Discovery BoxJoshua 19:1-27
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
[19:1] 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.”
