The Lot at Shiloh
Joshua 18
With the tabernacle now set up at Selo, Joshua urges the seven tribes who have not yet received land to survey and describe the remaining territory so it can be divided by lot before the Lord. The lot for Benjamin comes out first, and the chapter details its borders and cities, including Jericho, Gabaon, and Jerusalem.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWHEN all the congregation of Israel assembled at Selo, and fixed there the tabernacle of the testimony, and the land was subdued under them,
BrentonAnd all the congregation of the children of Israel were assembled at Selo, and there they pitched the tabernacle of witness; and the land was subdued by them.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξεκκλησιάσθη πᾶσα συναγωγὴ υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ εἰς Σηλὼ, καὶ ἔπηξαν ἐκεῖ τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου· καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐκρατήθη ὑπʼ αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.
2
Thomsonbut there still remained among the children of Israel seven tribes who had not received their portions,
BrentonAnd the sons of Israel remained, even those who had not received their inheritance, seven tribes.
GreekΚαὶ κατελείφθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ, οἳ οὐκ ἐκληρονόμησαν, ἑπτὰ φυλαί.
KJVAnd there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
JPSAnd there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
3
ThomsonJoshua said to the children of Israel, How long will you be devoid of courage, to take possession of the land which the Lord our God hath given?
BrentonAnd Joshua said to the sons of Israel, How long will ye be slack to inherit the land, which the Lord our God has given you?
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ, ἕως τίνος ἐκλυθήσεσθε κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν, ἣν ἔδωκε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν;
KJVAnd Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
JPSAnd Joshua said unto the children of Israel: ‘How long are ye slack to go in to possess the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, hath given you?
4
ThomsonAppoint from among you three men of a tribe, and let them arise, and go through the land, and lay before me a draught of it, as it ought to be divided.
BrentonAppoint of yourselves three men of each tribe, and let them rise up and go through the land, and let them describe it before me, as it will be proper to divide it.
GreekΔότε ἐξ ὑμῶν ἄνδρας τρεῖς ἐκ φυλῆς, καὶ ἀναστάντες διελθέτωσαν τὴν γῆν, καὶ διαγραψάτωσαν αὐτὴν ἐναντίον μου, καθὰ δεήσει διελεῖν αὐτήν. Καὶ διέλθοσαν πρὸς αὐτόν·
KJVGive 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.
JPSAppoint for you three men for each tribe; and I will send them, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come unto me.
5
ThomsonAnd when they came to him he distinguished for them seven portions, saying, Let Juda stand. Their boundary is south of this. And let the children of Joseph stand. Their boundary is north of this.
BrentonAnd they came to him: and he divided to them seven portions, saying, Juda shall stand to them a border southward, and the sons of Joseph shall stand to them northward.
Greekκαὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοῖς ἑπτὰ μερίδας· Ἰούδας στήσεται αὐτοῖς ὅριον ἀπὸ Λιβὸς, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰωσὴφ στήσονται αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ.
KJV—
JPSAnd they shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.
6
ThomsonDivide ye therefore the land into seven parcels, and bring them to me, and I will cast the lot for you before the Lord our God;
BrentonAnd do ye divide the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, and I will give you a lot before the Lord our God.
GreekὙμεῖς δὲ μερίσατε τὴν γῆν ἑπτὰ μερίδας, καὶ ἐνέγκατε ὧδε πρὸς μὲ, καὶ ἐξοίσω ὑμῖν κλῆρον ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.
KJVYe 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.
JPSAnd ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
7
Thomsonfor the children of Levi are to have no lot among you; for the priesthood of the Lord is their portion; and Gad and Reuben, and the half of the tribe of Manasses, have received their possession on the eastern bank of the Jordan—that which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.
BrentonFor the sons of Levi have no part among you; for the priesthood of the Lord is his portion; and Gad, and Ruben, and the half tribe of Manasse, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave to them.
GreekΟὐ γάρ ἐστι μερὶς τοῖς υἱοῖς Λευὶ ἐν ὑμῖν· ἱερατεία γὰρ Κυρίου μερὶς αὐτοῦ· καὶ Γὰδ καὶ Ῥουβὴν καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασσῆ ἐλάβοσαν τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτῶν πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου ἐπʼ ἀνατολῆς, ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς ὁ παῖς Κυρίου.
KJVBut the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
JPSFor the Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance; and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.’
8
ThomsonSo the men prepared to set out, and when they were going to traverse the land, Joshua gave them a charge, saying, Go and traverse the land, and come to me, and I will here cast the lots for you before the Lord, at Selo.
BrentonAnd the men rose up and went; and Joshua charged the men who went to explore the land, saying, Go and explore the land, and come to me, and I will bring you forth a lot here before the Lord in Selo.
GreekΚαὶ ἀναστάντες οἱ ἄνδρες ἐπορεύθησαν· καὶ ἐνετείλατο Ἰησοῦς τοῖς ἀνδράσι τοῖς πορευομένοις χωροβατῆσαι τὴν γῆν, λέγων, πορεύεσθε καὶ χωροβατήσατε τὴν γῆν, καὶ παραγενήθητε πρὸς μὲ, καὶ ὧδε ἐξοίσω ὑμῖν κλῆρον ἔναντι Κυρίου ἐν Σηλώ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the men arose, and went; and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying: ‘Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come back to me, and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh.’
9
ThomsonSo they went, and traversed the land, and when they had viewed it, and written it by cities in seven parcels in books, they brought them to Joshua.
BrentonAnd they went, and explored the land: and they viewed it, and described it according to the cities, seven parts in a book, and brought the book to Joshua.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ ἐχωροβάτησαν τὴν γῆν· καὶ εἴδοσαν αὐτὴν, καὶ ἔγραψαν αὐτὴν κατὰ πόλεις, ἑπτα μερίδας εἰς βιβλίον, καὶ ἤνεγκαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven portions in a book, and they came to Joshua unto the camp at Shiloh.
10
ThomsonAnd Joshua cast lots for them at Selo, before the Lord,
BrentonAnd Joshua cast the lot for them in Selo before the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ ἐνέβαλεν αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς κλῆρον ἐν Σηλὼ ἔναντι Κυρίου.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.
11
Thomsonand the lot of the tribe of Benjamin came out first, according to their communities, and the bounds of their lot came out between the children of Juda, and the children of Joseph;
BrentonAnd the lot of the tribe of Benjamin came forth first according to their families: and the borders of their lot came forth between the children of Juda and the children of Joseph.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ κλῆρος φυλῆς Βενιαμὶν πρῶτος κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὅρια τοῦ κλήρου αὐτῶν ἀναμέσον υἱῶν Ἰούδα καὶ ἀναμέσον τῶν υἱῶν Ἰωσήφ.
KJVAnd the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
JPSAnd the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families; and the border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
12
Thomsonand these were their borders. On the north their boundary was to go up from the Jordan, back of Jericho, on the north side, and to run westward to the mountain, and come out at Mabdari-tis-Baithon;
BrentonAnd their borders were northward: the borders shall go up from Jordan behind Jericho northward, and shall go up to the mountain westward, and the issue of it shall be Bæthon of Mabdara.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτῶν τὰ ὅρια ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ· ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἱορδάνου προσαναβήσεται τὰ ὅρια κατὰ νὼτου Ἱεριχὼ ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ ἀναβήσεται ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἔσται αὐτοῦ ἡ διέξοδος ἡ Μαβδαρίτις Βαιθών.
KJVAnd their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.
JPSAnd their border on the north side was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
13
Thomsonthence the boundary was to run to the border of Louza, back of Louza on the south side of it, this is Baithel; thence the boundary was to run down to Maatarob-Orech, by the high land which is south of the lower Baithoron;
BrentonAnd the borders will go forth thence to Luz, behind Luz, from the south of it; this is Bæthel: and the borders shall go down to Maatarob Orech, to the hill country, which is southward of Bæthoron the lower.
GreekΚαὶ διελεύσεται ἐκεῖθεν τὰ ὅρια Λοῦζὰ ἐπὶ νώτου Λουζὰ ἀπὸ Λιβὸς αὐτῆς· αὕτη ἐστὶ Βαιθήλ· καὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια Μααταρὼβ Ὀρὲχ ἐπὶ τὴν ὀρεινὴν, ἥ ἐστι πρὸς Λίβα Βαιθωρὼν ἡ κάτω.
KJVAnd the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.
JPSAnd the border passed along from thence to Luz, to the side of Luz—the same is Beth-el—southward; and the border went down to Atroth-addar, by the mountain that lieth on the south of Beth-horon the nether.
14
Thomsonthence the boundary was to wind, and proceed to that part on the south which overlooketh the sea, from the mountain before Baithoron southward, and to terminate at Kariath-Baal, this is Kariathiarim, a city of the children of Juda. This was the western part.
BrentonAnd the borders shall pass through and proceed to the part that looks toward the sea, on the south, from the mountain in front of Bæthoron southward, and its termination shall be at Cariath-Baal, this is Cariath-Jarin, a city of the children of Juda; this is the part toward the west.
GreekΚαὶ διελεύσεται τὰ ὅρια καὶ παρελεύσεται ἐπὶ τὸ μέρος τὸ βλέπον παρὰ θάλασσαν ἀπὸ Λιβὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους ἐπὶ πρόσωπον Βαιθωρὼν Λίβα· καὶ ἔσται αὐτοῦ ἡ διέξοδος εἰς Καριὰθ Βαάλ· αὕτη ἐστὶ Καριαθιαρὶν, πόλις υἱῶν Ἰούδα· τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ μέρος τὸ πρὸς θάλασσαν.
KJV—
JPSAnd the border was drawn and turned about on the west side southward, from the mountain that lieth before Beth-horon southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kiriath-baal—the same is Kiriath-jearim—a city of the children of Judah; this was the west side.
15
ThomsonAnd with regard to the southern part; from a part of Kariath-baal, the boundary was to run to Gasin, by the fountain of water Naphtho;
BrentonAnd the south side on the part of Cariath-Baal; and the borders shall go across to Gasin, to the fountain of the water of Naphtho.
GreekΚαὶ μέρος τὸ πρὸς Λίβα ἀπὸ μέρους Καριὰθ Βαάλ· καὶ διελεύσεται ὅρια εἰς Γασὶν, ἐπὶ πηγὴν ὕδατος Ναφθώ.
KJV—
JPSAnd the south side was from the uttermost part of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went out westward, and went out to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah.
16
Thomsonthence the boundary was to run down part of the way, that is, in front of the forest Sonnam, which is the northern part of Emek-raphain; thence down to Gehenna, back of Jebusi, south of it, down to the fountain Rogel;
BrentonAnd the borders shall extend down on one side, this is in front of the forest of Sonnam, which is on the side of Emec Raphain northward, and it shall come down to Gæenna behind Jebusai southward: it shall come down to the fountain of Rogel.
GreekΚαὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια ἐπὶ μέρους, τοῦτό ἐστι κατὰ πρόσωπον νάπης Σοννὰμ, ὅ ἐστιν ἐκ μέρους Ἐμὲκ Ῥαφαῒν ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ καταβήσεται Γαίεννα ἐπὶ νῶτον Ἰεβουσαὶ ἀπὸ Λιβός· καταβήσεται ἐπὶ πηγὴν Ῥωγήλ·
KJV—
JPS—
17
Thomson—
BrentonAnd the borders shall go across to the fountain of Bæthsamys:
GreekΚαὶ διελεύσεται ἐπὶ πηγὴν Βαιθσαμύς· καὶ παρελεύσεται ἐπὶ Γαλιλὼθ, ἥ ἐστιν ἀπέναντι πρὸς ἀνάβασις Αἰθαμίν· καὶ καταβήσεται ἐπὶ λίθον Βαιὼν υἱῶν Ῥουβήν·
KJV—
JPS—
18
Thomson—
Brentonand shall proceed to Galiloth, which is in front by the going up of Æthamin; and they shall come down to the stone of Bæon of the sons of Ruben; and shall pass over behind Bætharaba northward, and shall go down to the borders behind the sea northward.
Greekκαὶ διελεύσεται κατὰ νώτου Βαιθάραβα ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ καταβήσεται ἐπὶ τὰ ὅρια ἐπὶ νῶτον θάλασσαν ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ.
KJVAnd passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:
JPSAnd it passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down unto the Arabah.
19
Thomsonand the termination of this boundary was to be at the north bay of the salt sea, and at the south end of the Jordan. This was the southern boundary.
BrentonAnd the termination of the borders shall be at the creek of the salt sea northward to the side of Jordan southward: these are their southern borders.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἡ διέξοδος τῶν ὁρίων ἐπὶ λοφιὰν τῆς θαλάσσης τῶν ἁλῶν ἐπὶ Βοῤῥᾶν εἰς μέρος τοῦ Ἰορδάνου ἀπὸ Λιβός· ταῦτα τὰ ὅριά ἐστιν ἀπὸ Λιβός.
KJVAnd the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.
JPSAnd the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward; and the goings out of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan; this was the south border.
20
ThomsonAnd the Jordan was to be the eastern boundary. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, and these their borders round about, according to their communities.
BrentonAnd Jordan shall be their boundary on the east: this is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, these are their borders round about according to their families.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ Ἰορδάνης ὁριεῖ ἀπὸ μέρους ἀνατολῶν· αὕτη ἡ κληρονομία υἱῶν Βενιαμὶν, τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς κύκλῳ κατὰ δήμους.
KJVAnd Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
JPSAnd the Jordan was to be the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders thereof round about, according to their families.
21
ThomsonAnd the cities of the Benjaminites according to their communities were Jericho, and Bethegaio, and Amekasis,
BrentonAnd the cities of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethegæo, and Amecasis,
GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθησαν αἱ πόλεις τῶν υιῶν Βενιαμὶν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν Ἱερειχὼ, καὶ Βεθεγαιὼ, καὶ Ἀμεκασὶς,
KJVNow the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
JPSNow the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and Emek-keziz;
22
Thomsonand Baithabara, and Sara, and Besana,
Brentonand Bæthabara, and Sara, and Besana,
Greekκαὶ Βαιθαβαρὰ, καὶ Σαρὰ, καὶ Βησανὰ,
KJV—
JPS—
23
Thomsonand Aiein, and Phara, and Ephratha,
Brentonand Æein, and Phara, and Ephratha,
Greekκαὶ Αἰεὶν, καὶ Φαρὰ, καὶ Ἐφραθὰ,
KJV—
JPS—
24
Thomsonand Karapha, and Kephira, and Moni, and Gabaa, twelve cities with their villages;
Brentonand Carapha, and Cephira, and Moni, and Gabaa, twelve cities and their villages:
Greekκαὶ Καραφὰ, καὶ Κεφιρὰ, καὶ Μονὶ, καὶ Γαβαὰ, πόλεις δώδεκα· καὶ αἱ κῶμαι αὐτῶν,
KJVAnd Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:
JPSand Chephar-ammonah, and Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages:
25
ThomsonGabaon, and Rama, and Beerotha,
BrentonGabaon, and Rama, and Beerotha;
GreekΓαβαὼν, καὶ Ῥαμὰ, καὶ Βεηρωθὰ,
KJV—
JPS—
26
Thomsonand Massema, and Miron, and Amoke,
Brentonand Massema, and Miron, and Amoke;
Greekκαὶ Μασσημὰ, καὶ Μιρὼν, καὶ Ἀμωκὴ,
KJV—
JPS—
27
Thomsonand Phira, and Kaphan, and Nakan, and Selekan, and Thareela,
Brentonand Phira, and Caphan, and Nacan, and Selecan, and Thareela,
Greekκαὶ Φιρὰ, καὶ Καφὰν, καὶ Νακὰν, καὶ Ζεληκὰν, καὶ Θαρεηλὰ,
KJV—
JPS—
28
Thomsonand Jebus (this is Jerusalem), and Gabaoth-Jarim, thirteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, according to their communities.
Brentonand Jebus (this is Jerusalem); and Gabaoth, Jarim, thirteen cities, and their villages; this is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin according to their families.
Greekκαὶ Ἰηβοῦς· αὕτη ἐστὶν Ἱερουσαλήμ· καὶ Γαβαὼθ, Ἰαρὶμ, πόλεις δεκατρεῖς, καὶ αἱ κῶμαι αὐτῶν· αὕτη ἡ κληρονομία υἱῶν Βενιαμὶν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
JPSand Zela, Eleph, and the Jebusite—the same is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.