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.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 19
Commentary on Joshua 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
Jos 19:1-9. The Lot of Simeon.
1. the second lot came forth to Simeon—The next lot that was drawn at Shiloh, gave the tribe of Simeon his inheritance within the territory, which had been assigned to that of Judah. The knowledge of Canaan possessed by the Israelites, when the division of the land commenced, was but very general, being derived from the rapid sweep they had made over it during the course of conquest; and it was on the ground of that rough survey alone that the distribution proceeded, by which Judah received an inheritance. Time showed that this territory was too large (Jos 19:9), either for their numbers, however great, to occupy and their arms to defend, or too large in proportion to the allotments of the other tribes. Justice therefore required (what kind and brotherly feeling readily dictated) a modification of their possession; and a part of it was appropriated to Simeon. By thus establishing it within the original domain of another tribe, the prophecy of Jacob in regard to Simeon was fulfilled (Ge 49:7); for from its boundaries being not traced, there is reason to conclude that its people were divided and dispersed among those of Judah; and though one group of its cities named (Jos 19:2-6), gives the idea of a compact district, as it is usually represented by map makers, the other group (Jos 19:7, 8) were situated, two in the south, and two elsewhere, with tracts of the country around them.
Jos 19:10-16. Of Zebulun.
10-14. the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun—The boundaries of the possession assigned to them extended from the Lake of Chinnereth (Sea of Galilee) on the east, to the Mediterranean on the west. Although they do not seem at first to have touched on the western shore—a part of Manasseh running north into Asher (Jos 17:10)—they afterwards did, according to the prediction of Moses (De 33:19). The extent from north to south cannot be very exactly traced; the sites of many of the places through which the boundary line is drawn being unknown. Some of the cities were of note.
Jos 19:17-23. Of Issachar.
17-20. the fourth lot came out to Issachar—Instead of describing the boundaries of this tribe, the inspired historian gives a list of its principal cities. These cities are all in the eastern part of the plain of Esdraelon.
Jos 19:24-31. Of Asher.
24-31. the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher—The western boundary is traced from north to south through the cities mentioned; the site of them, however, is unknown.
26. to Carmel … and to Shihor-libnath—that is, the "black" or "muddy river"; probably the Nahr Belka, below Dor (Tantoura); for that town belonged to Asher (Jos 17:10). Thence the boundary line turned eastward to Beth-dagon, a town at the junction of Zebulun and Naphtali, and ran northwards as far as Cabul, with other towns, among which is mentioned (Jos 19:28) "great Zidon," so called on account of its being even then the flourishing metropolis of the Phœnicians. Though included in the inheritance of Asher, this town was never possessed by them (Jud 1:31).
29. and then the coast turneth to Ramah—now El-Hamra, which stood where the Leontes (Litany) ends its southern course and flows westward.
and to the strong city Tyre—The original city appears to have stood on the mainland, and was well-fortified. From Tyre the boundary ran to Hosah, an inland town; and then, passing the unconquered district of Achzib (Jud 1:31), terminated at the seacoast.
Jos 19:32-39. Of Naphtali.
32-39. the sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali—Although the cities mentioned have not been discovered, it is evident, from Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh, that is, on the northwest of Lake Merom (Jud 4:11), that the boundary described (Jos 19:34) ran from the southwest towards the northeast, up to the sources of the Jordan.
34. Aznoth-tabor—on the east of Tabor towards the Jordan, for the border ran thence to Hukkok, touching upon that of Zebulun; and as the territory of Zebulun did not extend as far as the Jordan, Aznoth-tabor and Hukkok must have been border towns on the line which separated Naphtali from Issachar.
to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising—The sixty cities, Havoth-jair, which were on the eastern side of the Jordan, opposite Naphtali, were reckoned as belonging to Judah, because Jair, their possessor, was a descendant of Judah (1Ch 2:4-22) [Keil].
Jos 19:40-48. Of Dan.
40-46. the seventh lot came out for the tribe … Dan—It lay on the west of Benjamin and consisted of portions surrendered by Judah and Ephraim. Its boundaries are not stated, as they were easily distinguishable from the relative position of Dan to the three adjoining tribes.
47. the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem—The Danites, finding their inheritance too small, decided to enlarge its boundaries by the sword; and, having conquered Leshem (Laish), they planted a colony there, calling the new settlement by the name of Dan (see on Jud 18:7).
Jos 19:49-51. The Children of Israel Give an Inheritance to Joshua.
50. According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked—It was most proper that the great leader should receive an inheritance suited to his dignity, and as a reward for his public services. But the gift was not left to the spontaneous feelings of a grateful people. It was conferred "according to the word of the Lord"—probably an unrecorded promise, similar to what had been made to Caleb (Jos 14:9).
Timnath-serah—or Heres, on Mount Gaash (Jud 2:9). Joshua founded it, and was afterwards buried there (Jos 24:30).
51. These are the inheritances—This verse is the formal close of the section which narrates the history of the land distribution; and to stamp it with due importance, the names of the commissioners are repeated, as well as the spot where so memorable a transaction took place.