It is uncertain whether this meant 3 men from each of the 12 tribes or 3 men from the remaining 7 tribes; probably the latter, since these 7 tribes were the ones concerned. The others had already received their inheritances. This would make 21 in all.

Literally, “shall write it.” The men apparently were to describe it, naming the cities, size of the cities, value of various districts for farming, stock raising, etc., so that the value of these properties might properly be assessed. Having this knowledge the delegation was afterward to divide the whole territory into seven portions. These ideas are in harmony with Josephus’ account of the incident (Antiquities v. 1. 21). Regarding Joshua’s charge, he says, “He also gave them a charge to estimate the measure of that part of the land that was most fruitful, and what was not so good.” Also further, “Joshua thought the land for the tribes should be divided by estimation of its goodness, rather than the largeness of its measure, it often happening that one acre of some sorts of land was equivalent to a thousand other acres.”