Joshua 19

Joshua 19:1

19:1-9 Simeon’s inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. It seems that Judah’s land was so large that the tribe could not occupy its portion, so some was assigned to Simeon. This is a fulfillment of Jacob’s prophetic word concerning Simeon, “I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel” (Gen_49:7). Beersheba and Sheba (v. 2) probably refer to the same place; hence a total of only thirteen cities as mentioned in verse 6. Some cities were listed in detailing the borders of individual portions although they were not within the land, so sometimes the number of cities given doesn’t match the number stated in the text (e.g., vv. 15, 30, 38). 19:10-39 The borders of the remaining six tribes are given next: Zebulun (vv. 10-16); Issachar (vv. 17-23); Asher (vv. 24-31); Naphtali (vv. 32-39); and Dan (vv. 40-48). Dan received some of Judah’s cities (cf. v. 41 with Jos_15:33). 19:40-48 The original territory allotted to Dan was in the southwest, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, and included the cities of Joppa and Ekron (vv. 40-46). Later, when this territory proved too small, some of the tribe migrated to Laish (Leshem) in the northeast and changed the name of the city to Dan (vv. 47, 48; cf. Judg. 18). 19:49-51 Verse 51 brings to an end the division of the country. The cities of refuge had to be set apart (chap. 20) and the Levitical cities had yet to be appointed (chap. 21), but Joshua’s work was almost done. He received Timnath Serah, according to the word of the LORD (v. 50).