Joshua 19 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 And 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.
2 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
3 And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5 And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
6 And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
Joshua 19 (Old Testament, King James Bible)
7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
8 And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9 Out 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.
10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
11 And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
Joshua Chapter 19 (Old Testament)
13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
14 And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:
15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17 And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19 And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21 And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;
22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;
27 And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29 And 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:
30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33 And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
34 And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, 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.
35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
38 And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40 And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
42 And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45 And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
46 And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47 And 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.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49 When 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:
50 According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
51 These 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.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| גּוֹרָל — goral | Verse 1 — “The second lot came out…” | “Lot,” divinely-guided portion. | Goral (“lot”) reinforces God’s intervention in inheritance (“lot”). It establishes divine impartiality. The term forms the chapter’s structural backbone. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| נָפַל — nafal | Verse 1 — “…came out for Simeon…” | “To fall,” allot. | Nafal (“to fall”) refers to occurrence of a lot (“fell”). It suggests providential assignment. The term associates tribal boundaries with divine will. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| תּוֹךְ — tokh | Verse 1 — “…within the inheritance of Judah…” | “Midst,” interior. | Tokh (“midst”) denotes interior positioning (“in the midst”). It shows Simeon’s location inside Judah’s territory. The term reflects fulfillment of Genesis 49:7. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| עִיר — ir | Verse 5 — “…and all their cities…” | “City,” settlement. | Ir (“city”) marks organized towns (“city”). It establishes urban centers of tribal life. The term grounds the narrative socially. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| נַחֲלָה — nachalah | Verse 9 — “…their inheritance was within…” | “Inheritance,” portion. | Nachalah (“inheritance”) clarifies legal land rights (“inheritance”). It frames Simeon’s land as a sub-inheritance. The term upholds covenant principles. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| יָד — yad | Verse 11 — “…their border went up…” | “Hand,” figuratively boundary-control. | Yad (“hand”) metaphorically suggests territorial reach (“hand/extent”). It expresses possession and influence. The term enriches spatial nuance. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| יָצָא — yatsa | Verse 12 — “…went out to…” | “To go out,” extend. | Yatsa (“to go out”) defines boundary extension (“go out”). It helps visualize continuous land markers. The term supports geographic cohesion. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| שָׁפָה — shaphah | Verse 13 — “…and went up along the valley…” | “To sweep,” flow along. | Shaphah (“to sweep along”) captures movement through terrain (“extend along”). It fits topographical description. The word enhances boundary realism. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| קָצֶה — katzeh | Verse 29 — “…the border ended at the sea.” | “End,” extremity. | Katzeh (“end”) signals terminus of territory (“end”). It marks the final western boundary. The term concludes the spatial summary. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| נָתַן — natan | Verse 49 — “…the children of Israel gave to Joshua…” | “To give,” grant. | Natan (“to give”) expresses honorific allocation (“give/grant”). It acknowledges Joshua’s faithful leadership. The term symbolizes recognition and blessing. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 19 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, Germany, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Alte Testament | The chapter emphasizes equitable allotment for the remaining tribes and covenantal fulfillment. |
| Charles Foster Kent (Yale University, United States, 1867–1925) | The Bible and Modern Scholarship | Kent highlights the social and ethical significance of fair land distribution. |
| William Robertson Smith (University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 1846–1894) | The Old Testament in the Jewish Church | The narrative reflects historical memory and divine oversight of national organization. |
| Hugo Gressmann (University of Leipzig, Germany, 1864–1935) | Die Eschatologie der israelitischen Propheten | The text illustrates God’s guidance in maintaining equity and community cohesion. |
| Samuel Cox (University of London, United Kingdom, 1826–1893) | The Pentateuch | Israel’s territorial settlements demonstrate moral duty, obedience, and national structure. |
Joshua Chapter 19
Verse: "All these towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon, according to its clans." (Joshua 19:9)
Lesson: The tribe of Simeon received their inheritance, just as God promised. Despite being a smaller tribe, they still received their portion of the land. This reminds us that God's promises are not dependent on our size or strength, but on His faithfulness.
Conclusion: We must trust in God's promises and faithfulness, even when things may seem impossible or difficult. We can have confidence that He will fulfill His promises to us, just as He did for the tribe of Simeon.
Prayer Points: Thank God for His faithfulness and for fulfilling His promises. Ask Him to help us trust in His promises, even when we cannot see the way ahead.
