Joshua 14:2 Meaning and Explanation
“By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The land was apportioned by lot to nine and a half tribes, exactly as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
What Does Joshua 14:2 Mean?
The division is settled by lot, the method the Lord had prescribed earlier through Moses. Nine tribes and a half are provided for here, the remaining two and a half having already received land east of the Jordan. The lot removes human favoritism: no tribe could claim it bargained its way to a better portion.
Casting lots placed the outcome in God's hands rather than in the hands of the strong or the clever. The Lord, who knows each tribe, assigns each its place. There is quiet comfort in this for anyone anxious about their station in life: the portion that falls to us is not blind chance but the appointment of a God who orders all things and forgets none of his people.
Joshua 14:2 in the Original Language
goral (גּוֹרָל), 'lot' -- a cast object used to discern a decision, entrusting the result to God rather than to human choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 14:2
What does Joshua 14:2 mean?
The land was apportioned by lot to nine and a half tribes, exactly as the LORD had commanded through Moses.