Simeon’s Inheritance
1The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Simeon:
Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah
Some of the towns given to the tribe...
Some of the towns given to the tribe of Simeon were also part of Judah’s allocation because Judah’s territory was too large for them (cp. 17:14–18). Judah apparently absorbed most of Simeon’s territory into its own before the end of the Old Testament period.
2and included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, 3Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, 4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, 6Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities, along with their villages.
7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities, along with their villages, 8and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the Negev).
This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Simeon. 9The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the territory of Judah, because the share for Judah’s descendants was too large for them. So the Simeonites received an inheritance within Judah’s portion.
Zebulun’s Inheritance
The tribe of Zebulun received land partly in...
The tribe of Zebulun received land partly in the valley of Jezreel and partly in the hills of Lower Galilee.
The lands given to the tribes of Zebulun...
The lands given to the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar were strategically located; the major international trading route from Egypt to Mesopotamia ran through their territories. When Israel was strong, this position brought prosperity. However, when Israel was weak, these tribes were vulnerable both to the armies of Egypt and to the successive Mesopotamian powers that fought for control of the ancient Near East.
The five small remaining tribes received land on...
The five small remaining tribes received land on the edges of the Israelite territory and had little national influence.
10The third lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Zebulun:
The border of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid. 11It went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam. 12From Sarid it turned eastward along the border of Chisloth-tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia. 13From there it crossed eastward to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon and curved around toward Neah. 14Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el. 15It also included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, along with their villages.
16This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Zebulun, including these cities and their villages.
Issachar’s Inheritance
The land given to the tribe of Issachar...
The land given to the tribe of Issachar included much of the fertile Jezreel Valley. During Old Testament times, this valley was largely a swamp surrounded by prosperous and important cities. This area was a center of Canaanite strength, so this small tribe had trouble gaining a foothold at first.
17The fourth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Issachar:
18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, 19Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez. 22The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen cities, along with their villages.
23This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Issachar, including these cities and their villages.
Asher’s Inheritance
The land allocated to the tribe of Asher...
The land allocated to the tribe of Asher included the Plain of Acco on the Mediterranean coast and western Galilee. To the southwest, Asher touched Carmel, sharing at least a short common border with land allotted to the tribe of Manasseh. To the north, the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon limited Asher’s expansion.
24The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:
25Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west the border touched Carmel and Shihor-libnath, 27then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left. 28It went on to Ebron,† Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 29The border then turned back toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah, and came out at the Sea† in the region of Achzib, 30Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.
31This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Asher, including these cities and their villages.
Naphtali’s Inheritance
The tribe of Naphtali occupied eastern Galilee and...
The tribe of Naphtali occupied eastern Galilee and overlooked the Sea of Galilee. Because a branch of an international trade route from Egypt to Mesopotamia ran through the territory of Naphtali, this tribe enjoyed periods of prosperity when Israel’s kings were strong. The city of Hazor was within Naphtali’s territory, guarding a section of that route. Naphtali is mentioned in Matt 4:13–16 in connection with Jesus’ ministry in Galilee.
32The sixth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Naphtali:
33Their border started at Heleph and the great tree of Zaanannim, passing Adami-nekeb and Jabneel as far as Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and ran from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun on the south side, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan† on the east. 35The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, 36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor, 38Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh. There were nineteen cities, along with their villages.
39This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Naphtali, including these cities and their villages.
Dan’s Inheritance
The original allotment given to the tribe of...
The original allotment given to the tribe of Dan lay west of Judah and southwest of Ephraim’s main territory, between Judah and Philistia.
40The seventh lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Dan:
41The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, 42Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, 46Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa.
47(Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.)
48This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Dan, including these cities and their villages.
Joshua’s Inheritance
The piece of land given to Joshua closes...
The piece of land given to Joshua closes the section on the allocation of land to the tribes of Israel (see study note on 14:1–19:51).
49When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, 50as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the city of Timnath-serah† in the hill country of Ephraim, as he requested. He rebuilt the city and settled in it.
51These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.