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Joshua 19

Joshua19

World English Bible · Public Domain

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1 The second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. Their inheritance was in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Judah.

2 They had for their inheritance Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,

3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,

4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,

6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages;

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

8 and all the villages that were around 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.

9 Out 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 middle of their inheritance.

10 The third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families. The border of their inheritance was to Sarid.

11 Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam.

12 It turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrise to the border of Chisloth Tabor. It went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.

13 From there it passed along eastward to Gath Hepher, to Ethkazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretches to Neah.

14 The border turned around it on the north to Hannathon; and it ended at the valley of Iphtah El;

15 Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: 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 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of Issachar according to their families.

18 Their border was to Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,

19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,

20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,

21 Remeth, Engannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez.

22 The border reached to Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh. Their border ended at the 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 with their villages.

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

25 Their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,

26 Allammelech, Amad, Mishal. It reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath.

27 It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand,

28 and Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Sidon.

29 The border turned to Ramah, to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah. It ended at the sea by the region of Achzib;

30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-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 for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.

33 Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakkum. It ended at the Jordan.

34 The border turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there to Hukkok. It reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrise.

35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,

36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,

38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, 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 with their villages.

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

41 The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh,

42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,

43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,

45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,

46 Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border opposite Joppa.

47 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 struck it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and lived therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their forefather.

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

49 So they finished distributing the land for inheritance by its borders. The children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them.

50 According to Yahweh’s commandment, they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in the hill country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and lived there.

51 These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, 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 Yahweh, at the door of the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing the land.

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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.