Joshua 16-20

This passage reads a little like someone is describing a detailed wall map. Land for Judah has already been allotted, then in chapter 16, the half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are assigned land. These are to be the first two tribes set up on this side of the Jordan. The rest are drawn by lot by Joshua back at Shiloh.

Interesting that the Canaanites living among the two half-tribes of Joseph were never fully exterminated, although they eventually became slaves. The two half-tribes came complaining about the size of their allotments, but were told to conquer the forested hill country. The tribesmen pled for a break since the Canaanites had iron chariots, which I assume means they would be tough to conquer militarily. Joshua simply sends them back, telling them that they will be able to do it -- although he doesn't mention that the Lord would be the one fighting for them at this point.

A female named Noah? See 17:3.

In chapter 18, Joshua seems a little disturbed that the tribes haven't taken possession of the land to this point. He organizes the surveying crew, then brings the tribal chiefs back to cast lots for the plots of land.

Joshua took the town of Timnath Serah (Timnath Heres - Judges 2:9) for his allotment. Cities of refuge were Kadesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan. An interesting concept which assumes that families will be out for avenging dead loved ones, vigilante style.

I wonder how long the whole process took for the Israelites to conquer the land, to subdue the land, to split up the land, and to settle the land.