According to v. 9, the land was marked off by cities into seven parts. Then Joshua cast lots for these seven parts to decide which part should go to each tribe. After this he divided the land according to the size of the tribe to which any particular group of cities had fallen by lot. A small tribe would have its lot made smaller, and a more numerous tribe would have its lot increased by lands taken from the tribe of fewer people. This would be according to the law of division that God gave through Moses (Num. 33:54).