Joshua 19:38 kjv
And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:38 nkjv
Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh: nineteen cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:38 niv
Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages.
Joshua 19:38 esv
Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh ? nineteen cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:38 nlt
Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh ? nineteen towns with their surrounding villages.
Joshua 19 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jos 13:7 | "Now therefore, divide this land for an inheritance..." | Command to divide the land. |
| Jos 15:1-62 | Details of Judah's inheritance. | Pattern of tribal inheritance. |
| Jos 16:1-10 | Details of Joseph's inheritance. | Pattern of tribal inheritance. |
| Jos 17:1-18 | Details of Manasseh's inheritance. | Pattern of tribal inheritance. |
| Jos 18:1-10 | Description of the land survey for the remaining tribes. | Organized land distribution. |
| Jos 21:43-45 | "So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give..." | God's faithfulness in fulfilling promises. |
| Num 26:48-51 | Census data for Naphtali and instructions for inheritance by size. | Basis for land division by population. |
| Gen 12:7 | "To your descendants I will give this land." | The foundational promise of the land. |
| Gen 15:18-21 | "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram..." | Covenant promise specifying land boundaries. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land..." | Command to take possession. |
| Deut 33:23 | "O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the LORD..." | Moses' blessing on Naphtali. |
| Jdg 1:33 | "Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh..." | Shows Naphtali's partial failure to conquer. |
| Jdg 4:6 | "...the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, 'Go and march to Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali...'" | Naphtali's role in Deborah and Barak's victory. |
| Jdg 5:18 | "Zebulun was a people who jeopardized their lives to the death, And Naphtali on the heights of the field." | Naphtali's courage in battle. |
| Isa 9:1-2 | "But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish... Galilee of the Gentiles." | Prophecy of future light in Naphtali's region. |
| Matt 4:13-16 | "He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali..." | Jesus' ministry in Naphtali's historical region. |
| Lev 18:24-28 | "Do not defile yourselves with any of these things... the land vomited out its inhabitants." | Connects land purification with Canaanite practices. |
| Deut 7:5 | "But thus you shall deal with them: you shall tear down their altars..." | Command to destroy idolatrous places. |
| Ps 78:55 | "He also drove out nations before them... And allotted their inheritance by measure..." | God's sovereignty in land distribution. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called... for he was looking for the city which has foundations..." | Faith in the promise of an inheritance. |
| Jos 14:1-2 | "These are the inheritances... by lot, as the LORD commanded through Moses." | Allotment was by divine instruction. |
| Num 34:1-12 | Detailed borders of the Promised Land. | Defines the overall land to be divided. |
Joshua 19 verses
Joshua 19 38 Meaning
Joshua 19:38 describes the final cities belonging to the tribe of Naphtali's inheritance in the Promised Land. It lists Iron, Migdal-el, Horeb, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh, concluding the section by specifying that the sum of the cities listed for Naphtali, including their dependent settlements, totaled nineteen. This enumeration details the territorial possession divinely granted to the descendants of Naphtali, fulfilling God's promise to Israel.
Joshua 19 38 Context
Joshua chapter 19 concludes the detailed account of the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, as instructed by God. This specific verse, Joshua 19:38, is part of the extensive description of the inheritance given to the tribe of Naphtali, whose territory lay in the northern reaches of the Promised Land, north of Zebulun and Asher, extending towards the Sea of Galilee. The precise listing of cities, concluding with a summary count, underscores the systematic and meticulous nature of the land allocation process, overseen by Joshua, Eleazar the priest, and the tribal heads. Historically, the area allotted to Naphtali, especially the "Galilee of the Gentiles" region, was fertile and strategic, bordering major trade routes, which would later play a significant role in Israel's history, particularly during Jesus' ministry. Culturally, the naming of cities like Beth-anath ("house of Anath," a Canaanite goddess) and Beth-shemesh ("house of the sun god") subtly hints at the challenge the Israelites faced in fully possessing and cleansing the land from pre-existing pagan influences and populations, a struggle that would continue into the period of the Judges.
Joshua 19 38 Word analysis
- and Iron (וְיִרְאֹ֣ון - və·yir·'ō·wn): A city whose precise location is debated among scholars, though it likely refers to a site in upper Galilee. The name's root yara means "to fear" or "to revere," perhaps signifying a place of religious awe (good or bad) or simply a formidable/dreaded place.
- and Migdal-el (וּמִגְדַּל־אֵ֗ל - ū·miḡ·dal-’êl): Meaning "tower of God." This name indicates a fortified place, perhaps a watchtower or stronghold, dedicated to, or named in reverence of, God (El). Its defensive nature would have been crucial in the tribal territory.
- Horeb (חֹרֶב - ḥō·reḇ): This "Horeb" is distinct from Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai), the site of the Law's giving. It refers to a specific town in Naphtali's territory, possibly meaning "dry place" or "waste place," indicating its physical characteristics, rather than a spiritual or historical connection to Sinai.
- and Beth-anath (וּבֵית־עֲנָת֙ - ū·ḇêṯ-‘ă·nāṯ): Meaning "house of Anath." Anath was a prominent Canaanite warrior goddess, sister/consort of Baal. This name strongly suggests a pre-Israelite center of Canaanite worship. Its inclusion in Naphtali's allotment highlights the Israelites' task to dispossess the existing inhabitants and cleanse the land, often not fully achieved (cf. Jdg 1:33).
- and Beth-shemesh (וּבֵית שָׁ֑מֶשׁ - ū·ḇêṯ šā·meš): Meaning "house of the sun" or "house of the sun god." Like Beth-anath, this name points to a former center of pagan sun worship, common among ancient Near Eastern peoples. This reiterates the challenge of pagan influences in the inherited land, contrasting the purity commanded by God for His people.
- nineteen cities (תְּשַׁ֨ע־עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה עָרִים֙ - tə·ša‘-‘eś·rêh ‘ā·rîm): The specific number emphasizes the meticulous and comprehensive nature of the land distribution, underscoring the exact fulfillment of God's covenant promises. The careful tally provided administrative clarity and documented the full extent of the divine provision.
- with their villages (וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן - wə·ḥaṣ·rê·hen): This phrase indicates the dependent settlements, smaller communities, hamlets, or agricultural outposts associated with and administered by the main fortified cities. It shows that the "cities" mentioned refer not just to individual walled towns but to their entire associated administrative and agricultural zones, highlighting the complete scope of the tribal inheritance.
Joshua 19 38 Bonus section
The territories listed for Naphtali, including the cities in this verse, correspond to a highly significant area in the future. This region, known as Galilee, becomes the primary sphere of Jesus' earthly ministry, as foretold by Isaiah 9:1-2. Thus, the divine allocation detailed in Joshua laid the physical groundwork for the coming of the Messiah and the spread of the Gospel, demonstrating God's long-term sovereign plan that extends far beyond the immediate possession of land. While these specific cities might not all be identified definitively today, their listing confirms the precise nature of the historical event and God's hand in establishing His people.
Joshua 19 38 Commentary
Joshua 19:38 acts as a specific data point within the grand narrative of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promise to give the land of Canaan to Israel. This detailed enumeration of cities, concluding the specific allotment to the tribe of Naphtali, underscores the precision and divine order in the land distribution. The presence of names like "Beth-anath" and "Beth-shemesh" serves as a subtle yet significant reminder of the ongoing challenge for Israel to fully purge idolatry and take complete possession of their inheritance, reflecting the struggle between divine command and human obedience that permeates their history. The careful recording of "nineteen cities with their villages" demonstrates the tangible reality of God's provision and the detailed planning behind the establishment of His people in their land, laying the administrative groundwork for future generations.