Joshua 19:9 tells the inheritance of Judah was too
much for them so part of it was given to the children of Simeon. There is no
real answer given as to why this tribe wasn’t given its own portion like
everyone else. There are two things we can deduce, one, is it was a divine act
in regard to a prophecy, and two, is for an example to us.
First, in Genesis 49:5-7 Jacob remembering the
history of Simeon and Levi gives this prophecy concerning their future “Simeon
and Levi are brothers; Their swords are implements of violence. Let my soul not
enter into their council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly;
Because in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will, they lamed oxen.
Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it, is cruel. I
will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.” The Levites were
dispersed in Israel because of their role as the priest but the tribe of Simeon
was placed within the tribe of Judah and slowly faded away as a distinct tribe.
We see here that the actions of the parents affect the children for
generations, but I want to point out the difference between what happened to
the children of Levi verses the children of Simeon. Both are dispersed through
the tribes, but Levites gain a level of dignity and respect. What was the
difference? I can only see one and that came in the name of a man called Moses.
The destiny of the Levites was dispersal, but it
ended up not being division and oblivion. The actions of one man, Levi, set his
family on a course which could not be changed but the actions of Moses caused
the final destination to be far different than it would have been. This gives
me hope that my actions (your actions) can make a difference in ways we may
never expect. We might be on a course which we cannot change but our lives can
change what the final destination will look like.
The second thing we see is the actions of the men
of Judah, which is an example for us today. Bible commentator Matthew Henry put
it this way, “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.”
Jos 19:1-51
(1) 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 Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
(3) And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
(4) And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
(5) And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
(6) And Bethlebaoth, 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 Baalathbeer, 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.
(10) And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
(11) And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
(12) And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
(13) And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
(14) And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:
(15) And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve 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 Jezreel, 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 Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen 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 fifth 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 Shihorlibnath;
(27) And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
(28) And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
(29) And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city 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: twenty 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 sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
(33) And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
(34) And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
(35) And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
(36) And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
(37) And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
(38) And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen 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 seventh 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 Ajalon, and Jethlah,
(43) And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
(44) And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
(45) And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
(46) And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
(47) And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took 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 dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
(50) According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
(51) These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.
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