Numbers 26:55 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot— As the land was to be divided among the tribes in proportion to their numbers, the question is, what occasion there was for dividing it likewise by lot? To which it is replied, that the lot seems to respect only the quarter, the particular coast or province, in which every tribe was to be situated; but not the extent of land. For instance, it was first determined by lot, which of the twelve tribes was to inherit in the South, which in the North, and so on; then in that quarter where their lot fell, a larger or smaller portion of land was assigned to them, according to the goodness of the soil, and in proportion as they were more or less numerous. By this method all ground of quarrel among the several tribes was removed; and each acquiesced in his settlement, as allotted to him by God himself, to whom the appeal was made by lot. The same custom was observed by other nations in the division of vacant or conquered lands. Hence the word lot signifies an inheritance in Greek and Latin, as well as in Hebrew. Joshua 1:3. 1 Peter 5:3. Ephes. Numbers 1:14; Numbers 1:18. Concerning this division of the land of Canaan, we shall see more when we come to Joshua, particularly chap. 18: