“And the coast reached to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.”
In this verse, we find a description of the borders of the tribe of Issachar, which was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The verse mentions several locations that marked the boundary of the territory allotted to the tribe of Issachar.
Tabor: Tabor was a prominent mountain in the region, located in the northern part of the tribe of Issachar’s territory. It was known for its strategic position and often served as a landmark.
Shahazimah: Shahazimah is mentioned as another point along the border. The exact location of Shahazimah is not well known, as it is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Therefore, we have limited information about it.
Bethshemesh: Bethshemesh was a city located on the border of the territory of the tribe of Issachar. There were other cities with the same name in Israel, so it’s important to note that this is not the same as the more well-known city of Beth-shemesh associated with other biblical accounts.
The verse concludes by stating that the border of the tribe of Issachar extended to the Jordan River. The Jordan River was a significant landmark in ancient Israel, forming part of the eastern border of the Promised Land. The mention of the Jordan River in this verse indicates the extent of the tribe of Issachar’s territory.
Lastly, the verse notes that within this territory, there were sixteen cities along with their surrounding villages. These cities would have served as settlements for the people of the tribe of Issachar, providing places for them to live and conduct their daily activities.
Overall, Joshua 19:23 provides geographical information about the borders and landmarks that defined the territory allotted to the tribe of Issachar during the division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel.
