King James Version

What Does Joshua 18:2 Mean?

Joshua 18:2 in the King James Version says “And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.”

Joshua 18:2 · KJV

Context

1

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

2

And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.

3

And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?

4

Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance—This verse introduces a troubling reality: after the initial conquests and allotments to Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh (chapters 14-17), seven tribes remained without their assigned territories. The Hebrew notru (נוֹתְרוּ, "remained") suggests they were left behind, passively waiting rather than actively possessing. The phrase asher lo-challqu et-nachalatam (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־חָלְקוּ אֶת־נַחֲלָתָם, "which had not yet received their inheritance") indicates delay in receiving what God had already promised.

The seven tribes—Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan—represent the majority of Israel, yet they had not possessed their portions. This delay stemmed not from God's unfaithfulness but from Israel's passivity and lack of faith. Joshua's rebuke in verse 3 makes clear this was culpable negligence: "How long are ye slack to go to possess the land?" The same unbelief that prevented the Exodus generation from entering Canaan (Numbers 13-14) now hindered the conquest generation from completing their inheritance. God's promises require active faith and obedient action, not passive waiting.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The delay described here occurred after the initial conquest phase (chapters 1-12) and the allotment to the two-and-a-half Transjordanian tribes (chapter 13), Caleb (14:6-15), Judah (chapter 15), and the Joseph tribes (chapters 16-17). The tabernacle had been set up at Shiloh (18:1), establishing a central worship location in the conquered territory. Shiloh, located in the hill country of Ephraim about 20 miles north of Jerusalem, would serve as Israel's religious center for over 300 years until the ark was captured by Philistines (1 Samuel 4). The seven remaining tribes' failure to claim their inheritance meant large portions of Canaan remained under Canaanite control, creating the incomplete conquest situation that plagued the judges period. Archaeological surveys show that Israelite settlement in the hill country increased gradually over the 13th-11th centuries BCE, consistent with a protracted rather than instantaneous conquest.

Reflection Questions

  1. What spiritual inheritance has God promised you in Christ that you have not yet actively appropriated through faith and obedience?
  2. How does the seven tribes' passivity warn against waiting for God to act when He has already commanded us to step forward in faith?
  3. What would it look like in your life to move from passively 'remaining' in unfulfilled promises to actively possessing what God has already given?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
וַיִּוָּֽתְרוּ֙1 of 10

“And there remained”

H3498

to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve

בִּבְנֵ֣י2 of 10

“among the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל3 of 10

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אֲשֶׁ֥ר4 of 10
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹֽא5 of 10
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

חָלְק֖וּ6 of 10

“which had not yet received”

H2505

to be smooth (figuratively)

אֶת7 of 10
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם8 of 10

“their inheritance”

H5159

properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion

שִׁבְעָ֖ה9 of 10

“seven”

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

שְׁבָטִֽים׃10 of 10

“tribes”

H7626

a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 18:2 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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