Joshua 19:27

Asher’s Inheritance · Joshua 19:24–31
Read Joshua 19

Translations

Modern
…then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.
Traditional
And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth–dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah–el toward the north side of Beth–emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
Literal
…and it turned eastward toward the sunrise to Beth-dagon, and it reached to Zebulun, and to the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, and it went out to Cabul on the left,
Latin
…ac revertitur contra orientem Bethdagon: et pertransit usque Zabulon et vallem Jephthaël contra aquilonem in Bethemec et Nehiel. Egrediturque ad lævam Cabul,

Original

Hebrew
English
…then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.

Notes

The land given to the tribe of Asher included the Plain of Acco on the Mediterranean coast and western Galilee. To the southwest, Asher extended to Mount Carmel, sharing a short border with the land given to the tribe of Manasseh. To the north, the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon restricted Asher's growth.

The five small remaining tribes received land on the edges of Israelite territory and had little influence on the nation.

  • The allotment of land to the tribes on the west side of the Jordan describes what God intended for each tribe to possess.

  • The one narrating the story begins this section with Caleb receiving land and ends with Joshua receiving land (14:6–15; 19:49–51). Only Caleb and Joshua had shown faith in God that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9).

  • As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.

  • The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.

  • In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Inheriting the Land

People

Zebulun: Israelite tribe, son of Jacob and Leah

Places

Beth-dagon: Town in Asher, named after the Philistine god Dagon Beth-emek: Town in Asher's territory, near the border Cabul: Border town of Asher Neah: A border town of Zebulun and Asher Valley of Iphtahel: A valley on the border of Zebulun and Asher

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Asher (Tribe) Beth-Dagon Beth-emek Cabul Dagon Galilee Iphtah-el Issachar, Tribe of Jiphthah-el Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Neiel Shiloh Token Tribe of Dan

Topics

Beth-Dagon: A City of the Territory of the Tribe of Asher Beth-Emek: A City of the Territory of the Tribe of Asher Cabul: A City in the North of Palestine Jiphthah-El: A Valley in Zebulun Neiel: A Landmark on the Boundary of the Tribe of Asher the Tribe of Asher: Bounds of Their Inheritance Tribe of Asher: Census of, by Families: Allotment To, of Land in Canaan Valleys: Jephthah-El