Joshua 18:21-28 Meaning: Why Jericho Is in Benjamin's Lot
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meaning in one sentence
God gave Jericho, once destroyed and cursed, to the tribe of Benjamin. This shows His power to restore and include.
Context
The land has been subdued. The tabernacle stands at Shiloh. Seven tribes still have no inheritance, and Joshua tells them they are too slow to take what God has given. Surveyors map the land into seven parts, and Joshua casts lots before the Lord. Benjamin's lot falls between Judah and Joseph, a narrow strip of hill country guarding the approach to Jerusalem.
The list of cities that follows is more than a surveyor's record. It includes Jericho, the first city conquered in the promised land. Joshua had pronounced a curse on anyone who would rebuild its walls. Yet here Jericho appears among Benjamin's cities. The curse was real, but the land itself was still part of God's gift. This passage invites us to see that God's inheritance is not limited by past destruction. He can include what seems lost.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for inheritance here is nachalah (H5159). It means something passed down as a permanent possession, not earned but received. When the text says, 'This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin,' it is claiming that these cities, with all their histories, belong to God's people by His gift.
The word for tribe is matteh (H4294), which also means staff or rod. A tribe was a community led by a chief carrying a staff. It is a word of belonging: Benjamin is not a random collection of families but a people with a leader and a place.
And the word for cities is arim (H5892), from a root meaning to watch or guard. These are not just dots on a map. They are places of protection and daily life. When Jericho is named among them, it says that even a place once marked by judgment can become a place of safety and home.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this list as a reminder that God's promises are not cancelled by His judgments. Wesley notes that Jericho was destroyed as a city, but its territory remained. Gill adds that the curse applied only to rebuilding the walls, not to living on the land itself. Later rabbinic tradition saw Benjamin's lot as a sign of God's favor, since Jerusalem would eventually stand within it. Matthew Henry sees in Benjamin's inheritance a picture of grace: the smallest tribe receives a central territory, including places that had witnessed great sin and great deliverance. No tradition argues that the list contradicts the curse; rather, they see God working through history to redeem what seemed lost.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
Think of one place in your life that feels ruined or beyond repair. A relationship that broke. A season of failure you wish you could erase. This passage says that God's inheritance includes what was lost. He does not erase the past, but He reclaims the ground.
This week, when you walk past that broken place in your memory, try this: thank God that He still calls it part of His gift. You do not have to pretend it never happened. You just have to receive it back from His hand, retaken and redeemed.
Main takeaway: God's inheritance includes restored and redeemed places, not just untouched ones.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God gave the town of Jericho to the people of Benjamin. Even though Jericho had been broken, God made it part of their new home. God can fix broken things and give them back to us.
For ages 9, 12
Jericho was the first city the Israelites conquered when they entered the promised land. Joshua said no one should rebuild its walls, and that curse stayed. But the land itself was still good land. So when the lots were drawn, Jericho's territory was included in Benjamin's inheritance. This shows us that God can take a place that has a hard history and make it part of His good gift again. Sometimes we think something is too ruined for God to use. This verse says otherwise.
Questions People Ask
Why is Jericho listed here if Joshua cursed anyone who rebuilt it?
The curse in Joshua 6:26 specifically forbade rebuilding the gates and walls of Jericho, not living on the land itself. So the territory could still be inhabited, and Benjamin could settle there. The curse remained in force, but the land was still part of God's gift.
What is the significance of Jerusalem being mentioned in this list?
The text says 'the Jebusite (also called Jerusalem).' At this time Jerusalem was still a Jebusite city, not yet conquered by Israel. Listing it as part of Benjamin's inheritance was an act of faith, claiming what God had promised even though it was not yet possessed.
How many cities did Benjamin receive in total?
The passage lists twenty-six cities in two groups: twelve in the first group (verses 21-24) and fourteen in the second (verses 25-28). These are the main cities, each with surrounding villages, forming Benjamin's allotted inheritance.
What does the name 'Benjamin' mean, and does it relate to his inheritance?
Benjamin means 'son of the right hand' in Hebrew. It speaks of favor and strength. His inheritance fell between the powerful tribes of Judah and Joseph, a central and strategically important area, which matches the idea of a favored position.
Is there a New Testament connection to Benjamin's inheritance?
Yes. The Apostle Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). Also, Jerusalem, the city where Jesus was crucified and rose again, lay within Benjamin's territory. So this list points forward to the place of God's greatest redemption work.
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