The Land Israelites Were to Inhabit ; Where It Was

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                                                            

The Exodus crossed the Jorden River and into Canaan. They witnessed the eastern side of the Jordan first and loved the land.   

1. Asher's land in Canaan was a fertile territory extending from Western Galilee to the South of Carmel. 

                                           South of Carmel 

2. Naphtali's land  was the Northern part of Canaan, including the whole Eastern coast of the Sea of Galilee and the mountains of Galilee.  They fought against Sisera  and Gideon and the Midianites.  It was overrun by Arameans in the time of Baasha;  a large part of the people were exile by Tiglath Pilesser.  Survivors were living in the Galilee in 2nd Temple times.  

           Joshua leading the Tribes Defending them  (1500 BCE) 

3. Dan's land  was South of Jaffa but were pushed back into the hill country by the Amorites with part remaining on the coast. They had to move to the north, taking from Phoenicians a piece of land around Laish (Dan) .   They fought the Philistines.  

                  Valley of Jezreel 

4. Zebulun's land  was in central Palestine's the Valley of Jezreel.  They were traders, moving from it a lot.  

5. Issachar's land was land between Mt. Tabor and the Jordan including much of the fertile Valley of Jezreel

                                          

                                       Transjordan 

6. Manasseh, son of Joseph and Asenath,  land was divided into 2 pieces;  one was in Transjordan on condition that they serve as scouts going first and they received Gilead, Bashan and Argob.  the other half had territory in the West of Canaan around the Valley of Jezreel, both highly fertile land.  

7. Dan's land was South of Jaffa, then was forced back into the hill country by the Amorites with a few left in coastal region.  

8. Ephraim's, also son of Joseph and Asenath,  land was the fertile  hill country in central Palestine and Shiloh-25 miles North of Jerusalem, in mountains of Ephraim,  was on it.  

9. Gad's land was also  Gilead and Central Transjordan, became very warlike. The land was later taken over by the Ammonites.  

                        Jerusalem 

10. Benjamin's land  was between Ephraim  and Judah, including Jerusalem.  Everyone wanted this land.

             Negev Desert for Judah

11. Judah's land was the largest section in Canaan of the southern Negev Desert.  It extended to the Dead Sea.  mostly the steeply falling Eastern slope of the Judean hills with deep gorges and deserts and caves.  Neanderthal bones have been found in such caves.  Eventually, Judah was made up of Simeon and Benjamin people along with Judeans.  They also had the coast, but that was already occupied by the Philistines.  

12. Reuben's land- asked for territory in fertile Moab (Transjordan)  but it came with political problems with losing it to  Moabites or Ammonites.  

13. Simeon's land was unusual, centered in the middle of Judah as if for protection from others.  It actually came to them in 2 sections of the Negev Desert, and they were swallowed up by Judah as it was.  

One can see that the land Joshua gave to the 12 tribes by which Moses had planned for, was surrounded by other kingdoms that were leaching into their land chosen for them.  What may have been empty land 400 years previously, was now occupied by the 

1. Hittites...of Asia Minor into Syria

2. Arameans...Semitic, related to Israelites, married each other

3. Ammonites...of Transjordan,  Semitic, related to Israelites, from Lot

4. Moabites...of Transjordan, Semitic, related to Israelites, from Lot 

5. Edomites (Idumea) from SE Palestine (Mt. Seir) mountainous land, South of Dead Sea, border on Red Sea at Elath and Ezion Geber, Semitic, descendant of Esau, hunters.  ...

6. Philistines....with nature of fighting people;  of Mediterranean Sea people,  of Asia Minor and Greek places, came in waves...South of Beersheva in Gerar, from Crete  on South coastal area of Palestine-Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath,

                         Israelite king fighting 

They do not exist today.  Either they died off in battle against the Israelites or were to become part of them by marriage or peace.  DNA testing can tell us about our heritage to a certain degree by letting us know our Y haplogroup and our Mt haplogroup.  The Israelites' 1st king was Saul of tribe of Benjamin, b: about 1030 BCE, died about 1000 BCE.  King David of tribe of Judah ruled from 1010-970 BCE).  They both fought the Philistines. 

Resource:

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia