1.
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
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 (), 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 (Genesis 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 (Genesis 49:7), gives the idea of a compact district, as it is usually
represented by map makers, the other group (Joshua 19:7;
Joshua 19:8) were situated, two in
the south, and two elsewhere, with tracts of the country around them.
Joshua 19:8. OF ZEBULUN.
2.
And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
3.
And Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem,
4.
And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5.
And Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,
6.
And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
7.
Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
8.
And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9.
Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
10.
And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
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 () —they afterwards did, according to the prediction of
Moses (Deuteronomy 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.
Deuteronomy 33:19. OF ISSACHAR.
11.
And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12.
And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then goeth out to daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
13.
And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar to Neah;
14.
And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el:
15.
And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16.
This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17.
And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
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.
. OF ASHER.
18.
And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19.
And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
20.
And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21.
And Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez;
22.
And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24.
And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
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.
25.
And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26.
And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;
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 (Joshua 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 (Joshua 17:10) "great Zidon," so called on account of its being
even then the flourishing metropolis of the Phoelignicians. Though
included in the inheritance of Asher, this town was never possessed
by them (Judges 1:31).
27.
And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
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.
28.
And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29.
And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
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
(Judges 1:31), terminated at the
seacoast.
Judges 1:31. OF NAPHTALI.
30.
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
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.
31.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32.
The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
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 (), that the boundary described () ran from the southwest towards the northeast, up to the
sources of the Jordan.
33.
And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
34.
And then the coast turneth westward to Aznoth-tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
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 (1 Chronicles 2:4-22)
[KEIL].
1 Chronicles 2:4-13. OF DAN.
35.
And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
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 (), that the boundary described () ran from the southwest towards the northeast, up to the
sources of the Jordan.
36.
And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37.
And Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,
38.
And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40.
And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
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.
41.
And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,
42.
And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43.
And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44.
And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45.
And Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,
46.
And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47.
And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
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 ).
. THE CHILDREN
OF ISRAEL GIVE
AN INHERITANCE TO
JOSHUA.
48.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49.
When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
50.
According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
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 ().
Timnath-serah—or Heres,
on Mount Gaash (Judges 2:9). Joshua
founded it, and was afterwards buried there (Judges 2:9).
51.
These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.
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.