Joshua 19 48

Joshua 19:48 kjv

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

Joshua 19:48 nkjv

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

Joshua 19:48 niv

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

Joshua 19:48 esv

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

Joshua 19:48 nlt

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

Joshua 19 verses

Joshua 19 48 Meaning

Joshua 19:48 serves as the conclusive declaration for the land inheritance allotted to the tribe of Dan. It formally states that the cities and their surrounding villages previously listed are indeed the divinely appointed territory for the people of Dan, distributed among their respective family clans. This verse marks the completion of Dan's designated portion in the promised land, asserting the finality and validity of their tribal inheritance according to God’s sovereign plan and the Israelite communal structure.

Joshua 19 48 Context

Joshua chapter 19 concludes the detailed accounts of the land distribution among the twelve tribes of Israel, overseen by Joshua. After the significant allotments for Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh were described earlier, Chapter 19 enumerates the inheritances of the remaining six tribes: Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and finally, Dan. This structured listing follows the drawing of lots at Shiloh, affirming divine direction in the partitioning of the promised land. Historically, this period marks Israel's transition from nomadic life to a settled nation in Canaan, embodying the fulfillment of God's centuries-old covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding their descendants possessing the land. Joshua 19:48 serves as the concluding summary for the last tribe mentioned, reinforcing the order, precision, and divinely sanctioned nature of the entire land distribution process. It sets the stage for the tribes to occupy their assigned territories, though some, like Dan, would face significant challenges in securing their full inheritance, a theme further explored in the Book of Judges.

Joshua 19 48 Word analysis

• This (זֹאת, zot): A demonstrative pronoun meaning "this." It points back directly to the preceding description in verses 40-47, affirming that the detailed list of cities and boundaries is indeed the designated inheritance for Dan. It conveys a sense of finality and official documentation of the allocation.
• was: The Hebrew structure implies the verb "was" or "is" (הָיְתָה, hayetah, implied). This signifies a state of being, indicating the established and ratified nature of the inheritance. It's not a future possibility, but a present reality.
• the inheritance (נַחֲלַת, nachalat): Derived from the root ירש (yarash), meaning "to inherit" or "take possession." Nachalah is a key term in the Old Testament, denoting a divinely apportioned lot or possession, especially land. It carries a theological weight, emphasizing God's role in granting the land as a perpetual possession to His people, not just a temporary property. This inheritance was to be passed down through generations.
• of the tribe (מַטֵּה, matteh): Literally "staff," "rod," or "branch," which extended to mean "tribe." It signifies a distinct administrative, social, and military unit within the nation of Israel. The allocation was to these larger tribal divisions, further subdivided internally.
• of the people of Dan (בְּנֵי דָן, bnei Dan): Literally "sons of Dan." This denotes the collective descendants of Dan, one of Jacob's sons, identifying the specific recipients of this territorial allocation by their patriarchal lineage and tribal identity.
• according to their clans (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם, le-mishp'chotam): From mishpacha, meaning "family," "clan," or "kindred." Within each tribe, the land was further distributed among its constituent clans or extended families. This reflects the ordered system of Israelite society and land tenure, ensuring that every family unit had its designated place and portion within the overall tribal inheritance, preserving the lineage and identity.
• these cities (הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, ha-arim ha-elleh): Literally "the cities, these." Refers explicitly to the specific list of urban centers named in verses 41-46. This emphasizes the concrete geographical reality and the legal precision of the boundaries given. These were fortified centers or main towns within their allotted territory.
• with their villages (וְחַצְרֵיהֶם, ve-chatsreihem): From chatzer, meaning "courtyard," "enclosure," "settlement," or "village." This signifies the outlying unfortified settlements, hamlets, or agricultural lands directly associated with the main cities. Inclusion of villages ensured the tribe received the full economic and strategic breadth of the territory, including arable land and pasturage necessary for their sustenance and expansion.

• "This was the inheritance": This phrase functions as a definitive legal declaration. It validates the foregoing detailed description (verses 40-47) as the formal, divinely sanctioned and Joshua-executed assignment of land. It closes the section on Dan's specific territory, confirming its status as a permanent, rightful possession.
• "of the tribe of the people of Dan according to their clans": This group of words clarifies the beneficiaries of the inheritance. It roots the land tenure directly in Israel's socio-religious tribal structure, emphasizing that the distribution was both communal (to the tribe) and systematically apportioned internally (by clans). This highlights the orderly nature of the inheritance based on familial and tribal identity.
• "these cities with their villages": This phrase precisely defines the scope and type of territory assigned. It covers not just the major urban centers but also their vital surrounding agricultural and dwelling areas. This comprehensive allocation was crucial for the self-sufficiency, security, and sustained livelihood of the tribe.

Joshua 19 48 Bonus section

The discrepancy between the extensive territory described for Dan in Joshua 19 and their historical difficulties in securing it, leading to their migration as narrated in Judges 18, is a significant theological point. While God perfectly provides the inheritance, the human responsibility of faithful and courageous action in possessing that inheritance remains paramount. This serves as a lesson for believers regarding God's abundant provision and our role in laying hold of spiritual blessings through faith and obedience, sometimes despite formidable opposition. The precise listing of cities, often dismissed as mere ancient records, highlights God's sovereignty over land and human affairs, and His detailed blueprint for His people's flourishing.

Joshua 19 48 Commentary

Joshua 19:48 is a concise summary statement that formally concludes the description of Dan's allotted inheritance within the promised land. It validates the preceding verses (19:40-47) as the divinely appointed boundaries and urban centers for the Danite tribe and its various clans. The verse underscores God's meticulous fulfillment of His covenant promises by ensuring each tribe, down to their family units, received a specific portion of the land. Although later history reveals Dan's struggle to fully occupy this precise inheritance (Judg 1:34) and their subsequent migration (Judg 18), Joshua 19:48 stands as the foundational, official record of God's provision and the ideal presented to them. It reflects God's faithfulness and the precise orderliness in the distribution of the land He promised.