The 7 Slack Tribes (Joshua 19)

Did the seven slack tribes finally inherit? Is God patient with those who are slow in faith? Was Dan like Judas, the one in twelve who betrayed God? Did a righteous leader put himself last? Do we have the faith to conquer the land for Christ? Let’s begin in Joshua 19.

After Benjamin, came Simeon. What was their inheritance among the seven slack tribes?

The second lottery went to the tribe of Simeon according to its families. Its inheritance was enclosed within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. Its inheritance included Beer-sheba (also known as Shebah), Moladah, Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen, for a total of thirteen towns and villages. Also included were Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan, for a total of four towns and villages. Also included were all the surrounding villages as far as Baalath-beer, in Ramah of the Negev. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon, according to its families. The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon was contained in part of the territory of Judah; that is, because the portion allotted to the tribe of Judah was large enough for both tribes, the tribe of Simeon obtained an inheritance within that of Judah. (Joshua 19:1-9 ISV)

What was Zebulun’s inheritance in the land of Canaan?

And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah; And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel: And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages. (Joshua 19:10-16 KJV)

What was Issachar’s inheritance in the land of Canaan?

The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the sons of Issachar according to their families. And their territory included Jezreel and Chesulloth and Shunem, and Hapharaim and Shion and Anaharath, and Rabbith and Kishion and Ebez, and Remeth and En-gannim and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez. And the border reached to Tabor and Shahazumah and Beth-shemesh, and their border ended at the Jordan; sixteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages. (Joshua 19:17-23 LSB)

What was Asher’s inheritance in the land of Canaan?

Now the fifth lot went to the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families. Their territory was Helkath, Hali, Beten, and Achshaph, Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal; and it reached to Carmel on the west and Shihor-libnath. It turned toward the east to Beth-dagon and reached Zebulun, and to the Valley of Iphtahel northward to Beth-emek and Neiel; then it proceeded on north to Cabul, Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Great Sidon. The border turned to Ramah and to the fortified city of Tyre; then the border turned to Hosah, and it ended at the sea by the region of Achzib. Included also were Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob; twenty-two cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages. (Joshua 19:24-31 LSB)

What was Naphtali’s inheritance in the land of Canaan?

The sixth lot went to the sons of Naphtali; to the sons of Naphtali according to their families. Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan. Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and proceeded from there to Hukkok; and it reached Zebulun on the south and reached Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan toward the east. The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth, Adamah, Ramah, and Hazor, Kedesh, Edrei, and En-hazor, Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages. (Joshua 19:32-39 NASB)

What was Dan’s inheritance in the land of Canaan?

The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its clans. The territory of their inheritance included: Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, Elon, Timnah, Ekron, Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa. (When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their ancestor.) These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, according to its clans. (Joshua 19:40-48 NIV)