Bible Reading March 5 
Joshua 19:1--21:45
Context19:1 The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 1 19:2 Their assigned land included 2 Beer Sheba, 3 Moladah, 19:3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 19:4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 19:5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 19:6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen – a total of thirteen cities and their towns, 19:7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan – a total of four cities and their towns, 19:8 as well as all the towns around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land assigned to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 4 19:9 Simeon’s assigned land was taken from Judah’s allotted portion, for Judah’s territory was too large for them; so Simeon was assigned land within Judah. 5
19:10 The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun 6 by its clans. The border of their territory 7 extended to Sarid. 19:11 Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near 8 Jokneam. 19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward 9 to the territory of Kisloth Tabor, extended to Daberath, and went up to Japhia. 19:13 From there it crossed eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin and extended to Rimmon, turning toward Neah. 19:14 It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. 19:15 Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; 10 in all they had twelve cities and their towns. 11 19:16 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun 12 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:17 The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar 13 by its clans. 19:18 Their assigned land 14 included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, 19:19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 19:20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 19:21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 19:22 Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had sixteen cities and their towns. 19:23 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Issachar 15 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
19:24 The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher 16 by its clans. 19:25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, 19:26 Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal. Their border touched Carmel to the west and Shihor Libnath. 19:27 It turned eastward toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El to the north, as well as the Valley of Emek and Neiel, and extended to Cabul on the north 17 19:28 and on to Ebron, 18 Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 19 19:29 It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, 20 turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Aczib, 19:30 Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had 21 twenty-two cities and their towns. 19:31 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher 22 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:32 The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali 23 by its clans. 19:33 Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, 24 and ended at the Jordan River. 25 19:34 It turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, extended from there to Hukok, touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and the Jordan 26 on the east. 19:35 The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 27 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 19:38 Yiron, 28 Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had 29 nineteen cities and their towns. 19:39 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali 30 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
19:40 The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan 31 by its clans. 19:41 Their assigned land included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 19:43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 19:45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 19:46 the waters of Jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory in front of Joppa. 19:47 (The Danites failed to conquer their territory, 32 so they went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. They put the sword to it, took possession of it, and lived in it. They renamed it 33 Dan after their ancestor. 34 ) 19:48 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan 35 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:49 When they finished dividing the land into its regions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun some land. 36 19:50 As the Lord had instructed, they gave him the city he requested – Timnath Serah in the Ephraimite hill country. He built up the city and lived in it.
19:51 These are the land assignments which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders 37 made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 38 So they finished dividing up the land.
20:1 The Lord instructed Joshua: 20:2 “Have the Israelites select 39 the cities of refuge 40 that I told you about through Moses. 20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; 41 these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 20:4 The one who committed manslaughter 42 should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. 43 They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. 44 20:5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation. 45 20:6 He must remain 46 in that city until his case is decided by the assembly 47 and the high priest dies. 48 Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.” 49
20:7 So they selected 50 Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 20:8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho 51 they selected 52 Bezer in the desert on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. 20:9 These were the cities of refuge 53 appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by 54 the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly. 55
21:1 The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders 21:2 in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.” 21:3 So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the Lord had instructed.
21:4 The first lot belonged to 56 the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 21:5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 21:6 Gershon’s descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 21:7 Merari’s descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 21:8 So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the Lord had instructed Moses.
21:9 They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below. 21:10 They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron, 57 for the first lot belonged to them. 21:11 They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding grazing areas. 21:12 (Now the city’s fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.) 21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah, 21:14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 21:15 Holon, Debir, 21:16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes. 21:17 From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned 58 Gibeon, Geba, 21:18 Anathoth, and Almon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:19 The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.
21:20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim. 21:21 They assigned them Shechem (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, 21:22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:23 From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 21:24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon, 59 along with the grazing areas of each – a total of two cities. 21:26 The rest of the Kohathite clans received ten cities and their grazing areas.
21:27 They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities: 60 from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of two cities; 21:28 from the tribe of Issachar: Kishon, Daberath, 21:29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:30 from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon, 21:31 Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:32 from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of three cities. 21:33 The Gershonite clans received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.
21:34 They assigned to the Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) the following cities: from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, 21:35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:36 61 from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, 21:37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:38 from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim, 21:39 Heshbon, and Jazer, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:40 The Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) were allotted twelve cities.
21:41 The Levites received within the land owned by the Israelites 62 forty-eight cities in all and their grazing areas. 21:42 Each of these cities had grazing areas around it; they were alike in this regard. 63
21:43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors, 64 and they conquered 65 it and lived in it. 21:44 The Lord made them secure, 66 in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors. 67 None of their enemies could resist them. 68 21:45 Not one of the Lord’s faithful promises to the family of Israel 69 was left unfulfilled; every one was realized. 70
[19:1] 1 tn Heb “and the second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon by their clans.”
[19:2] 2 tn Heb “and they had in their inheritance.”
[19:2] 3 tc The MT has “and Sheba” listed after “Beer Sheba.” The LXX suggests “Shema.” The Hebrew text appears to be corrupt, since the form “Sheba” duplicates the latter part of the preceding name. If Sheba (or Shema) is retained, the list numbers fourteen, one more than the number given in the concluding summary (v. 6).
[19:8] 4 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon.”
[19:9] 5 tn Heb “from the portion of the sons of Judah was the inheritance of the sons of Simeon for the portion of the sons of Judah was too large for them, and the sons of Simeon received an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.”
[19:10] 6 tn Heb “and the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun.”
[19:10] 7 tn Or “inheritance.”
[19:11] 8 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
[19:12] 9 tn Heb “eastward toward the rising of the sun.”
[19:15] 10 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
[19:15] 11 tn Heb “Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem, twelve cities and their towns.” The words “their territory included” and “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[19:16] 12 tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun.”
[19:17] 13 tn Heb “the fourth lot came out for the sons of Issachar.”
[19:18] 14 tn Or “their inheritance.”
[19:23] 15 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar.”
[19:24] 16 tn Heb “and the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
[19:28] 18 tc Some Hebrew
[19:28] 19 map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[19:29] 20 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[19:30] 21 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[19:31] 22 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
[19:32] 23 tn Heb “the sixth lot came out for the sons of Naphtali, for the sons of Naphtali.”
[19:33] 24 tn Heb “and their border was from Heleph, from the oak of Zaanannim, and Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel to Lakkum.”
[19:33] 25 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
[19:34] 26 tc The MT reads “Judah, the Jordan”; the LXX omits “Judah.” Perhaps there was a town named Judah, distinct from the tribe of Judah, located near the northern end of the Jordan.
[19:36] 27 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.
[19:38] 28 sn Instead of Yiron some English translations read Iron.
[19:38] 29 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[19:39] 30 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali.”
[19:40] 31 tn Heb “the seventh lot came out for the sons of Dan.”
[19:47] 32 tn Heb “the territory of the sons of Dan went out from them.”
[19:47] 33 tn Heb “Leshem.” The pronoun (“it”) has replaced the name “Leshem” in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[19:47] 34 tn Heb “according to the name of their father.”
[19:48] 35 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan.”
[19:49] 36 tn Heb “an inheritance in their midst.”
[19:51] 37 tn Heb “the leaders of the fathers of the tribes.”
[19:51] 38 tn Heb “at the entrance of the tent of assembly.”
[20:2] 39 tn Heb “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘Set aside for yourselves.’”
[20:3] 41 tn Heb “so that the one who kills, taking life accidentally without knowledge, may flee there.”
[20:4] 42 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the one who accidentally kills another, cf. v. 2) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:4] 43 tn Heb “and speak into the ears of the elders of that city his words.”
[20:4] 44 tn Heb “and they should gather him into the city to themselves, give to him a place, and he will live with them.”
[20:5] 45 tn Heb “for without knowledge he killed his neighbor, and he was not hating him prior to that.”
[20:6] 47 tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly for judgment.”
[20:6] 48 tn Heb “until the death of the high priest who is in those days.”
[20:6] 49 tn Heb “may return and enter his city and his house, the city from which he escaped.”
[20:8] 51 map For the location of Jericho see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
[20:9] 53 tn The Hebrew text reads simply “the cities.” The words “for refuge” are supplied for clarification.
[20:9] 54 tn Heb “and not die by the hand of.”
[20:9] 55 tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly.” The words “at least” are supplied for clarification.
[21:4] 56 tn Heb “came out for.”
[21:10] 57 tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Aaron, from the Kohathite clans, from the sons of Levi.”
[21:17] 58 tn The words “they assigned” are supplied for clarification (also in vv. 23, 25).
[21:25] 59 tn The name “Gath Rimmon” is problematic here, for it appears in the preceding list of Danite cities. The LXX reads “Iebatha”; 1 Chr 6:55 HT (6:70 ET) reads “Bileam.” Most modern translations retain the name “Gath Rimmon,” however.
[21:27] 60 tn The words “they assigned” and “the following cities” are supplied for clarification (also in v. 34).
[21:36] 61 tc 21:36-37 are accidentally omitted from a number of significant Hebrew
[21:41] 62 tn Heb “in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel.”
[21:42] 63 tn Heb “these cities were city [by] city, and its grazing areas [were] around it; so [it was] for all these cities.”
[21:43] 64 tn Heb “which he had sworn to give to their fathers.”
[21:44] 66 tn Heb “gave them rest all around.”
[21:44] 67 tn Heb “according to all he swore to their fathers.”
[21:44] 68 tn Heb “not a man stood from before them from all their enemies.”
[21:45] 69 tn Heb “the house of Israel.” Cf. NCV “the Israelites”; TEV “the people of Israel”; CEV, NLT “Israel.”
[21:45] 70 tn Heb “not a word from all the good word which the
