Joshua 19:15 kjv
And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:15 nkjv
Included were Kattath, Nahallal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:15 niv
Included were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah and Bethlehem. There were twelve towns and their villages.
Joshua 19:15 esv
and Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem ? twelve cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:15 nlt
The towns in these areas included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem ? twelve towns with their surrounding villages.
Joshua 19 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|| Gen 12:7 | "To your offspring I will give this land." | God promises land to Abraham's descendants. || Gen 49:13 | "Zebulun shall dwell at the seashore... and his border shall be to Sidon." | Jacob's prophecy on Zebulun's dwelling. || Num 26:55-56 | "But the land shall be divided by lot... by their fathers’ tribes." | Land division by lot for each tribe. || Num 34:1-12 | Details the boundaries of Canaan to be divided. | God specifies exact national boundaries. || Deut 33:18-19 | "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out... abundance of the seas." | Moses' blessing on Zebulun regarding prosperity. || Josh 14:1-2 | "These are the inheritances... which Eleazar... and Joshua divided..." | General process of land distribution. || Josh 15:63 | Details how tribes possessed or did not possess land. | Challenges in taking full possession. || Josh 17:10 | Describes the border shared by Asher and Manasseh. | Examples of precise boundary descriptions. || Josh 19:10-14 | Describes Zebulun's initial borders and listed cities. | Immediate context of Zebulun's inheritance. || Josh 21:43-45 | "Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land... none failed." | God's faithfulness in fulfilling land promise. || Judg 4:6 | "Did not the Lord... command you, 'Go... toward Mount Tabor...'?" | Zebulun active in Deborah and Barak's war. || Judg 5:18 | "Zebulun... risked their lives... in the high regions of the field." | Zebulun's bravery and dedication in war. || 1 Kgs 8:56 | "Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel." | God's faithfulness in providing rest/land. || 2 Chr 30:10-11 | Refers to those from Zebulun humbling themselves and coming to Jerusalem. | Later history: some of Zebulun responding to Hezekiah. || Ps 78:55 | "He drove out nations... allotted them their inheritance." | God actively gave Israel the land. || Isa 9:1-2 | "In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun..." | Prophecy of spiritual light coming to Galilee/Zebulun. || Jer 32:21 | "You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt..." | Reminder of God's power in deliverance. || Mic 5:2 | "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah... from you shall come forth for me..." | Prophecy of Messiah's birth in Bethlehem of Judah. || Matt 4:13-16 | "Leaving Nazareth he went... Capernaum... That what was spoken by Isaiah..." | Jesus' ministry beginning in Zebulun's area (Galilee). || Acts 17:26 | "And he made from one man every nation... having determined their appointed times and the boundaries." | God's sovereignty over nations and their territories. || Heb 10:23 | "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." | God's unfailing faithfulness to His promises. || Rev 21:12 | The names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on the gates of New Jerusalem. | Continuity of the twelve tribes in ultimate fulfillment. |
Joshua 19 verses
Joshua 19 15 Meaning
Joshua 19:15 concludes the specific listing of towns within the inheritance allocated to the tribe of Zebulun. It states that five specific cities – Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and a Bethlehem distinct from the more famous one in Judah – were among the twelve cities, along with their surrounding villages, given to Zebulun. This verse marks the completion of the geographical description of Zebulun's tribal territory within the Promised Land, signifying the precise and ordered fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Israel.
Joshua 19 15 Context
Joshua chapter 19 describes the allocation of the remaining tribal inheritances after the initial major divisions for Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Specifically, verses 10-16 detail the boundaries and cities designated for the tribe of Zebulun. This chapter is part of a larger section (chapters 13-21) dedicated to the precise division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel, as commanded by God through Moses and implemented by Joshua. Historically, this meticulous record served as a vital legal and religious document for the Israelites, affirming their possession of the land as a direct gift from Yahweh and distinguishing their organized inheritance from the chaotic conquests of other ancient peoples. The comprehensive list of cities, often including specific details like springs and borders, demonstrates the meticulous nature of God's plan and its fulfillment. The mentioning of "Bethlehem" in Zebulun also serves to historically distinguish it from the more prominent Bethlehem in Judah.
Joshua 19 15 Word analysis
- And: A simple conjunction connecting this list of cities to the preceding description of Zebulun's border.
- Kattath (קַטָּת): A town in Zebulun, whose exact location is debated by scholars, but its inclusion underscores the specificity of the tribal land allotments. It signifies a tangible, identified point within the territory.
- Nahalal (נַהֲלָל): A town located within Zebulun's territory, possibly related to "to lead to a pasture" or "to graze," suggesting agricultural significance. Its inhabitants were not initially dispossessed by Zebulun (Judg 1:30), highlighting challenges in fully possessing the inheritance.
- Shimron (שִׁמְרֹון): This town, possibly located at Khirbet Sammuniyeh, might be connected to Shimron-meron (Josh 12:20), a royal city whose king was conquered by Joshua. Its inclusion indicates the transfer of pre-existing settled areas into Israelite possession.
- Idalah (יִדְאֲלָה): A less identifiable town from historical or archaeological records. Its presence emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the land register, accounting for all significant settlements.
- Bethlehem (בֵּית לָחֶם): Hebrew Beyt Lekhem, meaning "house of bread" or "house of food." This is a common place name in the ancient Near East due to its agricultural significance. Crucially, this Bethlehem is in Zebulun, in lower Galilee, distinct from Bethlehem Ephrathah in Judah (Mic 5:2, birthplace of Jesus), a critical geographical and prophetic distinction that emphasizes the divine precision of locations within the land. The name itself reflects a land of provision and sustenance, promised by God.
- Twelve cities (שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵה עָרִים): The number "twelve" serves as a specific count, indicating completion for this particular enumeration of major urban centers within Zebulun's inheritance. While "twelve" is often symbolic of completeness concerning the tribes of Israel, here it functions primarily as an accurate, documented count, testifying to the exactness of the land division by divine command. This numeric detail emphasizes divine order and faithful fulfillment, contrasting with any chaotic, unorganized division.
- with their villages (וְחַצְרֵיהֶן): The Hebrew chatserim (villages, settlements) denotes the smaller, dependent agricultural settlements, hamlets, or encampments surrounding the main cities. This phrase signifies a comprehensive and full inheritance, not just of urban centers, but of the broader rural and agrarian lands essential for livelihood and expansion, ensuring total possession of the designated territory for sustenance and future growth. This provision includes everything needed for life and prosperity within their allotted sphere.
Joshua 19 15 Bonus section
The precise naming and counting of cities like those in Zebulun’s territory provided irrefutable proof to future generations of Israel that God had indeed kept His promise to give them the land. This land distribution was carried out by divine direction, casting out the chaotic notions of random or humanly devised settlement. The strategic location of some of these areas near major trade routes and fertile valleys, especially in the context of Zebulun (whose territory touched important Galilean thoroughfares), hints at both the material blessing of the land and future interactions with surrounding cultures. The challenge Zebulun faced in completely driving out the inhabitants of Nahalal (Judg 1:30) highlights the conditional aspect of complete possession and the ongoing obedience required to fully enjoy God's promises, even after initial allocation.
Joshua 19 15 Commentary
Joshua 19:15 is a precise detail within the vast biblical record of God's covenant faithfulness. By listing specific cities, including one named Bethlehem which underscores geographical distinctiveness from Judah's more famous city, it emphasizes the exact fulfillment of God's promise of land to Israel. The meticulous inventory of "twelve cities with their villages" confirms the divine order in the inheritance process, leaving no ambiguity about the extent of Zebulun's allocation. This detailed accounting reinforces the theme of God as a faithful and orderly provider who perfectly fulfills His word, laying a foundational reality for the tribe's identity and future history, even serving as a historical backdrop for later prophetic fulfillment, as Zebulun's territory would eventually encompass areas where Jesus ministered. It stands as a testament to God's careful and complete provision for His people.