Chapter Text
Territories of the Remaining Tribes
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.
2And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
3And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
4And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
6And Bethlebaoth, 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 Baalathbeer, 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 Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
13And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
14And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:
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 Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
20And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;
22And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; 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 Shihorlibnath;
27And 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,
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 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 .
35And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
38And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; 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 Irshemesh,
42And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
46And Mejarkon, 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 Timnathserah 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.
Summary
The second lot falls to Simeon, whose inheritance is carved out of Judah's territory because Judah's portion was too large. The detailed boundaries and cities of Simeon are listed, all located within the southern reaches of Judah's allotment, fulfilling Jacob's prophecy that Simeon would be scattered in Israel.
Meaning
Simeon's absorption into Judah's territory fulfills the prophetic word spoken by Jacob on his deathbed. God's prophetic declarations, even those spoken centuries earlier, find their exact fulfillment in history.
This arrangement also demonstrates God's justice and economy. Judah's excess provision meets Simeon's need, illustrating how God balances abundance and lack within His covenant community.
Background
Jacob had prophesied that Simeon and Levi would be divided and scattered in Israel, a consequence of their violent actions at Shechem. While Levi was scattered as priestly cities, Simeon was absorbed into Judah.
Simeon's territory included Beersheba, a city of great patriarchal significance.
Chapter Outline
- vv. 1-9Simeon's inheritance within Judah
- vv. 10-16Zebulun's allotment in the north
- vv. 17-23Issachar's territory in the valley
- vv. 24-31Asher's coastal inheritance
- vv. 32-39Naphtali's portion in upper Galilee
- vv. 40-48Dan's allotment and northern migration
- vv. 49-51Joshua's inheritance and the land division concluded
Key Verses
“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.”— 19:9
This verse fulfills Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 49:7 that Simeon would be scattered in Israel. Rather than receiving independent territory, Simeon's allotment was carved from Judah's surplus, demonstrating God's faithfulness to prophetic declarations even in land distribution.
“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.”— 19:47
Dan's migration northward foreshadows the tribe's restless history and sets the stage for the events of Judges 18. The phrase 'went out too little for them' hints at their failure to fully possess their allotment, a recurring theme in Israel's settlement.
“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.”— 19:50
Joshua, who oversaw the distribution of the entire land, receives his own inheritance last — a model of servant leadership. His modest request for a single city in the hill country contrasts with the vast territories he allocated to others.
“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.”— 19:51
This closing verse summarizes the entire land division, emphasizing its sacred character — conducted by lot before the LORD at the tabernacle. The phrase 'made an end of dividing' marks a pivotal transition from conquest to settlement.
People & Places
People
- Joshua — Son of Nun and leader of Israel, who receives his personal inheritance last after distributing land to all the tribes.
- Eleazar — The high priest who, alongside Joshua, oversaw the sacred lot-casting for the tribal allotments.
- Dan (patriarch) — The ancestor after whom the tribe of Dan renamed the captured city of Leshem.
Places
- Beersheba — A prominent city in Simeon's allotment in the southern Negev, long associated with the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac.
- Ziklag — A city in Simeon's territory later famously associated with David's refuge during his flight from Saul.
- Bethlehem — A city within Zebulun's territory in the north, distinct from the more well-known Bethlehem in Judah.
- Jezreel — A border city of Issachar's territory, later the site of significant events in Israel's monarchy.
- Shunem — A city in Issachar's territory, later associated with the Shunammite woman in Elisha's ministry.
- Carmel — The prominent coastal mountain reached by Asher's border, later the site of Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal.
- Tyre — Called 'the strong city,' a major Phoenician port on Asher's northern border.
- Zidon — Called 'great Zidon,' the ancient Phoenician city marking the northernmost extent of Asher's allotment.
- Hazor — A fortified city in Naphtali's territory, one of the most significant Canaanite strongholds in the north.
- Kedesh — A city in Naphtali later designated as a city of refuge.
- Chinnereth — A fenced city in Naphtali on the shore of the lake later known as the Sea of Galilee.
- Ekron — A city in Dan's territory, also one of the five principal cities of the Philistines.
- Joppa (Japho) — A coastal city on the border of Dan's territory, an ancient Mediterranean port.
- Leshem (Dan) — A northern city conquered and renamed by the Danites when their original allotment proved insufficient.
- Timnathserah — Joshua's personal inheritance in the hill country of Ephraim, which he built and inhabited.
- Shiloh — The central worship site where the tabernacle stood and where the land division was conducted by sacred lot.
Prophecy & Fulfillment
Simeon's absorption into Judah's territory (vv. 1–9) directly fulfills Jacob's deathbed prophecy in Genesis 49:5–7, where he declared that Simeon and Levi would be divided and scattered in Israel. While Levi was scattered through Levitical cities, Simeon was scattered by having no independent territory. Additionally, the careful allotment by divine lot fulfills the broader promise to Abraham that his descendants would possess the land of Canaan (Genesis 15:18–21), with each tribe receiving its designated portion according to God's sovereign direction.
Devotional
Joshua waited until every tribe received its portion before claiming his own modest inheritance. In a world that rewards self-promotion, his example challenges us: true leadership serves others first.
Simeon's lot within Judah reminds us that God's purposes span generations. What seemed like a curse in Genesis became practical provision — Simeon still received cities, villages, and a future. God's discipline and God's faithfulness are not opposites.
The repeated phrase 'according to their families' shows God's attention to detail. He is not only the God of nations but of households. No family is overlooked in His design.
Literary Style
This chapter is geographic catalogue prose, continuing the formal land-survey register that characterizes Joshua 13–21. It follows a formulaic pattern for each tribe: lot number, boundary descriptions, city lists with tallies, and a closing summary formula. The notable departures from this pattern — the explanatory gloss on Simeon's placement within Judah (v. 9) and the narrative of Dan's migration (v. 47) — provide theological and historical commentary within an otherwise administrative document.