Joshua 19:10-16

The Inheritance of Zebulun Joshua 19:10-16

10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
11 And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar to Neah;
14 And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el:
15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth-lehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

4.

Who was Zebulun? Joshua 19:10 a

The third lot came out for Zebulun, who was the son of Jacob and Leah, being the sixth son born of this union (Genesis 30:19). Since Leah at that time had borne six sons to Jacob, she felt her husband would certainly want to live continually with her, She gave this son a name from a Hebrew word, zabal, which means dwelling. Jacob foresaw that Zebulun would not be a great leader among his people, but he did make a prophecy that he would dwell at the haven of the sea. By divine foresight, Jacob predicted Zebulun's inheritance would be in the northern part of the land given to Israel. There were 57,400 men in this tribe when they were numbered at Sinai (Numbers 1), and they had increased to a total of 60,500 when the second census was taken in Moab (Numbers 26).

5.

Where was the land given to Zebulun? Joshua 19:10 b - Joshua 19:15

Although Jacob had predicted that they would dwell at the haven of the sea, there is some doubt about the exact location of this land. Keil and Delitzsch say in their Commentary on the Old Testament, Joshua, Judges and Ruth that the territory of Zebulun did not touch either the Mediterranean Sea nor the Jordan River (page 191). Nonetheless, this territory was in the fertile valley which stretched from the Mediterranean Sea, along the Kishon River, and extended to the east almost to the Sea of Galilee. By residing in such a position, the men of the tribe of Zebulun were in a position to derive the benefits which came from being close to both the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee.

6.

Which Beth-lehem was in Zebulun's territory? Joshua 19:15

The Beth-lehem within the borders of the tribe of Zebulun was not the place of Jesus-' birth. It is for this reason that quite often reference is made to Bethlehem-Judah (Judges 17:7; Judges 19:1; see also Micah 5:2). Bethlehem of Zebulun was probably the home of Ibzan, one of the judges of Israel (Judges 12:8; Judges 12:10). After him ruled Elon, the Zebulonite (Judges 12:11). Although it is not specified that Elon was his son, it is assumed that Ibzan, the Bethlehemite, and Elon, the Zebulonite, were from the same area, thus identifying Beth-lehem in Zebulun.