Joshua 19–21
1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of Simeon according to their clans. Their inheritance was within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. 2 Their inheritance was Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, 3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen: thirteen cities and their villages;
7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan: four cities and their villages; 8 and all the villages that were around these cities as far as Baalath Beer, Ramah of the Negev.
This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon according to their clans. 9 Simeon received a portion of the inheritance of Judah, for the inheritance of Judah was too large for them, so Simeon inherited land in the midst of the inheritance of Judah.
10 The third lot came up for Zebulun according to their clans. Their territory extended to Sarid, 11 and their border ascended westward to Maralah, reaching Dabbesheth and the valley east of Jokneam. 12 From Sarid the border turned east to the border of Kisloth Tabor, out to Daberath, and up to Japhia. 13 From there it passes east to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin. It turns out to Rimmon and turns toward Neah. 14 The boundary turns north to Hannathon and extends to the Valley of Iphtah El; 15 and Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities and their villages.
16 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Zebulun according to their clans: these cities and their villages.
17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the tribe of Issachar according to their clans. 18 Their territory included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez. 22 The border touches Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, then extends to the Jordan: sixteen cities and their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar according to their clans: the cities and their villages.
24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to their clans. 25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph, 26 Allammelek, Amad, and Mishal. On the west their border touches Carmel and Shihor Libnath. 27 Then it turns eastward, goes to Beth Dagon, and touches Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel; then it continues in the north to Kabul, 28 Abdon, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 29 Then the border turned to Ramah, reaching the fortified city of Tyre. Then the border turned to Hosah, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea by the region of Akzib, 30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities and their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to their clans: these cities and their villages.
32 The sixth lot came out for the tribe of Naphtali according to their clans.
33 Their border runs from Heleph, from the oak of Zaanannim, to Adami Nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and extends to the Jordan. 34 The border turns west to Aznoth Tabor, goes out from there to Hukkok, and touches Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east. 35 Their fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh: nineteen cities and their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali according to their clans: the cities and their villages.
40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to their clans. 41 The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 46 Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, along with the territory near Joppa.
47 Yet the tribe of Dan lost their territory, so they went up to wage war against Leshem and captured it. They attacked it with the edge of the sword, took possession of it, and settled there. They called Leshem Dan after the name of Dan their father.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Dan according to their clans: these cities and their villages.
49 When they had finished allotting the land according to its boundaries, the children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua son of Nun. 50 According to the word of the Lord, they gave him the city for which he asked: Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He built up the city and lived in it.
51 These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the family leaders of the Israelite tribes assigned by lot in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they completed dividing the land.
Chapter 20
1 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the children of Israel, ‘Choose refuge cities, as I told you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person without intent and unknowingly may flee there. They shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 “‘The refugee can flee to one of these cities then stand at the entrance of the city gate and tell his case to the city elders. They will take him into the city and give him a place to stay, and he will live with them. 5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they shall not hand over the manslayer to him, for he struck down his neighbor unintentionally with no premeditated malice. 6 He shall live in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his home and to his city from which he had fled.’”
7 They selected Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 Across the Jordan east of Jericho, they selected Bezer in the wilderness plain from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities designated for all the children of Israel and resident foreigners living among them, to which anyone who killed someone inadvertently could flee and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.
Chapter 21
1 The family leaders of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the family leaders of the Israelite tribes. 2 At Shiloh in the land of Canaan they said to them, “Through Moses the Lord commanded that we be given cities in which to live and grazing lands for our livestock.” 3 So according to the word of the Lord, out of their inheritance the children of Israel gave the Levites these cities and their grazing lands.
4 The lot came out for the clans of the Kohathites, so the Levites who were descendants of Aaron received an allotment of thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 5 The remaining descendants of Kohath received an allotment of ten cities from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
6 The descendants of Gershon received an allotment of thirteen cities from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
7 Descendants of Merari by their clans received an allotment of twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
8 The children of Israel allotted the Levites these cities and their grazing lands, as the Lord commanded through Moses.
9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they assigned the following cities with these names. 10 They were assigned to the descendants of Aaron, to the clans of the Kohathites of the tribe of Levi, for theirs was the first lot.
11 They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), which is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, and the grazing lands around it. 12 (Now they had assigned the city’s fields and its surrounding villages to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.)
13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a refuge city for people who committed manslaughter), Libnah with its pastures, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, together with the grazing lands of each: nine cities from these two tribes.
17 From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anathoth, and Almon, together with the grazing lands of each: four cities.
19 Altogether the descendants of Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing lands.
20 The rest of the Levites from the clans of the descendants of Kohath received cities allotted from the tribe of Ephraim.
21 They assigned them Shechem (a refuge city for people who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, 22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, together with the grazing lands of each: four cities.
23 From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, together with the grazing lands of each: four cities.
25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with the grazing lands of each: two cities.
26 Altogether the rest of the clans of the descendants of Kohath received ten cities and their grazing lands.
27 From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned to the descendants of Gershon (one of the Levite clans): Golan in Bashan (a refuge city for people who committed manslaughter) and Be Eshterah, together with the grazing lands of each: two cities.
28 From the tribe of Issachar they assigned Kishion, Daberath, 29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim, together with the grazing lands of each: four cities.
30 From the tribe of Asher they assigned Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkath, and Rehob, together with the grazing lands of each: four cities.
32 From the tribe of Naphtali they assigned Kedesh in Galilee (a refuge city for people who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, together with the grazing lands of each: three cities.
33 Altogether the Gershonites according to their clans received thirteen cities and their grazing lands.
34 From the tribe of Zebulun they assigned to the descendants of Merari (the remaining Levites): Jokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, together with the grazing lands of each: four cities.
36 From the tribe of Reuben they assigned Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, together with the grazing lands of each: four cities.
38 From the tribe of Gad they assigned Ramoth in Gilead (a refuge city for people who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon, and Jazer, together with the grazing lands of each: four cities in all.
40 So twelve cities were allotted for the descendants of Merari according to their clans (the remaining Levite clans).
41 Altogether the Levites received forty-eight cities and their grazing lands within the possessions of the children of Israel. 42 Each of these cities had grazing lands surrounding them. It was this way with all these cities.
43 The Lord gave Israel all the land that He swore to give to their fathers. They took possession of it and lived in it. 44 The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He swore to their fathers. Not a man among their enemies stood before them, and the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not a single word of all the good things that the Lord had spoken to the children of Israel failed. They all came to pass.
Luke 2:25–52
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Led by the Spirit, he came into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he received Him in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace,
according to Your word;
30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 Joseph and His mother were amazed at those things which were spoken about Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Listen, this Child is destined to cause the fall and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign which will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And a sword will pierce through your own soul also.”
36 And there was Anna a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. 37 And she was a widow of about eighty-four years of age who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 Coming at that moment she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon Him.
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When the days of the feast were complete, as they returned, the Child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know of it. 44 But supposing Him to be in their company, they went a day’s journey. Then they searched for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for Him. 46 After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were amazed. And His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You dealt with us like this? Look, Your father and I have anxiously searched for You.”
49 He said to them, “How is it that you searched for Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the word which He spoke to them.
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But His mother kept all these words in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and men.