יהושע, פרק י״ג, פסוק כ״ו

The boundaries of the tribal lands are marked by a series of specific settlements and geographic landmarks. Locations such as Heshbon, Ramath-mizpeh, Betonim, Mahanaim, and Debir outline the borders, though these particular towns remain largely obscure and unrecognized [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Beyond serving as a simple geographic record, this location holds a unique structural significance within the transmission of the Biblical text. It marks the precise midpoint of the entire Book of Joshua when counting by verses. Out of the 656 verses that make up the book, this specific spot stands as the 328th, dividing the text perfectly in half [מנחת שי].

This exact placement acts as a vital textual safeguard. It provides clear evidence regarding two disputed verses found later in the twenty-first chapter of certain editions. Because adding those verses would disrupt the precise count, their absence from the original text is confirmed. While some printed versions mistakenly placed the halfway mark earlier in the book, following the list of Canaanite kings, manuscripts verify that the true center of the book rests exactly at this geographic list [מנחת שי].