יהושע, פרק י״ח, פסוק י׳

The monumental task of assigning the tribal territories in the land of Israel reaches a pivotal moment in Shiloh. This historic event unfolds directly in front of the Tabernacle, emphasizing that the allocation is conducted in the presence of God [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The process of distributing the land involves two distinct steps. First, lots are cast to establish and reveal the general borders of the territory granted to each tribe. Following this divine selection, Joshua performs a practical division of the land within those borders, allocating specific portions based on the population size of each tribe [מלבי"ם].

When it comes to the exact framework used for this distribution, there are two ways to understand how the portions are determined. One perspective suggests that the allocation relies on the preparatory work of the scouts who had previously toured and mapped out the land [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, the mention of these divisions serves as an introduction, setting the stage for the detailed lists of cities and borders that immediately follow in the biblical account [מצודת דוד].