Joshua 18:1-12
Shiloh <07887> [Shiloh.]
Shiloh was situated on a hill in the tribe of Ephraim, though near the borders of Benjamin, about fifteen miles north of Jerusalem, and, according to Eusebius, twelve, or according to Jerome, ten miles (south) from Shechem or Nablous. It was but a little north from Bethel or Ai, and near the road from Shechem to Jerusalem. (Jud 21:19.) In Jerome's time, Shiloh was ruined; and nothing remarkable was extant, but the foundations of the altar of burnt offerings which had been erected when the tabernacle stood there.
<07931> [set up.]
put off <07503> [How long are.]
three <07969> [three.]
make a map <03789> [describe.]
Judah ... stay .............. its <03063 05975> [Judah shall.]
family <01004> [the house.]
will draw <03384> [that I may cast.]
Levites <03881> [the Levites.]
Gad <01410> [and Gad.]
<03212> [Go.]
<07993> [that I may here.]
mapped it ..... out <03789> [described.]
The surveyors seem to have formed some kind of map of the country, as well as a description of it in writing. The Egyptians, from the situation of their fields, as annually overflowed by the Nile, acquired great skill in mensuration and land surveying; and some of the Israelites had, no doubt, learned these from them, without a knowledge of which they could not properly have divided the land. This is probably the first act of surveying on record.
seven <07651> [into seven.]
drew lots <07993 01486> [cast lots.]
before ... Lord <06440 03068> [before the Lord.]
Benjamin .......... Judah ... Joseph <01121> [between the children.]
Jericho <03405> [Jericho.]
desert <04057> [the wilderness.]
