Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 55. Lot. Josue appointed commissioners, who measured the land, and divided it according to its fertility; and the portions assigned to each of the tribes by lot, corresponded with the predications of Jacob and of Moses; God so regulating the lots by his allwise Providence, in order that the people might be more convinced of the truth of the prophecies, and that no undue favour was shewn to any one by Josue, Eleazar, or by the other men in authority. He took the whole upon himself, that none might complain of their rulers. Calmet.—Masius supposes that the different divisions of the land were written down, and placed in an urn, and that the heads of the tribes drew according to their birth. Joshua 15:1.—The heads of families, such as Henoch, and so forth, (verse 5) probably also drew lots, to know what part of territory allotted to the tribe, should fall to their share; ( Bible.) and they parcelled out their land among their children. Menochius.