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In Joshua 19
● notice the last words of the chapter: “so they finished dividing the land” (51),
● remember that the allotting is by lot (1, 10, 17, 24, 32, 40),
● notice that Simeon’s portion was established “in the midst of the inheritance” (1, 9) of Judah,
● register the continuing emphasis on “boundary” (11, 12, 14, 22, 22, 29, 29, 33, 34), wondering whether such a focus on land boundaries may be related to God’s concern for other boundaries: the whole business of holiness and setting apart, as well as one sense of sin as transgressing boundaries,
● revisit Proverbs 22:28: “Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set,”
● notice the recurrence of “Beth” -meaning “house” (with Bethlehem- house of bread- as an example) in city names throughout the chapter, and
● notice the rehearsal of the process, perhaps even ceremony because of the weightiness, of distribution (51): done
○ by lot
○ at Shiloh
○ before the Lord
○ at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

Thank you,

Randy Tumlinson