Commentary for Joshua 19:9
מֵחֶ֙בֶל֙ בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה נַחֲלַ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֑וֹן כִּֽי־הָיָ֞ה חֵ֤לֶק בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָה֙ רַ֣ב מֵהֶ֔ם וַיִּנְחֲל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־שִׁמְע֖וֹן בְּת֥וֹךְ נַחֲלָתָֽם׃ (פ)
Out of the allotment of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon, for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them; therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.
Rashi on Joshua
Was too large for them. It was more than was their due.2Various reasons are presented why Shimon was given part of their inheritance in the midst of Yehudah’s territory. Some say that Shimon helped Yehudah conquer their land and therefore merited to receive some of it as their own. Others maintain that this was because Yaakov had said: “Shimon and Levi are brothers, instruments of violence are their wares. I will disperse them throughout Yaakov and scatter them throughout Israel.” (Bereishis 49:5,7) Shimon was given a portion within Yehudah and Levi was scattered throughout many cities in the land.
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