Joshua 18:2

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And there remained {H3498} among the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} seven {H7651} tribes {H7626}, which had not yet received {H2505} their inheritance {H5159}.

Complete Jewish Bible

There still remained among the people of Isra'el seven tribes that had not yet received their inheritance.

Berean Standard Bible

there were still seven tribes of Israel who had not yet received their inheritance.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 18:2 serves as a critical interlude in the division of the Promised Land, revealing that despite God's faithfulness in delivering the territory, a significant portion of the Israelite nation—specifically seven tribes—had not yet actively taken possession of their divinely allotted inheritance. This verse highlights a state of unfinished business, setting the stage for Joshua's subsequent challenge to overcome their complacency and fully occupy the land promised to them by God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the initial, significant distributions of land to the prominent tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh, as detailed in [Joshua 15](/joshua/15 "Joshua 15 - Judah's Inheritance") and [Joshua 16-17](/joshua/16-17 "Joshua 16-17 - Ephraim and Manasseh's Inheritance"). The preceding verse, [Joshua 18:1](/joshua/18-1 "Joshua 18:1 - The Tabernacle at Shiloh"), notes the assembly of the whole congregation at Shiloh and the setting up of the tabernacle there, signifying a period of relative peace and the establishment of a central religious and administrative hub. Joshua 18:2 thus interrupts the flow of land distribution narratives, drawing attention to a crucial delay. It functions as a narrative pivot, explaining *why* Joshua needed to issue the challenge found in [Joshua 18:3](/joshua/18-3 "Joshua 18:3 - Joshua Challenges the Tribes"), urging the remaining tribes to survey and claim their portions.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period described is post-conquest, where the major Canaanite strongholds had been broken, but much of the land still required active occupation and the driving out of residual inhabitants. The concept of "inheritance" (Hebrew: *nachălâh*) was deeply embedded in Israelite culture, signifying a permanent, divinely apportioned family possession, often tied to ancestral rights and the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The establishment of the tabernacle at Shiloh marked it as the spiritual and administrative center, making it the logical place for such an inventory and challenge. The tribes' inaction, despite God's clear command and provision, reflects a common human tendency towards complacency or fear, even in the face of divine blessing and opportunity.
* **Key Themes:** Joshua 18:2 powerfully underscores several key themes. First, the theme of **unclaimed inheritance** highlights the tension between God's sovereign faithfulness in providing the land ([Joshua 21:45](/joshua/21-45 "Joshua 21:45 - God's Faithfulness in Fulfilling Promises")) and human responsibility to actively possess what has been given. Second, it subtly introduces the theme of **delay and indecision** among the people. Despite having the right and the means to claim their land, these seven tribes had procrastinated, perhaps due to comfort, apathy, or fear of further conflict. This inaction stands in contrast to the proactive faith demonstrated by Caleb in [Joshua 14:6-15](/joshua/14-6-15 "Joshua 14:6-15 - Caleb's Inheritance"). Finally, the verse implicitly emphasizes the principle of **divine promise requiring human action**. God had fulfilled His part of the covenant; now it was the people's turn to step out in faith and effort to fully realize the blessing.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Remained (Hebrew, יָתַר, _yâthar'_):** This verb (H3498) signifies "to jut over or exceed," and by implication, "to excel," or "to remain or be left." In this context, it highlights a state of incompleteness—a significant portion of the task of land distribution was still "remaining" or unfinished. It implies a lingering situation that needed resolution, not a finality, emphasizing that a substantial part of the nation's divinely appointed task was yet undone.
* **Seven (Hebrew, שֶׁבַע, _shebaʻ'_):** The specific number "seven" (H7651), while often associated with completeness or perfection in biblical numerology, here ironically points to a major *incompleteness* in the task of national settlement. It underscores that a majority of the tribes were still in a state of unfulfilled possession, making the situation urgent and highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.
* **Inheritance (Hebrew, נַחֲלָה, _nachălâh'_):** This is a crucial theological term (H5159). It refers to something inherited, specifically a divinely allotted possession—a permanent and inalienable portion of land that was passed down through generations. More than mere property, *nachălâh* was intrinsically linked to God's covenant promises, representing the tangible fulfillment of His faithfulness and the foundation of Israel's identity and future in the land. Its "unreceived" status indicates a failure to fully appropriate God's promised blessing and step into their covenantal destiny.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there remained among the children of Israel":** This opening clause immediately establishes the context of an incomplete task within the entire nation. It signals that a significant portion of the people had not yet settled into their designated territories, indicating a collective challenge rather than an isolated incident. The use of "remained" (yâthar) highlights a lingering state of unfulfilled potential.
* **"seven tribes":** This specifies the exact number of tribes that were in this state of unfulfilled possession. The majority of the twelve tribes (excluding Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh, who had already received their portions) had not yet taken their land, highlighting the scale of the problem and the widespread complacency or reluctance.
* **"which had not yet received their inheritance":** This final clause clearly states the core issue. The land had been promised and, in principle, allocated by God, but these tribes had not actively "received" or taken physical possession of their portions. This implies a lack of initiative, faith, or courage on their part to fully appropriate what God had already provided, leaving a significant portion of God's promise unexperienced.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Understatement** and **Anticipation**. By simply stating the factual observation that "seven tribes... had not yet received their inheritance," the text understates the profound implications of this inaction. It doesn't explicitly condemn or explain the reasons for the delay, but the mere statement of this fact, especially after the initial triumphs and the establishment of Shiloh, implies a significant lack of initiative, faith, or courage on the part of these tribes. This factual declaration also serves as a powerful device of **Anticipation**, setting the stage for Joshua's direct challenge and exhortation in the very next verse ([Joshua 18:3](/joshua/18-3 "Joshua 18:3 - Joshua's Rebuke")), where he confronts their complacency head-on. The verse also implicitly uses **Contrast** by juxtaposing the proactive tribes who had already claimed their land (Judah, Ephraim, Manasseh) with the seven who had not.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 18:2 serves as a poignant reminder that divine promises, while absolutely certain in God's faithfulness, often require human cooperation, initiative, and active faith to be fully realized. God had delivered the land to Israel, fulfilling His covenant, yet the people were still required to "possess" it—to drive out remaining inhabitants, survey the territory, and settle it. This verse highlights a critical spiritual principle: God's blessings are not always passively received but frequently demand active engagement and perseverance. The delay of these seven tribes underscores the danger of spiritual complacency, apathy, or fear that can prevent believers from stepping into the fullness of God's provision and purpose for their lives. It's a call to move beyond mere entitlement to active appropriation of God's gifts.

* [Joshua 21:45](/joshua/21-45 "God's Faithfulness in Fulfilling Promises")
* [Hebrews 4:1](/hebrews/4-1 "Entering God's Rest")
* [Deuteronomy 1:26-33](/deuteronomy/1-26-33 "Israel's Disobedience at Kadesh-Barnea")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 18:2 presents a timeless challenge to believers today. Just as the seven tribes hesitated to claim their physical inheritance, we too can fall into the trap of spiritual procrastination, failing to fully embrace the spiritual inheritance and promises God has graciously provided for us in Christ. This might manifest as a reluctance to step into a calling, to overcome a persistent sin, to forgive, to serve, or to fully trust God in a difficult situation. The land was theirs, but they had to *take* it. Similarly, God has given us "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")), but we are called to actively walk in them, to appropriate them by faith, obedience, and perseverance. This verse urges us to examine our lives: Are there areas where God's clear will or promise remains "unclaimed" due to our comfort, fear, or spiritual laziness? It's a call to move from passive waiting to active, courageous faith, diligently pursuing and possessing all that God has already made available to us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "inheritance" or promises has God laid before me that I have not yet fully embraced or pursued?**
* **Am I delaying action due to comfort, fear, or a lack of understanding of God's will?**
* **How can I move from passive waiting to active faith in claiming God's blessings in my life?**

### FAQ
**Why had these seven tribes not yet received their inheritance, despite God's promise and provision?**

Answer: The text itself does not explicitly state the reasons for their delay, but it strongly implies a combination of factors. After the initial major conquests, a sense of complacency may have set in; they might have become comfortable in their encampment at Shiloh. There could have been a reluctance to engage in further, localized battles to fully drive out the remaining Canaanite inhabitants in their allotted territories. Fear of the remaining strong adversaries, or simply a lack of initiative and spiritual apathy, are also plausible reasons. Joshua's subsequent challenge in [Joshua 18:3](/joshua/18-3 "Joshua 18:3 - Joshua's Challenge to the Tribes")—"How long will you neglect to go in to possess the land which the Lord, your God, has given you?"—suggests that their inaction was a matter of choice and negligence rather than an insurmountable obstacle.

**What was the significance of "inheritance" (nachălâh) for the Israelites beyond just owning land?**

Answer: The "inheritance" (Hebrew: *nachălâh*) for the Israelites was profoundly significant, extending far beyond mere property ownership. It was a divinely allotted, permanent possession, intrinsically linked to God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ([Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - God's Promise to Abraham")). This land was the tangible fulfillment of God's faithfulness and the foundation for their national identity, security, and worship. It represented their place of belonging, their means of sustenance, and the physical space where they could establish their families, build communities, and live out their covenant relationship with God. To "receive their inheritance" was to fully step into God's provision and purpose for their lives as a nation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 18:2, with its depiction of an unpossessed inheritance, profoundly foreshadows the spiritual inheritance available to believers in Christ. Just as the physical land was a promised gift to Israel, the New Testament reveals that in Christ, we have received "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). Our ultimate "inheritance" is not a plot of land but salvation, eternal life, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and co-heirship with Christ Himself ([Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11 - Our Inheritance in Christ"); [Colossians 1:12](/colossians/1-12 "Colossians 1:12 - Sharing in the Inheritance of the Saints"); [Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17 - Heirs with Christ")). The reluctance of the seven tribes to claim their land serves as a powerful spiritual analogy for believers who, despite having been granted immense spiritual riches through Christ's finished work, may fail to "possess" them in their daily lives due to apathy, fear, or a lack of faith. Jesus, the true Joshua, has already secured our victory and provided the means for us to enter into God's rest and enjoy our full spiritual inheritance ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9-10 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - The Rest of God")). The call to "go in to possess the land" in Joshua's day finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant believer's call to walk by faith, to live out their new identity in Christ, and to actively appropriate the blessings and power of the Holy Spirit, thereby experiencing the fullness of the inheritance secured by the Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.