Joshua 19 9

Joshua 19:9 kjv

Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

Joshua 19:9 nkjv

The inheritance of the children of Simeon was included in the share of the children of Judah, for the share of the children of Judah was too much for them. Therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of that people.

Joshua 19:9 niv

The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah's portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.

Joshua 19:9 esv

The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.

Joshua 19:9 nlt

Their allocation of land came from part of what had been given to Judah because Judah's territory was too large for them. So the tribe of Simeon received an allocation within the territory of Judah.

Joshua 19 verses

Joshua 19 9 Meaning

Joshua 19:9 explains a critical adjustment in the land distribution for the tribes of Israel. The tribe of Simeon, despite having its own allotted inheritance, received its territory from within the larger portion initially given to the tribe of Judah. This re-allocation occurred because Judah's original inheritance was deemed "too much" for them, meaning it exceeded their immediate capacity or needs for settlement and stewardship. Consequently, Simeon's land became embedded within Judah's tribal boundaries, fulfilling both divine allocation and practical necessity.

Joshua 19 9 Context

Joshua chapter 19 is part of the book of Joshua that details the distribution of the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel after the successful military conquest. The land was divided by lot at Shiloh, under the supervision of Joshua and Eleazar the priest, symbolizing divine appointment and equity. Chapter 19 specifically describes the inheritances of seven tribes: Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, and Benjamin. This particular verse, Joshua 19:9, highlights an exceptional circumstance regarding the tribe of Simeon. Although each tribe received its designated portion through a sacred process, Judah, being a large and influential tribe, received a very extensive territory in chapter 15. The subsequent discovery that Judah's land was "too much" for them reflects a practical reality – either they did not immediately need or could not fully occupy such a vast expanse. Therefore, God's plan, facilitated through the leaders, allowed for Simeon, whose lot was drawn next, to settle within Judah's boundaries, demonstrating flexibility, divine wisdom, and care for each tribe's needs. This arrangement also has deep historical echoes, connecting to Jacob's prophecy regarding Simeon in Genesis 49:7.

Joshua 19 9 Word analysis

• Out of the portion (מֵחֵ֣לֶק - miḥeleq):

  • מֵ (mi/me): A preposition meaning "from," "out of." It denotes source or derivation.
  • חֵ֫לֶק (ḥeleq): Means "portion," "share," "allotment," or "territory." It signifies a specifically designated part of a larger whole. Here, it refers to the already allocated territory of Judah. This emphasizes that Simeon's land was not a new, separate allocation but a sub-portion extracted from an existing one.

• of the children of Judah (בְּנֵי יְהוּדָ֑ה - bənê Yəhūḏāh):

  • בְּנֵי (bənê): "Sons of" or "children of." Common biblical idiom to refer to a tribe or people group, emphasizing their lineage and collective identity.
  • יְהוּדָה (Yəhūḏāh): Judah. One of the most prominent tribes, prophesied to be royal, and consistently shown with a large population and significant territory. Their generosity, or the divine pragmatic instruction to share, highlights a unique inter-tribal dynamic.

• was the inheritance (נַחֲלַ֖ת - naḥălath):

  • נַחֲלָה (naḥălâ): A rich term meaning "inheritance," "possession," or "heritage." This is not merely property; it's a divinely given, often perpetual, possession that establishes tribal identity and sustenance within the land of promise. The use of this word underscores the theological significance of land ownership for Israel.

• of the children of Simeon (בְנֵֽי שִׁמְע֑וֹן - bənê Šiməʻōn):

  • שִׁמְעוֹן (Šiməʻōn): Simeon. This tribe, often smaller in number, was subject to Jacob's prophecy in Gen 49:7 concerning dispersion. Their inheritance within Judah’s territory, rather than as a fully independent bloc, aligns with this prophecy's interpretation as being scattered among their brethren. This highlights God's sovereignty and fulfillment of His word.

• for the part of the children of Judah (כִּ֣י חֵ֧לֶק בְּנֵֽי־ יְהוּדָ֛ה - kî ḥēleq bənê Yəhūḏāh):

  • כִּי (kî): "For," "because." It introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
  • חֵלֶק (ḥeleq): See above, reiterating "portion" or "share."

• was too much for them (רַ֥ב הָיָ֖ה לָהֶֽם - rab hāyâ lāhem):

  • רַב (rab): "Much," "great," "abundant," "numerous." Here, it indicates an excess or superfluity of land.
  • הָיָה (hāyâ): "Was," "existed," "became." A very common verb signifying existence or occurrence.
  • לָהֶם (lāhem): "To them," "for them." Refers back to the children of Judah. The phrase implies that Judah possessed a territory so vast that it surpassed their immediate practical needs or ability to fully settle and develop it at that time. This is a pragmatic, divinely guided decision, not a punitive measure.

• Therefore (עַל־ כֵּ֗ן - ʻal-kēn):

  • A consequential particle, "for this reason," "thus." It clearly establishes a cause-and-effect relationship, linking the excess land of Judah to the allocation for Simeon.

• the children of Simeon (בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֔וֹן - bənê Šiməʻōn):

  • Repetition of Simeon, re-emphasizing the recipients of the adjusted inheritance.

• had their inheritance (נַחֲלָתָ֖ם - naḥălātām):

  • נַחֲלָה (naḥălâ): See above. The suffix -tām means "their." It underscores that Simeon's lot was truly their legitimate "inheritance," even if it came from Judah.

• in the midst of their inheritance (בְּת֣וֹךְ נַחֲלָתָֽם - bətōk naḥălātām):

  • בְּת֖וֹךְ (bətōk): "In the midst of," "within," "among." This precise preposition is crucial. It does not mean "adjacent to" or "bordering," but inside or surrounded by. This explicitly details the unique nature of Simeon's territorial situation, embedded within Judah's larger portion. It confirms Simeon's dependent status and integrated existence, directly tying into the theme of dispersion (Gen 49:7).
  • נַחֲלָה (naḥălâ): See above. Here referring to the collective territory of Judah as "their inheritance." The full phrase highlights the internal location of Simeon's new territory within Judah's larger assigned land.

Words-group analysis

• "Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon": This opening clause sets up the unusual arrangement. It immediately tells us Simeon did not get a contiguous, independent territory separate from other tribes, but drew from an already-designated major tribal area, specifically Judah. This prefaces the reason.

• "for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them": This explanatory clause provides the pragmatic and likely divinely guided reason for the adjustment. It speaks to God's wise distribution and not just adherence to a rigid initial lot-casting. It reveals that the allocation was practical and adaptable to needs. It also subtly implies that "more than enough" might not always be beneficial for immediate settlement and stewardship.

• "Therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance in the midst of their inheritance": This concluding phrase succinctly summarizes the outcome and geographical reality. "In the midst of their inheritance" (Judah's inheritance) vividly portrays Simeon's unique, enclaved status, thereby establishing a geographical reality that would later define their history and relationship with Judah (e.g., Judg 1:3). It points to a unique fulfillment of prophecy and God's sovereign hand in all details of the land's distribution.

Joshua 19 9 Bonus section

The arrangement for Simeon’s inheritance is often seen as a subtle divine intervention that brought Jacob’s prophecy of dispersion (Gen 49:7) to pass without annihilating Simeon’s tribal identity. Instead of being scattered globally or anonymously, they were dispersed locally and identifiably within the vast land of Judah. This unique situation ensured Simeon's survival as a tribe for centuries, although they largely faded into Judah's history due to their integrated nature, eventually losing much distinct tribal identity (as reflected in later genealogies like 1 Chr 4 and the fewer references to them). Their later history often intertwines with Judah's, indicating a practical co-existence born from this initial territorial sharing. This demonstrates the nuanced fulfillment of prophecy and God's merciful provision for every tribe, even those with challenging prophecies over them.

Joshua 19 9 Commentary

Joshua 19:9 offers a vital insight into the land distribution process following Israel's conquest of Canaan. While the land was primarily divided by lot, signaling divine appointment, this verse reveals a divinely permitted adjustment based on practical realities. Judah, a vast and powerful tribe, received an expansive territory, which was more than they could immediately settle or steward. This "excess" did not imply a mistake in the lot, but rather an opportunity for Simeon, a numerically smaller tribe with a challenging ancestral prophecy of dispersion (Gen 49:7), to find their dedicated portion. Simeon's inheritance was therefore uniquely situated "in the midst" of Judah's land, a state of integration rather than full independence.

This arrangement underscores several theological and practical principles: God's wisdom in administration, providing for all His people according to their specific needs and capabilities; the flexibility within divine plans, allowing for pragmatic adjustments for the common good; and the unfolding of ancient prophecies in tangible, even geographically specific ways. Simeon’s enclaved position not only met their need for land but also partly fulfilled Jacob’s prophetic words that Simeon would be scattered among their brethren, demonstrating God’s faithfulness in every detail. It portrays communal responsibility, as the stronger tribe shared its abundance with the weaker, reflecting a spirit of unity under God's overarching plan for the promised land.