Joshua 19:1-9

Simeon’s Tribal Lands

19:1 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 

[19:1]  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.”