Joshua 19:8

8 The towns and all of the villages that were around them reached all the way to Ramah in the Negev Desert. That was the share of land the tribe of Simeon received, family group by family group.

Joshua 19:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 19:8

And all the villages that [were] round about these cities
Not only the suburbs adjoining to those cities which are mentioned before, but the several small distinct towns and villages, scattered up and down in the country:

to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south:
this is the same with Baal in ( 1 Chronicles 4:33 ) ; and with Ramath of the south, or south Ramoth, as it is called ( 1 Samuel 30:27 ) ; all these are the names of one and the same city:

this [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon,
according to their families;
that is, the above named cities fell to the lot of the inheritance of the Simeonites, and were divided among them according to the number of their respective families; at least, these were the chief and principal of them; for all that they possessed are not mentioned, particularly one called Tochen, ( 1 Chronicles 4:32 ) ; and another, the name of which is Etam there, unless that is thought to be the same with Ether here in ( Joshua 19:7 ) . Josephus says ^F6, this tribe took by lot that part of Idumea which lay near to Egypt and Arabia.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22.

Joshua 19:8 In-Context

6 Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen. The total number of towns was 13. Some of them had villages near them.

7 Here's another list of towns that were given to Simeon. Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan. The total number of towns was four. Some of them had villages near them.

8 The towns and all of the villages that were around them reached all the way to Ramah in the Negev Desert. That was the share of land the tribe of Simeon received, family group by family group.

9 Simeon's share of land was taken from Judah's share. That's because Judah had more land than they needed. So the people of Simeon received their share of land inside the territory of Judah.

10 The third lot that was drawn out was for the tribe of Zebulun, family group by family group. Here are the borders of Zebulun's territory. The border of their share of land went as far as Sarid.