2 There remained seven tribes among the Israelites that had not yet received their heritage.
3 Joshua therefore said to the Israelites, “How much longer will you put off taking steps to possess the land which the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?
4 Choose three representatives from each of your tribes; I will send them to go throughout the land and describe it for purposes of acquiring their heritage. When they return to me
5 you shall divide it into seven parts. Judah is to retain its territory in the south, and the house of Joseph its territory in the north.
6 You shall bring to me here the description of the land in seven sections. I will then cast lots for you here before the Lord, our God.
7 For the Levites have no share among you, because the priesthood of the Lord is their heritage; while Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received the heritage east of the Jordan which Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave them.”
8 When those who were to describe the land were ready for their journey, Joshua commanded them, “Go throughout the land and describe it; return to me and I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.”