Topical Bible: Israel: The Land Allotted

◄ Israel: The Land Allotted ►

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Introduction

The land of Israel, as described in the Bible, holds profound theological and historical significance. It is the land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it serves as the geographical setting for much of the biblical narrative. The allotment of this land to the tribes of Israel is a central theme in the Old Testament, reflecting God's covenantal promises and His sovereign plan for His chosen people.

The Promise to the Patriarchs

The promise of the land begins with God's covenant with Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3, God calls Abram to leave his country and promises to make him a great nation. The land is explicitly promised in Genesis 12:7: "The LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.'" This promise is reiterated and expanded in Genesis 15:18-21, where God makes a covenant with Abram, specifying the boundaries of the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates.

The promise is reaffirmed to Isaac in Genesis 26:3-4 and to Jacob in Genesis 28:13-15. Jacob's name is later changed to Israel, and his twelve sons become the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Conquest and Allotment

The fulfillment of the land promise begins with the Exodus from Egypt and the subsequent conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. The book of Joshua details the military campaigns and the division of the land among the tribes. Joshua 1:2-4 records God's command to Joshua to lead the people into the land, with specific boundaries outlined.

The allotment of the land is meticulously described in Joshua chapters 13-21. Each tribe receives its inheritance by lot, as commanded by God through Moses (Numbers 26:52-56). The Levites, however, are given no territorial inheritance; instead, they receive cities and surrounding pasturelands (Joshua 21:1-42).

Tribal Allotments

1. Judah: The tribe of Judah receives a large portion in the southern part of the land, including the city of Hebron (Joshua 15:1-12). This area becomes significant as the future site of Jerusalem and the Davidic kingdom.

2. Ephraim and Manasseh: The descendants of Joseph, through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, receive substantial territories in central Canaan (Joshua 16-17). These areas include fertile lands and significant cities like Shechem.

3. Benjamin: Sandwiched between Judah and Ephraim, Benjamin's territory includes the city of Jerusalem (Joshua 18:11-28).

4. Dan: Initially allotted land in the west, the tribe of Dan later migrates northward due to pressure from the Philistines (Joshua 19:40-48; Judges 18).

5. Other Tribes: The remaining tribes—Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Gad—receive their respective portions as detailed in Joshua 13-19.

Theological Significance

The allotment of the land is not merely a historical event but a theological affirmation of God's faithfulness to His covenant. The land serves as a tangible sign of God's promise and a place where His people are to live in obedience to His laws. The division of the land by lot underscores the belief that God Himself determines the inheritance of each tribe (Proverbs 16:33).

The land also foreshadows the ultimate rest and inheritance promised to believers, as articulated in the New Testament (Hebrews 4:8-10). The physical land of Israel becomes a symbol of the spiritual inheritance available through faith in Christ.

Conclusion

The land allotted to Israel is a foundational element of biblical history and theology. It represents God's enduring covenant with His people and His sovereign plan for redemption. The narrative of the land allotment invites reflection on God's faithfulness and the call to live in accordance with His will.

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Joshua 15:1
This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.
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Joshua 16:1
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, to the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,
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Joshua 17:1
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
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Joshua 18:1
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
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Joshua 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.
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Joshua 20:1
The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying,
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Joshua 21:1
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
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Library

Numbers
... But the reality fell pitifully short of this fair ideal, for Israel at once ... of Moab
(xxxiii.) is a description of the boundaries of the land allotted to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/numbers.htm

Unwon but Claimed
... Israel's history is significant ... The land was never actually all conquered ... or if we
work in any other spirit than in faith, we shall not win our allotted part in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/unwon but claimed.htm

The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
... The land allotted to the tribes of Issachar, Zebulon, and Naphtali, was chiefly ... had
been frequently vexed and afflicted, when the sins if Israel brought the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon viii the sun rising.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... List them and decide what contributed to the success or failure of Israel in each
case. ... (13) The portion of land allotted to each tribe and how it was secured. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

Joshua
... Jordan, and the rest of the land was allotted on the ... the Levites forty-eight cities
with their pasture land, xx.1 ... As Israel was now in possession of the land in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/joshua.htm

Psalm LXXVI.
... which we have sung, saying, "Known in Jud??a is God, in Israel great is the ... But because
to the priests serving the temple no land was allotted, [3436] but ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxvi.htm

God.
... in such times, and those born gifts of questioning and searching which fitted him
for his allotted duty as ... Have I been a desert to Israel, Or land of thick ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 god.htm

Covenanting a Duty.
... For any to seek power in the land without submitting to ... children."[225] And as to
his people Israel, engaged by ... that would seem to have been allotted to the ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iii covenanting a duty.htm

Earliest Heretics:
... To him, he says, was allotted the seed of Abraham, and accordingly he it was who
transferred the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt into the land of Canaan ...
/.../tertullian/against all heresies/chapter i earliest heretics .htm

Concerning the Canaanitish Woman. Meaning of the "Borders of Tyre ...
... had crossed over they came into the land of Gennesaret ... to the number of the sons
of Israel," [5494] and ... of those which are outside the allotted inheritance of ...
/.../16 concerning the canaanitish woman.htm