Joshua 18:2

Joshua 18:2

And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.

1. “And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes…”

a. remained [3498 * yathar][Strong: a primitive root; to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively, to leave, cause to abound, preserve:--excel, leave (a remnant), left behind, too much, make plenteous, preserve, (be, let) remain(-der, -ing, - nant), reserve, residue, rest.]

b. The seven tribes that failed to receive their inheritance were Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulon, Issachar, Asher, Napthali, and Dan.

2. “…which had not yet received their inheritance.”

a. received [2505 * chalaq][Strong: a primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate:--deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-)part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self, (be) smooth(-er).

b. inheritance [5159 * nachalah][Strong:  from 5157 (in its usual sense); properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion:--heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession.] 

c. As the definition above and the next few verses establish, “receiving their inheritance” involved more than just moving into it.

1). Joshua 18:4-6 Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.

5 And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.

6 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.

2). The Hebrew words describe and divide.

a). describe [3789 * kathab][Strong: a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe):--describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).][AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary Old Testament: A verb meaning to write. It refers to communication through a system of visible signs written down. It is used to indicate the process of recording information in many ways and settings: writing in stone or in a book.]

b). divide [2505 * chalaq][Strong: a primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate:--deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-)part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self, (be) smooth(-er).][ AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary Old Testament: A verb indicating to share, to divide. It indicates receiving something or obtaining one’s share of something.]

3). The above verses and definitions reveal that the failure of the seven tribes to “receive their inheritance” involved exploring and then dividing the land into their appropriate sections and borders. After the men had done this then they returned to Joshua and he cast lots before the Lord and divided it up between the seven tribes.

a). 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.

9 And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.

10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

d. Applying this situation to us in the New Covenant is doable. Christ jesus, through his death and resurrection obtained for us a redemption package that includes forgiveness of sins and a large inheritance package outlined in the New Testament.

1). Acts 26:12-18 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

e. Many passages in the New Testament detail different blessings/benefits/rights of this inheritance package. In the first chapter of Ephesians Paul writes of a number of them including our general salvation, baptism of the Holy Ghost, and access through prayer to an enlightening of the rest of our inheritance, one of the most important being the authority of the believer.

1). Ephesians 1:11-23 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

2). In the above passage, the word “inheritance” is mentioned three times. It is our responsibility just as it was Israel’s to search out the land/Scripture and find what God has given us and go and possess it through prayer, study and obedience.

a). Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

b). Hebrews 6:9-15 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.