The Territory of Simeon
Study note
Simeon received its inheritance within the larger territory of Judah in the south. This was because Judah's portion was too large for one tribe. Simeon's cities included Beer-sheba, one of the most important cities in the southern desert. Simeon's territory was scattered among Judah's cities rather than being a separate, connected region. Over time, the tribe of Simeon was gradually absorbed into the tribe of Judah.
1 The second lot went to the tribe of Simeon, family by family. Their land was carved out from within the territory of Judah. 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.
2 Simeon received these cities. Beer-sheba (or Sheba), Moladah, And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, And Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem,
4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, And Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,
6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen -- thirteen cities with their villages. And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
7 Also Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan -- four cities with their villages. Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
8 This also included all the villages surrounding these cities as far south as Baalath-beer (that is, Ramah in the southern desert). This was the land that the tribe of Simeon's families received. 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 Simeon's territory came out of Judah's share, because Judah had more land than they needed. So the people of Simeon were given a portion right inside Judah's borders. 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.
The Territory of Zebulun
Study note
Zebulun received territory in the fertile lower Galilee region of northern Israel. Their borders touched Issachar to the south and east, Asher to the west, and Naphtali to the north. Zebulun's land included the area that would later become important in the ministry of Jesus. The city of Bethlehem mentioned here is not the famous Bethlehem near Jerusalem but a smaller town in Galilee.
10 The third lot went to the tribe of Zebulun, family by family. The border of their territory reached as far as Sarid. And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
11 Their border ran west to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and reached the stream near Jokneam. And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12 From Sarid it went east toward the sunrise to the border of Chisloth-tabor, continued to Daberath, and then went up to Japhia. 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 From there it went east to Gath-hepher and Eth-kazin. It continued to Rimmon and turned toward Neah. And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar to Neah;
14 The border curved around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el. And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el:
15 Their land also had Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. That was twelve cities with their villages. And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth-lehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16 This was the land given to the families of Zebulun. It included all these cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
The Territory of Issachar
Study note
Issachar received the fertile Jezreel Valley and surrounding areas. This valley was one of the most productive agricultural regions in all of Canaan and was also a major travel route. Cities like Jezreel, Shunem, and En-gannim are mentioned. The Jezreel Valley would be the site of many important battles throughout Israel's history.
17 The fourth lot went to the tribe of Issachar, family by family. And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18 Their land included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21 and Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez. And Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez;
22 The border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh. It ended at the Jordan River -- sixteen cities with their villages. 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 was the land given to Issachar's families. It included all these cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
The Territory of Asher
Study note
Asher received a long strip of land along the Mediterranean coast in the northwest, from Carmel northward to Sidon. This included some of the most fertile land in Canaan, fulfilling Jacob's blessing that Asher's food would be rich. The territory included the important coastal cities of Acco and Tyre. However, Asher never fully controlled much of this area, especially the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon.
24 The fifth lot went to the tribe of Asher, family by family. And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west their border reached Carmel and Shihor-libnath. And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;
27 It turned east toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun's territory and the Valley of Iphtah-el to the north, then went to Beth-emek and Neiel. It continued north to Cabul, 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,
28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, reaching as far as Greater Sidon. And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29 The border then turned toward Ramah and went to the walled city of Tyre. It turned toward Hosah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. Their territory also included Mahalab, Achzib, 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:
30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob -- twenty-two cities with their villages. Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31 This was the land given to Asher's families. It included all these cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
The Territory of Naphtali
Study note
Naphtali received territory in the upper Galilee region, stretching from the Sea of Galilee northward. Their land included many fortified cities. This region was mountainous and wooded. The Sea of Galilee, which Naphtali bordered, would become central to the ministry of Jesus over a thousand years later.
32 The sixth lot went to the tribe of Naphtali, family by family. The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33 Their border started from Heleph, from the oak tree at Zaanannim. It ran through Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, continued to Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan River. 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 The border turned west to Aznoth-tabor and went from there to Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and the Jordan River on the east. 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.
35 The walled cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor, And Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,
38 Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh -- nineteen cities with their villages. And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39 This was the land given to the families of Naphtali. It included all these cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
The Territory of Dan and Joshua's Inheritance
Study note
Dan received a small territory in the coastal area west of Benjamin and Ephraim. However, the Amorites pushed the Danites into the hills and would not let them come down to the plain. Eventually, the tribe of Dan migrated north and conquered the city of Leshem (also called Laish), renaming it Dan. This northern Dan became the northernmost city in Israel, giving rise to the expression 'from Dan to Beer-sheba.' Finally, the Israelites gave Joshua his own personal inheritance: the city of Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. Joshua rebuilt the city and settled there. With this, the division of the land was complete.
40 The seventh lot went to the tribe of Dan, family by family. And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41 Their territory included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,
42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, And Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,
46 Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, along with the area near Joppa. And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47 But Dan's territory turned out to be too small for them. So the Danites went and attacked the city of Leshem. They captured it, put everyone to the sword, and took it over. They settled there and renamed the city Dan, after their ancestor. 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.
48 This was the land given to Dan's families, including all these cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49 The Israelites finished splitting up all the land among the tribes. Then they gave a special piece of land to Joshua son of Nun. It was right in the middle of their area. 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 Following the Lord's command, they gave Joshua the city he requested: Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the city and settled there. 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.
51 These are the lands that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders divided up by drawing lots at Shiloh. They did this before the Lord at the Tabernacle entrance. This finished the splitting up of the land. 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.