Joshua — Chapter 19
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1And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
3And Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem,
4And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5And Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,
6And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
7Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
8And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
10And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
11And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then goeth out to daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
13And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar to Neah;
14And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el:
15And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
20And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21And Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez;
22And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;
27And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
28And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
30Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
34And then the coast turneth westward to Aznoth-tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
35And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37And Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,
38And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,
42And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45And Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,
46And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
50According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
51These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.
1And the second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2And they had for their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
3and Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Ezem,
4and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5and Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,
6and Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages:
7Ain, Rimmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages:
8and all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9Out of the part of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.
10And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families; and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid;
11and their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth; and it reached to the brook that is before Jokneam;
12and it turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor; and it went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia;
13and from thence it passed along eastward to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretcheth unto Neah;
14and the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon; and the goings out thereof were at the valley of Iphtah-el;
15and Kattath, and Nahalal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18And their border was unto Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19and Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
20and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Ebez,
21and Remeth, and Engannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez,
22and the border reached to Tabor, and Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh; and the goings out of their border were at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.
24And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26and Allammelech, and Amad, and Mishal; and it reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;
27and it turned toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah-el northward to Beth-emek and Neiel; and it went out to Cabul on the left hand,
28and Ebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Sidon;
29and the border turned to Ramah, and to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea by the region of Achzib;
30Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33And their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adaminekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakkum; and the goings out thereof were at the Jordan;
34and the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor, and went out from thence to Hukkok; and it reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrising.
35And the fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37and Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,
38And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.
40The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41And the border of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,
42and Shaalabbin, and Aijalon, and Ithlah,
43and Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron,
44and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45and Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,
46and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.
47And the border of the children of Dan went out beyond them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49So they made an end of distributing the land for inheritance by the borders thereof; and the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun in the midst of them:
50according to the commandment of Jehovah they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in the hill-country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
51These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before Jehovah, at the door of the tent of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the land.
1The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. Their assigned land was in the middle of Judah’s assigned land.
2Their assigned land included Beer Sheba, Moladah,
3Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,
4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
5Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,
6Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen—a total of 13 cities and their towns,
7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—a total of four cities and their towns,
8as well as all the towns around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land assigned to the tribe of Simeon by its clans.
9Simeon’s assigned land was taken from Judah’s allotted portion, for Judah’s territory was too large for them; so Simeon was assigned land within Judah.
10The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun by its clans. The border of their territory extended to Sarid.
11Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near Jokneam.
12From Sarid it turned eastward to the territory of Kisloth Tabor, extended to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.
13From there it crossed eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin, and extended to Rimmon, turning toward Neah.
14It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.
15Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; in all they had 12 cities and their towns.
16This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
17The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar by its clans.
18Their assigned land included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem,
19Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,
20Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,
21Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez.
22Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had 16 cities and their towns.
23This was the land assigned to the tribe of Issachar by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
24The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher by its clans.
25Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph,
26Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal. Their border touched Carmel to the west and Shihor Libnath.
27It turned eastward toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El to the north, as well as Beth Emek and Neiel, and extended to Cabul on the north
28and on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.
29It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Achzib,
30Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had 22 cities and their towns.
31This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
32The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali by its clans.
33Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan River.
34It turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, extended from there to Hukok, touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and the Jordan on the east.
35The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth,
36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
37Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,
38Yiron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had 19 cities and their towns.
39This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
40The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan by its clans.
41Their assigned land included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh,
42Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,
43Elon, Timnah, Ekron,
44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,
45Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,
46the waters of Jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory in front of Joppa.
47(The Danites failed to conquer their territory, so they went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. They put the sword to it, took possession of it, and lived in it. They renamed it Dan after their ancestor.)
48This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
49When they finished dividing the land into its regions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun some land.
50As the Lord had instructed, they gave him the city he requested—Timnath Serah in the Ephraimite hill country. He built up the city and lived in it.
51These are the land assignments that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.
1The second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. Their inheritance was in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2They had for their inheritance Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,
3Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,
4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
5Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,
6Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages;
7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages;
8and all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9Out of the part of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them. Therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the middle of their inheritance.
10The third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families. The border of their inheritance was to Sarid.
11Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam.
12It turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrise to the border of Chisloth Tabor. It went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.
13From there it passed along eastward to Gath Hepher, to Ethkazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretches to Neah.
14The border turned around it on the north to Hannathon; and it ended at the valley of Iphtah El;
15Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18Their border was to Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
19Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,
20Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,
21Remeth, Engannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez.
22The border reached to Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh. Their border ended at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.
24The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25Their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,
26Allammelech, Amad, Mishal. It reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath.
27It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand,
28and Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Sidon.
29The border turned to Ramah, to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah. It ended at the sea by the region of Achzib;
30Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities with their villages.
31This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakkum. It ended at the Jordan.
34The border turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there to Hukkok. It reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrise.
35The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,
36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
37Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,
38Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.
40The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh,
42Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,
43Elon, Timnah, Ekron,
44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,
45Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,
46Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.
47The border of the children of Dan went out beyond them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and lived therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their forefather.
48This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49So they finished distributing the land for inheritance by its borders. The children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them.
50According to Yahweh’s commandment, they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in the hill country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and lived there.
51These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before Yahweh, at the door of the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
Summary
The remaining tribes—Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan—receive their allotments by lot. Joshua himself is given Timnath-serah in Ephraim as his personal inheritance.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Six tribes receive allotments: Simeon (within Judah's territory, far south), Zebulun and Issachar (Jezreel Valley area), Asher (northwestern coast), Naphtali (upper Galilee), Dan (western lowlands near Philistia)
- Joshua receives Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim — his personal inheritance
- Dan's allotment proves too small; they will later migrate north (Judges 18)
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik highlights Joshua's humility in taking his inheritance last. He also notes that Dan's migration north was not an act of faith but of failure — they abandoned their God-given territory because it was too hard. The contrast between Dan (who fled difficulty) and Caleb (who embraced it) is stark.
- Charles Spurgeon: "Joshua took his inheritance last. The general who led the armies, who could have claimed the choicest land, waited until every tribe was served. And what did he ask for? A city in ruins that he must rebuild with his own hands. This is the spirit of Christ — who came not to be served but to serve. The greatest leaders are the last to take and the first to give."
Reflection
- 1. Joshua takes last (vv.49-50). The leader who could have claimed first choice waited until everyone else was served. This is Christ-like leadership: "The last shall be first" (Matthew 20:16). True authority serves rather than seizes.
- 2. Dan's failure to possess (v.47). Rather than fighting for their God-given territory, Dan abandoned it for an easier conquest. We face the same temptation: when God's assignment is hard, we look for shortcuts. But the easy path is not always God's path. Stay where God planted you.
- 3. Simeon within Judah (v.9). God's judgment on Simeon (Genesis 49:7) becomes God's provision — they receive cities within the strongest tribe. Even divine discipline is tempered with mercy. God scatters Simeon but places them under Judah's protection.
- 4. The distribution is complete (v.51). Every tribe has its place. God's promises are fulfilled — not partially but completely. What He promised to Abraham, He delivered to Joshua's generation. God finishes what He starts.
- 5. Rebuilding what is broken (v.50). Joshua's city needed rebuilding. He did not ask for a finished product but for a project. Sometimes God gives us broken things to rebuild — churches, relationships, communities. The inheritance may require work, but it is still a gift.