And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
The verse belongs to the geographical record of the distribution of Canaan among the tribes. That record rested on written documents that accurately described the land and its properties. Within it the verse names cities with their villages as Naphtali's allotted territory in the region later known as Galilee.
It stands as an example of a portion or inheritance assigned by lot in the division of the land. That dividing of the land put Israel in a fair way to conquer all foes and to enter the promised rest. Galilee comprised territory assigned to Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, and Issachar, yet these tribes did not fully possess their lands but settled among the Canaanites, at times making them tributary.
The verse belongs to the geographical record of the distribution of Canaan among the tribes. That record rested on written documents that accurately described the land and its properties. Within it the verse names cities with their villages as Naphtali's allotted territory in the region later known as Galilee.
It stands as an example of a portion or inheritance assigned by lot in the division of the land. That dividing of the land put Israel in a fair way to conquer all foes and to enter the promised rest. Galilee comprised territory assigned to Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, and Issachar, yet these tribes did not fully possess their lands but settled among the Canaanites, at times making them tributary.