History · Chapter 19 of 24

Joshua 19

The remaining allotments are distributed: Simeon within Judah's territory, then Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. When Dan's portion proves too small, they capture Leshem and rename it. Finally, after all the tribes are settled, Joshua himself receives his inheritance last, the town of Timnathserah in the hill country of Ephraim, which he had requested.

What happens in Joshua 19

The distribution of the land continues by lot. Simeon receives towns embedded within Judah's oversized portion. Zebulun's border is traced through its towns, including a Bethlehem in the north. Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali each receive their territories across the northern regions, much of it in the area later known as Galilee. Dan's allotment near the coast proves insufficient, and when pressed by the Amorites, the Danites march north, seize the city of Leshem, and rename it Dan after their ancestor.

When the whole land has been apportioned, the people give Joshua his own inheritance. According to the Lord's word he asks for and receives Timnathserah in the hills of Ephraim, where he builds and settles. Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the tribal heads conclude the division at Shiloh before the Lord.

Joshua 19 in context

This completes the tribal allotments begun in chapter 13. The northern tribes settle across the fertile lowlands and hills of Galilee, land that would later be central to Jesus' ministry. Joshua receiving his portion last, only after every tribe is provided for, reflects the character of a servant leader.

Dan's difficulty foreshadows the tribe's later northward migration recounted in Judges.

Main themes of Joshua 19

Joshua 19 (KJV)

1And 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, and 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 Haphraim, and Shihon, 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.

Verses to carry from Joshua 19

“And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.”Joshua 19:15

“The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.”Joshua 19:32

“When 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:”Joshua 19:49

Reflection

Joshua sought the inheritance of others before his own. Do I press for my portion first, or can I trust God enough to serve others and receive my place in His timing? The map of Galilee here reminds me that God prepares far ahead. My present, ordinary place may be ground He intends to use for His purposes.

A prayer from Joshua 19