and bring to me hither, and I will cast the lot for you here before Jehovah our God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The land in the midst between these mark ye out into seven parts; and you shall come hither to me, that I may cast lots for you before the Lord your God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The land that is in the middle, between these, write it down in seven parts. And you shall come to me, so that I may cast lots for you about this, before the Lord your God.

New American Bible
You shall bring to me here the description of the land in seven sections. I will then cast lots for you here before the LORD, our God.

New Revised Standard Version
You shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall therefore map out the land into seven parts, and then bring the map here, and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall map the land into seven divisions and bring it to me here and I shall show you the portion that is chosen before LORD JEHOVAH our God
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And do ye divide the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, and I will give you a lot before the Lord our God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Remainder Divided
5and divide the land into seven portions. Judah shall remain in their territory in the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory in the north. 6When 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. 7The Levites, however, have no portion among you, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received the inheritance that Moses the servant of the LORD gave them beyond the Jordan to the east.”…

Cross References
Numbers 34:2
“Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:

Numbers 34:16-29
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. / Appoint one leader from each tribe to distribute the land. ...

Deuteronomy 1:38
Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.

Deuteronomy 3:28
But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Joshua 1:6
Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them.

Joshua 14:1-2
Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel. / Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

Joshua 19:51
These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.

Judges 2:6
After Joshua had dismissed the people, the Israelites went out to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.

1 Samuel 10:20-21
Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. / Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him.

1 Chronicles 6:54-81
Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them: / They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands. / But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. ...

1 Chronicles 23:2
Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites.

Nehemiah 9:22-25
You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and of Og king of Bashan. / You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess. / So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they wished. ...

Psalm 16:5-6
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. / The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.

Ezekiel 47:13-23
This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions. / You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance. / This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

that I may cast

Joshua 18:8,10
And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh…

Joshua 14:2
By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

Numbers 26:54,55
To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him…

Jump to Previous
Cast Decision Describe Description Distribution Divisions Hither Lots Parts Portions Presence Record Seven Survey Written
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Cast Decision Describe Description Distribution Divisions Hither Lots Parts Portions Presence Record Seven Survey Written
Joshua 18
1. The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh
2. The remainder of the land is described, and divided into seven parts
10. Joshua distributes it by lot
11. The lot and border of Benjamin
21. Their cities














And when you have divided the land
This phrase refers to the task given to the Israelites to survey and partition the land of Canaan. The Hebrew root for "divided" is "חָלַק" (chalak), which means to apportion or distribute. This division was not merely a logistical task but a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It signifies the transition from wandering to settling, from promise to possession. The act of dividing the land underscores the importance of order and obedience in God's plan for His people.

into seven portions
The number seven in the Bible often symbolizes completeness or perfection, reflecting God's creation week. Here, dividing the land into seven portions indicates a complete and divinely ordained distribution. It suggests that each tribe's inheritance was part of a perfect divine plan, ensuring that all of God's people had a place in the Promised Land. This division also highlights the unity and diversity within the nation of Israel, as each tribe received a unique portion yet remained part of the whole.

bring the description here to me
Joshua, as the leader, required the surveyors to return with a detailed account of the land. The Hebrew word for "description" is "כָּתוּב" (kathub), meaning something written or inscribed. This implies a careful and precise recording of the land's features, ensuring transparency and fairness in the distribution process. It reflects the importance of accountability and stewardship in leadership, as Joshua sought to make decisions based on accurate information.

so that I may cast lots for you
Casting lots was a common biblical practice used to discern God's will. The Hebrew word "גּוֹרָל" (goral) refers to the lot or portion. This method removed human bias, allowing God to direct the outcome. It emphasizes the belief that God is sovereign over all decisions and that His guidance is sought in all matters. The casting of lots ensured that the division of the land was not only fair but divinely sanctioned.

here in the presence of the LORD our God
This phrase underscores the sacredness of the task. The presence of the LORD, "יְהוָה" (Yahweh), signifies that the division of the land was a holy act, conducted under divine supervision. It reminds the Israelites that their inheritance was a gift from God, to be received with gratitude and reverence. The presence of God in their midst was a constant reminder of His faithfulness and the covenant relationship He had with His people. This setting also served to unify the tribes under the common worship and acknowledgment of the one true God.

Verse 6. - Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts. Literally, ye shall write the land, seven parts. Similarly in ver. 8. That is to say, a written report was to be brought up in seven parts, a fair and equal division of the land having previously been agreed upon among the commissioners. This report having been accepted, division was afterwards made (ver. 10) by lot. Bishop Horsley and Houbigant here, as elsewhere, would rearrange the chapter, supposing it to have been accidentally transposed. But there seems no ground for the supposition. The repetition, with its additional particulars at each repetition, is quite in the style of the author (see ch. 2 and notes). That I may cast lots. Or, and I will cast a lot. The somewhat unusual word ירה to throw, is used here. The more usual word is הפּיל caused to fall, though other expressions are also used.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When you
וְאַתֶּ֞ם (wə·’at·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

have mapped out
תִּכְתְּב֤וּ (tiḵ·tə·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

the seven
שִׁבְעָ֣ה (šiḇ·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

portions
חֲלָקִ֔ים (ḥă·lā·qîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2506: Portion, tract, territory

of land
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and brought
וַֽהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם (wa·hă·ḇê·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

it to me,
אֵלַ֖י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

I will cast
וְיָרִ֨יתִי (wə·yā·rî·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

lots
גּוֹרָל֙ (gō·w·rāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1486: Lot -- a lot (for casting)

for you here
פֹּ֔ה (pōh)
Adverb
Strong's 6311: This place, here

in the presence
לִפְנֵ֖י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

our God.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT History: Joshua 18:6 You shall survey the land into seven (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 18:5
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