Joshua 19 31

Joshua 19:31 kjv

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Joshua 19:31 nkjv

This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Joshua 19:31 niv

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, according to its clans.

Joshua 19:31 esv

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans ? these cities with their villages.

Joshua 19:31 nlt

The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Asher included these towns and their surrounding villages.

Joshua 19 verses

Joshua 19 31 Meaning

Joshua 19:31 describes a specific section of the tribal inheritance of Asher. It defines part of Asher's northern boundary, stating that their territory extended towards several towns and ultimately reached the significant Phoenician city of Sidon, referred to here as "Sidon the Great." This verse, like others in the detailed land division, delineates the divine allocation of territory to the tribe, marking the fulfillment of God's covenant promises concerning the land of Canaan.

Joshua 19 31 Context

Joshua chapter 19 describes the distribution of the land of Canaan to the remaining Israelite tribes, following the allocations to Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh. It delineates the borders and cities assigned by lot to Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. This entire section (chapters 13-19) is a detailed account of how the Israelites began to inhabit the land promised by God, fulfilling the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Verse 31 specifically belongs to the description of Asher's inheritance (Josh 19:24-31). Asher received a strategically important, yet challenging, coastal territory in the northern part of the promised land. Its boundaries stretched north, incorporating fertile plains and reaching towards significant Phoenician city-states like Sidon. Historically and culturally, this put Asher in direct proximity to highly developed pagan societies. The listing of these boundaries not only validates the divine decree but also implicitly challenges the authority and gods of the local Canaanite and Phoenician inhabitants, declaring YHWH's sovereignty over the entire land. The reality, as shown later in Judges, was that Asher, along with other tribes, did not fully dispossess these inhabitants, leading to persistent challenges and influences.

Joshua 19 31 Word analysis

• And their border (גְּבוּלָם, gevulam):

  • Word: "border" (גְּבוּל, gevul). This term signifies a defined boundary or territory, critical for land ownership and tribal identity in ancient Israel. The concept of "boundaries" (גבולות) is central to the land allocation, reflecting God's precise and deliberate fulfillment of His promises. It also emphasizes the legal and communal aspect of inheritance.
  • Significance: It denotes the divinely apportioned segment of the promised land, representing a concrete fulfillment of covenant. These borders are not just geographical markers but symbolic markers of God's faithfulness and Israel's inheritance.

• reached to (יָצָא, yatza):

  • Word: "reached to" (literally, "went out to" or "extended to"). The verb yatza signifies a boundary that projects or stretches forth towards specific locations.
  • Significance: It denotes the expansive nature of the inherited land and the intended extent of Israel's dominion as planned by God. It also points to the comprehensive nature of the land description.

• Hoglah (חגלה, Chaglah):

  • Word: A specific place name.
  • Significance: Its inclusion marks a precise geographical point along Asher's border, though its exact ancient location is debated among scholars today. It functions as a key marker in the boundary description.

• and to Rehob (רחוב, Rechov):

  • Word: A place name. "Rehob" means "broad place" or "street." There were several towns named Rehob in ancient Israel, so pinpointing this exact one to Asher's territory is important.
  • Significance: Like Hoglah, it's a boundary marker. It helps define the reach and extent of Asher's tribal inheritance in a specific, detailed manner, vital for the Israelite claim to the land.

• and to Hammon (חמון, Chammon):

  • Word: Another place name, also debated in its precise ancient location.
  • Significance: Serves as an additional geographic identifier in delineating the territory, emphasizing the exactitude of the land distribution, reflecting a divine plan, not arbitrary lines.

• and to Kanah (קנה, Kanah):

  • Word: A place name, possibly near the coast, sometimes associated with "reeds."
  • Significance: It's often mentioned in proximity to Sidon, suggesting its importance as a frontier marker on the approach to the prominent Phoenician city. Its inclusion defines Asher's reach towards powerful external neighbors.

• as far as Sidon the Great (צִידוֹן רַבָּה, Tzidon Rabbah):

  • Word: "Sidon" (צִידוֹן, Tzidon) was a prominent Phoenician city-state. "Great" (רַבָּה, rabbah) emphasizes its significant size, power, and influence.
  • Significance: Sidon was a major maritime, commercial, and religious center known for its wealth, trade, and Baal worship. Its inclusion in Asher's boundary indicates God's original intent for Israel's dominion to extend even to such a powerful, pagan stronghold. This claim represents an implicit polemic against Sidonian power and idolatry, asserting YHWH's ultimate sovereignty over a land they considered their own. Asher’s failure to fully possess it, as noted later (Judg 1:31), highlights the human inadequacy in fulfilling God's perfect design despite His provision. The mention of its "greatness" reinforces the magnitude of the promised inheritance, as well as the formidable challenge it posed to the Israelites.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And their border reached to...": This phrase underscores the active and divinely-ordained process of land apportionment. It highlights that these were not just abstract lines on a map but concrete territories being described for physical occupation. The "reaching" or "extending" emphasizes the full scope of what God intended for Asher's inheritance.
  • "Hoglah, and to Rehob, and to Hammon, and to Kanah": The enumeration of specific smaller towns or locations within the border definition demonstrates the detailed and precise nature of the land division. These places served as geographical anchors, creating a comprehensive legal and communal map for Asher's future dwelling. Such precise detailing ensures clarity and avoids disputes, marking a thorough fulfillment of divine promise.
  • "as far as Sidon the Great": This phrase marks the grand culmination of Asher's northern boundary. "Sidon the Great" acts as the climactic point, a significant and imposing landmark. Its inclusion signifies the ambition and ideal scope of Asher's inheritance, placing a major economic and pagan center within the divinely allotted land. It illustrates the extent of God’s intention for His people's dominion and the encounter with formidable, well-established foreign powers that was part of Israel's divinely appointed mission.

Joshua 19 31 Bonus section

The mention of "Sidon the Great" (צִידוֹן רַבָּה, Tzidon Rabbah) in Asher's territorial description is highly significant. In the ancient world, Sidon was a formidable city-state, pre-dating Tyre as the leading Phoenician maritime and trading power. Its greatness implied not only its physical size but its commercial influence, naval strength, and spiritual adherence to its own deities, particularly Baal and Asherah. For this major Canaanite stronghold to be part of Asher's inheritance in Joshua’s ideal apportionment signifies God's comprehensive sovereignty over all land and peoples, challenging the false claims of other deities and rulers. This geographical allocation was thus a spiritual declaration before it became a historical reality, and the later failure of Asher (and other tribes) to possess fully their assigned territory (as noted in Judges) serves as a potent reminder of the importance of sustained faith and obedience in fulfilling God's complete will. The strategic coastal access provided to Asher also highlights potential economic opportunities alongside the inherent challenges of interacting with sophisticated non-Israelite cultures.

Joshua 19 31 Commentary

Joshua 19:31 concisely details the northernmost reach of Asher's territory, extending to the prominent Phoenician city of Sidon. This verse, embedded within the meticulous land allocations in Joshua, underscores the faithfulness of God in providing an inheritance to His people as promised since Abraham. The specificity of the named towns – Hoglah, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah – indicates a precise and detailed boundary survey, solidifying the legal claim of Asher to this land under divine decree. The climax, "Sidon the Great," signifies the expansive nature of God's promise, even encompassing a powerful pagan city. This inclusion presents a theological assertion: all the land, even territories held by strong idolatrous peoples, ultimately belongs to YHWH and is purposed for His covenant people. However, subsequent historical accounts in Judges (Judg 1:31-32) reveal Asher's failure to fully conquer or drive out the inhabitants of Sidon and other cities, illustrating the tension between divine ideal and human partial obedience, a recurring theme in Israel's early history in the land. This verse thus stands as both a testament to God's generous provision and a silent foreshadowing of Israel's incomplete appropriation of His blessing.