King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This [was] the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The Yarden was to be its border on the east side. This was the inheritance of the descendants of Binyamin, defined by its surrounding borders, according to their families.
Berean Standard Bible:
On the east side the border was the Jordan. These were the borders around the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
American Standard Version:
And the Jordan was the border of it on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders thereof round about, according to their families.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Jordan{H3383} was the border{H1379} of it on the east{H6924} side{H6285}. This was the inheritance{H5159} of the children{H1121} of Benjamin{H1144}, by the coasts{H1367} thereof round about{H5439}, according to their families{H4940}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Joshua 18:20
Joshua 18:20 is a verse set within the broader context of the distribution of the Promised Land among the Israelite tribes after their successful conquest under the leadership of Joshua. The book of Joshua narrates the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By the time we reach chapter 18, the Israelites have begun to divide the land by lot, as directed by God, to ensure that each tribe receives its rightful inheritance.
The verse specifically speaks to the boundaries of the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. The River Jordan serves as the eastern border of Benjamin's inheritance, anchoring the tribe's geographical location in relation to the central feature of the Jordan Valley. This detail is significant because it situates the tribe within the larger landscape of the land of Israel, emphasizing the importance of clear boundaries in the allocation of tribal territories.
The mention of the inheritance being "according to their families" highlights the principle that the land was not only a national possession but was also to be apportioned among the smaller family units within the tribe. This ensured that each family had a stake in the land, reinforcing the social structure and providing economic stability.
In summary, Joshua 18:20 encapsulates the themes of divine promise, inheritance, and the importance of defined boundaries in the context of tribal allotments in ancient Israel. It underscores the meticulous implementation of God's plan for His people as they settle into the land He had promised to their ancestors, with a specific focus on the tribe of Benjamin and its position relative to the River Jordan.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3383
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַרְדֵּן
Transliteration: Yardên
Pronunciation: yar-dane'
Description: from יָרַד; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine; Jordan. - Strong's Number: H1379
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּבַל
Transliteration: gâbal
Pronunciation: gaw-bal'
Description: a primitive root; also as a denominative from גְּבוּל; properly, to twist as arope; to bound (as by a line); be border, set (bounds about). - Strong's Number: H6924
There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֶדֶם
Transliteration: qedem
Pronunciation: keh'-dem
Description: or קֵדְמָה; from קָדַם; the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward); aforetime, ancient (time), before, east (end, part, side, -ward), eternal, [idiom] ever(-lasting), forward, old, past. Compare קִדְמָה. - Strong's Number: H6285
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֵּאָה
Transliteration: pêʼâh
Pronunciation: pay-aw'
Description: feminine of פֹּה; properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e. direction, region, extremity; corner, end, quarter, side. - Strong's Number: H5159
There are 191 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַחֲלָה
Transliteration: nachălâh
Pronunciation: nakh-al-aw'
Description: from נָחַל (in its usual sense); properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion; heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession. Compare נַחַל. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H1144
There are 156 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בִּנְיָמִין
Transliteration: Binyâmîyn
Pronunciation: bin-yaw-mene'
Description: from בֵּן and יָמִין; son of (the) right hand; Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Benjamin. - Strong's Number: H1367
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גְּבוּלָה
Transliteration: gᵉbûwlâh
Pronunciation: gheb-oo-law'
Description: or גְּבֻלָה; (shortened) feminine of גְּבוּל; a boundary, region; border, bound, coast, landmark. place. - Strong's Number: H5439
There are 282 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָבִיב
Transliteration: çâbîyb
Pronunciation: saw-beeb'
Description: or (feminine) סְבִיבָה; from סָבַב; (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around; (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. - Strong's Number: H4940
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּחָה
Transliteration: mishpâchâh
Pronunciation: mish-paw-khaw'
Description: from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red).