SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:4
Seņalad tres varones de cada tribu, para que yo los envíe, y que ellos se levanten, y anden la tierra, y la dibujen conforme a sus heredades, y se tornen a mí.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:4
Verse 4. Three men for each tribe] Probably meaning only three from each of the seven tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. It is likely that these twenty-one men were accompanied by a military guard, for without this they might have been easily cut off by straggling parties of the Canaanites. They shall-describe it] It is likely they were persons well acquainted with geography and mensuration, without which it would have been impossible for them to have divided the land in the way necessary on this occasion.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. Give out from among you three men for [each] tribe , etc.] That is, for each of the seven tribes, in all twenty one; though some think they were to be taken out of all the nine tribes and a half, and were thirty six; and so Josephus seems to understand it; but then he makes but one out of each tribe to be sent, and but ten in all, which is a great oversight in that historian: and I will send them ; Joshua would not take upon him to name the persons, but left it to their own choice for their greater satisfaction; but when chosen and presented to him, he would give them a commission and directions what to do: and they shall rise ; gird themselves, and prepare for their journey, and set out: and go through the land ; of Canaan; not the whole of it, but that part which as yet was not disposed of; though some think they were to go through and describe the whole land; but I see no reason for that, for what was described was to be divided into seven parts only, and what belonged already to Judah and Joseph, seem plainly to be excepted in ( Joshua 18:5): and describe it according to the inheritance of them ; take the dimensions of it, and divide it into seven parts, according to the number of the tribes that had not received their inheritance. Jarchi thinks this description and division were not to be made equally, but according to the largeness and smallness of the tribes; but this could not be done by the measurers, since the inheritance of each depended on the lot that was afterward to be cast, which by this means would have been rendered needless: and they shall come [again] to me ; which seems to be not only a precept or instruction to them, that when they had done their business, they should come to Joshua and give him an account of it; but an assurance also of their safety, that they should receive no disturbance nor hurt from the remaining Canaanites, but should return safe and well.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 2-10 - After a year or more, Joshua blamed their slackness, and told them ho to proceed. God, by his grace, has given us a title to a good land, the heavenly Canaan, but we are slack to take possession of it; we ente not into that rest, as we might by faith, and hope, and holy joy. Ho long shall it be thus with us? How long shall we thus stand in our ow light, and forsake our own mercies for lying vanities? Joshua stirs the Israelites up to take possession of their lots. He is ready to do his part, if they will do theirs.
Original Hebrew
הבו 3051 לכם שׁלשׁה 7969 אנשׁים 376 לשׁבט 7626 ואשׁלחם 7971 ויקמו 6965 ויתהלכו 1980 בארץ 776 ויכתבו 3789 אותה 853 לפי 6310 נחלתם 5159 ויבאו 935 אלי׃ 413
