They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "God commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our kinsmen." Joshua 17:4 (TM)
I find that sometimes it’s helpful to read between the lines when it comes to scriptural history. For the past few chapters of Joshua, different tribes and factions have been coming to Joshua to ask for this or that land. Joshua gives it to them. It’s all nice and factual. You have to believe, however, that the real negotiations between Joshua and the tribal leaders was hotly debated. Trusting that human nature hasn’t changed, I’m sure Joshua found it impossible to please everyone, got constantly harassed with decisions of minute detail and was vilified by almost everyone at one time or another. Kind of like a pastor in a building campaign.
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