If any ask why such a particular account is kept of the tribes, and
families, and numbers, of the people of Israel, here is an answer for
them; as they were multiplied, so they were portioned, not by common
providence, but by promise; and, for the support of the honour of
divine revelation, God will have the fulfilling of the promise taken
notice of both in their increase and in their inheritance. When Moses
had numbered the people God did not say, By these shall the land be
conquered; but, taking that for granted, he tells him, Unto these shall
the land be divided. "These that are now registered as the sons of
Israel shall be admitted (as it were by copy of court-roll) heirs of
the land of Canaan." Now, in the distributing, or quartering, of these
tribes, 1. The general rule of equity is here prescribed to Moses, that
to many he should give more, and to few he should give less (v. 54);
yet, alas! he was so far from giving any to others that he must not
have any himself, but this direction given to him was intended for
Joshua his successor. 2. The application of this general rule was to be
determined by lot (v. 55); notwithstanding it seems thus to be left to
the prudence of their prince, yet the matter must be finally reserved
to the providence of their God, in which they must all acquiesce, how
much soever it contradicted their policies or inclination: According to
the lot shall the possession be divided. As the God of nations, so the
God of Israel in particular, reserves it to himself to appoint the
bounds of our habitation. And thus Christ, our Joshua, when he was
urged to appoint one of his disciples to his right hand, another to his
left in his kingdom, acknowledged the sovereignty of his Father in the
disposal: It is not mine to give. Joshua must not dispose of
inheritances in Canaan according to his own mind. But it shall be given
to those for whom it is prepared of my Father.