Key Verse Spotlight
Joshua 19:40 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. "
Joshua 19:40
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.
40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41 The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh,
42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,
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Dan had been one of the four divisions of Israel’s camp in the wilderness, and that division brought up the rear. Yet, when the land of Canaan was divided, Dan was the last tribe to receive an inheritance. Its lot fell in the southern part of Canaan, between Judah on the east, the land of the Philistines on the west, Ephraim on the north, and Simeon on the south.
God’s providence placed this large and strong tribe in a difficult position, but also in a place where it could face those troublesome neighbors, the Philistines. That is exactly what later happened in Samson’s life. This passage gives two things about Dan’s inheritance.
First, it names what fell to Dan by lot: Zorah and Eshtaol, along with the camp of Dan in that area, where Samson later lived and worked. Near there was the valley of Eshcol, the place where the spies brought back the famous cluster of grapes. Japho, or Joppa, was also within this tribe’s boundary.
Second, it points to what Dan gained by its own effort and courage, which is mentioned here (Joshua 19:47) and described more fully in Judges 18:7 and following.
From This Chapter
Joshua 19:1
"The second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. Their inheritance was in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Judah."
Joshua 19:2
"They had for their inheritance Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,"
Joshua 19:3
"Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,"
Joshua 19:4
"Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,"
Joshua 19:5
"Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,"
Joshua 19:6
"Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages;"
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