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Joshua 19

Joshua19

King James Version · Public Domain

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1 And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.

2 And they had in their inheritance Beer–sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,

3 And Hazar–shual, and Balah, and Ezem,

4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

5 And Ziklag, and Beth–marcaboth, and Hazar–susah,

6 And Beth–lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:

7 Ain, Rimmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:

8 And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath–beer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.

9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:

11 And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;

12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth–tabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,

13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gath–hepher, to Eth–kazin, and goeth out to Rimmon–methoar to Neah;

14 And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Iphtah–el:

15 And Kattath, and Nahalal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth–lehem: twelve cities with their villages.

16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

17 And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.

18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,

19 And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,

20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,

21 And Remeth, and En–gannim, and En–haddah, and Beth–pazez;

22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth–shemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.

23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.

25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,

26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Mishal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor–libnath;

27 And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth–dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah–el toward the north side of Beth–emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,

28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;

29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:

30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.

31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

32 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.

33 And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:

34 And then the coast turneth westward to Aznoth–tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.

35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,

36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,

37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and En–hazor,

38 And Iron, and Migdal–el, Horem, and Beth–anath, and Beth–shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.

39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

40 And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir–shemesh,

42 And Shaalabbin, and Aijalon, and Jethlah,

43 And Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron,

44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,

45 And Jehud, and Bene–berak, and Gath–rimmon,

46 And Me–jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.

47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight 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.

48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:

50 According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath–serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.

51 These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

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Joshua 19

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 19. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

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

secondH8145Hebrew

שֵׁנִי: properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again

lotH1486Hebrew

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)

came outH3318Hebrew

יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.

SimeonH8095Hebrew

שִׁמְעוֹן: Shimon, one of Jacob's sons, also the tribe descended from him

tribeH4294Hebrew

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)

peopleH1121Hebrew

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.)

clansH4940Hebrew

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

inheritanceH5159Hebrew

נַחֲלָה: properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion

midstH8432Hebrew

תָּוֶךְ: a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre

JudahH3063Hebrew

יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

Cross References

Joshua 19
v1Genesis 49:7fulfillment

Simeon's inheritance within Judah fulfills Jacob's prophecy that Simeon would be divided and scattered in Israel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v10Genesis 49:13fulfillment

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

v10Deuteronomy 33:18fulfillment

Zebulun and Issachar's relative positions and blessings are fulfilled in their designated portions.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v47Judges 18:29thematic

Records the Danites renaming the city of Leshem (Laish) to Dan after their father.

Supported by JFB

v17Genesis 49:14thematic

Jacob's prophecy of Issachar's strong-boned labor matches their agricultural territory in Esdraelon.

v24Genesis 49:20thematic

Jacob's prophecy of Asher's rich food matches their fertile coastal territory.

v24Judges 1:31contrast

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.

v40Judges 18:1thematic

Highlights the Danites' struggle to possess their small allotment, leading to northern expansion.

Supported by JFB

v1Joshua 19:9thematic

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

v10Matthew 4:13thematic

Jesus' ministry in Galilee took place in the ancient borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.

v50Joshua 24:30thematic

Identifies Timnath-serah as Joshua's final inheritance and place of burial.