יהושע, פרק י״ח, פסוק י״ב

The drawing of tribal boundaries in the land of Israel was a precise process, defining not just physical land but the future home of each tribe. For the tribe of Benjamin, their northern border was carefully mapped out to run from east to west, moving directly alongside the territory belonging to the descendants of Joseph [מלבי״ם].

The journey of this northern boundary begins in the east at the waters of the Jordan River, stretching steadily westward from this starting point [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. As it moves across the landscape, it reaches the outskirts of Jericho, sweeping around the city from the north. By tracing this specific path, the border ensures that the city of Jericho itself rests entirely within the inheritance of Benjamin [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. However, the physical layout of this border around the city's edge indicates a limitation; the particularly fertile and lush agricultural land located just east of Jericho was withheld from the tribe of Benjamin at that time [מלבי״ם].

Past Jericho, the boundary continues its westward ascent into the mountainous region [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The mountain it climbs is identified as Mount Bethel, securing this elevated area as part of Benjamin's land as well [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

The border reaches its farthest point in this direction at the wilderness of Beth Aven, marking the end of the territory's width [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Geographically, Mount Bethel sat just east of this wilderness [מלבי״ם]. At this specific landmark, the boundary stops moving in a straight westward line. Instead, it begins to turn inward and dip toward the south, causing the overall shape of Benjamin's territory to narrow from this point forward [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].