And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
The second lot came forth to Simeon. The next lot that was drawn at Shiloh gave the tribe of Simeon his inheritance within the territory which had been assigned to that of Judah. The knowledge of Canaan possessed by the Israelites when the division of the land commenced was but very general, being derived from the rapid sweep they had made over it during the course of conquest; and it was on the ground of that rough survey alone that the distribution proceeded by which Judah received an inheritance. Time showed that this territory was too large (Joshua 19:9), either for their numbers, however great, to occupy, and their arms to defend, or too large in proportion to the allotments of the other tribes. Justice, therefore, required, what kind and brotherly feeling readily dictated, a modification of their possession; and a part of it was appropriated to Simeon. By thus establishing it within the original domain of another tribe, the prophecy of Jacob in regard to Simeon was fulfilled (Genesis 49:7); for, from its boundaries being not traced, there is reason to conclude that its people were divided and dispersed among those of Judah. It seems to have obtained only what land and cities Judah could spare. It was, in fact, dispersed over the south and southwest of Canaan; and though one group of its cities, named Joshua 19:2-6, give the idea of a compact district, as it is usually represented by mapmakers, the other group (Joshua 19:7-8) were situated, two in the south and two elsewhere, with tracts of the country around them, (see the note at Joshua 15:21, etc.) There is a Jewish tradition, besides, that the tribe of Simeon were scattered over the land, discharging the offices of schoolmasters and lawyers, just as that of Levi furnished the priests (Keil on 'Joshua;' Reland, 'Palaestina,' 1: pp. 143-151).