The whole congregation assembles at Shiloh and sets up the tent of meeting; the remaining land is surveyed and written in a book by cities into seven portions, and the lot of Benjamin comes up between Judah and Joseph.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.
verse value 3812
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֖ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Israel" (בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·they·set·up" (וַיַּשְׁכִּ֥ינוּ), "tent" (אֶת־אֹ֣הֶל), "was·subjected" (נִכְבְּשָׁ֖ה). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·Israel" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "and·the·land" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua); "before·them" (root פנים, 91x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'meeting', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּ [and·they·gathered] (157) + כׇּל־עֲדַ֤ת [all·congregation] (524) + בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ [sons·of·Israel] (603) + שִׁלֹ֔ה [Shiloh] (335) + וַיַּשְׁכִּ֥ינוּ [and·they·set·up] (402) + שָׁ֖ם [there] (340) + אֶת־אֹ֣הֶל [tent] (437) + מוֹעֵ֑ד [meeting] (120) + וְהָאָ֥רֶץ [and·the·land] (302) + נִכְבְּשָׁ֖ה [was·subjected] (377) + לִפְנֵיהֶֽם [before·them] (215) = 3812.
Rashi
And they pitched there the tabernacle. Which they made in the wilderness, and there was no roof there, except a house of stones below and curtains above, so we learned in Shechitat Kodashim (Zevachim 54b).
And the land was subdued before them. From the time the tabernacle was established, the land was easy to be subdued before them.
Radak
"And all the congregation of the children of Israel assembled at Shiloh, and they set up there the Tabernacle of Meeting." This was after fourteen years from their entry into the Land: seven years of conquest and seven years of division. During these fourteen years, the Tabernacle of Meeting was at Gilgal, and afterward they set it up at Shiloh. At that time, the high places were forbidden. As long as it was at Shiloh, our Sages of blessed memory said that they made a house of stones below and curtains above, as David said, "And the Ark of God sits within the curtain," meaning that it was still only within the curtain. Furthermore, see this from the verse that says, "And she brought him into the house of the LORD at Shiloh" [i.e., Hannah bringing Samuel], implying that it was a house; yet it is written, "He forsook the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent that He set up among men," implying that it was a tent. How is this resolved? It teaches that there was no roof there, but rather a house of stones below and curtains above. It was at Shiloh for three hundred and eighty-nine years until the Philistines exiled the Ark, and concerning it it is said, "He forsook the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent that He set up among men."
Ralbag
And it is mentioned afterward that all the congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, and they pitched there the Tabernacle of the congregation. And they took it from Gilgal. And it is mentioned that the land which was conquered was before them, and they saw it, and they divided it among the mentioned tribes, whose inheritance came out in its entirety within the conquered place. But the remaining tribes, their inheritance was not yet revealed in its entirety, even though what would come to their inheritance from the conquered land was clear. And for this he says that seven tribes of the children of Israel still remained who had not divided their inheritance.
Metzudat David
"And the land was subdued." From the time that the Tabernacle was set up in Shiloh, which was in the inheritance of the children of Joseph, the Lord helped them and they subdued the land, which they had not been able to subdue previously, as it is written above (17:12):
And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
verse value 3576
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "possession" (אֶת־נַחֲלָתָ֑ם, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·there·remained" (וַיִּוָּֽתְרוּ֙), "not·had·divided" (לֹא־חָֽלְק֖וּ), "possession" (אֶת־נַחֲלָתָ֑ם). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "in·sons·of" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "Israel" (root ישראל, 112x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'possession', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיִּוָּֽתְרוּ֙ [and·there·remained] (628) + בִּבְנֵ֣י [in·sons·of] (64) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + לֹא־חָֽלְק֖וּ [not·had·divided] (175) + אֶת־נַחֲלָתָ֑ם [possession] (929) + שִׁבְעָ֖ה [seven] (377) + שְׁבָטִֽים [tribes] (361) = 3576.
Rashi
Seven tribes. For already the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance in the days of Moses beyond the Jordan. And in the Land of Canaan the lot already fell for Judah and for Ephraim and for the half-tribe of Manasseh. Behold it is five tribes.
Radak
Seven tribes. For Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh took their inheritance beyond the Jordan, and in the Land of Canaan the lot had already fallen to Judah, to Ephraim, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, as we explained above why they were mentioned first, in [connection with] the first [occurrence of the] verse, "And the land had rest from war."
Metzudat David
"Which did not divide." Because they did not yet know the boundaries of the land to divide it by lot.
“Seven tribes.” For five tribes had already received their portions: Moses allotted to the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:33), and Joshua allotted to the children of Judah, the children of Ephraim, and the other half of the tribe of Manasseh.
Metzudat Zion
וַיִּוָּתֵרוּ (va-yivateru, remained). From the word remaining.
Malbim
"And there remained"—for Judah and Joseph, since it is destined that a royal shoot and two Messiahs will sprout from them, they were prioritized to take their portion first; and the rest of the tribes' portion did not yet fall to them by lot.
And Joshua said to the children of Israel: ‘How long are you slack to go in to possess the land, which Hashem, the God of your fathers, has given you?
verse value 5931
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 72 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "you" (אַתֶּ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·fathers" (אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "until·where?" (עַד־אָ֙נָה֙), "being·slack" (מִתְרַפִּ֔ים). 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 217x in Joshua); "and·said" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 12 words.
Rashi
How long will ye be slack. Will you be idle.
Metzudat David
“Until when, etc., which He gave, etc.” This means: I know your thoughts, namely that you do not send out to delineate the borders of the land and to divide it, because you fear that if each person recognizes his own portion, they might separate from one another, and one would not fight for the sake of another’s portion. Therefore it says: “How long will you be slack-handed?” Is not the Lord the One who gives you the land? And if so, even if one does not assist his fellow, you will be able to conquer them, for the Lord will fight for you.
Metzudat Zion
"Until when." Until when:
"מתרפים" - from the language of "relaxation":
Malbim
“Until when will you be sluggish to come to inherit?” For the Lord said to him (above 13:1–6): “You have grown old and advanced in years... I will drive them out before you,” yet He added, “only you shall divide it as an inheritance.” Thus, the Lord conditioned their inheritance upon their dividing it as an inheritance, so that each tribe would know its portion. Consequently, insofar as the tribes do not cast lots to divide the land, they are being sluggish to come to inherit. And the Maharia [Abarbanel] explains that because they did not wish to divide [the land] until now, out of fear that then each one would only be able to assist his companion in dispossessing his portion, they desired that all of them conquer together and only afterward divide it. Only Judah and Joseph asked for their portions first, because their hearts were courageous among the mighty. Therefore, he said, “Until when will you be sluggish?”
Appoint for you three men for each tribe; and I will send them, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come to me.
verse value 4367
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 67 letters. Notable word values: "give" (הָב֥וּ) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "give" (הָב֥וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·shall·walk·about" (וְיִֽתְהַלְּכ֥וּ, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "give" (הָב֥וּ), "three" (שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה), "and·I·will·send·them" (וְאֶשְׁלָחֵ֗ם). 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·the·land" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua); "man" (root איש, 68x in Joshua); "and·they·will·go·in" (root בוא, 58x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'tribe', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 10 words.
Rashi
For the tribe. To each tribe of the seven.
According to their inheritance. To seven portions. And not equally, but according to the tribes fitting for their portions, to the many according to its multitude, and to the few according to its fewness, as it is said (Numbers 26:54): to the many you shall increase their inheritance, and to the few you shall diminish their inheritance, etc.
Ralbag
For this Joshua commanded that they send three men per tribe, and they walk in the land and write it according to their inheritance, and they come to him, so that he complete for them the land in its entirety. And this is a sign that after the land which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered was divided, they took the Tabernacle from Gilgal. And for this our Sages of blessed memory said that it stood there fourteen years: seven that they conquered and seven that they divided. And a doubt arises: how did he command them to write the land in seven parts, and the tribes were not equal? And the Torah commanded to increase for the many his inheritance and to decrease for the few. And if we say that they knew the number of each tribe and what was fitting for them, and they would divide the land, and according to that ratio they would write the parts -- then there would be no impression to the casting of the lot after this, for it is not possible that the tribe receive except the part that they wrote for him according to the fitting ratio. In my view, the seven parts were equal, and Joshua cast the lot after this before the Lord at Shiloh. And from there each of those tribes took his portion according to what was fitting for him: if little, they added to him the fitting part; and if it was more than what was fitting for him, they subtracted from him.
Metzudat David
According to their inheritance. According to the number of portions required for the inheritance:
Metzudat Zion
הָבוּ (havu, provide). Its meaning is an invitation [to a task], like (Genesis 11:3) "come, let us make bricks."
Malbim
"Take for yourselves." Know that there is a difference between one who casts lots and one who aims or throws, for the shooting or throwing comes in the aspect of that from which it originates, meaning that he throws or aims the thing from his hand, and he does not look in the aspect of that to which it goes; regarding this, the term “casting” (mefil) comes, meaning that he causes it to fall upon one of those for whom lots are cast. And in every lot, both terms are valid: in the aspect of him who throws the lot from his hand, it is valid to say that he threw the lot; and in the aspect of that which, by virtue of his throwing it, necessarily falls upon one of those for whom lots are cast, it is valid to say that the man cast the lot, meaning that he caused and brought about that it should fall. And in this sense it says, “They cast Pur, that is, the lot” (Esther 3:7), “They cast lots” (I Chronicles 26:13; Nehemiah 11:1). And this applies to a lot that falls by chance. But in a lot that is under Divine Providence, such as the lots of Joshua — of which it is said, “the lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD,” — the human being is the one who throws, and the Lord is the one who casts the lot upon the place that is fitting. Therefore, regarding these lots, it says, “This is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance” (Numbers 34:2), and “The boundaries of Manasseh fell” (above 17:5), attributing the falling to the lot itself, not to the human being, for he only throws it from his hand, but he is not essentially the one who causes it to fall upon the fitting place.
And know that there is yet another difference between one who throws a lot and one who aims a lot. The one who throws does not intend toward a known point, but rather wherever it falls there, so be it. But the one who aims intends toward a target, toward a known point, like one who aims arrows, shooting at a target always. And thus, in all lots, the term of shooting (yeriah) is not valid, for it is impossible to aim at the place where the lot will fall, for its falling is accidental and unknown to the one casting the lots. Except here (verse 6), where the term “and I will shoot for you a lot” is mentioned, for indeed it was known to Joshua by tradition the portion of every tribe and its boundary, how and where it would fall. For Jacob and Moses, in their blessings, blessed every tribe according to the inheritance of its land: “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea” (Genesis 49:13), “For he shall draw the abundance of the seas” (Deuteronomy 33:19), and to Joseph He said, “Blessed by the Lord is his land” (ibid. 13), and so with all of them. And thus, he was indeed aiming, not throwing; meaning that although according to the eye’s perception it appeared that he was casting lots as one uncertain where the lot would fall, in truth he was aiming with his Holy Spirit that the lot should fall to the target, to the boundary that was known to him by tradition. And this is the intent of the verses here: Joshua revealed this matter to the children of Israel, saying that they should prepare three men from every tribe; they shall arise and walk through the land and write it down according to their inheritance, meaning: I know that the Holy Spirit will shine forth in the deed of these emissaries, until they will aim to write according to the inheritance destined by God. And therefore He said:
And they shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.
verse value 3103
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 65 letters. The shortest word is "you" (אֹתָ֖הּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·shall·divide" (וְהִֽתְחַלְּק֥וּ, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·they·shall·divide" (וְהִֽתְחַלְּק֥וּ), "will·stand" (יַעֲמֹ֤ד), "upon·border" (עַל־גְּבוּלוֹ֙). The root חלק appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon·border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "and·the·house·of" (root בית, 65x in Joshua); "into·seven" (root שבע, 30x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'portions', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 9 words. Full calculation: וְהִֽתְחַלְּק֥וּ [and·they·shall·divide] (555) + אֹתָ֖הּ [you] (406) + לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה [into·seven] (407) + חֲלָקִ֑ים [portions] (188) + יְהוּדָ֞ה [Judah] (30) + יַעֲמֹ֤ד [will·stand] (124) + עַל־גְּבוּלוֹ֙ [upon·border] (147) + מִנֶּ֔גֶב [from·south] (95) + וּבֵ֥ית [and·the·house·of] (418) + יוֹסֵ֛ף [Joseph] (156) + יַעַמְד֥וּ [shall·stand] (130) + עַל־גְּבוּלָ֖ם [upon·border] (181) + מִצָּפֽוֹן [north] (266) = 3103.
Rashi
And they shall divide it into seven parts. That which was already conquered and that which is destined to be conquered.
And Judah shall stand upon his border to the southward. The Land of Israel where his lot fell, the entire southern border.
And the house of Joseph, etc., northward. Northward of what was already conquered. And there remains much to conquer on the border side, from Baal-gad to Lebo-hamath, which is by Mount Hor, on the northern border. And the seven tribes will divide it between Judah and Joseph, and that which stands to be conquered.
Radak
"And they shall divide it." The meaning is: "and they shall divide it" — that is, into the seven portions that shall be written [described], the seven tribes shall be distributed within that land.
“Judah shall stand on its boundary.” Just as its lot fell to the south of the Land of Israel, so too “the house of Joseph shall stand on their boundary,” just as their lot fell to the northern part of the Land of Israel. And between them, the seven remaining tribes shall take their inheritance in the land that has been conquered and that is destined to be conquered.
Metzudat David
Into seven portions. For they will still inherit seven, for Judah will stand to inherit his portion from the south of the Land of Israel, and the House of Joseph will stand to inherit their portion from the north of what has already been conquered, and seven remain.
Malbim
"And they shall divide it." (The Hithpael conjugation indicates a feigned/apparent action, as in Proverbs 13:7, "There is one who pretends to be rich, [and one who pretends] to be poor.") That is to say, for appearances' sake it will seem as though they are dividing it into seven portions, for in truth the division will be effected of its own accord by the will of God. (And he explains why only into seven portions, for Judah will stand, etc., meaning that the boundary of Judah, which he took in the Negev, and the boundary of Joseph, which he took in the north of the southern border, will not change; rather, each will stand upon his own boundary, and only seven tribes remained to take their portions by lot.)
And you shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Hashem our God.
verse value 4440
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 65 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֥ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "here" (פֹּ֔ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·land" (אֶת־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "you·will·write" (תִּכְתְּב֤וּ), "and·you·shall·bring" (וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם), "and·I·will·throw" (וְיָרִ֨יתִי). 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 217x in Joshua); "the·land" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua); "to·face·of" (root פנים, 91x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 7 words.
Rashi
And I will cast. And I will throw, as (Exodus 15:4): he cast into the sea.
Radak
"And you." He said this concerning the men who were sent to write [a description of] the land.
"And I will cast." [Meaning:] I will throw.
Metzudat David
"And you." This means, the emissaries who go in place of all of you.
Metzudat Zion
Here. To this place:
And I will cast out. And I will cast out, like (Exodus 15:4) "He cast into the sea."
Here. In this place:
Malbim
"And you." This means: Nevertheless, do not rely on a miracle; rather, you must actually write it, until it becomes evident that you are the ones writing.
"And I will cast lots for you here." And I too will aim the lot (as I have already explained that the meaning of "shooting" is to aim at a specific, intended point), meaning that the lot will fall to the place where it truly ought to fall, as I have known from of old through tradition.
For the Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of Hashem is their inheritance; and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of Hashem gave them.’
verse value 5898
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 97 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֠י, 2 letters) and the longest is "no·portion" (אֵֽין־חֵ֤לֶק, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: Hashem, Hashem. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "no·portion" (אֵֽין־חֵ֤לֶק), "for·priesthood" (כִּֽי־כְהֻנַּ֥ת), "fortune" (וְגָ֡ד). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 217x in Joshua); "gave" (root נתן, 86x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'possession', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 16 words.
Radak
"For the priesthood of the LORD is his inheritance." Just as it says in the verse: "the offerings of the LORD, and his inheritance, they shall eat" (Deuteronomy 18:1), and they are the priesthood of the LORD.
Metzudat David
"For there is no portion." He further explains why there are seven portions, and states that the Levites have no portion, and Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh took [their inheritance], etc. Yet, Judah and the House of Joseph have the sixth portion, leaving seven remaining:
"The priesthood of the Lord." That which is fitting for them to take in exchange for their priestly service:
Malbim
"For the Levites have no portion." He explains the reason why only seven tribes received portions: for Levi has no portion, and three tribes inherited on the east side of the Jordan, apart from Judah and Joseph, whom He mentioned in verse 5.
And the men arose, and went; and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying: ‘Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come back to me, and I will cast lots for you here before Hashem in Shiloh.’
verse value 6416
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 105 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "go" (לְ֠כ֠וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·ones·going" (אֶת־הַהֹלְכִים֩, 8 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "the·ones·going" (אֶת־הַהֹלְכִים֩), "to·write" (לִכְתֹּ֨ב), "and·walk·about" (וְהִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ). The root הלך appears 4 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 217x in Joshua); "saying" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua); "Joshua" (root יהושע, 125x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·went', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 20 words.
Radak
"And they arose." And when the men arose to go, He warned them and said to them: "Thus and thus shall you do."
Metzudat David
The men. The emissaries:
"And Joshua commanded" – this means that he urged them to do so.
Malbim
"And Joshua commanded those who were going." Although he informed the Children of Israel that the details of the actions are prepared by Hashem, and from Hashem [comes] every judgment of the lot and the inheritance, nevertheless, to the messengers who were going, he commanded that they should go like people who walk, act, and divide according to their own choice.
"Go, etc., and write it down, and return to Me." And likewise, he did not tell them that he would direct the lot, but only, "Here I will cast a lot for you," for appearances' sake he would cast it in the manner of people who cast lots, who do not know or intend how the lot will fall. Now the question that arises here: how did they divide it into seven portions, seeing that the inheritance of Simeon is taken from the inheritance of Judah? This will be explained below (chapter 19).
And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Hashem; and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.
verse value 4457
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 63 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·them" (לָהֶ֨ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·divided·there" (וַיְחַלֶּק־שָׁ֨ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 391: Joshua, Joshua. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·threw" (וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֩), "and·divided·there" (וַיְחַלֶּק־שָׁ֨ם). The root יהושע appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 217x in Joshua); "to·sons·of" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "Joshua" (root יהושע, 125x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֩ [and·threw] (366) + לָהֶ֨ם [to·them] (75) + יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַ [Joshua] (391) + גּוֹרָ֛ל [lot] (239) + בְּשִׁלֹ֖ה [in·Shiloh] (337) + לִפְנֵ֣י [to·face·of] (170) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + וַיְחַלֶּק־שָׁ֨ם [and·divided·there] (494) + יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַ [Joshua] (391) + אֶת־הָאָ֛רֶץ [the·land] (697) + לִבְנֵ֥י [to·sons·of] (92) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [Israel] (541) + כְּמַחְלְקֹתָֽם [as·their·courses] (638) = 4457.
Metzudat David
As they are divided. According to the division explicitly stated in the scriptural passages before us:
Malbim
And he cast. The lot indicated the place of the boundaries:
And he divided. And afterward Joshua divided [it] according to the head count (as I explained above, 14):
And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families; and the border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
verse value 2388
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 61 letters. The shortest word is "staff" (מַטֵּ֥ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Benjamin" (בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 62: between, son, son. The root בן appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·Benjamin" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "and·went·up" (root עלה, 60x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'by·their·clans', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 9 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֗עַל [and·went·up] (116) + גּוֹרַ֛ל [lot] (239) + מַטֵּ֥ה [staff] (54) + בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן [sons·of·Benjamin] (214) + לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם [by·their·clans] (898) + וַיֵּצֵא֙ [and·he·went·out] (107) + גְּב֣וּל [border] (41) + גּוֹרָלָ֔ם [their·lot] (279) + בֵּ֚ין [between] (62) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + וּבֵ֖ין [and·between] (68) + בְּנֵ֥י [son] (62) + יוֹסֵֽף [Joseph] (156) = 2388.
Metzudat David
"To their families." They were divided according to the families:
And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
verse value 4494
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 87 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·will·be" ((והיה)) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·them" (לָהֶ֧ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "from·Jordan" (מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 111: and·rise, and·rise. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "wilderness" (מִדְבַּ֖רָה). The root היה appears 3 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "to·shoulder" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·Jordan', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 14 words.
Rashi
And their border was on the north side. And the northern border of them was from the Jordan, which in the east the border begins. And it went up to the shoulder of Jericho on the north, and from there it went up to the west, to the other side of Jericho, and the line draws on the north side of Jericho. And it turns out that Jericho is within the line in Benjamin's portion.
The wilderness of Beth-aven. To the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Radak
"Midbarah Beth-aven." [The phrase] is connected with Beth-aven; therefore the bet [in 'midbarah'] takes a patach, meaning: "to the wilderness of Beth-aven."
Metzudat David
"Towards the north." From the east toward the west, the beginning of the boundary was from the Jordan.
“From the north.” If so, Jericho was within the boundary, and it belonged to Benjamin.
"Be-har" – this is Mount Bethel, which is mentioned in the boundary of the children of Joseph.
Yam. To the west:
"Totze'otav." The end of the boundary at this width, and from there onward the measuring cord enters inward, and his portion is shortened.
Malbim
“Toward the north.” This refers to the border of the tribe of Joseph (as stated above, 16a-b-c).
From the Jordan. He counts from east to west:
"From the north." It is found that Jericho belonged to Benjamin; yet it is stated, "to the shoulder of Jericho," because the fertile part of Jericho, which was on the east side of Jericho, was not given to them at that time, as we will explain below.
"And it ascended to the mountain." This refers to the mountain of Bethel, which belonged to Benjamin, lying to its westward side.
"And its boundaries were." There the straight line ends, and the thread enters inward, toward the south (as stated above 16:2 and below, chapter 2). (Now, above (7:2) it states, "Ai, which is [near] Beth-aven, east of Beth-el." It follows that Beth-aven, which is near Ai, was also east of Beth-el. And one must say that Mount Beth-el was to the east of Beth-el, and the wilderness of Beth-el extended along the west of Beth-aven, until Mount Beth-el was to the east of the wilderness of Beth-aven, even though Beth-el itself was west of Beth-aven proper — for otherwise it would seem there that Beth-el was adjacent to Ai, and the same would apply to Beth-aven.)
And the border passed along from thence to Luz, to the side of Luz—the same is Beth-el—southward; and the border went down to Atroth-addar, by the mountain that lies on the south of Beth-horon the nether.
verse value 5482
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 79 letters. The shortest word is "from·there" (מִשָּׁ֨ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Beth-horon" (לְבֵית־חֹר֖וֹן, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 48: to·Luz, to·Luz. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "upon·the·mountain" (עַל־הָהָ֕ר), "to·Beth-horon" (לְבֵית־חֹר֖וֹן). The root גבול appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "to·shoulder" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Beth-el', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 9 words.
Rashi
And it went from thence. To the west.
To Luz, even to the shoulder of Luz, which is on the south side, which is Bethel. Which Jacob called (Genesis 28:19). And this is not the Bethel that is beside Ai, for it says in Joseph's boundary (above 16:2): and it went out from Bethel to Luz. We learned that there were two, and Luz was not in Benjamin's portion, for the border line is from Luz and within, as it says (verse 13): to the shoulder of Luz on the south side, the line goes on the south of Luz. And it turns out that Luz is from the line and outward in the inheritance of the children of Joseph. And Bethel was in Benjamin's portion, as it is written below (verse 22) in the matter.
Metzudat David
Southward. If so, Luz was not part of the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, but rather it belonged to Ephraim.
"This is Bethel." For Jacob called Luz "Bethel," as it is stated in the Torah (Genesis 28:19). And this is not the Bethel that stood near Ai, which was part of the inheritance of Benjamin.
"Upon the mountain, southward of Beth-horon the Lower." And thus it was not part of his inheritance; rather, it belonged to Ephraim.
Malbim
And he passed from there. He entered on the southern side:
"To the shoulder of Luz, southward." It was found that Luz was outside the line and belonged to Joseph.
"This is Bethel." Jacob called it Bethel, and not the Bethel that is near Ai, which was part of the territory of Benjamin. And what is stated in I Chronicles 7:28 that Bethel belonged to Ephraim refers to Bethel Luz.
"Upon the mountain which is in the south." It is found that Lower Beth Horon belongs to the children of Joseph; therefore, it was stated above (Joshua 16:3), "unto the border of Lower Beth Horon."
And the border was drawn and turned about on the west side southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth-horon southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kiriath-baal—the same is Kiriath-jearim—a city of the children of Judah; this was the west side.
verse value 7339
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 101 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·will·be" ((והיה)) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֨ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Kiriath-baal" (אֶל־קִרְיַת־בַּ֙עַל֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 60: south-country, south-country. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "to·side·sea" (לִפְאַת־יָ֜ם), "Beth-horon" (בֵית־חֹרוֹן֮), "to·Kiriath-baal" (אֶל־קִרְיַת־בַּ֙עַל֙). The root פאה appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "and·it·will·be" (root היה, 150x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 20 and 2 words.
Rashi
And the border passed along, and compassed on the west side southward. At Ataroth-addar the northern length ends from east to west, and from there the line turns to the western border of Benjamin to go southward from north to south. The line of the west from the mountain that is over against Beth-horon on the south of the mountain, which is on the south side of Beth-horon. From there the northwestern corner of Benjamin began, and the line came from north to south.
And the uttermost goings-out thereof. Its southwestern corner to Kirjath-jearim of Judah. And it turns out that the width of Benjamin's border takes the entire width of the land that is between Judah and Ephraim. Its southern border with the northern border of Judah, and there Jerusalem was, as stated below in the matter. Therefore the two tribes had a portion in it. And Benjamin's northern border and Ephraim's southern border touch each other, and there Shiloh was in Ephraim's portion, as it is said (Psalms 78:60, 67): he rejected the tabernacle of Shiloh, etc., and he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and in the tribe of Ephraim chose he not. And even Benjamin had a portion in it, and so we learned in Shechitat Kedashim (Zevachim 54b): in three places the Divine Presence rested for Israel, at Shiloh and at Nob and at the Temple, and in all of them it rested only in Benjamin's portion.
This is the west side. The western side, from Ataroth-addar to Kiriath-jearim.
Metzudat David
"And the boundary curved." The boundary turns at the western extremity, from the north to the south:
"From the mountain." The boundary extends from the mountain, etc. — the one standing in the north — and proceeded toward the south, and the boundary ends at Kiriath Baal, which is Kiriath Jearim, located on the northern border of Judah.
Metzudat Zion
וְתָאֵר (vet'a'er, and bounded). And turned around.
Malbim
"And the boundary was described." The boundary encircled the mountain from three of its sides (which is the definition and description):
“And he turned around, etc., from the mountain.” And at the foothills of the mountain he circled in the shape of the letter dalet toward the south, and the line went from north to south and ended at Kiryat Baal, which belonged to Judah. And with this was also marked the western border of Benjamin from north to south, which was from Mount Beth Horon, which was in the northwest corner, to Kiryat Ye’arim in the southwest corner.
And the south side was from the uttermost part of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went out westward, and went out to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah.
verse value 2932
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 50 letters. The shortest word is "water·of" (מֵ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·side·south-country" (וּפְאַת־נֶ֕גְבָּה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 107: and·he·went·out, and·he·went·out. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·side·south-country" (וּפְאַת־נֶ֕גְבָּה). The root יצא appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "and·he·went·out" (root יצא, 52x in Joshua); "sea" (root ים, 40x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jearim', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words. Full calculation: וּפְאַת־נֶ֕גְבָּה [and·side·south-country] (547) + מִקְצֵ֖ה [from·end·of] (235) + קִרְיַ֣ת [city·of] (710) + יְעָרִ֑ים [Jearim] (330) + וְיָצָ֤א [and·he·went·out] (107) + הַגְּבוּל֙ [border] (46) + יָ֔מָּה [sea] (55) + וְיָצָ֕א [and·he·went·out] (107) + אֶל־מַעְיַ֖ן [to·spring] (201) + מֵ֥י [water·of] (50) + נֶפְתּֽוֹחַ [Nephtoah] (544) = 2932.
Rashi
And the south side. The southern border (another version: side) of Benjamin, and it is the northern [border] of Judah. And all the boundaries counted here were counted on the north side of Judah. And everywhere that it is written here 'and it went down,' it is written in Judah 'and it went up.' For here it counts from the west to the east, and there it counts from the east to the west.
And the border went out to the sea. To one sea, and I do not know which sea it is.
Metzudat David
And the southern border. The southern boundary, from the west toward the east, began at the end of Kiriath Jearim:
"Yam." To the sea, and this is not the Great Sea that lies to the west. Rather, this sea was to the north of Judah. Although it was not mentioned above, so too it is found in many places where one boundary is mentioned but the other is not, even though their borders were adjacent to one another.
Malbim
"And toward the south side." It counts the southern side from west to east.
From the southern end of Kiriath Jearim (as stated above, 15:9), as I have explained (above, loc. cit., 10):
"And it went out to the spring." It extended toward the south, and there the line widened, for in the territory of Judah it says, "and it went out" (from the spring of the waters of Nephtoah) to the cities of Ephron, and there it went out toward the north.
And the border went down to the uttermost part of the mountain that lies before the Valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the vale of Rephaim northward; and it went down to the Valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En-rogel.
verse value 4473
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 83 letters. Notable word values: "valley" (גֵּ֣י) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "valley" (גֵּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Jebusite" (הַיְבוּסִי֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Rephaim" (רְפָאִ֖ים), "Hinnom" (הִנֹּ֜ם). The root ירד appears 3 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "to·end" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "upon·face" (root פנים, 91x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'north', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 9 words.
Metzudat David
"And the border went down." For the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, which is the Spring of Etam (Zevachim 54b, Rashi s.v. "Savur"), was located in the highest place in all of the Land of Israel; therefore it says "went down."
“Which is in the valley of Rephaim.” The mountain stood in the valley of Rephaim to its north.
"Until the shoulder." [This refers to the portion] that stood at the Jebusite's shoulder toward the south; if so, the Jebusite [territory] is Jerusalem, which stood in the inheritance of Benjamin.
Malbim
"To the end, etc." The eastern [end]:
"Southward." It is found that the shoulder of the Jebusite, which is Jerusalem, belongs to Benjamin.
And it was drawn on the north, and went out at En-shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim; and it went down to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
verse value 3827
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "spring·of" (עֵ֣ין, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Geliloth" (אֶל־גְּלִיל֔וֹת, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 107: and·he·went·out, and·he·went·out. The root יצא appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·opposite" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "and·he·went·out" (root יצא, 52x in Joshua); "son·of·Reuben" (root בין, 48x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Adummim', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְתָאַ֣ר [and·will·be·drawn] (607) + מִצָּפ֗וֹן [north] (266) + וְיָצָא֙ [and·he·went·out] (107) + עֵ֣ין [spring·of] (130) + שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ [sun] (640) + וְיָצָא֙ [and·he·went·out] (107) + אֶל־גְּלִיל֔וֹת [to·Geliloth] (510) + אֲשֶׁר־נֹ֖כַח [that·opposite] (579) + מַעֲלֵ֣ה [ascent] (145) + אֲדֻמִּ֑ים [Adummim] (95) + וְיָרַ֕ד [and·shall·descend] (220) + אֶ֥בֶן [stone] (53) + בֹּ֖הַן [Bohan] (57) + בֶּן־רְאוּבֵֽן [son·of·Reuben] (311) = 3827.
Metzudat David
"And it curved from the north." The boundary comes to the western extremity and circles the spring of Rogel from its north side; therefore, it was part of Judah.
"And it went out to Ein Shemesh." From Ein Rogel it went out to Ein Shemesh.
“Al Galiloth.” This is the Gilgal mentioned in the northern border of Judah, and it was called by both names. At Gilgal, the border extended toward the south, and the portion of Benjamin was expanded:
Metzudat Zion
נֹכַח (nokhak, in the presence). Facing.
Malbim
"And it curved from the north and went out to En-shemesh." The line that went out from En-rogel to En-shemesh went out from the straight line toward the south, and this is what is meant by "and it went out." And when it came to En-shemesh, it encircled En-shemesh from three of its sides, and this is what is meant by "and it curved from the north." And it went out again toward the south, as I have explained this (above 15:7).
And it passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah.
verse value 2300
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. Verse gematria: 2300 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "and·passed·along" (וְעָבַ֛ר, 4 letters) and the longest is "opposite·the·Arabah" (מוּל־הָעֲרָבָ֖ה, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "opposite·the·Arabah" (מוּל־הָעֲרָבָ֖ה), "the·arabah" (הָעֲרָבָֽתָה). The root ערבה appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·shoulder" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "and·passed·along" (root עבר, 82x in Joshua); "north" (root צפון, 26x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'north', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 2 words. Full calculation: וְעָבַ֛ר [and·passed·along] (278) + אֶל־כֶּ֥תֶף [to·shoulder] (531) + מוּל־הָעֲרָבָ֖ה [opposite·the·Arabah] (358) + צָפ֑וֹנָה [north] (231) + וְיָרַ֖ד [and·shall·descend] (220) + הָעֲרָבָֽתָה [the·arabah] (682) = 2300.
Metzudat David
"And it passed over." From there, it passed beyond the place called "Opposite the Aravah" on the northern side, and therefore it was not part of the inheritance of Benjamin.
"Ha'aravtah." This is the House of Aravah mentioned in the boundary of Judah, and the boundary was to its north:
Malbim
And it passed. And as I explained above in the portion of the inheritance of the sons of Judah:
And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward; and the goings out of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan; this was the south border.
verse value 4897
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 91 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·will·be" ((והיה)) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "this" (זֶ֖ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "Beth-hoglah" (בֵּית־חׇגְלָה֮, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 231: north, north. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Beth-hoglah" (בֵּית־חׇגְלָה֮), "to·tongue" (אֶל־לְשׁ֤וֹן). The root גבול appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·will·be" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "to·shoulder" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'south-country', dividing the verse into phrases of 16 and 3 words.
Rashi
To the bay of the Salt Sea, which is on the north side thereof. On its north side, and it turns out that the entire bay is in Judah's portion.
To the mouth of the Jordan. The place where the Jordan falls into the Salt Sea. And it is counted as the northeastern corner for Judah. And here it counts the southeastern corner for Benjamin.
Metzudat David
Beit Haglah is to the north. And it too was not part of the territory of Benjamin (and the Beit Haglah mentioned in the territory of Benjamin is another city that shares the same name). "[The] tongue of the Dead Sea," etc., means to say, at the place where the Jordan River falls into the Dead Sea, which is the southern end of the Jordan, and the northern end of the sea.
This is the southern border. From west to east:
Metzudat Zion
לָשׁוֹן (lashon, tongue). The end of the sea extended like a tongue.
And the Jordan was to be the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders thereof round about, according to their families.
verse value 3955
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "this" (זֹ֡את, 3 letters) and the longest is "on·the·east·side" (לִפְאַת־קֵ֑דְמָה, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "bounds·it" (יִגְבֹּל־אֹת֖וֹ), "on·the·east·side" (לִפְאַת־קֵ֑דְמָה). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "Jordan" (root ירדן, 70x in Joshua); "possession" (root נחלה, 50x in Joshua). First appearance of the root בנימן ("Benjamin") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'on·the·east·side', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֥ן [Jordan] (275) + יִגְבֹּל־אֹת֖וֹ [bounds·it] (452) + לִפְאַת־קֵ֑דְמָה [on·the·east·side] (660) + זֹ֡את [this] (408) + נַחֲלַת֩ [possession] (488) + בְּנֵ֨י [son] (62) + בִנְיָמִ֧ן [Benjamin] (152) + לִגְבֽוּלֹתֶ֛יהָ [to·her·boundaries] (486) + סָבִ֖יב [around] (74) + לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם [by·their·clans] (898) = 3955.
Rashi
And the Jordan shall be the border thereof on the east side. The Jordan was Benjamin's eastern border, for the Jordan goes across the entire width of its border to the east.
Metzudat David
"It shall border it." It shall be a boundary for it on the eastern side.
"To its boundaries." The boundaries that delimit and surround it, which are divided among all their respective families:
Malbim
"This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin by its borders." Behold, regarding the inheritance of all the tribes (chapter 19), it says, "This is the inheritance of the children of Simeon by their families," and similarly it says regarding Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan (ibid.). And concerning Judah, it says (15:12), "This is the border of the children of Judah around," and there (verse 20), "This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah." For concerning Judah, initially it specified only the border, not the inheritance, and the meaning is that the children of Simeon subsequently took from their inheritance; therefore, what was enumerated (15:1–12) is only the border and the boundary. Thus it says, "This is the border of Judah," and from verse 20, which enumerates the cities in detail, it says, "This is the inheritance." And concerning Benjamin, since it enumerates both the boundary and the inheritance, because no stranger passed through their midst, it says, "This is the inheritance" (concerning the detail of the cities), "by its borders," concerning the boundary. And regarding the other tribes, which did not specify the boundary in all its details but only the cities, it says, "This is the inheritance."
Verse structure: 4 words, 21 letters. The shortest word is "and·house·of" (וּבֵ֧ית, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Zemaraim" (וּצְמָרַ֖יִם, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Zemaraim" (וּצְמָרַ֖יִם), "and·Beth-el" (וּבֵֽית־אֵֽל). The root בית appears 2 times in this verse. 3 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·house·of" (root בית, 65x in Joshua). Full calculation: וּבֵ֧ית [and·house·of] (418) + הָעֲרָבָ֛ה [the·Arabah] (282) + וּצְמָרַ֖יִם [and·Zemaraim] (386) + וּבֵֽית־אֵֽל [and·Beth-el] (449) = 1535.
Verse structure: 3 words, 16 letters. The shortest word is "and·Parah" (וְהַפָּרָ֖ה, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·the·Avvim" (וְהָעַוִּ֥ים, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Parah" (וְהַפָּרָ֖ה), "and·Ophrah" (וְעׇפְרָֽה). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְהָעַוִּ֥ים [and·the·Avvim] (137) + וְהַפָּרָ֖ה [and·Parah] (296) + וְעׇפְרָֽה [and·Ophrah] (361) = 794.
and Chephar-ammonah, and Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages:
verse value 2967
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "and·Chephar" (וּכְפַ֧ר, 4 letters) and the longest is "two·ten" (שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Chephar" (וּכְפַ֧ר), "Chephar-haammonai" (הָעַמֹּנָ֛ה), "and·Ophni" (וְהָעׇפְנִ֖י). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua); "two·ten" (root שנים, 23x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Geba', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words.
Verse structure: 3 words, 18 letters. The shortest word is "and·Mozah" (וְהַמֹּצָֽה, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Chephirah" (וְהַכְּפִירָ֖ה, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Mozah" (וְהַמֹּצָֽה). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְהַמִּצְפֶּ֥ה [and·Mizpeh] (226) + וְהַכְּפִירָ֖ה [and·Chephirah] (326) + וְהַמֹּצָֽה [and·Mozah] (146) = 698.
Verse structure: 3 words, 16 letters. The shortest word is "and·Rekem" (וְרֶ֥קֶם, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Irpeel" (וְיִרְפְּאֵ֖ל, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Rekem" (וְרֶ֥קֶם), "and·Irpeel" (וְיִרְפְּאֵ֖ל), "and·Taralah" (וְתַרְאֲלָֽה). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְרֶ֥קֶם [and·Rekem] (346) + וְיִרְפְּאֵ֖ל [and·Irpeel] (327) + וְתַרְאֲלָֽה [and·Taralah] (642) = 1315.
and Zela, Eleph, and the Jebusite—the same is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
verse value 5743
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "she" (הִ֤יא, 3 letters) and the longest is "four·ten" (אַרְבַּֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Zela" (וְצֵלַ֡ע), "Eleph" (הָאֶ֜לֶף), "Gibeath" (גִּבְעַ֣ת). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·Benjamin" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "she" (root הוא, 77x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·their·villages', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְצֵלַ֡ע [and·Zela] (196) + הָאֶ֜לֶף [Eleph] (116) + וְהַיְבוּסִ֨י [and·Jebusite] (99) + הִ֤יא [she] (16) + יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ [Jerusalem] (586) + גִּבְעַ֣ת [Gibeath] (475) + קִרְיַ֔ת [Kiriath] (710) + עָרִ֥ים [cities] (320) + אַרְבַּֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [four·ten] (848) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶ֑ן [and·their·villages] (369) + זֹ֛את [this] (408) + נַחֲלַ֥ת [possession] (488) + בְּנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן [sons·of·Benjamin] (214) + לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם [by·their·clans] (898) = 5743.
Rashi
Zela [and] Eleph, and the Jebusite, which is Jerusalem. Each is a city to herself. And also Gibeath, Kiriath. Five cities in this verse.
Radak
"Zela [and] Eleph." These are two [separate] cities. And so it says, "in the land of Benjamin, in Zela" (2 Samuel 21:14), and it is written, "Zela, Eleph" [as two distinct names]. Likewise, "Gibeath, Kiriath" are two [separate] cities.
"And the Jebusite, that is Jerusalem." And in the lot of the children of Judah it is also stated that the Jebusite, that is Jerusalem, was in the portion of Judah; yet it says that it was for Benjamin. Indeed, this is so, because each of them had a share in it. Our Sages of blessed memory stated that a strip extended from the portion of Judah to the portion of Benjamin, and in it an altar was built, and Benjamin the righteous was distressed over it, desiring to swallow it up, as it is said: "He hovered over it all day long, and between its shoulders he settled." And there are those who say that the altar was in the portion of Benjamin, as it is said: "and between its shoulders he settled." And others say that the altar was between the two of them. Now, [the border of] Judah went up [through] the Valley of Ben-Hinnom, the shoulder of the Jebusite, and went up to the top of the mountain that is in front of the Valley of Ben-Hinnom, westward, which is at the end of the Valley of Rephaim. And from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. And they said that this is the Spring of Etam mentioned in the words of our Sages of blessed memory. And the portion of Benjamin was opposite it: the portion of Judah went up to the mountain, and the portion of Benjamin went down to the end of the mountain that is in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom, which is in the Valley of Rephaim, and went down to the shoulder of the Jebusite, that is Jerusalem. It is found, then, that this boundary was between the two of them, one going up and the other going down.
Metzudat David
And the flank of the thousand. There are five towns mentioned in this verse: 1) Tzeleah, 2) Ha’alaf, 3) Jerusalem, 4) Gibeah, 5) Kiryat.
Malbim
"Fourteen cities." And in their enumeration you find twelve. The explanation is that Tselet ha-Elaf constitutes two cities, and likewise Gevat Kiri. And in my opinion, he omitted from the enumeration Anathoth and Alammon, which he counted among the Levitical cities of Benjamin (Joshua 21:18). And so it is implied that Tselet ha-Elaf is a single city, from the fact that Tselet comes with a patach, which indicates that it is in construct [with the following word]; and likewise Gevat is in construct [with Kiriath].
Rashi
Radak
Ralbag
Metzudat David