Throughout his faithful ministry Josh'u-a had repeatedly been promised by the LORD that he should cause the Is'ra-el-ites to inherit the Promised Land. One of his greatest desires was to see each of the tribes settled in the territory which was to be allotted, to have the whole land divided among them according to the directions of God. And so the LORD directed him to cease from war, and to divide the land. After this, he was to retire, leaving the conquest of all unpossessed lands and cities entirely in the hands of the various tribes.
God also directed him to remove the Tabernacle from Gil'gal, where it had stood for nearly seven years, to a place called Shi'loh in the mountainous region which was to be allotted to the tribe of E'phra-im. This city was situated in the geographical center of the land of the Is'ra-el-ites, and remained the central place of worship for the whole nation for more than three hundred years. The Ark of the Covenant was thus placed at a point which was convenient for all the people, and the He'brews from every part of the land, including the tribes east of the Jor'dan, were required to go up to Shi'loh for special sacrifices and religious festivals.
Before moving the Tabernacle from Gil'gal to Shi'loh, Josh'u-a made allotments for the tribes of Ju'dah and Sim'e-on. After setting up the Tabernacle at Shi'loh he called the entire house of Is'ra-el into an assembly for allotting the remaining territory of Ca'naan to the other seven tribes, and to the half tribe of Ma'nas-seh which had so far received no land. A commission of thirty-six men, three from each of the tribes of Is'ra-el, was appointed to make a complete survey of the land not yet allotted, and to set the boundaries for the allotments which were about to be made. After devoting about six months to a survey of these lands, the commission reported its findings to Josh'u-a, and the allotments were made.
In making these allotments great care was taken to follow the prophecies which Ja'cob had made concerning each tribe two hundred and fifty years before, and which had been confirmed by Mo'ses in his farewell address. Each tribe was given the territory best adapted to its own habits and occupations, and to the place which it would hold in the future history of the entire nation.
The tribe of Ju'dah was the largest in numbers, there being 76,500 men above the age of twenty who were able to bear arms. It had been honored with the position of leadership, and from it would be born the future kings of the nation and the promised Mes-si'ah. This tribe was therefore given a large mountainous area west of the Dead Sea and extending to the Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an. This tract was filled with fertile valleys and hills, and abounded in fruitful vineyards and green pastures.
