Joshua – Chapter 18

Old Testament28 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 18 of Joshua begins: "And all the children of Israel assembled together in Silo, and there they set up the tabernacle of the testimony, and the land was subdued…" The chapter centers on Joshua, Joseph and Manasses. Across its 28 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and God's covenant promises. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And all the children of Israel assembled together in Silo, and there they set up the tabernacle of the testimony, and the land was subdued before them.

2But there remained seven tribes of the children of Israel, which as yet had not received their possessions.

3And Joshua said to them: How long are you indolent and slack, and go not in to possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers hath given you?

4Choose of every tribe three men, that I may send them, and they may go and compass the land, and mark it out according to the number of each multitude: and bring back to me what they have marked out.

5Divide to yourselves the land into seven parts: let Juda be in his bounds on the south side, and the house of Joseph on the north.

6The land in the midst between these mark ye out into seven parts; and you shall come hither to me, that I may cast lots for you before the Lord your God.

7For the Levites have no part among you, but the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance. And Gad and Ruben, and the half tribe of Manasses have already received their possessions beyond the Jordan eastward: which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.

8And when the men were risen up, to go to mark out the land, Joshua commanded them saying: Go round the land and mark it out, and return to me: that I may cast lots for you before the Lord in Silo.

9So they went and surveying it divided it into seven parts, writing them down in a book. And they returned to Joshua, to the camp in Silo.

10And he cast lots before the Lord in Silo, and divided the land to the children of Israel into seven parts.

11And first came up the lot of the children of Benjamin by their families, to possess the land between the children of Juda, and the children of Joseph.

12And their border northward was from the Jordan: going along by the side of Jericho on the north side, and thence going up westward to the mountains, and reaching to the wilderness of Bethaven,

13And passing along southward by Luza, the same is Bethel, and it goeth down into Ataroth-addar to the mountain, that is on the south of the nether Beth-horon.

14And it bendeth thence going round towards the sea, south of the mountain that looketh towards Beth-horon to the southwest: and the outgoings thereof are into Cariathbaal, which is called also Cariathiarim, a city of the children of Juda This is their coast towards the sea, westward.

15But on the south side the border goeth out from part of Cariathiarim towards the sea, and cometh to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoa.

16And it goeth down to that part of the mountain that looketh on the valley of the children of Ennom: and is over against the north quarter in the furthermost part of the valley of Raphaim, and it goeth down into Geennom (that is the valley of Ennom) by the side of the Jebusite to the south: and cometh to the fountain of Rogel,

17Passing thence to the north, and going out to Ensemes, that is to say, the fountain of the sun:

18And It passeth along to the hills that are over against the ascent of Adommim: and it goeth down to Abenboen, that is, the stone of Boen the son of Ruben: and it passeth on the north side to the champaign countries; and goeth down Into the plain,

19And it passeth by Bethhagla northward: and the outgoings thereof are towards the north of the most salt sea at the south end of the Jordan.

20Which is the border of it on the east side. This is the possession of the children of Benjamin by their borders round about, and their families.

21And their cities were, Jericho and Bethhagla and Vale-Casis,

22Betharaba and Samaraim and Bethel,

23And Avim and Aphara and Ophera,

24The town Emona and Ophni and Gabee: twelve cities, and their villages.

25Gabam and Rama and Beroth,

26And Mesphe, and Caphara, and Amosa,

27And Recem, Jarephel, and Tharela,

28And Sela, Eleph and Jebus, which is Jerusalem, Gabaath and Cariath: fourteen cities, and their villages. This is the possession of the children of Benjamin by their families.

Important Verses in Joshua 18

And Joshua said to them: How long are you indolent and slack, and go not in to possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers hath given you?

Joshua 18:3

The land in the midst between these mark ye out into seven parts; and you shall come hither to me, that I may cast lots for you before the Lord your God.

Joshua 18:6

And he cast lots before the Lord in Silo, and divided the land to the children of Israel into seven parts.

Joshua 18:10

And Sela, Eleph and Jebus, which is Jerusalem, Gabaath and Cariath: fourteen cities, and their villages. This is the possession of the children of Benjamin by their families.

Joshua 18:28

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Joshua was written with israel settled in the land, called to remember how God fulfilled His promises in view. Chapter 18 of 24 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 28 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Joshua, Joseph, Manasses and Moses, the principal figures named in this chapter. It opens with the line: "And all the children of Israel assembled together in Silo, and there they set up the tabernacle of the testimony, and…" It concludes: "And Sela, Eleph and Jebus, which is Jerusalem, Gabaath and Cariath: fourteen cities, and their villages. This is the…" The wider setting of Joshua is this: Joshua narrates the entry into Canaan, the fall of Jericho, and the division of the land among the twelve tribes. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Events of the 13th century BC; written form developed between the 10th and 6th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Attributed by tradition to Joshua himself with additions by later inspired writers

When It Was Written

Events of the 13th century BC; written form developed between the 10th and 6th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Joshua 18 presents a concrete episode in the history of conquest and inheritance of the Promised Land. A pivotal line is verse 3: "And Joshua said to them: How long are you indolent and slack, and go not in to possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers hath given you?" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 721). Here, Catholic tradition sees Joshua as a type of Jesus, who leads us into the true Promised Land (CIC 2578). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God fulfills His promises. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Joshua 18 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.
  • The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and the promise of our own resurrection.

People in This Chapter

Joshua3 mentionsJoseph2 mentionsManasses1 mentionMoses1 mention

Reflection for Today

As Catholics read Joshua Chapter 18, we do so within the living Tradition that has guarded this text for two millennia.

The saints did not treat Scripture as antiquarian literature. St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, and countless others used passages such as this to fuel daily conversion. the dignity of the human person remains a practical lesson for modern disciples.

As you continue through Joshua, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Joshua Chapter 18 about?

Joshua 18 contains 28 verses. It opens with "And all the children of Israel assembled together in Silo, and there they set up the tabernacle of the testimony, and…" and closes with "And Sela, Eleph and Jebus, which is Jerusalem, Gabaath and Cariath: fourteen cities, and their villages. This is the…". The book as a whole is historical narrative.

What is a key verse in Joshua 18?

One of the most significant verses is verse 3: "And Joshua said to them: How long are you indolent and slack, and go not in to possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers hath given you?" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Joshua Chapter 18?

This chapter mentions Joshua, Joseph, Manasses, Moses.

Who wrote Joshua and when?

Attributed by tradition to Joshua himself with additions by later inspired writers. Events of the 13th century BC; written form developed between the 10th and 6th centuries BC.

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