Joshua 19:40

17. And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 17. Ipsi Issachar egressa est sors quarta, filiis inquam, Issachar per familias suas. 18. And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, 18. Et fuit terminus eorum Jezrael, et Chesuloth, et Sunem, 19. And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath, 19. Et Hapharaim, et Sion, et Anaharath, 20. And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, 20. Et Rabbith, et Cicion, et Abeth, 21. And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez; 21. Et Remeth, et Engannin, et Enhaddah, et Beth-passes. 22. And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. 22. Et pervenit terminus in Thabor, et Sahasima, et Beth-semes: eruntque exitus termini eorum ad Jordanem: urbes sedecim, et villae earum. 23. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages. 23. Haec est haereditas tribus filiorum Issachar per familias suas: urbes et villae earum. 24. And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 24. Egressa est autem sors quinta tribui filiorum Aser per familias suas. 25. And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, 25. Fuitque terminus eorum Helcath, et Hali, et Bethen, et Achsaph,

19:17-51 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.

(40) The seventh lot . . . of the children of Dan. —Dan was the most numerous tribe, next to Judah, in each census taken during the exodus. (See Numbers 1, 26) This tribe had also had a post of honour in being commander of the rear-guard during the march. A similar post is here assigned to Dan in Palestine, viz., next to Judah, on the side of the Philistine territory. The Philistines were the most powerful and warlike of the unconquered nations of Palestine. The wisdom of guarding Israel on their frontier by the two strongest of the tribes is manifest. It was Samson, a Danite, who began to deliver Israel from them, and David completed the work. Though there were Philistine wars in the time of the later kings, they never had dominion over Israel after David’s time.

40–48. The Inheritance of the Tribe of Dan 40 . the seventh lot ] came out to the smallest of all the tribes, that of Dan, descended from the fifth son of Jacob. The position of the tribe during the march through the wilderness had been on the north side of the Tabernacle, the hindmost of the long procession between Naphtali and Asher. At the census in the desert it was the most numerous of all the tribes with the exception of Judah, containing 62,700 men able to bear arms. Joshua 19:40

Jos 19:40-48. Of Dan. 40-46. the seventh lot came out for the tribe … Dan—It lay on the west of Benjamin and consisted of portions surrendered by Judah and Ephraim. Its boundaries are not stated, as they were easily distinguishable from the relative position of Dan to the three adjoining tribes.

The number of the fortified cities of Naphtali is remarkable, though it does not tally with the catalogue. It was no doubt good policy to protect the northern frontier by a belt of fortresses, as the south was protected by the fenced cities of Judah. Hammath, a Levitical city (compare Joshua 21:32 ; 1 Chronicles 6:76 ), is not to be confounded with the Hamath on the northeastern frontier of the land Numbers 13:21 . The name (from a root signifying "to be warm") probably indicates that hot springs existed here; and is perhaps rightly traced in Ammaus, near Tiberias. Rakkath was, according to the rabbis, rebuilt by Herod and called Tiberias. The name ("bank, shore") suits the site of Tiberias very well. Migdal-el, perhaps the Magdala of Matthew 15:39 , is now the miserable village of "El Mejdel."

The Inheritance of the Tribe of Dan. - This fell to the west of Benjamin, between Judah and Ephraim, and was formed by Judah giving up some of its northern towns, and Ephraim some of its southern towns, to the Danites, so as to furnish them with a territory proportionate to their number. It was situated for the most part in the lowland (shephelah), including, however, the hill country between the Mediterranean and the mountains, and extended over a portion of the plain of Sharon, so that it belonged to one of the most fruitful portions of Palestine. The boundaries are not given, because they could be traced from those of the adjoining territories.

10. Naphtali Judah is first, having the first lot; and he dwelt in the south part of the land, Joshua 15:1, etc.; and next to him Simeon, because his inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah, Joshua 19:1. Benjamin was third; he had his inheritance by Judah, between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph, Joshua 18:11. Dan was the fourth; his lot fell westward of that of Benjamin, in the country of the Philistines, as may be seen in Joshua 19:40, Joshua 19:41, etc. Fifth, Manasseh; and sixth, by him, his brother Ephraim, whose inheritances were behind that of Benjamin, Joshua 16:7. Next to these dwelt, seventh, Zebulun; and eighth, Issachar; concerning whose lots see Joshua 19:10-17. Ninth, Asher; and tenth, Naphtali; see Joshua 19:24, Joshua 19:32, etc. And as in encamping about the tabernacle they were arranged according to their fraternal relationship, (see Numbers 2)., so they were in the division and inheriting of the promised land. Judah and Simeon, both sons of Leah, dwelt abreast of each other. Benjamin, son of Rachel, and Dan, son of Rachel's maid, dwelt next abreast. Manasseh and Ephraim, both sons of Joseph, son of Rachel, had the next place abreast. Zebulun and Issachar, who dwelt next together, were both sons of Leah; and the last pair were Asher, of Leah's maid, and Naphtali, of Rachel's maid.

and then the coast turneth to Ramah —now El-Hamra, which stood where the Leontes (Litany) ends its southern course and flows westward. and to the strong city Tyre —The original city appears to have stood on the mainland, and was well-fortified. From Tyre the boundary ran to Hosah, an inland town; and then, passing the unconquered district of Achzib (Jude 1:31), terminated at the seacoast. Joshua 19:32-39. O F N APHTALI. 32-39. the sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali —Although the cities mentioned have not been discovered, it is evident, from Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh, that is, on the northwest of Lake Merom (Jude 4:11), that the boundary described (Joshua 19:34) ran from the southwest towards the northeast, up to the sources of the Jordan. 34. Aznoth-tabor —on the east of Tabor towards the Jordan, for the border ran thence to Hukkok, touching upon that of Zebulun; and as the territory of Zebulun did not extend as far as the Jordan, Aznoth-tabor and Hukkok must have been border towns on the line which separated Naphtali from Issachar. to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising —The sixty cities, Havoth-jair, which were on the eastern side of the Jordan, opposite Naphtali, were reckoned as belonging to Judah, because Jair, their possessor, was a descendant of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:4-22) [K EIL ]. Joshua 19:40-48. O F D AN. 40-46. the seventh lot came out for the tribe … Dan —It lay on the west of Benjamin and consisted of portions surrendered by Judah and Ephraim.