Joshua 19

Simeon's Inheritance

1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of his descendants by their clans, but their inheritance was within the portion of Judah's descendants.
2 Their inheritance included: Beer-sheba (or Sheba),[a] Moladah,
3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,
4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,
6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen-13 cities, with their villages;
7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan-four cities, with their villages;
8 and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the south[b]). This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon's descendants by their clans.
9 The inheritance of Simeon's descendants was within the territory of Judah's descendants, because the share for Judah's descendants was too large for them. So Simeon's descendants received an inheritance within Judah's portion.

Zebulun's Inheritance

10 The third lot came up for Zebulun's descendants by their clans. The territory of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid;
11 their border went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam.
12 From Sarid, it turned east toward the sunrise along the border of Chisloth-tabor, went to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.
13 From there, it went east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon, curving around to Neah.
14 The border then circled around Neah on the north to Hannathon and ended at the valley of Iphtah-el,
15 along with Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem-12 cities, with their villages.
16 This was the inheritance of Zebulun's descendants by their clans, these cities, with their villages.

Issachar's Inheritance

17 The fourth lot came out for the tribe of Issachar's descendants by their clans.
18 Their territory went to Jezreel, and [included] Chesulloth, Shunem,
19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,
20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,
21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Beth-pazzez.
22 The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan-16 cities, with their villages.
23 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar's descendants by their clans, the cities, with their villages.

Asher's Inheritance

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher's descendants by their clans.
25 Their boundary included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,
26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal and reached westward to Carmel and Shihor-libnath.
27 It turned eastward to Beth-dagon, passed Zebulun and the valley of Iphtah-el, north toward Beth-emek and Neiel, and went north to Cabul,
28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Great Sidon.
29 The boundary then turned to Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre; it turned back to Hosah and ended at the sea, including Mahalab, Achzib,[c]
30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob-22 cities, with their villages.
31 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Asher's descendants by their clans, these cities with their villages.

Naphtali's Inheritance

32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali's descendants by their clans.
33 Their boundary went from Heleph and from the oak in Zaanannim, including Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan.
34 To the west, the boundary turned to Aznoth-tabor and went from there to Hukkok, reaching Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah[d] at the Jordan on the east.
35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,[e]
36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
38 Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh-19 cities, with their villages.
39 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali's descendants by their clans, the cities with their villages.

Dan's Inheritance

40 The seventh lot came out for the Danite tribe by its clans.
41 The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh,
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 territory facing Joppa.
47 When the territory of the Danites slipped out of their control,[f] they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and struck it down with the sword. So they took possession of it, lived there, and renamed Leshem after[g] their ancestor Dan.
48 This was the inheritance of the Danite tribe by its clans, these cities with their villages.

Joshua's Inheritance

49 When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them.
50 By the Lord's command, they gave him the city Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, which he requested. He rebuilt the city and lived in it.
51 These were the portions that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed to the Israelite tribes by lot at Shiloh in the Lord's presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So 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.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. 1 Ch 4:28
  • [b]. Or the Negev
  • [c]. Or sea, in the region of Achzib
  • [d]. LXX omits Judah
  • [e]. A town near the Sea of Galilee
  • [f]. Lit territory of the sons of Dan went out from them
  • [g]. Lit and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of

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

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