Joshua 19

The 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.

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

Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,

Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,

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

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

and 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.

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. Therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the middle of their inheritance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Their border was to Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,

Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,

Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,

Remeth, Engannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez.

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

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

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

Their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,

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

It 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,

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

The 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;

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

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

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

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

The 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.

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

Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,

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

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

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

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

Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,

Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,

Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,

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

The 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.

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

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.

According 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.

These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing the land.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter details the geographical distribution of Canaan among the remaining tribes of Israel—Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan—following Judah’s allotment in chapter 15. It records the cities and borders assigned by lot, emphasizing divine provision within specific territorial bounds, and closes with Joshua receiving Timnath-serah as his personal inheritance.

Flow.

The chapter begins with Simeon receiving its inheritance within Judah’s territory due to Judah’s abundance of land, listing thirteen cities in the Negev.
It proceeds to describe the allotments for Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali—all tribes settled in Galilee and the northern regions—with careful attention to border landmarks and city counts.
The tribe of Dan is last among the seven lots, initially assigned a coastal region, but the narrative notes their eventual conquest and renaming of Leshem as Dan due to pressure from the Amorites.
The chapter concludes with the formal recognition that the land has been fully divided by divine lot at Shiloh, and Joshua is given Timnath-serah, marking the completion of the initial distribution.

Connections.
Following chapter 18, which outlined the division for Benjamin, Simeon, and Zebulun’s southern edge, this chapter continues the systematic apportioning of the land, now completing the northern territories. The movement from south to north reflects the geographic logic of settlement, and the repeated formulaic descriptions reinforce the orderly fulfillment of God’s promise. The mention of unsuccessful displacement in Dan’s territory (v. 47) anticipates the incomplete conquest more fully addressed in Judges, which chapter 20 will echo with a similar note on the need for further obedience. The concluding reference to Joshua’s inheritance and the completion at Shiloh prepares for chapter 20, where final adjustments will be made and the Transjordanian tribes return home.

What it teaches.
The chapter underscores that the possession of the land was according to divine allotment, not human achievement; every tribe and city was assigned by lot “before the LORD” (v. 51), affirming WCF 12.2 that God “assigns to all men their lot in this world.” The inclusion of Simeon within Judah fulfills Jacob’s earlier prophecy (Gen. 49:5–7) and reflects God’s sovereign arrangement of tribal inheritances as part of his covenant design (WCF 7.3). The note on Dan’s expansion beyond the original lot does not contradict divine order but highlights the people’s responsibility to take what God has given, consistent with the expectation of holy war under covenant obligation (HC LD 35).

Apply.
The faithful receive their portion in the Lord’s ordering, not by advancing beyond the boundaries he has set.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.