יהושע, פרק י״ח, פסוק ד׳

As the initial fourteen years of conquest and division in Gilgal come to a close, the nation prepares to transition into a period of permanent settlement [רלב״ג]. To finalize the distribution of the land, Joshua initiates a comprehensive survey of the remaining undivided territories. He calls the people to action [מצודת ציון], instructing them to select three representatives from each of the seven tribes that are still waiting for their inheritance [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These chosen men are tasked with traveling throughout the land, mapping its features, and returning to report their findings before the final lottery takes place [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

A central issue in this process is how the men were supposed to map the land in preparation for the lottery. One approach suggests that the territories were measured and divided based on the specific population size and needs of each tribe. A larger tribe would be assigned a more expansive area, while a smaller tribe would receive less land [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, others point out a practical difficulty with this method: if the plots were pre-sized for specific tribes, a lottery would be entirely meaningless, as each piece of land would only fit one particular group. According to this perspective, the scouts were instead instructed to divide the remaining land into seven completely equal portions. Only after the lottery determined which region went to which tribe would the borders be adjusted, expanding or shrinking to accommodate the actual size of the winning population [רלב״ג].

Beyond the practical logistics of surveying the territory, a hidden layer of divine guidance directed the entire process. Joshua understood that the holy spirit would accompany the scouts, guiding them to map the land in perfect alignment with the inheritance God had already intended for each tribe. In truth, the division of the land and the drawing of lots were never random events. Through the ancient blessings given by Jacob and Moses, Joshua already possessed a tradition detailing exactly where each tribe was destined to settle. Therefore, the lottery was not a game of blind chance, but a carefully guided action that precisely fulfilled a divine plan established long in advance [מלבי״ם].