This chapter informs us of the setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh, Jos 18:1; of the notice Joshua took, that seven tribes had not received their inheritance, Jos 18:2; of the instructions he gave them to send three men out of each tribe, and describe the land not yet disposed of, and bring the account to him, which was accordingly done, Jos 18:3; and then he cast lots for them, and the first lot came up for Benjamin, Jos 18:10; the borders of whose lots are described, Jos 18:12; and the several cities in it enumerated, Jos 18:21.
Ver. 1. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh,.... The whole body of the people, men, women, and children, as well as the camp, Jos 18:9; at least all that had not received their inheritances in the land.
Hither they came from Gilgal, where the camp and tabernacle had been ever since their passage over Jordan; but now the land being in the main subdued, that was too far off both for the camp and tabernacle, and therefore they moved further into the land, and nearer Jerusalem, where in time the tabernacle was to be placed.
The place they assembled at, Shiloh, was in the tribe of Ephraim, of which tribe Joshua was, and whose lot and inheritance was now fixed, and it was not far from Jerusalem, about two leagues. Jerom says it was ten miles from, Neapolis or Shechem, in the country of Acrabatena; and that there were scarce any ruins of it to be seen in his day, only an altar demolished was shown .
It seems to have its name from the peaceable condition the land was now in, and very likely was now given it on that account:and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there; no doubt by the appointment and direction of God, signified to Eleazar the high priest, either by a voice, or by Urim and Thummim; and the removal of it seemed necessary, partly that because several camps which surrounded it were now broken up and settled in their cities, as Reuben, Judah, and Ephraim; and partly that it might be near where Joshua, the governor of Israel, resided, Ephraim being his tribe; and also since Gilgal, on the borders of the land, was too far off for the people to resort to the tabernacle, and therefore it was, proper it should be more in the heart of the country: when this was done, cannot certainly be determined; Kimchi says it was fourteen years after the Israelites came into the land of Canaan; and so says their chronology; but it is highly probable it was before that time, and not longer than seven or eight years at most; here the tabernacle continued, according to the Jewish writers , three hundred sixty nine years, even unto the times of Samuel, when for the sins of the sons of Eli it was removed.
Eupolemus , an Heathen writer, speaks of the holy temple being fixed at Shiloh by Joshua:and the land was subdued before them: the far greater part of it, and all so as to have no disturbance from, or war with, the inhabitants.
De loc. Heb. fol. 94. I. Comment. in Soph. c. 1. fol. 94. I. Epitaph. Paul. fol. 59. L. Seder Olam Rabba, c. 11. p. 32. Maimon. in Misn. Zebachim, c. 14. sect. 6. Bartenora in ib. sect. 7. Seder Olam Rabba, ut supra.
() Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30. p.