Joshua19
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And the second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2And they had for their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
3and Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Ezem,
4and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5and Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,
6and Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages:
7Ain, Rimmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages:
8and all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9Out of the part of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.
10And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families. And the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid;
11and their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth; and it reached to the brook that is before Jokneam;
12and it turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor; and it went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia;
13and from thence it passed along eastward to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretcheth unto Neah;
14and the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon; and the goings out thereof were at the valley of Iphtah-el;
15and Kattath, and Nahalal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18And their border was unto Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19and Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
20and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Ebez,
21and Remeth, and Engannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez,
22and the border reached to Tabor, and Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh; and the goings out of their border were at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.
24And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26and Allammelech, and Amad, and Mishal; and it reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;
27and it turned toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah-el northward to Beth-emek and Neiel; and it went out to Cabul on the left hand,
28and Ebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Sidon;
29and the border turned to Ramah, and to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea by the region of Achzib;
30Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33And their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakkum; and the goings out thereof were at the Jordan;
34and the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor, and went out from thence to Hukkok; and it reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrising.
35And the fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37and Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,
38and Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.
40The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41And the border of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,
42and Shaalabbin, and Aijalon, and Ithlah,
43and Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron,
44and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45and Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,
46and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.
47And the border of the children of Dan went out beyond them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49So they made an end of distributing the land for inheritance by the borders thereof; and the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun in the midst of them:
50according to the commandment of Jehovah they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in the hill-country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
51These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before Jehovah, at the door of the tent of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the land.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 19.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The lot of Simeon. (1–9). The lot of Zebulun. (10–16). The lot of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. (17–51).
vv1-9
The men of Judah did not oppose taking away the cities within their border, when convinced that they had more than was right. If a true believer has obtained an unintended and improper advantage in any thing, he will give it up without murmuring. Love seeketh not her own, and doth not behave unseemly; it will induce those in whom it richly dwells, to part with their own to supply what is lacking to their brethren.
vv10-16
In the division to each tribe of Israel, the prophetic blessings of Jacob were fulfilled. They chose for themselves, or it was divided to them by lot, in the manner and places that he foresaw. So sure a rule to go by is the word of prophecy: we see by it what to believe, and it proves beyond all dispute the things that are of God.
vv17-51
Joshua waited till all the tribes were settled, before he asked any provision for himself. He was content to be unfixed, till he saw them all placed, and herein is an example to all in public places, to prefer the common welfare before private advantage. Those who labour most to do good to others, seek an inheritance in the Canaan above: but it will be soon enough to enter thereon, when they have done all the service to their brethren of which they are capable. Nor can any thing more effectually assure them of their title to it, than endeavouring to bring others to desire, to seek, and to obtain it. Our Lord Jesus came and dwelt on earth, not in pomp but poverty, providing rest for man, yet himself not having where to lay his head; for Christ pleased not himself. Nor would he enter upon his inheritance, till by his obedience to death he secured the eternal inheritance for all his people; nor will he account his own glory completed, till every ransomed sinner is put in possession of his heavenly rest.
Key Words
שֵׁנִי: properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
גּוֹרָל: properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
שִׁמְעוֹן: Shimon, one of Jacob's sons, also the tribe descended from him
מַטֶּה: a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
מִשְׁפָּחָה: a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
נַחֲלָה: properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
תָּוֶךְ: a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
Cross References
Joshua 19Simeon's inheritance within Judah fulfills Jacob's prophecy that Simeon would be divided and scattered in Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Zebulun's lot bordering the sea fulfills Jacob's prophecy concerning his dwelling by the haven of ships.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the list of Simeon's cities, confirming that Beersheba and Sheba are one and the same.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Zebulun and Issachar's relative positions and blessings are fulfilled in their designated portions.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Records the Danites renaming the city of Leshem (Laish) to Dan after their father.
Supported by JFB
Jacob's prophecy of Issachar's strong-boned labor matches their agricultural territory in Esdraelon.
Jacob's prophecy of Asher's rich food matches their fertile coastal territory.
Shows Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Tyre, Zidon, and Achzib.
Supported by JFB
Moses' prophetic blessing of Asher relates directly to the fertile territory allotted here.
Highlights the Danites' struggle to possess their small allotment, leading to northern expansion.
Supported by JFB
Explains that Simeon's lot was taken from Judah's portion because it was too large.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Illustrates how Judah's abundance supplied Simeon's lack, demonstrating mutual Christian giving.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus' ministry in Galilee took place in the ancient borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
Identifies Timnath-serah as Joshua's final inheritance and place of burial.