If, after reading Numbers 26:52-56, I were to ask you how the tribes of Israel divided up the land, what would you say?
You might argue that the land was divvied up by way of inheritance. That is, after all, what Numbers 26:54 argues for: The larger groups get a larger inheritance, whereas the smaller groups get a smaller inheritance.
That means that a tribe like Judah, which is the largest at 76,500 fighting men (Numbers 26:22), should get the most land. Which they do; Joshua 15 details a land allotment that is much larger than any other tribe.
On the flip side, a tribe like Simeon (22,200 fighting men) should have the smallest. So small, in reality, that they get an inheritance inside another tribe (Joshua 19:9).
But if you read Numbers 26:55, you could argue that the land was divided a completely different way—by lots. This means the land should be organized randomly, with every tribe getting a piece of real estate in the Promised Land based on whatever lot they happen to choose.
This happens, too. Joshua 14:1-5 shows Joshua and Eleazar casting lots three tribes: Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah. Then, the other nine tribes show up in Joshua 18:1-10 (at Joshua’s urging) to cast lots for their land inside Canaan.
So, which one is it? Do the tribes of Israel create portions for their land based on lots or size?
Both.
The key lies in Numbers 26:56: “According to the selection by lot, their inheritance shall be divided between the larger and the smaller groups.”
What that translates to is two-fold. First, the size of the land allotments will be determined by population. The more warriors you have, the more land you get.
But the location of the tribe will be determined by lot. It’s unclear exactly how they determined the boundary lines. What is clear is that the land distribution was randomized, to deter any accusations of favoritism, but determined by need, so no one felt they had any lack.
Not that everyone felt that way, of course. In Joshua 17:15-18, the sons of Joseph complain to Joshua about their land, claiming that it’s not big enough and/or clearing it will require a monumental amount of effort.
Joshua’s response? “It’s your land. You have the resources. Handle your business.” This attitude was most likely pervasive to other tribes too and contributed to not all parts of Canaan being cleared.
In the end, everyone had what they needed. Nobody had too much, nobody had too little, and all the tribes had the capability to grow and prosper, even if some of them didn’t take it.