Today we'll be looking at the allotment for the tribe of Simeon.
In yesterday's passage Joshua began distributing allotments in the promised land to the remaining seven tribes. The first lot drawn went to the tribe of Benjamin. Today the second lot will be drawn and it will go to the tribe of Simeon. Some Bible scholars believe the lots were drawn by using two jars. For example, one jar may have contained seven slips of parchment or seven stones with the name of each of the remaining tribes on each one; the other jar may have contained the deeds to each portion of the land that remained to be parceled out. Then, in a prayerful attitude toward the Lord, Joshua would have drawn a name out of one jar and a land deed out of the other jar. We don't know for certain that this is how the task was accomplished but it's quite feasible it was done in this manner.
"The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah. It included: Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, Beth Labaoth and Sharuhen---thirteen towns and their villages." (Joshua 19:1-6) You'll recognize the name of Beersheba, for it was mentioned a number of times in the story of Abraham back in Genesis. Ziklag will figure prominently in the life of David later in the Old Testament.
In addition to the towns and villages above, Simeon was given: "Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan---four towns and their villages---and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev)." (Joshua 19:7-8a) Below I'm inserting our map again so we can see the territory allotted to Simeon.
Simeon is located within Judah, so we find Simeon in the lower portion of the large green area on the lower left side of the map. This fulfills the prophecy made by Jacob when he was blessing his sons before his death. He said the tribes of Simeon and Levi would be "scattered" and "dispersed" in Israel. (Genesis 49:7b) We've already learned that the tribe of Levi was given towns and the surrounding pastureland to live in instead of a land allotment like the other tribes. The towns of Levi were spread throughout Israel, fulfilling what Jacob said about Levi by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In our text today we find the word of the Lord coming true about Simeon also. Simeon's allotment was comprised of some of the towns and villages scattered within the allotment of Judah.
"This was the inheritance of the tribes of the Simeonites, according to its clans. 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 19:8b-9) The Bible does not tell us why a bigger portion than needed was given to the tribe of Judah. Some scholars suggest it was done by human error; that it was believed---before the remainder of the promised land was surveyed---that the land was bigger than it actually was. Judah was the first tribe to receive an allotment in the land west of the Jordan, then Ephraim, then the remaining half of Manasseh that had not taken land on the east of the Jordan. This was before men were sent out to survey the remainder of the land in order to parcel out allotments to the seven other tribes. Whatever the case, the Lord already knew back in Genesis that Judah would be given enough land to allow Simeon to be allotted towns and villages within its borders. This is why the Lord instructed Jacob to say what he said.
There is nothing the Lord does not know and that ought to comfort us. It means nothing ever takes Him by surprise. He knows everything we will ever face in this life and He knows everything we will ever do in this life. This means He has a plan for every circumstance. Therefore, we ought to consult Him in all our decisions and do what He tells us to do. He knows the future and He knows the best course for us to take.
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