Joshua 19

Simeon’s Inheritance

1 The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Simeon:

2 and included 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, along with their villages.

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

8 and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the Negev).

9 The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the territory of Judah, because the share for Judah’s descendants was too large for them. So the Simeonites received an inheritance within Judah’s portion.

Zebulun’s Inheritance

10 The third lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Zebulun:

11 It went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam.

12 From Sarid it turned eastward along the border of Chisloth-tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia.

13 From there it crossed eastward to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon and curved around toward Neah.

14 Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el.

15 It also included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, along with their villages.

16 This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Zebulun, including these cities and their villages.

Issachar’s Inheritance

17 The fourth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Issachar:

18 Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,

19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,

20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,

21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez.

22 The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen cities, along with their villages.

23 This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Issachar, including these cities and their villages.

Asher’s Inheritance

24 The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:

25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,

26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west the border touched Carmel and Shihor-libnath,

27 then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.

28 It went on to Ebron, ^[a] Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.

29 The border then turned back toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah, and came out at the Sea ^[b] in the region of Achzib,

30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.

31 This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Asher, including these cities and their villages.

Naphtali’s Inheritance

32 The sixth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Naphtali:

33 Their border started at Heleph and the great tree of Zaanannim, passing Adami-nekeb and Jabneel as far as Lakkum and ending at the Jordan.

34 Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and ran from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun on the south side, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan ^[c] on the east.

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. There were nineteen cities, along with their villages.

39 This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Naphtali, including these cities and their villages.

Dan’s Inheritance

40 The seventh lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Dan:

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, including the territory across from Joppa.

47 (Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.)

48 This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Dan, including these cities and 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 as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the city of Timnath-serah ^[d] in the hill country of Ephraim, as he requested. He rebuilt the city and settled in it.

51 These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD 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

• [a]. Some Hebrew manuscripts Abdon; see Joshua 21:30.
• [b]. That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea
• [c]. Hebrew; LXX west, and the Jordan
• [d]. Timnath-serah is also known as Timnath-heres; see Judges 2:9.

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.