Joshua 19

Jos 19:1-9.

THE

LOT OF

SIMEON.

1. the second lot came forth to Simeon--The next lot that was drawn

at Shiloh, gave the tribe of Simeon his inheritance within the

territory, which had been assigned to that of Judah. The knowledge of

Canaan possessed by the Israelites, when the division of the land

commenced, was but very general, being derived from the rapid sweep they

had made over it during the course of conquest; and it was on the ground

of that rough survey alone that the distribution proceeded, by which

Judah received an inheritance. Time showed that this territory was too

large

(Jos 19:9),

either for their numbers, however great, to occupy and their arms to

defend, or too large in proportion to the allotments of the other

tribes. Justice therefore required (what kind and brotherly feeling

readily dictated) a modification of their possession; and a part of it

was appropriated to Simeon. By thus establishing it within the original

domain of another tribe, the prophecy of Jacob in regard to Simeon was

fulfilled

(Ge 49:7);

for from its boundaries being not traced, there is reason to conclude

that its people were divided and dispersed among those of Judah; and

though one group of its cities named

(Jos 19:2-6),

gives the idea of a compact district, as it is usually represented by

map makers, the other group

(Jos 19:7, 8)

were situated, two in the south, and two elsewhere, with tracts of the

country around them.

Jos 19:10-16.

OF

ZEBULUN.

10-14. the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun--The

boundaries of the possession assigned to them extended from the Lake of

Chinnereth (Sea of Galilee) on the east, to the Mediterranean on the

west. Although they do not seem at first to have touched on the western

shore--a part of Manasseh running north into Asher

(Jos 17:10)

--they afterwards did, according to the prediction of Moses

(De 33:19).

The extent from north to south cannot be very exactly traced; the sites

of many of the places through which the boundary line is drawn being

unknown. Some of the cities were of note.

Jos 19:17-23.

OF

ISSACHAR.

17-20. the fourth lot came out to Issachar--Instead of describing

the boundaries of this tribe, the inspired historian gives a list of

its principal cities. These cities are all in the eastern part of the

plain of Esdraelon.

Jos 19:24-31.

OF

ASHER.

24-31. the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of

Asher--The western boundary is traced from north to south through

the cities mentioned; the site of them, however, is unknown.

26. to Carmel . . . and to Shihor-libnath--that is, the "black" or

"muddy river"; probably the Nahr Belka, below Dor (Tantoura); for that

town belonged to Asher

(Jos 17:10).

Thence the boundary line turned eastward to Beth-dagon, a town at the

junction of Zebulun and Naphtali, and ran northwards as far as Cabul,

with other towns, among which is mentioned

(Jos 19:28)

"great Zidon," so called on account of its being even then the

flourishing metropolis of the Phœnicians. Though included in the

inheritance of Asher, this town was never possessed by them

(Jud 1:31).

29. and then the coast turneth to Ramah--now El-Hamra, which stood

where the Leontes (Litany) ends its southern course and flows westward.

and to the strong city Tyre--The original city appears to have stood

on the mainland, and was well-fortified. From Tyre the boundary ran to

Hosah, an inland town; and then, passing the unconquered district of

Achzib

(Jud 1:31),

terminated at the seacoast.

Jos 19:32-39.

OF

NAPHTALI.

32-39. the sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali--Although

the cities mentioned have not been discovered, it is evident, from

Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh, that is, on the northwest of Lake Merom

(Jud 4:11),

that the boundary described

(Jos 19:34)

ran from the southwest towards the northeast, up to the sources of the

Jordan.

34. Aznoth-tabor--on the east of Tabor towards the Jordan, for the

border ran thence to Hukkok, touching upon that of Zebulun; and as the

territory of Zebulun did not extend as far as the Jordan, Aznoth-tabor

and Hukkok must have been border towns on the line which separated

Naphtali from Issachar.

to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising--The sixty cities,

Havoth-jair, which were on the eastern side of the Jordan, opposite

Naphtali, were reckoned as belonging to Judah, because Jair, their

possessor, was a descendant of Judah

(1Ch 2:4-22)

[KEIL].

Jos 19:40-48.

OF

DAN.

40-46. the seventh lot came out for the tribe . . . Dan--It lay on

the west of Benjamin and consisted of portions surrendered by Judah and

Ephraim. Its boundaries are not stated, as they were easily

distinguishable from the relative position of Dan to the three

adjoining tribes.

47. the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem--The Danites,

finding their inheritance too small, decided to enlarge its boundaries

colony there, calling the new settlement by the name of Dan

(see on

Jud 18:7).

Jos 19:49-51.

THE

CHILDREN OF

ISRAEL

GIVE AN

INHERITANCE TO

JOSHUA.

50. According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he

asked--It was most proper that the great leader should receive an

inheritance suited to his dignity, and as a reward for his public

services. But the gift was not left to the spontaneous feelings of a

grateful people. It was conferred "according to the word of the

Lord"--probably an unrecorded promise, similar to what had been made to

Caleb

(Jos 14:9).

Timnath-serah--or Heres, on Mount Gaash

(Jud 2:9).

Joshua founded it, and was afterwards buried there

(Jos 24:30).

51. These are the inheritances--This verse is the formal close of the

section which narrates the history of the land distribution; and to

stamp it with due importance, the names of the commissioners are

repeated, as well as the spot where so memorable a transaction took

place.