Joshua Chapter 19 — The Final Land Allotments

Joshua 19 records the land allotments for the final six tribes of Israel and describes the specific inheritance given to Joshua in the hill country of Ephraim.

Land DistributionTribal BordersFulfillment of PromiseOrderly Governance

1The second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. Their inheritance was in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Judah.

2They had for their inheritance Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,

3Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,

4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

5Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,

6Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages;

7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages;

8and all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.

9Out of the part of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them. Therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the middle of their inheritance.

10The third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families. The border of their inheritance was to Sarid.

11Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam.

12It turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrise to the border of Chisloth Tabor. It went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.

13From there it passed along eastward to Gath Hepher, to Ethkazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretches to Neah.

14The border turned around it on the north to Hannathon; and it ended at the valley of Iphtah El;

15Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.

16This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

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

18Their border was to Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,

19Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,

20Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,

21Remeth, Engannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez.

22The border reached to Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh. Their border ended at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.

23This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.

24The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.

25Their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,

26Allammelech, Amad, Mishal. It reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath.

27It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand,

28and Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Sidon.

29The border turned to Ramah, to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah. It ended at the sea by the region of Achzib;

30Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities with their villages.

31This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

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

33Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakkum. It ended at the Jordan.

34The border turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there to Hukkok. It reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrise.

35The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,

36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

37Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,

38Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.

39This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.

40The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

41The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh,

42Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,

43Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,

45Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,

46Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border opposite Joppa.

47The border of the children of Dan went out beyond them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and lived therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their forefather.

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

49So they finished distributing the land for inheritance by its borders. The children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them.

50According to the LORD’s commandment, they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in the hill country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and lived there.

WEB Translation

Notable Verses

Joshua 19:9

Out of the part of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them.

This verse explains why the tribe of Simeon lived within the territory assigned to the tribe of Judah.

Joshua 19:49

So they finished distributing the land for inheritance by its borders. The children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them.

This marks the completion of the land division and the recognition of Joshua's leadership through his own allotment.

Joshua 19:51

So they finished dividing the land.

A definitive statement confirming that the long process of assigning territories to the twelve tribes had reached its conclusion.

Chapter Summary

Joshua 19 details the final phase of land distribution for the tribes of Israel, conducted by lot at Shiloh. The chapter outlines the territories given to the remaining six tribes: Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. Notably, the tribe of Simeon receives land within the territory of Judah because Judah's original portion was too large. Each tribe's borders and major cities are listed, defining their geographic place within the Promised Land. The tribe of Dan, finding their borders restricted, expands by capturing the city of Leshem. After the tribal distributions are complete, the people of Israel grant Joshua a special inheritance in Timnath-serah as he requested. The chapter concludes by noting that Eleazar the priest and Joshua finished the distribution process at the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the command to divide the land among the families of Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions

As stated in Joshua 19:9, the initial portion assigned to the tribe of Judah was too large for them to manage. Because of this surplus, Simeon's inheritance was carved out from within Judah's borders.

According to the Lord's commandment, the Israelites gave Joshua the city he asked for: Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the city and lived there after the tribal lands were settled.

The tribe of Dan found their assigned territory difficult to maintain or too small, so they went up to fight against the city of Leshem. They captured it, renamed it Dan after their forefather, and settled there.

The distribution was conducted at Shiloh, specifically at the door of the Tent of Meeting, by Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the heads of the tribal houses.

Study Note

The mention of the 'fortified city of Tyre' in verse 29 provides a historical touchpoint for the northern maritime boundaries of the tribe of Asher.

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