Joshua 19

The Allotment of Simeon

1 The second allotment {fell} for Simeon, for the tribe of the descendants of Simeon, according to their families. And their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the descendants of Judah.
2 And they had as 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 and their villages.
7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages,
8 and all the villages that [were] around these towns up to Baalat-Beor, Ramath of the Negev. This [was] the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Simeon according to their families.
9 Part of the portion [allotted to] the descendants of Judah [became] the inheritance of the descendants of Simeon because the portion for the descendants of Judah was {too large for them}, so the descendants of Simeon inherited [from] their inheritance.

The Allotment of Zebulun

10 The third allotment came up for the descendants of Zebulun according to their families. The border of their inheritance went up to Sarid.
11 Their border goes up to the west, to Maralah; it touches Dabbesheth, then the wadi that [is] opposite Jokneam.
12 It turns from Sarid to the east to the sunrise, to the border of Kislot-Tabor; it continues to Daberath and goes up [to] Japhia.
13 From there it passes [along] to the east toward the sunrise, to Gath Hepher and to Eth Kazin, and continuing [to] Rimmon, it turns [to] Neah;
14 it changes direction from the north of Hannathon, and {it ends} at the valley of Yiptah-El;
15 Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; twelve cities and their villages.
16 This [is] the inheritance of the descendants of Zebulun according to their families, these cities and their villages.

The Allotment of Issachar

17 The fourth allotment {fell} for Issachar, for the descendants of Issachar, according to their families.
18 Their border went to Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,
20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,
21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez;
22 and the border touches Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh. {Its border ends} at the Jordan; sixteen cities and their villages.
23 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

The Allotment of Asher

24 The fifth allotment {fell} for the tribe of the descendants of Asher according to their families.
25 Their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph,
26 Allamelech, Amad, and Mishal; it touches Carmel to the west, and Shihor-Libnat.
27 Then it turns {eastward} to Beth-dagon and touches Zebulun and the valley of Yiptah-El to the north to Beth Emeck and Neiel; it continues to Cabul from [the] north,
28 and Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah up to Great Sidon;
29 then the border turns [to] Ramah, and up to the fortified city of Tyre, [where] the border turns [to] Hosah; {it ends} at the sea, from Hebel to Aczib.
30 [Included were] Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob; twenty-two cities and their villages.
31 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Asher according to their families, these cities and their villages.

The Allotment of Naphtali

32 The sixth allotment {fell} for the children of Naphtali, for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33 Their border was from Heleph, from [the] oak in Zaanannim, Adami Nekeb, Jabneel, up to Lakkum; {it ends} at the Jordan;
34 then the border turns to the west, to Aznoth Tabor, and continues from there to Hukok, and it touches Zebulun on [the] south, Asher on [the] west, and Judah on {the east} [at] the Jordan.
35 {The fortified cities} [are] Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth,
36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,
38 Yiron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth-anath, Beth Shemesh; nineteen cities and their villages.
39 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

The Allotment of Dan

40 The seventh lot {fell} for the tribe of the descendants of Dan according to their families.
41 [The] border of their inheritance was 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, Rakkon, with the border opposite Joppa.
47 The border of the descendants of Dan continued {beyond them}, because the descendants of Dan went up and fought with Lesham, and they captured and struck it with {the edge of the sword}, and they took possession of it and settled in it; and they called Leshem Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor.
48 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Dan according to their families, these cities and their villages.

The Allotment Is Completed

49 They finished assigning the land according to its borders, and the {Israelites} gave an inheritance [from] among them to Joshua son of Nun.
50 {According to the commandment of Yahweh}, they gave him the city that he requested, Timnath Serah, in the hill country of Ephraim, and 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 of the tribes, distributed by allotment [to] the {Israelites}, at Shiloh {before Yahweh} [at] the entrance of the tent of meeting. And 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.

Footnotes 43

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

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.