The Church Fathers on this verse

Joshua 18:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And when the men were risen up, to go to mark out the land, Joshua commanded them saying: Go round the land and mark it out, and return to me: that I may cast lots for you before the Lord in Silo.

Douay-Rheims

וַיָּקֻ֥מוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיְצַ֣ו יְהוֹשֻׁ֡עַ אֶת־הַהֹלְכִים֩ לִכְתֹּ֨ב אֶת־הָאָ֜רֶץ לֵאמֹ֗ר לְ֠כוּ וְהִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ בָאָ֜רֶץ וְכִתְב֤וּ אוֹתָהּ֙ וְשׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלַ֔י וּ֠פֹה אַשְׁלִ֨יךְ לָכֶ֥ם גּוֹרָ֛ל לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Beda Venerabilis

7th centuryChurch Father

The turbulent waves of the infinite sea may represent the transgressions in which the unrighteous are engulfed during their earthly existence, as well as the abyss that awaits them in their impending demise. At the Final Judgment, they will be cast into Gehenna, alongside the devil. It is significant to note that when the Tabernacle was established on Mount Sinai, the Red Sea lay to its west, and when it was moved to Shiloh and set up by Joshua, the Mediterranean Sea extended in the same direction. In a profound interpretation of Scripture, we can understand that the faithful who serve the Lord in this life create a dwelling place for Him in their hearts, while they disregard the arrogant self-adulation of the seemingly righteous, recognizing its imminent downfall.

Read more (60 words)

The righteous will reside in their eternal abode near the Lord and will be able to witness the everlasting judgment of the wicked without any detriment to their blessed state. Therefore, our forebears also express their gratitude to the Lord, for they not only experience the blessings He provides but also perceive the evils from which He has rescued them.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.