UNROLL
The broad Jezreel valley at first light, a patchwork of green and gold fields with mist in the low ground, and the rounded dome of Mount Tabor rising alone from the plain.

The Book of

Joshua 19

Six more lots, from the wells of Beersheba to the hills of Galilee, and last of all, a town for Joshua.

51 verses≈ 6 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–5Crossing overInto the land
  2. 6–12Taking the landThe LORD fights for Israel
  3. 13–21Dividing the landAn inheritance for each tribeChapter 19
  4. 22–24Choose this dayServe the LORD

Simeon’s Inheritance

The dry rolling Negev near Beersheba in late afternoon: a small mud-brick town on a low mound, and in front a stone-rimmed well where a shepherd draws water for his sheep and goats.

The towns

Simeon’s cities

  1. Second lot

    Inside Judah’s territory

    The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Simeon:

    Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah

  2. Thirteen cities

    Beersheba, Moladah

    and included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,

  3. Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem

    Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,

  4. Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah

    Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

  5. Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah

    Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,

  6. Beth-lebaoth and Sharuhen

    Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities, along with their villages.

  7. Four cities

    Ain, Rimmon, Ether, Ashan

    Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities, along with their villages,

  8. Villages

    Villages as far as Baalath-beer

    and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the Negev).

  9. In all

    Simeon’s inheritance

    This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Simeon.

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The 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 borders

Zebulun’s lot

  1. Third lot

    The border reaches Sarid

    The third lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Zebulun:

    The border of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid.

  2. West

    West to Maralah and Jokneam

    It went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam.

  3. East

    East by Chisloth-tabor to Japhia

    From Sarid it turned eastward along the border of Chisloth-tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia.

  4. Gath-hepher, Rimmon, Neah

    From there it crossed eastward to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon and curved around toward Neah.

  5. North

    Around to the Valley of Iphtah-el

    Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el.

  6. Towns

    Kattath, Nahalal, Bethlehem…

    It also included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem.

  7. Twelve cities

    There were twelve cities, along with their villages.

  8. In all

    Zebulun’s inheritance

    This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Zebulun, including these cities and their villages.

Issachar’s Inheritance

Reflect

Your lot

Lot after lot came out at Shiloh: “The third lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Zebulun,” then Issachar’s, then the rest. No tribe chose its own hills or valleys. Each received its place from the LORD. Where has God placed you right now: your home, your work, your church, your street? Write down one way you could be faithful there this week, in the place you were given rather than the one you might have picked.

Asher’s Inheritance

The long wooded ridge of Mount Carmel running out to its headland above the sea at evening, with a small town on a mound on the green coastal plain below and a fishing boat on the beach.

The borders

Asher’s lot

  1. Fifth lot

    The lot for Asher’s clans

    The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:

  2. Towns

    Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph

    Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,

  3. Allammelech, Amad, Mishal

    Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal.

  4. The border

    West: Carmel and Shihor-libnath

    On the west the border touched Carmel and Shihor-libnath,

  5. East to Zebulun, north to Neiel

    then 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.

  6. Ebron to Kanah and Greater Sidon

    It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.

  7. Back by Tyre to the Sea at Achzib

    The 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,

  8. Towns

    Ummah, Aphek, Rehob

    Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob.

  9. In all

    Twenty-two cities

    There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.

  10. Asher’s inheritance

    This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Asher, including these cities and their villages.

Naphtali’s Inheritance

The sixth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Naphtali:

Their border started at Heleph and the great tree of Zaanannim, passing Adami-nekeb and Jabneel as far as Lakkum and ending at the Jordan.

Then 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.

The towns

Naphtali’s cities

  1. Fortified cities

    Ziddim, Zer, Hammath to Chinnereth

    The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,

  2. Adamah, Ramah, Hazor

    Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

  3. Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor

    Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,

  4. Iron to Beth-shemesh

    Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh.

  5. In all

    Nineteen cities

    There were nineteen cities, along with their villages.

  6. Naphtali’s inheritance

    This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Naphtali, including these cities and their villages.

BenjaminSimeonZebulunIssacharAsherNaphtaliDanShilohTimnath-serah (site uncertain)Dan

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The seven lots

The last seven lots were cast at Shiloh. Benjamin lay between Judah and Joseph. Simeon’s towns were in the far south, inside Judah. Zebulun, Issachar, Asher and Naphtali settled around the Jezreel valley and the hills of Galilee. Dan’s first lot lay toward the coast near Joppa; later the Danites moved to the far north, took Leshem and renamed it Dan. Joshua’s own town, Timnath-serah, was in the hill country of Ephraim. Tribe names mark the general area, not exact borders. Timnath-serah’s site is probable.

Dan’s Inheritance

The towns

Dan’s lot

  1. Seventh lot

    The lot for Dan’s clans

    The seventh lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Dan:

  2. Towns

    Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh

    The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh,

  3. Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah

    Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,

  4. Elon, Timnah, Ekron

    Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

  5. Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath

    Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,

  6. Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon

    Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,

  7. Me-jarkon, Rakkon, toward Joppa

    Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa.

(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.)

This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Dan, including these cities and their villages.

Pray

Hold what He gives

Each tribe received its lot, but Dan lost its first territory and had to look elsewhere. Pray for the places where God has put His people today: that we would hold on to what He gives, and not drift away from it. Pray too for the hills of Galilee, Zebulun’s and Naphtali’s land, where light would one day shine on people who sat in darkness. Lord, keep us faithful where You have planted us, and let Your light reach the dark places near us. Amen.

Joshua’s Inheritance

Evening in the hill country of Ephraim: men rebuild the low fieldstone wall of a small hilltop town while the old, white-bearded Joshua, with a staff, watches from the slope below.

When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, as 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.

0:17

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

These 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.

So they finished dividing up the land.

Joshua 19:51

Question

Quick question

Joshua led Israel into the land and divided it among the tribes. He took his own share last of all.

Which town did the Israelites give Joshua?

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Joshua 19

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A verse to carry with you

These 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.

Joshua 19:51

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