1. Joshua 19:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why did the allotment for Simeon fall within the territory of Judah?

Joshua 19:1 (ESV)

1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans, and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah.

The tribe of Simeon does not actually receive an allotment but only a list of towns and cities. The reason for this is that they were a small tribe and the allotment given to Judah was very large (Joshua 19:9; 1 Chronicles 4:27). Another reason for this is the promise made by Jacob on his deathbed (Genesis 49:5–7). Jacob told Simeon (and Levi) that their descendants would be scattered amongst those of his other sons because of their violence against the Shechemites (Genesis 34:24–30). Historically it seems as if the descendants of Simeon would later migrate north (see 1 Chronicles 4:27–31; 1 Chronicles 4:38–42; 2 Chronicles 15:9; 2 Chronicles 34:6; 1 Kings 11:28–39).1