20140215 Saturday, February 15 2014
Joshua 19: The Israel Lottery

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD"

The English word "lot" has a variety of meanings. From The WordWeb Dictionary by Princeton University:

"a large number or amount or extent"

"a parcel of land having fixed boundaries"

"an unofficial association of people or groups"

"your overall circumstances or condition in life"

"anything taken or chosen at random"

"any collection in its entirety"

"Lot" (the root word for lottery) was used to translate the Hebrew word, pronounced go-rawl, which literally means rough, but was used to refer to a small, hand-held stone, or pebble. "Casting lots" was sometimes used by the people of the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) to determine the will of the LORD, as a matter of fairness, based on equal opportunity (if, all other things being equal) random selection.

The tribal lands distribution, as described below, was one of a number of occasions when a lottery was used for official purposes. It wasn't however something that the Israelites invented for themselves; the LORD Himself told them to do it, for certain things. Another of the most well-known is the casting of lots for the two goats for the Day of Atonement (see Why Do Christians Observe The Messiah's Day Of Atonement?).

"16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation [see Exodus 40: The Glory Of The LORD In His Tabernacle]. 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat [see Sending Away The Escapades Goat].

16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." (Leviticus 16:7-10 KJV)

Following those already done (see Joshua 15: Judah's Homeland, Joshua 16: Ephraim's Inheritance, Joshua 17: West Manasseh and Joshua 18: The Land Of Benjamin; see also Numbers 18: The Inheritance Of The Levites), the remainder of the tribes of Israel received their homeland according to lot.

"19:1 And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah [see Joshua 15: Judah's Homeland]. 19:2 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah, 19:3 And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem, 19:4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah, 19:5 And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah, 19:6 And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages: 19:7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages: 19:8 And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. 19:9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

19:10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: 19:11 And their border went up toward the sea [see also The Cities Of Lake Galilee], and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; 19:12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, 19:13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah; 19:14 And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel: 19:15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages. 19:16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

19:17 And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 19:18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, 19:19 And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath, 19:20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, 19:21 And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez; 19:22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan [see also Numbers 32: The Israel Of East Jordan]: sixteen cities with their villages. 19:23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

19:24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 19:25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, 19:26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath; 19:27 And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, 19:28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon; 19:29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre [see also Into The Coasts Of Tyre And Sidon]; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib: 19:30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. 19:31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

19:32 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families. 19:33 And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan: 19:34 And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side [see also What Did West Mean To The Israelites?], and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising. 19:35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth, 19:36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, 19:37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor, 19:38 And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. 19:39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

19:40 And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. 19:41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh, 19:42 And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, 19:43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, 19:44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, 19:45 And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon, 19:46 And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho. 19:47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father [see Dan's Galilee Panhandle]. 19:48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages." (Joshua 19:1-48 KJV)

As had been done with Caleb, Joshua was given his own lands, within the territory of his tribe of Ephraim (see Joshua 16: Ephraim's Inheritance).

"19:49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them: 19:50 According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.

19:51 These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun [see From Moses And Aaron To Joshua and Eleazar], and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country." (Joshua 19:49-51 KJV)

Fact Finder: How were "lots" involved in Purim, an observance unique to the people of Judah during their exile?
See The Lots Of Purim