After the wars in Canaan were ended, and Israel could live safely, the Tabernacle was taken from Gilgal to a place called Shiloh. The people all met there and the Tent was set up, no doubt as it had been at Mt. Sinai, with its pillars and coverings, its court and furniture.
Shiloh was near the center of the land and must have been the place chosen by God for that time. As He had told them before they entered, that they should bring their sacrifices and gifts to a place He would choose (Joshua 18:1; Deut. 12:11).
Later, God chose Jerusalem. This must have been a happy time, when they could thank God for their new homes and lands.
Also, before Israel crossed the Jordan River, God had said that when they had taken the land of Canaan, it should be divided among them,—the largest shares to the large tribes, and smaller shares to the small tribes (Numbers 33:54.)
Excepting the tribe of Levi should have no land by themselves, for the men from that tribe were to care for the Tabernacle and the worship of God. But they were to have cities in each of the other tribes, where they could live with their families, and have fields for their cattle (Josh. 14:4).
You remember all these people were of the families of Jacob’s twelve sons, who had become so many that those of each son were called a tribe.
But the people of Joseph were divided in two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. Judah was the tribe and was given the most land, the country south from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. The tribe of Simeon was given their share with Judah (Josh. 19:9). The tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of Manasseh got no share in Canaan, because they had wanted their land across Jordan.
So the land was divided just as the Lord said, and the people went to live in their lands.
We cannot now know just where all the boundaries were, as the names are not all the same now. But if you look on a Bible map of Canaan, you will see the land marked for each tribe, as well as is now known.
How many cities were given to the people of Levi? (Josh. 21:41).
Can you name the thirteen tribes? Their names can be found in Joshua 18:7,11, and 19:1,10,17,24, 32, and 40.
ML 05/08/1938