¹sn This chapter falls into several sections: the south (vv. 1-5), the west (v. 6), the north (vv. 7-9), the east (vv. 10-15), and then a list of appointed officials (vv. 16-29).
²tn Or “command.”
³tn Heb “this is the land that will fall to you as an inheritance.”
⁴tn The expression refers to the corner or extremity of the Negev, the South.
⁵tn Or “the Ascent of Scorpions” (÷<yB!r^q=u^ [’aqrabbim] means “scorpions” in Hebrew).
⁶tn Heb “its going forth,” or the way it runs.
⁷sn That is, the Mediterranean.
⁸tn The word for west is simply “sea,” because the sea is west of Israel.
⁹sn That is, the Mediterranean Sea (also in the following verse).
¹⁰sn The word means “harp.” The lake (or sea) of Galilee was so named because it is shaped somewhat like a harp.
¹¹tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
¹²tn The infinitive forms the direct object of what the Lord commanded. It actually means “to give,” but without an expressed subject may be made passive.
¹³tn Heb “the house of their fathers.” So also a little later in this verse.
¹⁴tn The phrase “their inheritance” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.
¹⁵map For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
¹⁶tn The verb can be translated simply as “divide,” but it has more the idea of allocate as an inheritance, the related noun being “inheritance.”
¹⁷tn This sense is created by repetition: “one leader, one leader from the tribe.”
¹⁸tn The sentence simply uses linhol (lj)n+l!), “to divide, apportion.” It has been taken already to mean “allocate as an inheritance.” Here “assist” may be added since Joshua and Eleazar had the primary work.