Joshua19

Joshua 19 details the final division of the land of Canaan by lot among the remaining Israelite tribes. The inheritances for Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan are described, including their borders and cities. Notably, Simeon's portion was within Judah's, and Dan's initial inheritance proved too small, leading them to conquer Leshem. The chapter concludes with Joshua receiving his own requested inheritance and the completion of the land division process at Shiloh.

Listen to this chapter

The Inheritance of Simeon

And 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.

And they had for their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,

and Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Ezem,

and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

and Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,

and Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages:

Ain, Rimmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages:

and 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.

Out 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.

The Inheritance of Zebulun

And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families. And the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid;

and their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth; and it reached to the brook that is before Jokneam;

and 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;

and from thence it passed along eastward to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretcheth unto Neah;

and the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon; and the goings out thereof were at the valley of Iphtah-el;

and Kattath, and Nahalal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.

This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

The Inheritance of Issachar

The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of Issachar according to their families.

And their border was unto Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,

and Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,

and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Ebez,

and Remeth, and Engannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez,

and 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.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.

The Inheritance of Asher

And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.

And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,

and Allammelech, and Amad, and Mishal; and it reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;

and 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,

and Ebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Sidon;

and 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;

Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

The Inheritance of Naphtali

The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.

And their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakkum; and the goings out thereof were at the Jordan;

and 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.

And the fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,

and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,

and Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,

and Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.

The Inheritance of Dan

The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

And the border of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,

and Shaalabbin, and Aijalon, and Ithlah,

and Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron,

and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,

and Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,

and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.

And 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.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Joshua's Personal Inheritance

So 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:

according 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.

These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’housesof 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.

Study Notes for Joshua 19

Verse 1

The designation of Simeon as the second lot implies that the distribution process resumed immediately following the initial division described in Chapter 18.

Verse 9

This verse explains that Simeon’s inheritance was not contiguous but embedded within Judah’s territory because Judah’s initial portion was too vast. This arrangement fulfilled Jacob’s prophecy that Simeon would be scattered (Gen 49:7).

Verse 15

The city of Bethlehem mentioned here is in Galilee, distinct from the famous Bethlehem of Judah where David and later Jesus were born.

Verse 22

The border of Issachar touched strategic geographical points, including Mount Tabor, a prominent landmark often associated with later military conflicts (Judges 4).

Verse 28

Asher's territory extended northward, reaching the powerful Phoenician city of Zidon (Sidon), indicating that the tribe was intended to inhabit areas that were not fully conquered initially.

Verse 34

The border description shows Naphtali situated strategically, bounded by Asher to the west and Zebulun to the south, highlighting the close proximity of these Galilean tribes.

Verse 47

This verse provides the crucial historical context for the later migration of the tribe of Dan (detailed in Judges 18). Their assigned territory was too small and vulnerable, forcing them to conquer a new settlement in the far north, renaming Leshem to Dan.

Verse 49

This verse marks the end of the territorial division for the tribes. Joshua, who oversaw the entire process, receives his inheritance last, demonstrating his humility and dedication to the community first.

Verse 50

Timnathserah was Joshua's chosen city, located in the hill country of Ephraim (his home tribe). The text emphasizes that this gift was given 'according to the word of the LORD,' honoring his faithful leadership.

Verse 51

This concluding statement affirms the legitimacy and divine authority of the land distribution, performed by the three key figures of authority (Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal heads) at the central sanctuary in Shiloh.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Joshua19

The Inheritance of Simeon

The Inheritance of Zebulun

The Inheritance of Issachar

The Inheritance of Asher

The Inheritance of Naphtali

The Inheritance of Dan

Joshua's Personal Inheritance

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options