Joshua 19:1-9

The Inheritance of Simeon Joshua 19:1-9

And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2 And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
3 And Hazar-shual, 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; thirteen cities and their villages:
7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four 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 Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

1.

Who was Simeon? Joshua 19:1

Simeon was the son of Jacob by Leah. He was the second son born to them; and when he was born, his mother gave him a name that indicated that her petitions had been heard of the Lord. His name comes from the Hebrew verb, shamah, to hear. His birth is recorded in Genesis 29:33. When Jacob blessed his sons, he prophesied that Simeon would be with Levi and scattered among the others of Jacob's descendants. Simeon was not to have a separate inheritance of his own. As a result of this prediction's being fulfilled, Simeon inherited cities which centered around Beer-sheba and were completely within the borders of the land given to the children of Judah (Genesis 49:5-7). At the first numbering, made before Israel left Sinai (Numbers 1), there were 59,300 men in Simeon. His tribe decreased in number until there were only 22,200 when the children of Israel were numbered again in the plains of Moab (Numbers 26).

2.

Where was Beer-sheba? Joshua 19:2

Beer-sheba was immediately west of the south end of the Dead Sea and central in the territory given to Simeon. Isaac had lived there when Jacob left to seek a wife among his mother's people (Genesis 28). Abraham had dwelt there (Genesis 22:19), and Isaac had digged a well there (Genesis 26:25). Beer-sheba is famous in modern times as a center of business activity in Israel. A world-famous camel market is located at this southernmost city of Israel.

3.

Where was Ziklag? Joshua 19:5

Ziklag was about twenty miles north and east of Beersheba. In the days of David the town was given to him by Achish, king of Gath; and the sacred writer says that Ziklag thereafter pertained unto the kings of Judah until the time of the writing of his narrative (1 Samuel 27:6). Such a circumstance indicates that the town had fallen into the hands of the Philistines although it originally was given as a possession to the men of Simeon.