Deeper Commentary
Jos 19:1 The second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of
the children of Simeon according to their families. Their inheritance was
in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Judah-
The boundaries of the promised land and indeed the individual
possessions of the tribes were changed by God in accordance with the
weakness of Israel to actually drive out the tribes and take the
inheritance (consider how the inheritance of Simeon and Judah was merged
because of this inability to expel the Canaanites, Josh. 19:1). He
“changed the portion of my people” (Mic. 2:4). Yet God worked with them in
this progressive lowering of levels.
Jos 19:2 They had for their inheritance Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah-
Jos 19:3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem-
Balah is a form of Baal.
Jos 19:4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah-
Jos 19:5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah-
Ziklag had been passed from Judah to Simeon (Josh. 15:31; 19:5) and
then passed to the Philistines (1 Sam. 27:6)- because if we don't want the
kingdom, it will be lost to us.
Jos 19:6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages-
Beth Lebaoth is Beth Biri in 1 Chron. 4:31.
Jos 19:7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages-
These are listed in 1 Chron. 4 as belonging to Judah. The implication could be that David tended towards a policy of
'Judah for the men of Judah', and the agreement that Simeonites could
live in Judah was then not honoured. This was to come to full term in
the tragic division of the kingdom in the next generation.
Jos 19:8 and 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-
The law of Moses reasons as if each family of Israel had a specific
inheritance which was not to be sold or moved outside the family. Hence
the sin of Ahab in obtaining Naboth's vineyard. It would seem that there
was some unrecorded list made of each family and which land they were to
be given. This looks forward to our very personal and unique inheritance
in God's Kingdom, possibly based around spiritual family units.
Jos 19:9 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
portion of the children of Judah was too much for them" (Josh. 19:9)
almost implies God made an error in allocating them too much; when
actually the problem was that they lacked the faith to drive out the
tribes living there. See on :47.
Even when God punished Israel, He seems to later almost take the blame
for their judgments; thus He says that He left some of the Canaanite
nations in the land to teach Israel battle experience (Jud. 3:2 NIV). His
grace is so positive about them in the way He writes about them.
Jos 19:10 The third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to
their families. The border of their inheritance was to Sarid-
For "according to their families", see on :8.
Jos 19:11 Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to
Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam-
The brook is probably the Kishon.
Jos 19:12 It turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrise to the border
of Chisloth Tabor. It went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia-
Daberath was to be given to the Levites (Josh. 21:28; 1 Chron. 6:72),
but Zebulun had not even taken this town, let alone given it to the
Levites.
Jos 19:13 From there it passed along eastward to Gath Hepher, to Ethkazin;
and going on to Rimmon it bent toward Neah-
"Bent toward" is AVmg. “which is drawn”; see on :14. Gath Hepher was
the birthplace of the prophet Jonah (2 Kings 14:25).
Jos 19:14 The border turned around on the north to Hannathon; and it ended
at the valley of Iphtah El-
Literally “and the border went round it (Neah) northward to
Hannathon", thought to be Cana. We are reading here a bird's eye
description, as if someone is writing this with a detailed map. Clearly
the perspective is God's, as given the lack of maps and overall
topographical knowledge, no single man could have written these
descriptions.
Jos 19:15 It included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem:
twelve cities with their villages-
Only five names are given, but that is no contradiction; seven were
not listed. The Bethlehem mentioned here is not the same as Beth-lehem
Ephratah in Judah.
Jos 19:16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to
their families, these cities with their villages-
For "according to their families", see on :8.
Jos 19:17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of
Issachar according to their families-
For "according to their families", see on :8. Although the
inheritances for the location of the tribal cantons were drawn by lot, it
is clear the hand of God was in it. For the inheritances were appropriate
to the people given them. Issachar's lot for possession of the land was
next to Judah and Zebulun (Josh. 19:17), with whom Issachar had lived and
journeyed side by side during the wilderness years (Num. 2:5; 10:15). This
opens up the question as to whether we should also draw lots in this age.
For God worked through them clearly enough in Joshua's time.
Jos 19:18 Their border was to Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem-
Issachar's borders begin to be described, but are not continued. We
are just given names of towns which were to be theirs. We have here
another indication that the extent of inheritance in the Kingdom, both
then and now, is to some degree open to recalculation. Those like Caleb
who wanted specific things were given them. This flexibility of God is
hard for the legalistic mind to understand. But He is so open to
relationship with us, and is willing to recalculate His intentions for us
according to our own vision and desires for His Kingdom.
Jos 19:19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath-
The king of Hapharaim had been slain by Joshua (Josh. 12:17); but
Issachar did not possess his territory. In the type, the Lord Jesus has
overcome all obstacles to our inheritance of the Kingdom; but we are often
slow to do our part in making this good by possessing it.
Jos 19:20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez-
These places are at best obscure or unknown to us today. We wonder
why we have these records.
Jos 19:21 Remeth, Engannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez-
Ramoth in 1 Chron. 6:73 is called Jarmuth in Josh. 21:28,29, and
perhaps Remeth in Josh. 19:21. Anem of 1 Chron. 6:73 is En-gannim in
Josh. 19:21; 21:29.
Jos 19:22 The border reached to Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh. Their
border ended at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages-
Tabor here is not the mountain, but a town which was supposed to be
given to the Levites (1 Chron. 6:77). See on :12. So many of the Levitical
cities were in mountains or less desirable areas- so that we wonder
whether really the "lot" used to distribute them was fair, because it
seems many of them were cities which the tribes didn't want or own anyway.
Jos 19:23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar
according to their families, the cities with their villages-
For "according to their families", see on :8. It is tragic that they
were so lazy to inherit their portion, because Gen. 49:14,15 had
prophesied that “seeing that rest was good, and the land that it was
pleasant, bowed his shoulder to bear...". But they didn't. This was a
conditional prophecy. The land was good, as the spies had said when they
first viewed Canaan, just as the Kingdom is "good"; but it failed to
motivate those who were satisfied with what was immediately before their
eyes at this moment. And this is just why people today fail to respond to
the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Jos 19:24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher
according to their families-
Asher bordered Naphtali, and they also marched side by side with them
through the wilderness. Although the inheritances for the location of the
tribal cantons were drawn by lot, it is clear the hand of God was in it.
For the inheritances were appropriate to the people given them. This opens
up the question as to whether we should also draw lots in this age. For
God worked through them clearly enough in Joshua's time. See on :17,32.
Jos 19:25 Their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph-
Helkath was to be given to the Levites (Josh. 21:31).
Jos 19:26 Allammelech, Amad, Mishal. It reached to Carmel westward, and to
Shihorlibnath-
Mishal was to be given to the Levites (Josh. 21:30). But it was not
possessed by Asher, and was on the mountainous edge of their territory;
see on :25.
Jos 19:27 It 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-
We note the retention of the old pagan name, 'house of Dagon'. There is no record at all of Israel's obedience to the commands to
destroy the local idols of the land, although the change of name of
Kiriath Baal (Josh. 15:60; 18:14) is evidence enough that there was some
local attempt to stamp out the name of Baal in that case. Instead the
historical record is full of evidence that they worshipped these gods.
Although the name of Baal Meon had been changed in Num. 32:38, by the time
of Josh. 13:17 the old name was still being used. Clearly Israel did not
detest idolatry as they ought to have done. Just as the names of idols
should not have passed the lips of Israel, so for us, the things of sexual
impurity are not to be named amongst us (Eph. 5:3). The allusion shows how
Paul understood such things to be the equivalent of idolatry in his day,
and that remains a fair interpretation even in our age.
Jos 19:28 and Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Sidon-
"Ebron" is Abdon in some manuscripts. This again was a town they were
intended to give to the Levites (Josh. 21:30). We get the impression that
most of Asher's border towns were supposedly taken by lot to be given to
the Levites, but we wonder whether that lot wasn't interfered with; for it
was towns on the very edge of their inheritance, as yet untaken from the
local people, which Asher dedicated to the Levites. See on :25.
Jos 19:29 The 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-
Asher never made any effort to take these major Phoenician cities
(Jud. 1:31). They would have heard of their possible inheritance in the
Kingdom, and shrugged it off as too difficult; and got on with farming
what bit of land they then had. So much potential was and is wasted.
Jos 19:30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities with their
villages-
There are not 22 cities listed, but that is no contradiction. Some
are listed, some aren't.
Jos 19:31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher
according to their families, these cities with their villages-
For "according to their families", see on :8.
"The Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites” (Jud. 1:32), they made no
real effort to inherit the Kingdom. They were one of the largest tribes at
the census of Num. 1 at Sinai; but were given a small area, and they
became so small they are not listed amongst the tribal rulers in 1 Chron.
27:16-22. Yet out of such spiritual indifference came the faithful Anna
(Lk 2:36), just as we can rise up far above our unspiritual environment
and background.
Jos 19:32 The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for
the children of Naphtali according to their families-
For "according to their families", see on :8.
Naphtali marched in the wilderness side by side with Dan and Asher
(Num. 2:25-31), and now they are chosen "by lot" to again be near them.
See on :24.
Jos 19:33 Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim,
Adaminekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakkum. It ended at the Jordan-
The northern border is unclear. Because according to the promise to
Abraham, the territory of Israel could have extended far to the north, to
the sources of the Euphrates. We are just given names of towns which were
to be theirs. We have here another indication that the extent of
inheritance in the Kingdom, both then and now, is to some degree open to
recalculation. Those like Caleb who wanted specific things were given
them. This flexibility of God is hard for the legalistic mind to
understand. But He is so open to relationship with us, and is willing to
recalculate His intentions for us according to our own vision and desires
for His Kingdom. See on :18.
Jos 19:34 The 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-
"Judah" is used because the sixty cities of Havoth-jair (Num. 32:41)
were counted as belonging to Judah.
Jos 19:35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath,
Chinnereth-
Hammath was a "fortified city" (Josh. 19:35), fortified by the local
population and considered too strong for Naphtali to take. But it was
given by them to the Levites (Josh. 21:32). As noted elsewhere, the tribes
"gave" to the Levites the cities which were on the very edges of their
cantons, or held by the enemy, or in mountainous, remote areas. I
therefore suggest that the process of distributing the priestly cities by
"lot" was interfered with. They failed to learn the principle of 2 Sam.
24:24, that we are not to apparently sacrifice to God that which cost us
nothing.
Jos 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor-
The mighty king of Hazor had been destroyed by Joshua (Josh. 11:1).
It is so tragic that that amazing victory had not been followed up by the
Israelites, just as the victory of the Lord Jesus is likewise not
personalized by so many.
Jos 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor-
"Kedesh" is 'the holy place', and is another example of the
spirituall disappointing retention of paganic names; see on :3.
Jos 19:38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh; nineteen
cities with their villages-
Migdal El is the Magdala of Mt. 15:39.
Jos 19:39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali
according to their families, the cities with their villages-
For "according to their families", see on :8.
Asher bordered Naphtali, and they also marched side by side with them
through the wilderness. Although the inheritances for the location of the
tribal cantons were drawn by lot, it is clear the hand of God was in it.
For the inheritances were appropriate to the people given them. This opens
up the question as to whether we should also draw lots in this age. For
God worked through them clearly enough in Joshua's time. See on :17,32.
Jos 19:40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan
according to their families-
For "according to their families", see on :8. Naphtali marched in the
wilderness side by side with Dan and Asher (Num. 2:25-31), and now they
are chosen "by lot" to again be near them. See on :24.
Jos 19:41 The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh-
Zorah, Samson's home town, was originally Judah's inheritance (Josh.
15:33-36), but they spurned it, and passed it to Dan (Josh. 19:41), who
also weren't interested; for they migrated to the north and too over the
land belonging to the less warlike Sidonians (Jud. 18:2,7-10). Their
selfishness is reflected by the way they chide with him: "What is this
that thou hast done unto us?" (Jud. 15:11). "They had become
reconciled to the dominion of sin since it did not appear to do much harm.
They could still grow their crops etc."
Jos 19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah-
Shaalabbin, “the place of foxes", may have been named in memory of
Jud. 15:4, which incident occurred in this area.
Jos 19:43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron-
The aim of Samson's marriage was to dispossess the Philistines and take
their possession for Israel. It seems no accident that he chose Timnath,
'a portion assigned'- to Israel. This was part of the land promised to
Dan, but which they had allowed the Philistines to overrun (Josh.
19:43,47). And Samson would have seen himself as 'Samson-of-Zorah', the
hornet- symbol of the Egyptian tribes which drove out the Canaanites in
preparation for Israel's later victories (Dt. 7:20; Josh. 24:12).
Jos 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath-
"Baalath" is another example of the spiritually disappointing
retention of paganic names; see on :3.
Jos 19:45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon-
Gath Rimmon was given to the Levites (Josh. 21:24).
Jos 19:46 Me-Jarkon and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa-
We wonder why Joppa itself isn't recorded as being Dan's, although
the suburbs around it were. Perhaps here again we have an example of there
being great fluidity in the assignment of areas, with some tribes taking
areas which the other tribes didn't want, often from fear of the local
inhabitants.
Jos 19:47 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 struck
it with the edge of the sword and possessed it and lived therein, and
called it Leshem Dan after the name of Dan their father-
2 Chron. 2:14 says "Hiram" was "son of a woman of the daughters of
Dan", whereas 1 King 7:14 says he was "the son of a widow of the tribe of
Naphtali". Dan may refer to the town called Dan or Laish which was in the
territory of Naphtali, but inhabited by Danites (Josh. 18:27; 19:47; Jud.
18:7). Here we see how an apparent discrepancy on a surface level reveals
a deep evidence of the way the records do not contradict but dovetail
perfectly, as we would expect of a Divinely inspired writing. But this is
only apparent to those who respectfully search the entire scriptures,
rather than bandying around a surface level contradiction with an
eagerness which speaks more of their own fears the Bible is inspired than
of deep factual persuasion.
God here speaks so positively about spiritually weak Dan. See on :9. "The coast of the children of Dan went out too little for
them" (Josh. 19:47), although actually "The Amorites forced the children
of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to
the valley" (Jud. 1:34). When Dan fought against Leshem, this one act of
obedience is so magnified in Josh. 19:47 to sound as if in their zeal to
inherit their territory they actually found they had too little land and
therefore attacked Leshem. But actually it was already part of their
allotted inheritance. Yet God graciously comments: "all their inheritance
had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel" (Jud. 18:1).
LXX adds: "The children of Dan did not drive out the Amorite who afflicted them in the mountain; and the Amorite would not suffer them to come down into the valley, but they forcibly took from them the border of their portion". If Dan didn't have in their possession their border towns, and yet these were supposedly given by them to the Levites, then this 'gift' was meaningless. See on :45.
Jos 19:48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan
according to their families, these cities with their villages-
For "according to their families", see on :8. LXX adds: "The
Amorite continued to dwell in Edom and in Salamin: and the hand of Ephraim
prevailed against them, and they became tribute to them". This shows the
weakness of Dan in even deeper emphasis; for Ephraim subdued those in
their area whom they wouldn't.
Jos 19:49 So they made an end of distributing the land for inheritance by
its borders. The children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son
of Nun in their midst-
The inheritance was ultimately given by God. So Israel 'gave' it to
Joshua in that what would otherwise have been their inheritance because
theirs. I have suggested on :8 that each family was given a specific
inheritance which they were to build up; and Joshua set the parade example
to his people in doing this (:50).
Jos 19:50 According to the commandment of Yahweh, they gave him the city
which he asked, even Timnathserah in the hill country of Ephraim; and he
built the city, and lived there-
This was an example of spiritual ambition. Perhaps like Caleb he had
noticed this city whilst spying out the land 40 years before, and was
given his request. There is an element to which our experiences in this
life lead us to desire or request things which we shall receive in the
Kingdom.
Jos 19:51 These 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 made an end of
dividing the land-
LXX "and they went to take possession of the land". Again we note
that being "before Yahweh" doesn't mean being in Heaven itself; for His
representatives are spoken of as Him, and therefore coming before Him
meant coming before them. It could be that the Angel of Yahweh dwelt over
the mercy seat of the ark, in the shekinah glory between the cherubim; and
this therefore made coming before the tabernacle a coming before Yahweh.
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