Joshua 18:1-19
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.]
Luz .... slope ... Luz <03870 03802> [side of Luz.]
Beth Horon <01032> [Beth-horon.]
Kiriath Baal <07154> [Kirjath-baal.]
Nephtoah <05318> [Nephtoah.]
Valley ................... Valley <01516 01121> [the valley of the son.]
Valley ........ Valley .... Rephaites ......... Valley <01516 07497 06010> [the valley of the giants. See on ch.]
Jebusites <02983> [Jebusi.]
Mount zion, south of Jerusalem; for Jebusi or Jebus was the ancient name of that city.
En Rogel <05883> [En-rogel.]
En Shemesh <05885> [En-shemesh.]
The fountain of the Sun; whether a town, or simply a fountain, is uncertain.
Geliloth <01553> [Geliloth.]
Geliloth is probably the same as Gilgal; though as the word may signify border or limits, some think that it is probably not the proper name of a place: "And went forth towards the borders which are over against the ascent to Adummim." Others render Geliloth circuits or roundings, or the hills about Jordan, {tumuli Jordanis.} Vulgate: {pertransit usque ad tumulos.}
Stone <068> [the stone.]
Arabah ......... Arabah <06160> [Arabah. or, the plain.]
tip <03956> [bay. Heb. tongue.]
Salt <04417> [the salt.]
southern <05045> [this was the.]
The borders of this tribe on the north were the same as those of Ephraim on the south, and his southern boundaries the same as the northern borders of Judah; but drawn from west to east, instead of from east to west (ch. 15:1-12; ch. 16.) As the inheritance of Benjamin did not extend to the Mediterranean sea, and no other sea or lake is known to have been in those parts, perhaps this depression, "compassed the corner of the sea southward," (ver. 14,) should be rendered, "made a circuit on the side next the sea towards the south;" for it seems to connect the northern border, in the preceding verses, with the southern which follows.
