Journey Through JoshuaНамуна

Allotments: Behind the Text

To get an idea of how significant boundaries could be in antiquity, here’s a gallery of images of items used for allotment descriptions.

Land Allotments in Antiquity

Boundaries and land allotments were an important reality in the ancient world. Ancient writings document the extent of a parcel of land as well as the intended purposes for the land and its associated benefits. Consequently, Joshua’s land allotments are another example of a common socio-literary convention used by God to efficiently communicate his revelation. The list also reinforce his right to allocate land with boundaries that should be honored.

Kudurru stones were first used by the Kassite dynasty in Mesopotamia (roughly around the time of Moses). These stones were physical markers of land boundaries.

In addition, Kudurru stones were inscribed with accounts of royal land grants.

Sometimes narrative texts were used to explain and justify boundaries.

Stones were not the only place where land boundaries were recorded. Here is a narrative explanation of a disputed border on a decorative vessel.