Joshua 19, The Inheritance of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan

As this chapter begins, there are still six more tribes that are to be assigned land under the authority of Joshua with the guidance of the high priest, Eleazar. The reporting on these last six tribes is somewhat shorter than the reports on other tribes. 

On the left, below, I have a map that attempts to show the possessions of the twelve tribes at the time of Joshua. On the right I have a map of modern Israel.  One notes that the land of the transjordan (east of Jordan) tribes is in modern Jordan and southwest Syria. The central cisjordan (west of Jordan) tribes fall across what is now the West Bank, territory controlled by Israel but claimed by Palestinians. The tribe of Dan appears twice, first at the lower right, against the Mediterranean Sea, but later much further north. (Maps were found here and here.)

Here is the description, in Joshua, of the distributions for five more tribes, Simeon, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Dan.

Joshua 19: 1-9, Distribution for Simeon

The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon, clan by clan. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah. It included: Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen--thirteen towns and their villages;

Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan--four towns and their villages-- and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev). This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, clan by clan.

The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah's portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.

An adjustment is made since the distribution for Judah was so large.

(NIV footnotes: In verse 2 there is some confusion.  The text could be "Beersheba, Sheba"; I Chronicles 4:28 does not list Sheba.)

Joshua 19: 10-16, Distribution for Zebulun

The third lot came up for Zebulun, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid. Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam. It turned east from Sarid toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia. Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon and turned toward Neah.  There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.

Included were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah and Bethlehem. There were twelve towns and their villages. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun, clan by clan.

We have the boundaries and towns of Zebulun. The given count of twelve towns must include some of the border towns listed before verse 15.

Joshua 19: 17-23, The distribution for Issachar

The fourth lot came out for Issachar, clan by clan. Their territory included: Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. The boundary touched Tabor, Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages.

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, clan by clan.

We have the boundaries and towns of Issachar.

Joshua 19: 24-31, The distribution for Asher

The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher, clan by clan. Their territory included: Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, Allammelech, Amad and Mishal. 

On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath. It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left. It went to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the sea in the region of Aczib, Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, clan by clan.

(NIV footnotes: The NIV translation "Abdon" in verse 28 follows some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Joshua 21:30); but most ancient Hebrew manuscripts have "Ebron".)

Here we have the boundaries and towns of Asher.  

Joshua 19: 32-39, The distribution for Naphtali

The sixth lot came out for Naphtali, clan by clan: Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim, passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan on the east.

The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages.

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, clan by clan.

Here we have the boundaries and towns of Naphtali. Note "the large tree" identified as a landmark! 

The tribes of Asher, Zebulun, Napthali and Issachar possess land in norther Canaan, between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. The tribe of Dan will later join them there. The map below is an insert from the leftmost map above.

Joshua 19: 40-48, The distribution for Dan

The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan, clan by clan. The territory of their inheritance included: Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, Elon, Timnah, Ekron, Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,  Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,  Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.

(But the Danites had difficulty taking possession of their territory, so they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their forefather.)

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, clan by clan.

We have the boundaries and towns of Dan.

Joshua 19: 49-51, Joshua's portion

When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for--Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.

 NIV footnotes: In verse 50, Timnath Serah is also known as Timnath Heres (see Judges 2:9.)  Heres may have been an ancient word for "sun", leftover from worship of the sun and one of the gods of nature.