Joshua 18:28
“Zelah, Eleph, the Jebusite (also called Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.”
What does Joshua 18:28 mean?
After the Israelites conquered the land, Joshua divided it among the twelve tribes, and this verse lists the final cities assigned to the tribe of Benjamin. The mention of "the Jebusite (also called Jerusalem)" is significant because it reminds us that Jerusalem wasn't yet fully under Israelite control at this point, though it would eventually become the heart of the nation. Benjamin received fourteen cities total, making them a substantial and strategically important tribe since their territory sat between the northern and southern regions. This inheritance marked God's promise of land being fulfilled for His people, giving each family a real place to call home after their long wilderness journey.