Joshua 19

1 The second lot came out for Shim'on, for the tribe of the descendants of Shim'on according to their families. Their inheritance was inside the inheritance of the descendants of Y'hudah.
2 For their inheritance they had Be'er-Sheva, Sheva, Moladah,
3 Hatzar-Shu'al, Balah, 'Etzem,
4 El-Tolad, B'tul, Hormah,
5 Ziklag, Beit-Markavot, Hatzar-Susah,
6 Beit-L'va'ot and Sharuchen - thirteen cities, together with their villages;
7 'Ayin, Rimmon, 'Eter and 'Ashan - four cities, together with their villages;
8 and all the villages surrounding these cities, as far as Ba'alat-Be'er, Ramah of the Negev. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Shim'on according to their families.
9 The inheritance of the descendants of Shim'on was taken out of the allotment for the descendants of Y'hudah, because the portion given to the descendants of Y'hudah was too much for them, so the descendants of Shim'on had an inheritance inside the descendants of Y'hudah.
10 The third lot came up for the descendants of Z'vulun according to their families. The border of their inheritance began at Sarid.
11 Then their border went up westward to Mar'alah, extended to Dabeshet and on to the vadi fronting Yokne'am.
12 Also from Sarid it turned toward the sunrise to the east to the border of Kislot-Tavor, went on to Dovrat and up to Yafia.
13 From there it passed eastward to Gat-Hefer, on to 'Et-Katzin, went out at Rimmon and reached to Ne'ah.
14 Then the border turned on the north side to Hanaton, ending in the Yiftach'el Valley.
15 Also Katat, Nahalal, Shimron, Yid'alah and Beit-Lechem-twelve cities, together with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the descendants of Z'vulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17 The fourth lot came out for Yissakhar, for the descendants of Yissakhar according to their families.
18 Their territory included Yizre'el, K'sulot, Shunem,
19 Hafarayim, Shi'on, Anacharat,
20 Rabit, Kishyon, Evetz,
21 Remet, 'Ein-Ganim, 'Ein-Hadah and Beit-Patzetz.
22 Their territory extended to Tavor, Shachatzimah and Beit-Shemesh; and their territory ended at the Yarden - sixteen cities, together with their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Yissakhar according to their families, the cities, with their villages.
24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the descendants of Asher according to their families.
25 Their territory included Helkat, Hali, Beten, Akhshaf,
26 Alamelekh, 'Am'ad and Mish'al. It extended to the Karmel on the west and to Shichor-Livnat.
27 The border turned eastward to Beit-Dagon, reached to Z'vulun and the Yiftach'el Valley on its north, then Beit-'Emek and Ne'i'el, went out to Kavul on the left,
28 then 'Evron, Rechov, Hamon, Kanah and on to greater Tzidon.
29 The border turned toward Ramah and the fortified city of Tzor; next the border turned to Hosah; and it ended at the sea from Hevel to Akhziv.
30 Also included were 'Umah, Afek and Rechov - twenty cities, together with their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32 The sixth lot came out for the descendants of Naftali, for the descendants of Naftali according to their families.
33 Their border went from Helef and the oak in Tza'ananim, included Adami-Nekev and Yavne'el, went on to Lakum and ended at the Yarden.
34 Westward the border turned to Aznot-Tavor and went out from there to Hukok, reaching to Z'vulun on the south, Asher on the west and Y'hudah at the Yarden toward the east.
35 The fortified cities were Tzidim, Tzer, Hamat, Rakat, Kinneret,
36 Adamah, Ramah, Hatzor,
37 Kedesh, Edre'i, 'Ein-Hatzor,
38 Yir'on, Migdal-El, Horem, Beit-'Anat and Beit-Shemesh - nineteen cities, together with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Naftali according to their families, the cities with their villages.
40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the descendants of Dan according to their families.
41 The territory of their inheritance included Tzor'ah, Eshta'ol, 'Ir-Shemesh,
42 Sha'alabin, Ayalon, Yitlah,
43 Eilon, Timnah, 'Ekron,
44 Elt'keh, Gib'ton, Ba'alat,
45 Y'hud, B'nei-Brak, Gat-Rimmon,
46 Yarkon Springs and Rakon, with the border fronting Yafo.
47 The territory of the descendants of Dan was too small for them, so the descendants of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, defeated it by the sword, took possession of it and lived there, calling Leshem "Dan" after Dan their ancestor.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49 When they had finished distributing the land for inheritance according to its borders, the people of Isra'el gave an inheritance within their territory to Y'hoshua the son of Nun.
50 According to ADONAI's order they gave him the city he had asked for, Timnat-Serach in the hills of Efrayim; so he built up the city and lived in it.
51 These are the inheritances which El'azar the cohen, Y'hoshua the son of Nun and the leaders of the ancestral clans of the tribes of the people of Isra'el distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before ADONAI at the door of the tent of meeting. Thus they finished dividing up the land.

Joshua 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

The lot of Simeon. (1-9) The lot of Zebulun. (10-16) The lot of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. (17-51)

Verses 1-9 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.

Verses 10-16 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.

Verses 17-51 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 19

In this chapter an account is given of the lots of the six remaining tribes, and the cities in them, as of Simeon, whose cities were chiefly within the tribe of Judah, Jos 19:1-9; of Zebulun, its border and cities, Jos 19:10-16; of Issachar, its border and cities, Jos 19:17-23; of Asher, its border and cities, Jos 19:24-31; of Naphtali, its border and cities, Jos 19:32-39; of Dan, its border and titles, Jos 19:40-48; and lastly of a gift of inheritance to Joshua, Jos 19:49-51.

Joshua 19 Commentaries

Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.