It is possible but unlikely that this is the first time that the tent of meeting has been set up in the land of Canaan. The reasons for this statement are the following: the fact that the invasion of Canaan took the best part of five to seven years, and that fact that Israel have already celebrated Passover in the land (Joshua 5:10), engaged in covenant renewal ceremonies (Joshua 8:30–35), and received detailed instructions as to how their camp was meant to be setup (see Numbers 1—10). The tent of meeting is thus mentioned for the first time because the Spirit wants to draw our attention to it. Most likely he wants to emphasize that the remainder of the allotment took place in the presence of the Lord (see Joshua 18:6, Joshua 18:8, Joshua 18:10) and that the presence of God with Israel in covenantal relationship has now been realized in the land.