Joshua 19

The lot of the tribe of Simeon falleth in the tribe of Juda , ver. 1, etc. Because the lot of the tribe of Juda was too great , 9. The third lot of the children of Zebulon , 10. The fourth for the children of Issachar , 17. The fifth for Aser , 24. The sixth for Naphtali , 32. The seventh for Dan , 47. The children of Israel give unto Josua Timnath-Serah for an inheritance , 49. The dividing the land of promise is finished , 51.

1. Then came out [viz. out of the vessel into which they cast all the lots , and drew them out] the second lot for Simeon , for the tribe of the children of Simeon , according to their families : and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Juda . [see Genesis 49:7. where Jacob foretelleth , that Simeon and Levi should be scattered in Israel , for the murther which they had committed in Sichem : The Levites were spread throughout the whole land , and the Simeonites were divided in Juda]

2. And they had their inheritance Beer-Seba , and Seba , [The particle (and ) here , is conceived to be in this place as much as , or , that is . For Seba and Beer-Seeba , according to the opinion of many , is one and the same City ; therefore it is quite left out in 1 Chronicles 4:28.where this history is again repeated , and below ver.6. Are no more then thirteen cities named] and Malada .

3. And Hazar-Sual , and Bala [This city is called , 1 Chron.4.29. Bilha . There doth often happen some alteration or addition in the proper names of men , cities , and villages ; here ver.4. Is Eltholad , which 1 Chro. 4.29. is called Tholad : and for Bethul , is put Bethuel : for Beth-lebaoth , v.6. is put , 1 Chronicles 4:31. Beth-Biri. Many such alterations there be , as would be too long and tedious always to mark them all . These changes and alterations happened either through length of time , or brevities sake , or for the readier and easier pronounciation.]

4. And Eltholad , and Bethul , and Horma , [See the annot. Judg.1.17.]

5. And Ziklag , and Beth-hammarchaboth , and Harza-susa ,

6. And Beth-Labaoth , and Saruhen , thirteen cities and their villages .

7. Ain, Rimmon , and Ether , and Asan : four cities and their villages .

8. And all the villages that were round about these cities , to Balath-Beer ( that is ) Ramath [Some conceive , that Balath-Beer and Ramath , are one and the same city] toward the south : This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon , according to their families .

9. The inheritance of the children of Simeon is among the line of the children of Juda : [See the annotat. on Jos.15.32.] for the inheritance of the children of Juda was too great for them , [i.e. it was greater then they had need of , or too great to be onely inhabited by the tribe of Juda] therefore do the children of Simeon inherit in the midst of their inheritance .

10. After that came up the third lot for the children of Zebulon , [Here the tribe of Zebulon is placed before the tribe of Issachar , notwithstanding that Issachar was elder then Zebulon ; as also Jacob in his last Will Gen.49.13,14. ordered it , Moseh likewise , Deut . 33.19.] according to their families : and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid .

11. And their border goeth upward toward the west , [Heb. toward the Sea] and Marala , and reacheth unto Dabbaseth : and reacheth unto the brook which is before Jokneam.

12. And it turneth it self from Sarid eastward , toward the rising of the Sun , unto the border of Chisloth-Thabor : and it cometh out at Dobrath , and goeth upward unto Japhia .

13. And from thence it passeth on eastward to the rising of Gath-hepper [Whence the Prohet Jona was born , 2 Kings 24:15.] at Eth-Cazin : and it cometh out at Rimmon -Methoar , which is Nea . [oth. which ( viz. Rimmon ) ended at Nea]

14. And this border turneth it self about toward the north to Hannathon : and the out-goings thereof are the valley of Jiphtah-El.

15. And Kattah, and Nahalal , and Simeon , and Idala , and Bethlehem : [this is not that Bethlehem where Christ was born , for that lay in the tribe of Juda , and this lay in the tribe of Zebulon , ver.10] twelve cities and their villages .

16. This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulon , according to their families : these cities and their villages .

17. The fourth lot came out for Issachar , for the children of Issachar , according to their families .

18. And their border was Jezreel , and Chesuloth , and Simeon . [This city was situate on the border of Issachar , and it is known by the hospitality which the Prophet Elizeus found there : And being birth-place to Abisag , who cherished King David in his old age , 1 Kings 1:3.]

19. And Hapharain, and Sihon, and Anachacath,

20. And Rabbath, and Kision, and Ebez,

21. And Rameth, and En-gannim, [There lieth another En-gannim in the tribe of Juda, another besides on Jordan] and En-hadda,and Beth-pezez.

22. And this border reacheth unto Thabor, and Sahazima, and Beth-semes, [There were divers cities in the land land of Canaan, called Semes] and the goings out of their border are at the Jordan : fifteen cities and 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. Then came out the fifth lot for the tribe of the children of Aser , according to their families .

25. And their border was Helcath , and Hali , and Beten , and Achsaph ,

26. And Alammelech , and Amad , and Misal : and reacheth unto Carmel westward , [Heb. to the Sea] and unto Sihor-Libnoth . [Some conceive that Libnah is a brook , otherwise called Belum , or Pagida]

27. And turneth it self towards the rising of the sun unto Beth-dagon , and reacheth unto Zebulon , and unto the valley Jiphtah-El, northward to Beth-Emek , and Nehiel , and cometh out unto Chebul [Some take this for the name of a city , others conceive it to be the name of a countrey , wherein lay the twenty cities which Solomon gave unto Hiram] on the left hand .

28. And Ebron , [This Ebron , written in Hebrew with an Ain , is to be distinguished from the known Hebron situate in Juda , which is written with a Cheth] and Rebob , and Hammon , and Kana : [this is the great Kana situate not far from Zion , and the Galilee of the Gentiles : The little Kana lay in the tribe of Zebulon , in the nether Galilee. Here Christ turned the Water into Wine , Joh. 2. and here he healed the Noble-mans Son , John 4:46.] unto great Zidon . [this City is called great Zidon , not because there is also a little Zidon , not because there is also a little Zidon , but because of its excellency , fame , and riches]

29. And this border turneth it self toward Rama , and unto the fenced City Tyrus : [Heb. Tson , and signifieth a Rock, because it was born upon a Rock , and lay as it were encompassed in the Sea , on the Rocks : It belonged indeed to the tribe of Aser , but the Heathen kept it , as may appear , 2 Sam.5.11.& 1 Kings 5:1,2. and elsewhere besides] then this border turneth to Hosa , and the out-goings thereof are at the Sea, from the land-line , extending to Achzib.

30. And Ummah , and Aphek , and Rahob : two and twenty cities and their villages .

31. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Aser , according to their families : these cities and their villages .

32. The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali : for the children of Naphtali , according to their families .

33. And their border is from Heleph , from Allon , unto Zaanannim , and Adami-Nekeb , and Jabneel , unto Lakkum : and the goings out thereof are at the Jordan .

34. And this border turneth it self westward toward Aznoth , Thabor , and from thence it goeth on to Hukkok : and it reacheth unto Zebulon toward the south , and to Aser it reacheth towards the west , and unto Juda at the Jordan , toward the rising of the sun .

35. Now the fenced cities are : Ziddim , Zer , and Hammath , Rakkath , and Chinnereth . [Oth. Gennesereth]

36. And Adama , and Rama , and Hazor ,

37. And Kedes , and Edrei , and En-hazor ,

38. And Iron , and Migdal-El , Horem , and Beth-Anath , Beth-Semes : nineteen cities and 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. The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan, according to their families.

41. And the brother of their inheritance was Zoar, And Estaol, and Ir-Semes,

42. And Saalabbin, and Ajalon and Ithla,

43. Elon, and Timnata, and Ekron,

44. And Elkete, and Gibbeton, [When Nadab the son of Rehabeam belieged this city, he was slain of Baala, 1 Kings 15. verse 27.] and Baalach,

45. And Jebud , and Bene-Berak , and Gath-Rimmon ,

46. And Mejarkon , and Rakkon : with the border over against Japho . [Oth. Joppe , Acts 9:36. Here Jonas took shipping for to sail to Tharsis , Jonah 1:3. now it is called Jaffa.]

47. But the border of the children of Dan was come out too little for them : therefore the children of Dan went up , and warred against Lesem , [Oth. Laisch , or Lais , as Judg. 18 . where this History is more amply rehearsed . And there its said , That this was done when there was no King or Judge in Israel . Hence may be gathered , That this book was not written by Josua , for he could not write that which happened after his death] and took it , and smote it with the edge [Heb. mouth] of the sword , and inherited it , and dwelt therein , and they called Lesen , Dan , after the name of Dan their father . [the meaning is , after they had taken the city of Lesen they called it Dan , after the Patriarch Dan , from whom they were descended . This city was seated at the foot of the hill Libanus , in the valley of Tehob , where Jordan had its original sourse . When Philip the Tetrarch , the brother of Herod , in the time of the Emperour Tiberius , had re-edified this city , and much enlarged it , he called it Cesarea-Philippi, after the Emperour's and his own name . Pliny testifieth that it was also called Paneas ; and yet more lately Pelin . It lieth at the end of the land of Caanan , about 35000 paces from Sidon]

48. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of dan , according to their families , these cities and their villages .

49. Now when they had made an end of dividing the land hereditarily , according to its borders , the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Josua in the midst of them.

50. According to the mouth of the LORD , they gave him that city which he desired , Timnath-Sepher [Otherwise called Timnath-Hereb, Judg.2.9. Here that great commander Josua was buried , Joshua 24:30.] on the mountain of Ephraim : and he built that city , and dwelt therein .

51. These are the inheritance which Eleazer the Priest and Josua the son of Nun , and the heads of the fathers of the tribes , hereditarily divided by lot unto the children of Israel at Silo before the face of the LORD , at the door of the Tent of the congregation : Thus they made an end of dividing the land . [This 51 ver. is a general conclusion of all that was written , from the first Chapter even to this place , concerning the division of the land of Promise .]