Joshua 18:21-28 · Bible study
Joshua 18:21-28 Commentary: Benjamin's Restoration in a Ruined City
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Jericho, destroyed and cursed, appear in Benjamin's inheritance?
Research Summary
- Meaning: A detailed list of 26 cities allotted to Benjamin, including Jericho (destroyed but given as territory), Gibeon, Bethel, and Jerusalem (still Jebusite).
- Key words: “Cities” (עָרִים, plural), “inheritance” (נַחֲלָה, divine gift), “Jericho” (יְרִיחוֹ, site of judgment and restoration).
- Main debate: Whether Jericho’s inclusion contradicts the curse of Joshua 6. Most commentators affirm the territory remained; the curse prevented fortification, not habitation.
- Theological theme: Restoration after judgment; God’s precise provision for each tribe; the inheritance includes promises not yet fulfilled.
- Best use: Teaching on God’s faithfulness to marginal tribes, the coexistence of judgment and grace, and the call to occupy land that carries both history and hope.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
21These were the cities of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin:
22Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
23Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
24Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.
25Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
26Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,
27Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
28Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
WEB World English Bible 2000
21Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz,
22Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
23Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
24Chephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages.
25Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
26Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,
27Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
28Zelah, Eleph, the Jebusite (also called Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
KJV King James Version 1769
21Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth–hoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
22And Beth–arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth–el,
23And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24And Chephar–haammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:
25Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
21Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and Emek-keziz,
22and Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el,
23and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24and Chephar-ammoni, and Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages:
25Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28and Zelah, 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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
21And the cities for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, for their families, have been Jericho, and Beth-Hoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
22and Beth-Arabah, Zemaraim, and Beth-El,
23and Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24and Chephar-Haammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities and their villages.
25Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28and Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi (it is Jerusalem), Gibeath, Kirjath: fourteen cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, for their families.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
21And the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were: Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and Emek-Keziz,
22and Beth-Arabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
23and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24and Chephar-haammonai, and Ophni, and Geba: twelve cities and their hamlets;
25Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27and Rekem, and Jirpeel, and Tharalah,
28and Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, that is, Jerusalem, Gibeah, Kirjath: fourteen cities and their hamlets. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
21And their cities were, Jericho and Bethhagla and Vale-Casis,
22Betharaba and Samaraim and Bethel,
23And Avim and Aphara and Ophera,
24The town Emona and Ophni and Gabee: twelve cities, and their villages.
25Gabam and Rama and Beroth,
26And Mesphe, and Caphara, and Amosa,
27And Recem, Jarephel, and Tharela,
28And Sela, Eleph and Jebus, which is Jerusalem, Gabaath and Cariath: fourteen cities, and their villages. This is the possession of the children of Benjamin by their families.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Joshua 18:21
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this passage records the actual allotment of cities to the tribe of Benjamin. The Cambridge Bible notes the list falls into two groups: twelve cities on the east and fourteen on the west, matching Benjamin's position between Judah and Joseph. Wesley points out that although Jericho was destroyed (Joshua 6), “the territory remained”, the curse forbade rebuilding the city, not the land itself. Gill adds that Jericho was later rebuilt and inhabited, showing the curse had specific limits. On the inclusion of Jerusalem as “the Jebusite,” Cambridge observes that the city was still unconquered, so the allotment looks forward to future possession. Clarke notes that many cities, like Avvim, Parah, and Ophni, are unknown today, yet their names remain in Scripture as markers of God’s faithful distribution. The unanimous point is that this list demonstrates God’s careful, covenantal provision for each tribe, even in places marred by judgment.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Territory-only view: Wesley and others note that the curse concerned rebuilding the city, not the land; the territory belonged to Benjamin immediately.
- Later rebuilding view: Gill argues that Jericho was later inhabited and rebuilt, indicating that the curse was conditional or had a time limit.
What is clear: God allotted the region of Jericho to Benjamin, demonstrating that His judgment (the destruction) did not cancel His promise (the inheritance).
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Jericho’s inclusion after the curse | God gave the region of Jericho to Benjamin as territory, despite the destruction of the city. | Some (Wesley) argue the land was given immediately, while others (Gill) emphasize that the city was rebuilt later; the curse was on fortification, not on the land itself. |
| Identity of obscure cities | Commentators agree that many cities (Zemaraim, Ophni, Taralah) cannot be identified with certainty today. | Cambridge and Clarke differ on a few identifications (e.g., Avvim may or may not be Ai). The differences do not affect the passage’s meaning. |
| Jerusalem as a Jebusite city | Jerusalem was not yet conquered; its inclusion is a statement of future possession. | Some interpret this as a prophetic allotment, while others see it as a factual boundary marker showing the extent of Benjamin’s claim. |
| The two groups, twelve and fourteen cities | The list totals 26 cities divided into a eastern group (12) and a western group (14). | The exact boundary between east and west is unclear; some sources group Mizpeh with the western section, others with the eastern. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Joshua 18 opens with the tabernacle set up at Shiloh, the land subdued, and seven tribes still without inheritance. Joshua sends surveyors to describe the remaining territory into seven parts, then casts lots “before the Lord” (Joshua 18:10). Benjamin draws the lot between Judah to the south and Joseph (Ephraim) to the north, a strategic corridor guarding the central highlands.
Jericho appears first in the list. Its destruction in Joshua 6 was total: the walls fell, the city burned, and Joshua pronounced a curse on anyone who would rebuild its gates (Joshua 6:26). Yet the region, the plain east of the Jordan and the oasis of Jericho itself, remained arable land. Wesley’s comment is crucial: the territory belonged to Benjamin even if no fortified city stood there. Over time, Jericho was resettled, as later references show (Luke 19:1).
The list also includes Gibeon and its allied cities (Beeroth, Chephirah), which had made peace with Joshua by deception (Joshua 9). Their inclusion shows that even an imperfect pact could not negate God’s purpose. Jerusalem, called “the Jebusite,” was not captured until David’s reign (2 Samuel 5). Its presence in the allotment signals a promise yet to be claimed.
Many of the twenty-six cities, Zemaraim, Avvim, Ophni, Rekem, Irpeel, are mentioned only here. Their obscurity underlines the principle: God gave real land, with known and unknown places, to real families. The repeated phrase “according to their families” (vv. 21, 28) anchors the abstract inheritance in concrete, lived geography.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants that affect the meaning of this passage. Minor differences in spelling appear across manuscripts, for example, the KJV reads “Gaba” where the WEB has “Geba,” and the name “Jebusi” varies as “Jebus”, but these are orthographic variations, not substantive disagreements. The total count of twenty-six cities remains stable across ancient witnesses.
Reception History
This list has been read primarily as a charter of tribal possession. Early Jewish tradition (e.g., the book of Nehemiah) identifies several of these cities as repopulated after the exile (Nehemiah 11:31-35). Medieval Jewish commentators like Rashi and Kimchi focused on identifying sites from the biblical text and rabbinic tradition. Reformation-era interpreters, Matthew Henry, Gill, Wesley, used the list to illustrate God’s detailed care: every family received a named place. Modern scholarship, following the lead of archaeologists like Conder and Robinson, has attempted to locate these cities on the ground. The inclusion of Jericho drew frequent pastoral reflection: a city under judgment became a gift, pointing to the gospel pattern of death and resurrection.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God gives land that bears the marks of judgment. Jericho was cursed, but the territory was still allotted. Grace does not erase consequences; it repurposes them.
- God’s provision includes both the famous and the forgotten. Gibeon, Bethel, and Jerusalem sit alongside Avvim, Parah, and Taralah. Every place matters to Him.
- God’s inheritance includes what is not yet taken. Jerusalem remained Jebusite at the time, yet it was assigned. Faith inherits promises before they are realized.
Five-point outline
- Jericho: A destroyed city becomes a territory of hope. God’s judgment is never His final word.
- Gibeon and Beeroth: Cities of a deceptive alliance show that God works with imperfect agreements.
- Bethel: A patriarchal landmark ties Benjamin to Abraham and Jacob’s legacy.
- Unnamed cities: Zemaraim, Ophni, Taralah, sites with no other record remind us God knows every obscure place and family.
- Jerusalem: An unconquered city allotted points to the future. The inheritance includes what we must still take in faith.
Illustration hooks
- A family receives a farmland that was devastated by wildfire. They don’t inherit a house; they inherit the land and must rebuild. The curse of the fire is real, but the land is still a gift.
- A community centre is built in a neighbourhood that had been abandoned. The address carries a bad history, but the church sees potential. Restoration begins with a title deed.
- A young adult returns to their childhood home after a divorce. The house holds painful memories, but they receive it as a place to start again.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would God give a cursed city to His people? Does He want us to have places that have been ruined?
- What do I do with the “unknown” parts of my inheritance, blessings that don’t look like much on a map?
- How do I claim promises (like Jerusalem in Benjamin’s list) that haven’t been fulfilled yet?
Leading a Discussion
This passage seems like a dry list, twenty-six city names, many unfamiliar. But lists in Scripture are never just data. They are title deeds. Benjamin, the smallest tribe, stood between Judah and Joseph, yet God gave them a territory that included both the famous (Jericho, Bethel, Jerusalem) and the forgotten. As you discuss, consider what it means to receive an inheritance that includes places broken by judgment, places you have not yet conquered.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the cities listed? Which names are familiar, and which are unknown?
- Why do you think God included Jericho in the allotment after its destruction and curse? What does that tell us about God’s character?
- The list includes “the Jebusite, which is Jerusalem” (v. 28), a city still held by enemies. How does this shape your understanding of faith and promise?
- Several cities (Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth) were part of a peace treaty made by deception (Joshua 9). What does it mean that they are still given to Benjamin?
- Many of these cities appear nowhere else in Scripture. How does that affect your view of God’s attention to every part of our lives, even the obscure?
- Benjamin’s inheritance was “between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph” (Joshua 18:11). How can a position between stronger tribes be a gift?
- The word “inheritance” (נַחֲלָה) appears twice in this passage. What does it mean to receive an inheritance from God that includes both blessing and difficulty?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Joshua 2:1 | Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, including Jericho.” They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there. |
| Joshua 6:1 | Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the children of Israel. No one went out, and no one came in. |
| Joshua 15:6 | The border went up to Beth Hoglah, and passed along by the north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. |
| Joshua 18:12 | Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward. It ended at the wilderness of Beth Aven. |
| Joshua 18:19 | The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the south border. |
| Luke 10:30 | Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. |
| Luke 19:1 | He entered and was passing through Jericho. |
| Genesis 10:18 | the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke identifies each city by the key biblical events that occurred there, linking geography to sacred history. Gibeon recalls the five kings' defeat, Mizpeh marks Samuel's assemblies and Saul's election, and Zelah is the burial place of Saul and Jonathan. He also notes that Jebusi is the ancient name of Jerusalem.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that Benjamin's small territory was unusually strong because it sat on a high plateau dotted with hilltop fortresses like Gibeon, Ramah, and Mizpeh. Steep ravines formed the only routes up from the plains, making the tribe's warriors famous for archery and left-handed fighting, fierce and nearly unbeatable in their mountain passes.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw attention to the precise numbering of Benjamin's inheritance: twelve cities in the first group, fourteen in the second, with Jerusalem listed among them as Jebusi. This careful tally confirms that every detail of the tribal allotment was recorded exactly as God had assigned.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies each of Benjamin's listed cities by connecting them to other biblical events, persons, or later Jewish traditions. He resolves textual questions, like whether Zelah and Eleph are one or two cities, and often notes where these places stood in his own time. His commentary is largely a geographical and historical annotation of the tribal inheritance.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the seven tribes were slow to take possession because they clung to their nomadic lifestyle, reluctant to settle and conquer. Joshua's reproof and the subsequent survey of the land were both a practical necessity and a divinely ordained step, ensuring fair distribution before the Lord at Shiloh.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Jericho - For tho' the city was destroyed, the territory remained.