The Allotments to the Tribes (Joshua 18:11 to Joshua 19:51).
We now have indicated how the lot divided the land among the seven remaining tribes.
1). The Lot of the Tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:11-28).
‘ And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.'
In Psalms 68:27 Benjamin was called ‘little Benjamin' but that was partly because they had been made so as a result of the war over Gibeah (Judges 19-21), although compared with Judah and Joseph they were little, and they received ‘according to their families'. Their lot was a strip of land in the passes between the hill countries of the two, with Dan to the west. It was good land but made them vulnerable to invasion.
“The lot came up --.” This would suggest that the lot was picked out of something such as an urn or a pocket or a plate or suchlike.
“The tribe of the children of --.” With the exception of 1 Chronicles 6:65 this phrase only occurs in Numbers 10:15-27; Numbers 34:14-29; Numbers 36:8 and in Joshua. The emphasis in the word for tribe is on the fact that this refers to the judicial overview of ‘the children of --'. They were under judges and princes, both in leading the people forward (Numbers 10:15-27), and in the reception of the lot of their inheritance (Numbers 34:14-29; 1 Chronicles 6:65). Numbers 36:8 does not quite use it in the same way and is not really a parallel. Thus in Numbers the phrase uniquely applied to the situation of being under princes. We cannot doubt that the thought is the same here and elsewhere in its use in Joshua.
‘ And their border on the north quarter was from Jordan, and the border went up to the side (shoulder, slope) of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward, and its goings out were at the wilderness of Beth-aven, and the border passed along from there to Luz, to the slope (shoulder) of Luz southward, the same is Bethel, and the border went down to Attaroth-addar, by the mountain that lies on the south of Lower Beth-horon.'
For this description compare the border of Ephraim (Joshua 16:1-5). The slightly differing descriptions reveal the work of different surveyors using their own markers. The border starts from the Jordan and climbs the slope of Jericho (compare the ‘waters of Jericho' which indicate a similar point - Joshua 16:1), probably the rising ground three miles to the north, then on north-westward via the wilderness of Beth-haven to Luz, then on to the southward slope of Luz, which was Bethel, and then via the mountain that lies to the south of Lower Beth-horon to Attaroth-addar. Note that Beth-aven, Luz and Bethel are distinguished, although at times each can be used for the other. They clearly each had a distinct significance while able to be used for the whole. Thus Luz/Bethel was a part of Benjamin while the slope of Luz (Bethel) was not.
‘ And the border was drawn and turned about on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth-horon southward, and its goings out were at Kiriath-baal, the same is Kiriath-jearim, a city of Judah. This was the west quarter.'
Having given the northern border, the west border is now given, from south of Beth-horon down to north of Kiriath-baal, thus excluding the latter.
‘ And the south quarter was from the furthest point of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went out westward and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. And the border went down to the uttermost point (the base?) of the mountain which lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is the vale of Rephaim northward, and it went down to the valley of Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En-rogel.'
Here the southern border of Benjamin is given which corresponds with the northern border of Judah (Joshua 15:6-9) but is traced in the opposite direction. Again evidence of different surveyors. We also note again that Kiriath-jearim is excluded. The border begins by going westward but then proceeds eastward to the waters of Nephtoah near Jerusalem (Joshua 15:9), proceeds to the base of the mountain (compare Joshua 15:8) as described and then through the valley of Hinnom to the southern slope of the Jebusite and on to En-rogel, thus encompassing at least part of Jerusalem. En-rogel (‘well of the launderer') was just outside Jerusalem (2 Samuel 17:17; 1 Kings 1:9) and is known today as Job's Well
Jerusalem as a whole was divided between Benjamin and Judah. It was built on two mountains with a valley between, the Jebusite stronghold being on top of the southeast ridge with terraces constructed eastward. Houses would also be built outside the walls forming part of ‘Jerusalem'. It may well be these that Judah captured (Judges 1:8) although they may have caught the fortress unprepared and empty of troops away on an expedition. But they did not permanently occupy it and later could not drive the Jebusites out (Joshua 15:63). Benjamin made no attempt to drive out the Jebusites in their part (Judges 1:21).
‘ And it was drawn on the north, and went out at Enshemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the Ascent of Adummim, and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. And it passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah. And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northwards, and the goings out of the border were at the north tongue of the Salt Sea at the south end of Jordan. This was the south border.'
See on Joshua 15:5-7 where more detail is given, in the reverse direction. (Note that Joshua 15:7 calls Geliloth (‘regions') ‘Gilgal' (a cartwheel). It is not the Gilgal in the Jordan valley). The whole description is an interesting contrast between two surveyors. Some of the language was no doubt technical so that we are not able to follow it fully. Even LXX had difficulty with it.
‘ And Jordan was the border of it on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by its borders round about, according to their families.'
The final quarter (border) was the Jordan. Then follows a formula similar to the official formula found at the end of each portion (see Joshua 18:28 b), here applied to the Benjamite boundaries for solemn confirmation.
‘ Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, according to their families, were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and Emek-keziz, and Betharabah, and Zemaraim,and Bethel, and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah, and Chephar-ammoni, and Ophni, and Geba. Twelve cities with their villages.'
This was the first of two regions into which Benjamin was divided, east and west of the road between Jerusalem and Shechem. While Jericho was not rebuilt as a city the area around was inhabited, and probably called Jericho. And its mound stood there as a reminder of its presence.
Beth-hoglah has been identified with the ruins of Kasr Hajleh, and is four kilometres (three miles) north of the present Dead Sea. Beth-arabah (‘house of the Arabah') was in the barren, rocky country between the Central Range and the Dead Sea, sometimes called Jeshimon (waste, desert) mentioned in 1 Samuel 23:19; 1 Samuel 23:24. In verse 61 it belongs to Judah. Here it is a Benjamite border town. As with many border towns it was probably shared between them, the boundary going through it. It would have lands at both sides. Each might see it as their own. Emek-keziz (‘the valley or plain of Keziz' whose name is applied to the city) is unknown. Zemariam was probably situated near Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim (2 Chronicles 13:4). Various sites have been suggested (e.g Khirbet al-Samra; Ras al-Zaimara and Ras al-Tahuna).
Bethel is slightly complicated in that it can be represented by Luz (Judges 1:23), Beth-aven (Hosea 4:15; Hosea 5:8; Hosea 10:5) and the Bethel sanctuary (Genesis 28:19 - compare ‘the shoulder of Luz'? (Joshua 18:13)), although in Joshua Bethaven is distinguished from Bethel (Joshua 7:2). In Judges 1:22-25 Luz was captured from the Canaanites by Ephraim (we are never told of it being taken earlier). See also 1 Chronicles 7:28. Here some section of what was called Bethel was named as Benjamite.
“And Avvim, and Parah.” Avvim may be a variation of the name Ai (Joshua 7:2 - both have the article). The name Parah may survive in Khirbet Farah, five kilometres (three miles) north east of Anathoth, near the junction of Wadi Farah with Wadi es-Suweinit. Ophrah (not that in Judges 6:11) which is that in the direction to which the Philistine spoilers came in 1 Samuel 13:17. Called Ephron in 2 Chronicles 13:19, it is modern et-Tayibeh, about eight kilometres (five miles) east of Bethel.
“Chephar-ammoni, and Ophni, and Geba.” Chephar-ammoni means ‘the village of the Ammonite'. Its site is unknown. Ophni is also unknown. Geba (meaning ‘a hill') was eleven kilometres (seven miles) north of Jerusalem and five kilometres (three miles) from Gibeah (see Joshua 18:28; Judges 19:12) from which it is to be distinguished, and is the modern town of Jeba. It was assigned to the Levites and it was on the descent from here that Jonathan and his armourbearer made themselves known to the Philistines during their daring attack (1 Samuel 14:5). It was seen as the northernmost point of Josiah's kingdom (2 Kings 23:8). ‘'Twelve cities with their villages.' Forming the eastern region of Benjamin.
‘Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, and Zelah, Eleph and the Jebusite (the same is Jerusalem), Gibeath, Kiriath. Fourteen cities with their villages.'
These were the cities of the western region of Benjamin. Gibeon is the city from where the Gibeonites came to deceive Israel, along with its companion cities, also mentioned here, Beeroth and Chephirah (Joshua 9:17). It was a fairly important ‘city' over a small confederation of smaller ‘cities' (it was ‘as one of the royal cities' - Joshua 10:2 and see Joshua 9:17) inhabited by the Hivites/Horites (Joshua 18:7 - compare Genesis 26:2 with Genesis 26:20) and ruled over by a council of elders (Joshua 18:11). It was what we now know as El-Jib, nine kilometres (five to six miles) north of Jerusalem. The handles of storage jars were found at the site, stamped with a royal seal or inscribed with the owners' names and the name Gibeon. In the time of David the Tabernacle was set up there (1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 21:29 see also 1 Kings 3:4-5)
The site has not yet revealed traces of a late bronze age settlement but burials at the time do indicate that it was then occupied. Thus it was probably not then a large city or with good defensive capability. It was described as ‘greater than Ai' (Joshua 10:2), but Ai were ‘but few'.
Ramah is probably er-Ram, eight kilometres (five miles) north of Jerusalem at a height of about 700 metres (2,300 feet). It was a resting place on the way north (Judges 19:13). From Ramah Samuel would judge Israel (1 Samuel 7:17). Part of it was pulled down by Asa in order to use the materials to fortify Geba and Mizpah (1 Kings 15:17; 1 Kings 15:21-22), and it was where Nebuzaradan later gathered the exiles after the fall of Jerusalem, releasing Jeremiah (Jeremiah 40:1). It featured in the messages of the prophets (Isaiah 10:29; Jeremiah 31:15; Hosea 5:8).
Beeroth, one of the Gibeonite confederacy, means ‘wells'. This may be el-Bireh where there are several wells and ruins. It is eight kilometres (five miles) north east of Gibeon.
Mizpeh was in the neighbourhood of Gibeon and Ramah (1 Kings 15:22). The word means ‘watchtower, place for watching' and suggests that it was built on an elevated place. It was here that Israel gathered to revenge the rape and murder of the Levite's concubine (Judges 20-21), and that Samuel gathered Israel for prayer after the Ark had been returned to Kiriath-jearim (1 Samuel 7:5-6). It was one of the three places visited regularly by Samuel as judge of Israel (1 Samuel 7:16). The site was probably Tell en-Nasbeh (note the similarity by assonance), an isolated hill about thirteen kilometres (eight miles) north of Jerusalem. An alternative would be Nebi Samwil, seven kilometres (four to five miles) north west of Jerusalem, 895 metres (2900 feet) above sea level and 150 metres (490 feet) above the surrounding country.
Chephirah was a Hivite fortress on a spur eight kilometres (five miles) west of Gibeon, now modern Khirbet Kefireh, dominating the Wadi Qatneh that leads down to Aijalon. Ezra 2:25; Nehemiah 7:29 link it with Kiriath-jearim. Mozah, and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah are unknown.
Zelah was the burial place of Saul and his family (2 Samuel 21:14), Eleph is unknown, Jebusi (the Jebusites) was probably a short form of ‘the city of the Jebusites', compare ‘the shoulder of the Jebusites' (Joshua 18:16), and refers to Jerusalem. Gibeath is the town of Gibeah, Tell el-Ful, a bare, conical hill five kilometres (three miles) north of Jerusalem. This was where the great crime would be committed against the Levite's concubine that almost resulted in the extermination of Benjamin (Judges 19). It was later the birthplace of Saul (1 Samuel 10:26) and served as his residence while he was king, containing a small fortress. Because it was away from running water it depended on preserving water in cisterns and at the time of Joshua only a small settlement was found there, developing in the iron age. An iron plough-tip was found from this latter period. Later occupation on the site was spasmodic.
Kiriath (‘city') is probably Kiriath-jearim (‘city of forests'), a border city between Benjamin and Judah, partially claimed by each. It is possibly Kuriet el-‘Enab, fourteen kilometres west of Jerusalem in a once well wooded district on the Jaffa Road. ‘Fourteen cities with their villages.' Making up the western region.
‘This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.'
This is the formula, (sometimes with as an addition ‘the (these) cities with their villages'), that finalises the inheritance of each of the eleven tribes apart from Levi.