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Joshua 19

51 verses

TL;DR

Joshua 19 records the division of the Promised Land by lot among Israel's tribes, listing each tribe's cities and villages, and concludes with the allocation of a city to Joshua.

Summary

The chapter opens with the second lot drawn for the tribe of Simeon, whose inheritance lies within Judah’s territory, listing thirteen cities and villages. The third lot assigns Zebulun’s inheritance, detailing twelve cities from Sarid to Bethlehem. The fourth lot covers Issachar’s sixteen cities from Jezreel to the Jordan. The fifth lot assigns Asher twenty‑two cities from Helkath to Rehob. The sixth lot grants Naphtali nineteen cities from Heleph to Bethshemesh. The seventh lot gives Dan a smaller coast but notes their conquest of Leshem, renamed Dan. The chapter concludes with the Israelites giving Joshua a city in Ephraim and summarizes the division conducted by lot in Shiloh.

Outline
  1. Allocation of land by lot among the tribes of Israel
  2. Detailed enumeration of cities and villages for each tribe
  3. Conclusion: the city given to Joshua and completion of the division
Themes
land inheritance and covenanttribal identity and boundariesdivine judgment and human agency
Keywords
inheritancelottribecitiesvillageslandcovenantdistributionboundaryfather
People
JoshuaEleazarthe LORD
Places
BeershebaSharuhenZiklagRamath of the southSaridDabbashethTaborCarmelHebronZidonTyreDanShilohMount EphraimJoph
Things
lotinheritancecitiesvillagestribesboundarycovenantdistribution
Key Verses
  • Joshua 19:1: Introduces Simeon’s inheritance within Judah’s territory
  • Joshua 19:10: Details Zebulun’s allotment of twelve cities
  • Joshua 19:47: Shows Dan’s conquest of Leshem and renaming of the city
  • Joshua 19:49: Concludes the land division with Joshua’s city in Ephraim
  • Joshua 19:51: Summarizes the division process carried out by lot in Shiloh
Questions
  • How does the distribution of land reflect the promises made to the Israelite tribes in earlier passages?
  • What does the act of drawing lots signify in the context of divine judgment and human agency?
  • Why did the tribe of Dan choose to take Leshem, and what implications did that have for their identity?
  • In what ways does the division of land illustrate the concept of covenantal stewardship of the promised land?
  • How might the detailed listings of cities and villages serve both a practical and a theological purpose in the narrative?
Sentiment

neutral
Descriptive account of land division