יהושע, פרק י״ח, פסוק ג׳

Seven tribes of Israel remain at a standstill, with their designated lands still largely unconquered and unsettled [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Confronting this lack of progress, Joshua issues a sharp rebuke, questioning how long they will remain passive and negligent in completing their mission [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The commentators offer different explanations for why the tribes delayed for so long. One perspective suggests their hesitation was rooted in a strategic fear. The tribes avoided mapping out the borders and dividing the territory because they worried that once each tribe secured its private inheritance, their national unity would dissolve. They feared that no one would step up to help a fellow tribe conquer its land, and therefore preferred to conquer the entire country together before dividing it. Only the tribes of Judah and Joseph, known for their bravery, had the courage to claim their portions in advance [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Joshua dismisses this fear by reminding them that God is the one giving them the land and fighting their battles. With His help, they are guaranteed victory even without the combined military support of the other tribes [מצודת דוד].

Another approach views the delay not as a tactical choice, but as a fundamental flaw in their process. God had promised to drive out the local inhabitants, but He made this divine assistance conditional upon the land first being divided by lot so that each tribe would know its specific portion. Because the final conquest depended directly on this division, the tribes' refusal to map out their inheritances was the very thing preventing them from finishing the task [מלבי״ם].