Joshua 19

1 And the second lot goeth out for Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon, for their families; and their inheritance is in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Judah,
2 and they have in their inheritance Beer-Sheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
3 and Hazar-Shual, and Balah, and Azem,
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, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages;
8 also all the villages which [are] round about these cities, unto Baalath-Beer, Ramoth of the south. This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, for their families;
9 out of the portion of the sons of Judah [is] the inheritance of the sons of Simeon, for the portion of the sons of Judah hath been too much for them, and the sons of Simeon inherit in the midst of their inheritance.
10 And the third lot goeth up for the sons of Zebulun, for their families; and the border of their inheritance is unto Sarid,
11 and their border hath gone up towards the sea, and Maralah, and come against Dabbasheth, and come unto the brook which [is] on the front of Jokneam,
12 and turned back from Sarid eastward, at the sun-rising, by the border of Chisloth-Tabor, and gone out unto Daberath, and gone up to Japhia,
13 and thence it hath passed over eastward, to the east, to Gittah-Hepher, [to] Ittah-Kazin, and gone out [to] Rimmon-Methoar to Neah;
14 and the border hath gone round about it, from the north to Hannathon; and its outgoings have been [in] the valley of Jiphthah-El,
15 and Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth-Lehem; twelve cities and their villages.
16 This [is] the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun, for their families, these cities and their villages.
17 For Issachar hath the fourth lot gone out, for the sons of Issachar, for their families;
18 and their border is [at] Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19 and Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
20 and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21 and Remeth, and En-Gannim, and En-Haddah, and Beth-Pazzez;
22 and the border hath touched against Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-Shemesh, and the outgoings of their border have been [at] the Jordan; sixteen cities and their villages.
23 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar, for their families, the cities and their villages.
24 And the fifth lot goeth out for the tribe of the sons of Asher, for their families;
25 and their border is Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26 and Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and it toucheth against Carmel westward, and against Shihor-Libnath;
27 and hath turned back, at the sun-rising, [to] Beth-Dagon, and come against Zebulun, and against the valley of Jiphthah-El toward the north of Beth-Emek, and Neiel, and hath gone out unto Cabul on the left,
28 and Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, unto great Zidon;
29 and the border hath turned back to Ramah, and unto the fenced city Tyre; and the border hath turned back to Hosah, and its outgoings are at the sea, from the coast to Achzib,
30 and Ummah, and Aphek, and Rehob; twenty and two cities and their villages.
31 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher, for their families, these cities and their villages.
32 For the sons of Naphtali hath the sixth lot gone out, for the sons of Naphtali, for their families;
33 and their border is from Heleph, from Allon in Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakkum, and its outgoings are [at] the Jordan;
34 and the border hath turned back westward [to] Aznoth-Tabor, and gone out thence to Hukkok, and touched against Zebulun on the south, and against Asher it hath touched on the west, and against Judah [at] the Jordan, at the sun-rising;
35 and the cities of defence [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 and their villages.
39 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali, for their families, the cities and their villages.
40 For the tribe of the sons of Dan, for their families, hath the seventh lot gone out;
41 and the border of their inheritance is Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-Shemesh,
42 and Shalabbin, and Aijalon, and Jethlah,
43 and Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44 and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45 and Jehud, and Bene-Barak, and Gath-Rimmon,
46 and Me-Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over-against Japho.
47 And the border of the sons of Dan goeth out from them, and the sons of Dan go up and fight with Leshem, and capture it, and smite it by the mouth of the sword, and possess it, and dwell in it, and call Leshem, Dan, according to the name of Dan their father.
48 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan, for their families, these cities and their villages.
49 And they finish to give the land in inheritance, by its borders, and the sons of Israel give an inheritance to Joshua son of Nun in their midst;
50 by the command of Jehovah they have given to him the city which he asked, Timnath-Serah, in the hill-country of Ephraim, and he buildeth the city and dwelleth in it.
51 These [are] the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel, have caused to inherit by lot, in Shiloh, before Jehovah, at the opening of the tent of meeting; and they finish to apportion 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

Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.