Joshua 19 40

Joshua 19:40 kjv

And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

Joshua 19:40 nkjv

The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

Joshua 19:40 niv

The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its clans.

Joshua 19:40 esv

The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans.

Joshua 19:40 nlt

The seventh allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Dan.

Joshua 19 verses

Joshua 19 40 Meaning

Joshua 19:40 marks the point in Israel's land distribution where the lot for the tribe of Dan was drawn. It signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to give each tribe an inheritance in the land of Canaan. The precise distribution "according to their clans" underlines the orderly and divinely ordained process, ensuring that the inheritance was granted to the established family divisions within the tribe of Dan, solidifying their place in the Promised Land.

Joshua 19 40 Context

Joshua chapter 19 describes the final phase of the land distribution among the tribes of Israel after the main conquest campaigns. Specifically, it details the territories allotted by lot to the remaining seven tribes that had not yet received their inheritance: Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and finally, Dan, along with some individual cities and boundary descriptions. This particular verse, Joshua 19:40, signifies that Dan's allotment was the seventh and last lot in this final set of distributions overseen by Joshua and Eleazar, thereby concluding the initial division of the Promised Land as commanded by God. Historically, this event took place towards the end of Joshua's leadership, representing the meticulous fulfillment of God's ancient covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants concerning their rightful inheritance in Canaan.

Joshua 19 40 Word Analysis

• The seventh: This numerical identifier signifies order and sequence within the ongoing process of land distribution. Dan received the final lot in the sequence of seven tribes whose inheritance was detailed in this chapter (after Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh had already received theirs). It suggests a structured completion rather than randomness, pointing to the deliberate execution of God's plan for each tribal inheritance.
• lot: (Hebrew: גּוֹרָל, gōral) This refers to the method used for distributing the land, a divinely sanctioned practice for making decisions where human wisdom or impartiality might be insufficient. While appearing random, the use of lots in biblical contexts, especially under the oversight of Joshua and Eleazar the priest (Num 26:55), indicated the submission to God's ultimate determination. It wasn't chance, but rather God's sovereign will being revealed, as Proverbs 16:33 affirms, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."
• came out: This phrase conveys the outcome of the drawing of the lot, implying a decisive and unambiguous result. It suggests a process unfolding according to a predetermined divine will, with the specific inheritance for Dan being divinely appointed and made clear. The passive voice implies that a higher power, God Himself, was orchestrating the outcome.
• for the tribe of Dan: Dan (Hebrew: דָּן, Dan), meaning "judge," was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's son Dan, born to Bilhah. This phrase identifies the specific beneficiary of this particular inheritance. Their geographical placement in the initial allotment (near the Philistine coast) became problematic for them, as indicated by later biblical accounts (Josh 19:47-48, Judg 18).
• according to their clans: (Hebrew: מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם, mišpaḥotam) This crucial phrase underscores the meticulous and systematic nature of the land division. The inheritance was not just broadly for the tribe, but was further sub-divided and allocated specifically based on the existing familial and ancestral lineages recorded in the tribal censuses (like in Numbers 26). This ensured fairness, preserved tribal identity, upheld the established social order, and rooted each family unit firmly within their inherited territory.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• The seventh lot came out: This phrase highlights the systematic and providential nature of the land distribution. It wasn't arbitrary but followed a divine plan and sequence, revealed through the sacred lot, indicating God's faithful apportionment of the Promised Land to each designated tribal family unit.
• for the tribe of Dan, according to their clans: This complete phrase pinpoints the precise recipient of this inheritance – the tribe of Dan – and emphasizes the hierarchical, detailed, and just method of distribution, reaching down to the specific family units. It reflects a core principle of Israelite society, where identity, inheritance, and social structure were intricately linked to family and clan. It speaks to God's orderly provision and the fulfillment of His promises, specifically down to the individual family lines that formed the nation of Israel.

Joshua 19 40 Bonus section

The seemingly simple act of casting a lot to determine tribal boundaries carried profound theological weight. It underscored the Israelite belief that ultimate authority resided with the LORD, not human leaders, even one as righteous as Joshua. The land itself was viewed not merely as territory, but as a covenant inheritance, a gift from God. The meticulous record-keeping of specific cities and boundaries within each tribal lot (seen throughout Joshua 19) highlights the concrete and verifiable fulfillment of God's promises. While the verse confirms Dan's specific allotment, later events in Judges reveal the Danites' inability to fully possess their coastal inheritance due to external pressures (Philistines) and internal failure (idolatry, Judges 18), leading to their significant migration. This future context, while not directly stated in Joshua 19:40, contrasts the initial divine ideal with human practicalities and failures.

Joshua 19 40 Commentary

Joshua 19:40, while a concise verse, is deeply significant in the narrative of Israel's establishment in the Promised Land. It marks a pivotal moment, signaling the completion of the initial division of Canaan under Joshua's leadership, specifically detailing Dan as the last of the remaining tribes to receive its allotment. The divine process of using lots for distribution was a clear demonstration that the inheritance was not a matter of human strategizing or negotiation, but of divine decree, fulfilling God's centuries-old promises to Abraham (Gen 12) and his descendants. The inclusion of "according to their clans" reinforces the systematic and just nature of God's provision, ensuring that the land was properly accounted for and distributed among every recognized family unit within Dan, preventing disputes and establishing a stable societal framework. Although Dan later faced challenges with their allotted territory and some eventually migrated northward (Judg 18), this verse records the initial, divinely ordained inheritance, underscoring God's faithfulness in providing a land for His people, a dwelling place for His covenant.