1 And the second lot came foorth to Simeon, euen for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Iudah.
2 And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
3 And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5 And Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,
6 And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen: thirteene cities and their villages.
7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan: foure cities and their villages,
8 And all the villages that were round about these cities, to Baalath-Beer, Ramath of the South: This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9 Out of the portion of the children of Iudah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Iudah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
10 ¶ And the third lot came vp for the children of Zebulun, according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was vnto Sarid.
11 And their border went vp toward the Sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the riuer that is before Iokneam,
12 And turned from Sarid Eastward, toward the Sunne rising, vnto the border of Chisloth Tabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth vp to Iaphia,
13 And from thence passeth on along on the East to Gittah-Hepher, to Ittah-Kazin, and goeth out to Remmon Methoar to Neah.
14 And the border compasseth it on the North side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Iiphthah-el.
15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelue cities with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17 ¶ And the fourth lot came out to Issachar for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18 And their border was toward Izreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19 And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21 And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez.
22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimath, and Bethshemesh, and the outgoings of their border were at Iordan, sixteene cities with their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities, and their villages.
24 ¶ And the fift lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal, and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-Libnath,
27 And turneth toward the Sunne rising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of of Iiphthahel toward the Northside of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, euen vnto great Zidon:
29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong citie Tyre, and the coast turneth to Hosah: and the outgoings thereof are at the Sea from the coast to Achzib.
30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twentie and two cities with their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32 ¶ The sixt lot came out to the children of Naphtali: euen for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33 And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Iabneel vnto Lakum: and the outgoings thereof were at Iordan.
34 And then the coast turneth westward to Aznoth-Tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the Southside, and reacheth to Asher on the Westside, and to Iudah vpon Iordan toward the Sun rising.
35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Cinnereth,
36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
38 And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Bethanah, and Bethshemesh, nineteene cities with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40 ¶ And the seuenth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families:
41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
42 And Shaalabbin, and Aiialon, and Iethlah,
43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalah,
45 And Iehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,
46 And Meiarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Iapho.
47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went vp to fight against Leshem, and tooke it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49 ¶ When they had made an end of diuiding the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gaue an inheritance to Ioshua the sonne of Nun among them:
50 According to the word of the Lord, they gaue him the citie which he asked, euen Timnath-Serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the citie, and dwelt therein.
51 These are the inheritances which Eleazar the Priest, and Ioshua the sonne of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, diuided for an inheritance by lot, in Shiloh before the Lord, at the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation: so they made an end of diuiding the countrey.
The lot of Simeon. (1-9) The lot of Zebulun. (10-16) The lot of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. (17-51)1-9 The men of Judah did not oppose taking away the cities within their border, when convinced that they had more than was right. If a true believer has obtained an unintended and improper advantage in any thing, he will give it up without murmuring. Love seeketh not her own, and doth not behave unseemly; it will induce those in whom it richly dwells, to part with their own to supply what is lacking to their brethren.
10-16 In the division to each tribe of Israel, the prophetic blessings of Jacob were fulfilled. They chose for themselves, or it was divided to them by lot, in the manner and places that he foresaw. So sure a rule to go by is the word of prophecy: we see by it what to believe, and it proves beyond all dispute the things that are of God.
17-51 Joshua waited till all the tribes were settled, before he asked any provision for himself. He was content to be unfixed, till he saw them all placed, and herein is an example to all in public places, to prefer the common welfare before private advantage. Those who labour most to do good to others, seek an inheritance in the Canaan above: but it will be soon enough to enter thereon, when they have done all the service to their brethren of which they are capable. Nor can any thing more effectually assure them of their title to it, than endeavouring to bring others to desire, to seek, and to obtain it. Our Lord Jesus came and dwelt on earth, not in pomp but poverty, providing rest for man, yet himself not having where to lay his head; for Christ pleased not himself. Nor would he enter upon his inheritance, till by his obedience to death he secured the eternal inheritance for all his people; nor will he account his own glory completed, till every ransomed sinner is put in possession of his heavenly rest.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.