Joshua 19

1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of Simeon, according to its families; its inheritance lay within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah.
2 It had for its inheritance Beer-sheba, Sheba, Moladah,
3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,
4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,
6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen towns with their villages;
7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four towns with their villages;
8 together with all the villages all around these towns as far as Baalath-beer, Ramah of the Negeb. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon according to its families.
9 The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon formed part of the territory of Judah; because the portion of the tribe of Judah was too large for them, the tribe of Simeon obtained an inheritance within their inheritance.
10 The third lot came up for the tribe of Zebulun, according to its families. The boundary of its inheritance reached as far as Sarid;
11 then its boundary goes up westward, and on to Maralah, and touches Dabbesheth, then the wadi that is east of Jokneam;
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 makes a turn to Hannathon, and it ends at the valley of Iphtah-el;
15 and Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem—twelve towns with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Zebulun, according to its families—these towns with their villages.
17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the tribe of Issachar, according to its families.
18 Its territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
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 towns with their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, according to its families—the towns with their villages.
24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its families.
25 Its boundary included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,
26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal; on the west it touches Carmel and Shihor-libnath,
27 then it turns eastward, goes to Beth-dagon, and touches Zebulun and the valley of Iphtah-el northward to Beth-emek and Neiel; then it continues in the north to Cabul,
28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Great Sidon;
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, Achzib,
30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob—twenty-two towns with their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to its families—these towns with their villages.
32 The sixth lot came out for the tribe of Naphtali, for the tribe of Naphtali, according to its families.
33 And its boundary ran from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; and it ended at the Jordan;
34 then the boundary turns westward 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 towns are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,
36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
38 Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh—nineteen towns with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali according to its families—the towns with their villages.
40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan, according to its families.
41 The territory of its 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 at the border opposite Joppa.
47 When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, the Danites went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and putting it to the sword, they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after their ancestor Dan.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, according to their families—these towns with their villages.
49 When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the Israelites gave an inheritance among them to Joshua son of Nun.
50 By command of the Lord they gave him the town that he asked for, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim; he rebuilt the town, and settled in it.
51 These are the inheritances that the priest Eleazar and Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the families of the tribes of the Israelites distributed by lot at 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.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Cn Compare Gk: Heb [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

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.