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.
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.
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.
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.
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].
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
by the sword; and, having conquered Leshem (Laish), they planted a
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.
Joshua 19 Bible Commentary
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown
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 by the sword; and, having conquered Leshem (Laish), they planted a 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.