Joshua 18:9
New International Version
So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.

New Living Translation
The men did as they were told and mapped the entire territory into seven sections, listing the towns in each section. They made a written record and then returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.

English Standard Version
So the men went and passed up and down in the land and wrote in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh,

Berean Standard Bible
So the men departed and went throughout the land, mapping it city by city into seven portions. Then they returned with the document to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

Berean Literal Bible
And the men went and passed through the land, and they wrote it down by the cities in seven parts in a book, and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
So the men went, passed through the land, and wrote the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

New American Standard Bible
So the men went and passed through the land, and wrote a description of it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh.

NASB 1995
So the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.

NASB 1977
So the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the men went and passed through the land and wrote a description of it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.

Amplified Bible
So the men set out and passed through the land, and described it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came back to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.

Berean Annotated Bible
So the men departed and went throughout the land, mapping it city by city into seven portions. Then they returned with the document to Joshua (YHWH saves) at the camp in Shiloh (place of rest).

Christian Standard Bible
So the men left, went through the land, and described it by towns in a document of seven sections. They returned to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So the men left, went through the land, and described it by towns in a document of seven sections. They returned to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

American Standard Version
And 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.

Contemporary English Version
The men left and went across the land, dividing it into seven regions. They wrote down a description of each region, town by town, and returned to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh.

English Revised Version
And 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The men surveyed the land. They described it in a book. The land was divided into seven parts according to its cities. Then they returned to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh.

Good News Translation
So the men went all over the land and set down in writing how they divided it into seven parts, making a list of the towns. Then they went back to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.

International Standard Version
Then the men left camp and went throughout the land, describing its cities in a book with seven divisions. Then they returned to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh.

NET Bible
The men journeyed through the land and mapped it and its cities out into seven regions on a scroll. Then they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

New Heart English Bible
The men went and passed through the land, and surveyed it by cities into seven portions on a scroll. They came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities in seven parts in a book, and came again, to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
So the men departed and went throughout the land, mapping it city by city into seven portions. Then they returned with the document to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

World English Bible
The men went and passed through the land, and surveyed it by cities into seven portions in a book. They came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the men go, and pass over through the land, and describe it by cities, in seven portions, on a scroll, and they come to Joshua, to the camp [at] Shiloh.

Berean Literal Bible
And the men went and passed through the land, and they wrote it down by the cities in seven parts in a book, and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

Young's Literal Translation
And the men go, and pass over through the land, and describe it by cities, in seven portions, on a book, and they come in unto Joshua, unto the camp, at Shiloh.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the men will go and will pass over In the land, and will write it by cities into seven parts, upon a book; and they will come to Joshua to the camp of Shiloh.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So they went: and surveying it divided it into seven parts, writing them down in a book. And they returned to Josue, to the camp in Silo.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so they went out. And surveying it, they divided it into seven parts, writing it in a book. And they returned to Joshua, to the camp at Shiloh.

New American Bible
So they went through the land, described its cities in writing in seven sections, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.

New Revised Standard Version
So the men went and traversed the land and set down in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions; then they came back to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the men went and passed through the land, and mapped it by towns into seven parts on a scroll, and came again to Joshua at the city of Shiloh.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the men went and they crossed in the land and they mapped the cities in seven divisions on a scroll, and they came to Yeshua, to the city Shiloh
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And 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.

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Remainder Divided
8As the men got up to go out, Joshua commanded them to map out the land, saying, “Go and survey the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will cast lots for you here in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD.” 9So the men departed and went throughout the land, mapping it city by city into seven portions. Then they returned with the document to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. 10And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.…

Cross References
So the men departed and went throughout the land,

Numbers 13:17-20
When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up through the Negev and into the hill country. / See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many. / Is the land where they live good or bad? Are the cities where they dwell open camps or fortifications? …

Judges 18:2
So the Danites sent out five men from their clans, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. “Go and explore the land,” they told them. The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.

Deuteronomy 1:24-25
They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied out the land. / They took some of the fruit of the land in their hands, carried it down to us, and brought us word: “It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.”
mapping it city by city into seven portions.

Numbers 26:53-56
“The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names. / Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered. / Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. …

Joshua 14:1-2
Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel. / Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

Joshua 19:51
These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.
Then they returned with the document to Joshua

Numbers 13:25-27
After forty days the men returned from spying out the land, / and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. / And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit!

Joshua 2:23-24
Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them. / “The LORD has surely delivered the entire land into our hands,” they said to Joshua. “Indeed, all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of us.”

Joshua 14:6-7
Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me. / I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report.
at the camp in Shiloh.

1 Samuel 1:3
Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD.

Jeremiah 7:12
But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.

Psalm 78:60
He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had pitched among men.
Numbers 34:2
“Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:

Deuteronomy 1:38
Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.

Deuteronomy 3:28
But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”


Treasury of Scripture

And 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.

into seven

Acts 13:19
And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

Jump to Previous
Book Camp Cities Describe Described Description Divisions Host Joshua Parts Passed Portions Record Scroll Seven Shiloh Surveyed Tent-Circle Towns Travelling Wrote
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Book Camp Cities Describe Described Description Divisions Host Joshua Parts Passed Portions Record Scroll Seven Shiloh Surveyed Tent-Circle Towns Travelling Wrote
Joshua 18
1. The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh
2. The remainder of the land is described, and divided into seven parts
10. Joshua distributes it by lot
11. The lot and border of Benjamin
21. Their cities












So the men departed and went throughout the land,

Obeying Joshua’s instructions, the surveyors traveled through the remaining territory west of the Jordan to assess the land not yet assigned to the seven tribes. Their work prepared for an orderly distribution of the inheritance God had given Israel.

Num 13:17-20 When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan…
Jdg 18:2 So the Danites sent out five men from their clans…
Deu 1:24-25 They left and went up into the hill country,…

mapping it city by city into seven portions.

They recorded the cities and boundaries so that each portion could be assigned fairly by lot. The seven portions were for Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan, whose inheritances had not yet been settled.

Num 26:53-56 The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance…
Jos 14:1-2 Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited…
Jos 19:51 These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest…

Then they returned with the document to Joshua

The written survey provided the basis for Joshua’s leadership in casting lots before the LORD. It ensured that the divisions were made according to the surveyed land rather than tribal preference.

Num 13:25-27 After forty days the men returned from spying out the land,…
Jos 2:23-24 Then the two men started back, came down from the hill…
Jos 14:6-7 Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,…

at the camp in Shiloh.

Shiloh was Israel’s central gathering place because the tabernacle had been set up there. From this place of worship and national assembly, Joshua completed the distribution of the land.

1Sa 1:3 Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city…
Jer 7:12 But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made…
Psa 78:60 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of Israel after Moses, responsible for leading the Israelites into the Promised Land and overseeing its division among the tribes.

2. The Men
A group of surveyors sent by Joshua to map out the land of Canaan, dividing it into seven portions for the remaining tribes of Israel.

3. The Land of Canaan
The Promised Land that God had given to the Israelites, which needed to be divided among the tribes.

4. Shiloh
The location of the Israelite camp and the place where the tabernacle was set up, serving as a central place of worship and administration.

5. The Scroll
The document created by the surveyors, detailing the division of the land by cities and portions.
Teaching Points
Faithful Stewardship
The task of mapping and dividing the land required diligence and accuracy. As believers, we are called to be faithful stewards of the responsibilities God entrusts to us.

Unity and Cooperation
The division of the land required cooperation among the tribes and leaders. In the body of Christ, unity and collaboration are essential for fulfilling God's purposes.

Obedience to God's Commands
The Israelites were following God's instructions for dividing the land. Our obedience to God's Word is crucial in our spiritual journey.

God's Provision and Promise
The division of the land was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. We can trust in God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises in our lives.

The Importance of Planning
The detailed mapping of the land underscores the importance of planning and preparation in achieving God's purposes.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 18:9?

2. How does Joshua 18:9 demonstrate the importance of detailed record-keeping for believers?

3. What can we learn from the Israelites' obedience in Joshua 18:9?

4. How does Joshua 18:9 connect to God's promises to Abraham about the land?

5. In what ways can we apply the diligence shown in Joshua 18:9 today?

6. Why is it important to "describe the land" in our spiritual journey?

7. How does Joshua 18:9 reflect the importance of land division in biblical history?

8. What archaeological evidence supports the land survey described in Joshua 18:9?

9. How does the division of land in Joshua 18:9 relate to God's promises to Israel?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 18?


Joshua 18:9 shows obedient servants carrying out a careful, written survey so every tribe could inherit exactly what God promised. Their prompt departure, thorough exploration, precise mapping, responsible reporting, submission to leadership, and return to the worship center in Shiloh together affirm that the Lord’s gifts are received best through diligent, accountable, God-honoring labor.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the men
הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

departed
וַיֵּלְכ֤וּ (way·yê·lə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

and went throughout
וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ (way·ya·‘aḇ·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

the land,
בָאָ֔רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

mapping it
וַיִּכְתְּב֧וּהָ (way·yiḵ·tə·ḇū·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

city by city
לֶֽעָרִ֛ים (le·‘ā·rîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

into seven
לְשִׁבְעָ֥ה (lə·šiḇ·‘āh)
Preposition-l | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

portions.
חֲלָקִ֖ים (ḥă·lā·qîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2506: Portion, tract, territory

Then they returned
וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

with the document
סֵ֑פֶר (sê·p̄er)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Joshua
יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

at
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the camp
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (ham·ma·ḥă·neh)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

in Shiloh.
שִׁלֹֽה׃ (ši·lōh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7887: Shiloh -- a city in Ephraim


Additonal Resources
Joshua 18:9 Blue Letter Bible
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OT History: Joshua 18:9 The men went and passed through (Josh. Jos)

Joshua 18:8
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