Joshua 19

Listen to Joshua 19

The Inheritance for Simeon

1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans, 1and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah.
2 2And they had for their inheritance Beersheba, 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 together with all the villages around these cities as far as Baalath-beer, Ramah of the Negeb. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Simeon according to their clans.
9 3The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.

The Inheritance for Zebulun

10 The third lot came up for the people of Zebulun, according to their clans. And the territory of their inheritance reached as far as Sarid.
11 Then their boundary goes up 4westward and on to Mareal and touches Dabbesheth, then the brook that is east of 5Jokneam.
12 From Sarid it goes in the other direction eastward toward the sunrise to the boundary of Chisloth-tabor. From there it goes to Daberath, then up to Japhia.
13 From there it passes along on the east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and going on to Rimmon it bends toward Neah,
14 then on the north the boundary turns about to Hannathon, and it ends at the Valley of Iphtahel;
15 and Kattath, Nahalal, 6Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem--twelve cities with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the people of Zebulun, according to their clans--these cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Issachar

17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the people of Issachar, according to their clans.
18 Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, 7Shunem,
19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,
20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,
21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Beth-pazzez.
22 The boundary also touches Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and its boundary ends at the Jordan--sixteen cities with their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Issachar, according to their clans--the cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Asher

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans.
25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,
26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west it touches 8Carmel and Shihor-libnath,
27 then it turns eastward, it goes to Beth-dagon, and touches Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtahel northward to Beth-emek and Neiel. Then it continues in the north to 9Cabul,
28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as 10Sidon the Great.
29 Then the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre. Then the boundary turns to Hosah, and it ends at the sea; Mahalab,[a] Achzib,
30 Ummah, Aphek and Rehob--twenty-two cities with their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans--these cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Naphtali

32 The sixth lot came out for the people of Naphtali, for the people of Naphtali, according to their clans.
33 And their boundary ran from Heleph, from 11the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan.
34 Then the boundary turns 12westward to Aznoth-tabor and goes from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun at the south and Asher on the west and Judah on the east at the Jordan.
35 The fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, 13Chinnereth,
36 Adamah, Ramah, 14Hazor,
37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
38 Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh--nineteen cities with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Naphtali according to their clans--the cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Dan

40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans.
41 And the territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh,
42 15Shaalabbin, 16Aijalon, Ithlah,
43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron,
44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,
45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,
46 and Me-jarkon and Rakkon with the territory over against 17Joppa.
47 When 18the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans--these cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Joshua

49 When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun.
50 By command of the LORD they gave him the city that he asked, 19Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.
51 20These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot 21at Shiloh before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing 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.

Cross References 21

  • 1. ver. 9; [Genesis 49:7]
  • 2. For ver. 2-8, see 1 Chronicles 4:28-33
  • 3. ver. 1
  • 4. [Joshua 18:14; Genesis 49:13]
  • 5. Joshua 12:22; Joshua 21:34
  • 6. Joshua 11:1
  • 7. 1 Samuel 28:4
  • 8. 1 Kgs. 18:19, 20, 42; 2 Kings 2:25; 2 Kings 4:25; Song of Songs 7:5; Isaiah 33:9; Jeremiah 50:19
  • 9. [1 Kings 9:13]
  • 10. Joshua 11:8; [Judges 1:31]
  • 11. [Judges 4:11]
  • 12. [Deuteronomy 33:23]
  • 13. See Joshua 11:2
  • 14. Joshua 11:1
  • 15. Judges 1:35
  • 16. Judges 1:35
  • 17. 2 Chronicles 2:16; Ezra 3:7
  • 18. Judges 1:34, 35; Judges 18:1
  • 19. Joshua 24:30; Judges 2:9
  • 20. Joshua 14:1; Numbers 34:17
  • 21. See Joshua 18:1

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Compare Septuagint; Hebrew Mehebel

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

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.