יהושע י״ט:א׳-ט׳

ויצא הגורל השני. שני לבנימין, שגורל בנימין היה ראשון לשבעה השבטים שאמר יהושע לשלוחיו והתחלקו אותה לשבעה חלקים, שכבר נטלו יהודה ויוסף, כמו שנאמר שם (לעיל יח ה): יהודה יעמוד על גבולו מנגב וגו', מכאן ואילך מונה והולך שבעה גורלות:

The second lot came out. It was second to that of Binyomin, for Binyomin’s lot was the first of the seven tribes whose representatives Yehoshua spoke to [saying]: “And they will divide it into seven parts,” for Yehudah and Yoseif had previously received [their inheritance] as it is said there: “Yehudah will remain at his boundary in the south,” [and the house of Yoseif will remain at their boundary in the north].”¹See above 18:5. From here he goes on to list the seven lots.

רב מהם. מן הראוי להם:

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.