The Meaning of Joshua 14:2 Explained

Joshua 14:2

KJV: By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

YLT: by lot is their inheritance, as Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine of the tribes, and the half of the tribe;

Darby: their inheritance was by lot, as Jehovah had commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and the half tribe.

ASV: by the lot of their inheritance, as Jehovah commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

By lot  [was] their inheritance,  as the LORD  commanded  by the hand  of Moses,  for the nine  tribes,  and [for] the half  tribe. 

What does Joshua 14:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 14:1-15 - The Man Who Wholly Followed His God
The lot was doubtless adopted to obviate cause for jealousy or charges of favoritism. It denoted God's choice, Proverbs 16:33; Proverbs 18:18. It could be used only with very evident reliance on Him, and in our day has been superseded by the sending of the Comforter to teach us all things, John 16:13.
It was long since Caleb had cut down the bunch of grapes near the spot of his choice, but he had never forgotten it; and now God, who had read his purpose, arranged that what his heart loved best his hand should hold and keep: "Him will I bring into the land whereinto he went," Numbers 14:24.
Out of entire surrender to God springs a faith that dares to claim the realization of an olden promise, Joshua 14:12. The fact that the Anakim held Hebron did not stagger the old veteran. It was enough that God had promised! How strong and vigorous, even to hoar hairs, are those who walk with God, Isaiah 40:31! [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 14

1  The nine tribes and a half are to have their inheritance by lot
6  Caleb by privilege obtains Hebron

What do the individual words in Joshua 14:2 mean?

by lot their inheritance [was] as had commanded Yahweh by the hand of Moses for nine the tribes and the half-tribe
בְּגוֹרַ֖ל נַחֲלָתָ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּיַד־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְתִשְׁעַ֥ת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת וַחֲצִ֥י הַמַּטֶּֽה

בְּגוֹרַ֖ל  by  lot 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גֹּורָל  
Sense: lot.
נַחֲלָתָ֑ם  their  inheritance  [was] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר  as  had 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
צִוָּ֤ה  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּיַד־  by  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  of  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
לְתִשְׁעַ֥ת  for  nine 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: תֵּשַׁע  
Sense: nine, nonad.
הַמַּטּ֖וֹת  the  tribes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
הַמַּטֶּֽה  the  half-tribe 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.