Log inSign up

Favor · the best way to learn the Bible

Joshua 19 Bible study: The last lots, and Joshua's city

Simeon's land sat "in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Judah" (19:1) because Judah had too much; Joshua was given his city last, "among them" (19:49), in words the book used of Caleb. And the lands drawn here for Zebulun and Naphtali are the ones Matthew names when Jesus came to live in Capernaum (Matthew 4:13).

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the words behind the words, what most readers miss, and how it all leads to Jesus.

Start your free weekWhat is Favor?

First week free, then $10 a month per person

“So they finished distributing the land for inheritance by its borders. The children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them.”
Joshua 19:49 · World English Bible

Try it · Did you catch it?

“Joshua 15:13 says Caleb's portion was given according to the commandment of the LORD.”

Is that in Joshua 19, or not? Make your call.

What's really going on

Seven lots, counted out

In the text

At Shiloh, Joshua had said, "I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God" (18:6), and the first lot was Benjamin's: "The lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up" (18:11). This chapter counts the rest. "The second lot came out for Simeon" (19:1), "The third lot came up for the children of Zebulun" (19:10), and so on to "The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan" (19:40) (tap lot). Each tribe's part closes with a line like this: "This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages" (19:16). Then the chapter's last line: "So they finished dividing the land" (19:51).

Where it leads to Jesus

In the region of Zebulun and Naphtali

In the text

Joshua 19:10leads toMatthew 4:13

Joshua 19 draws Zebulun's lot (19:10-16) and Naphtali's (19:32-39). Matthew writes of Jesus, "Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali" (Matthew 4:13). Capernaum isn't named in Joshua 19; the lands are.

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Joshua 19

That was a taste

The rest of Joshua 19 is waiting in Favor

  • Simeon, in the middle of Judah
  • The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali
  • Joshua last, and among them
  • Dan's city, told twice
  • Gath Hepher, Jonah's town
  • At the door of the Tent of Meeting
  • 19 questions as you read
  • 9 more Hebrew words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
Start your free week

Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Joshua 19 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.

The Hebrew word behind it

תָּוֶךְtavekhsay TA-vekh

Brown-Driver-Briggs: "midst". Strong's: "a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre". Simeon's inheritance "was in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Judah" (19:1), and again, "the children of Simeon had inheritance in the middle of their inheritance" (19:9). The chapter uses it once more, for Joshua: "The children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them" (19:49), where among them is this word. The book has used it before of land given among others: Caleb had "a portion among the children of Judah" (15:13), and Zelophehad's daughters "an inheritance among the brothers of their father" (17:4). And it is the word of the Levites' lack: "to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them" (14:3).

For your group

Joshua 19 Bible study questions

  1. 1Judah's portion "was too much for them" (19:9), so Simeon lived in the middle of it; Joseph's tribes said they had "just one lot and one part" (17:14). When have you had more than you needed, and what did you do with it?
  2. 2Joshua was given his city only after every tribe had its land (19:49-50). What does it look like, in your life, to take your own share last?
  3. 3Isaiah says of "the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali" that "in the latter time he has made it glorious" (Isaiah 9:1), and Matthew says Jesus came to live there (Matthew 4:13-16). Why do you think it matters where Jesus lived and began?

Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Joshua 19 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.

Start a Bible study
Free quizTake the Joshua 19 quizQuestions with the answers explained, for your group or your familyFree printablePrint this Bible studyOne page: the chapter, the verse, and the questions with room to write

The best way to learn the Bible

Favor opens up every chapter as you read.

Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.

  • Every chapter explains itself

    As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.

  • The Hebrew and Greek behind it

    Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.

  • Every page leads to Jesus

    Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.

  • Better together

    Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.

  1. 1

    Start your free week

    Sign up in a minute with your email.

  2. 2

    Read a few minutes a day

    Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.

  3. 3

    Bring your people, if you like

    Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

How much does it cost?

Your first week is free. After that it's $10 a month per person, the same for everyone, including groups and churches. There are no tiers and nothing extra to unlock.

Can I read Joshua 19 straight away?

Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach Joshua 19 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.

Do I need a group?

No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.

I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?

Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.

Which Bible does Favor use?

The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.

Is Favor tied to a church?

No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.

Start with Joshua 19

The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.

There's a seat for you at the table.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in

All Bible study guides

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home