Simeon's land

1Simeon was the second tribe chosen to receive land, and the region for its clans was inside Judah's borders. 2-6In one region of Simeon's tribal land there were the following thirteen towns with their surrounding villages:19.2-8: 1 Ch 4.28-33.

Beersheba, Shema,19.2-6 Shema: One ancient translation and some manuscripts of another ancient translation (see also the list at 15.21-32); Hebrew and some manuscripts of one ancient translation “Sheba”. The list in 1 Chronicles 4.28 does not have either “Shema” or “Sheba”. Moladah, Hazar-Shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-Marcaboth, Hazar-Susah, Beth-Lebaoth, and Sharuhen.

7In another region, Simeon had the following four towns with their surrounding villages:

Enrimmon,19.7 Enrimmon: Some Hebrew manuscripts and one ancient translation; most Hebrew manuscripts “Ain, Rimmon”. Tachan,19.7 Tachan: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation; the Hebrew text does not have this word. Ether, and Ashan.

8Simeon's land also included all the other towns and villages as far south as Baalath-Beer, which is also called Ramah of the South.

9Simeon's tribal land was actually inside Judah's territory. Judah had received too much land for the number of people in its tribe, so part of Judah's land was given to Simeon.

Zebulun's land

10-12Zebulun was the third tribe chosen to receive land. The southern border for its clans started in the west at the edge of the gorge near Jokneam. It went east to the edge of the land that belongs to the town of Dabbesheth, and continued on to Maralah and Sarid. It took in the land that belongs to Chislothtabor, then ended at Daberath.

The eastern border went up to Japhia 13and continued north to Gath-Hepher, Ethkazin, and Rimmonah,19.13 Rimmonah: Or “Rimmon”. where it curved19.13 Rimmonah…curved: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. towards Neah 14and became the northern border. Then it curved south around Hannathon and went as far west as Iphtahel Valley.

15Zebulun had twelve towns with their surrounding villages. Some of these were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Jiralah,19.15 Jiralah: Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations; most Hebrew manuscripts “Idalah”. and Bethlehem.19.15 Bethlehem: This town is different from the Bethlehem in 15.58,59.

16This is the tribal land, and these are the towns and villages of the Zebulun clans.

Issachar's land

17-23Issachar was the fourth tribe chosen to receive land. The northern border for its clans went from Mount Tabor east to the River Jordan. Their land included the following sixteen towns with their surrounding villages:

Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, Debirath,19.17-23 Debirath: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Rabbith”. Debirath is probably the same place as Daberath in verse 12. Kishion, Ebez, Remeth, En-Gannim, Enhaddah, Beth-Pazzez, Tabor,19.17-23 Mount Tabor…Tabor: In Hebrew the name “Tabor” is used only once. It was probably intended as the name of a town at the foot of Mount Tabor and which formed one point on the northern border of Issachar. Shahazumah and Beth-Shemesh.19.17-23 Beth-Shemesh: Not the same Beth-Shemesh as in 15.10 or 19.35-39.

Asher's land

24-26Asher was the fifth tribe chosen to receive land, and the region for its clans included the following towns:

Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal.

Asher's southern border ran from the Mediterranean Sea south-east along the River Shihor-Libnath at the foot of Mount Carmel, 27then east to Beth-Dagon. On the south-east, Asher shared a border with Zebulun along the Iphtahel Valley. On the eastern side their border ran north to Beth-Emek, went east of Cabul, and then on to Neiel, 28Abdon,19.28 Abdon: A few Hebrew manuscripts and one ancient translation; most Hebrew manuscripts “Ebron”. Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, and as far north as the city of Sidon. 29-31Then it turned west to become the northern border and went to Ramah19.29-31 Ramah: Not the same “Ramah” as in 18.25-28 or 19.35-39. and the fortress city of Tyre.19.29-31 fortress city of Tyre: Tyre was a walled city built on an island about a kilometre from shore. Near Tyre it turned towards Hosah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.

Asher had a total of twenty-two towns with their surrounding villages, including Mahalab,19.29-31 Mahalab: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. Achzib, Acco,19.29-31 Acco: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Ummah”. Aphek, and Rehob.

Naphtali's land

32-34Naphtali was the sixth tribe chosen to receive land. The southern border for its clans started in the west, where the tribal lands of Asher and Zebulun meet near Hukkok. From that point it ran east and south-east along the border with Zebulun as far as Aznoth-Tabor. From there the border went east to Heleph, Adami-Nekeb, Jabneel,19.32-34 Jabneel: This town is not the same Jabneel as in 15.11. then to the town called Oak in Zaanannim,19.32-34 the town…Zaanannim: Or “the oak tree in the town of Zaanannim”. and Lakkum. The southern border ended at the River Jordan, at the edge of the town named Jehudah.19.32-34 at…Jehudah: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. Naphtali shared a border with Asher on the west.

35-39The Naphtali clans received this region as their tribal land, and it included nineteen towns with their surrounding villages. The following towns had walls around them:

Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, Adamah, Ramah,19.35-39 Ramah: Not the same “Ramah” as in 18.25-28 or 19.29-31. Hazor, Kedesh, Edrei,19.35-39 Edrei: Not the same Edrei as the town in Bashan east of the River Jordan where King Og had lived (see 12.4; 13.11,12,30,31). Enhazor, Iron, Migdalel, Horem, Beth-Anath, and Beth-Shemesh.19.35-39 Beth-Shemesh: Not the same Beth-Shemesh as in 15.10 or 19.17-23.

Dan's land

40-46Dan was the seventh tribe chosen to receive land, and the region for its clans included the following towns:

Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-Shemesh,19.40-46 Ir-Shemesh: Possibly the same town as the Beth-Shemesh of 15.10. Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, Elon, Timnah, Ekron, Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, Jehud, Azor,19.40-46 Azor: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation; the Hebrew text does not have this word. Beneberak, Gath-Rimmon, Mejarkon, and Rakkon.

Dan's tribal land19.40-46 Gath-Rimmon, Mejarkon, and Rakkon. Dan's tribal land: Or “Gath-Rimmon, and Rakkon. Dan's tribal land also included the River Yarkon and”. went almost as far as Joppa. 47-48Its clans received this land and these towns with their surrounding villages.19.47: Jg 18.27-29.

Later, when enemies19.47,48 enemies: Probably the Philistines. forced them to leave their tribal land, they went to the town of Leshem. They attacked the town, captured it, and killed the people who lived there. Then they settled there themselves and renamed the town Dan after their ancestor.

Joshua's land

49-51The Israelites were still gathered in Shiloh in front of the sacred tent,19.49-51 sacred tent: Or “meeting tent”. when Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the family leaders of Israel finished giving out the land to the tribes. The LORD had told the people to give Joshua whatever town he wanted. So Joshua chose Timnath-Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people gave it to him. Joshua went to Timnath-Serah, rebuilt it, and lived there.