Land Still to Be Taken

13 When Joshua had grown old,(A) the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

“This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines(B) and Geshurites,(C) from the Shihor River(D) on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron(E) on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers(F) in Gaza, Ashdod,(G) Ashkelon,(H) Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites(I) on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek(J) and the border of the Amorites;(K) the area of Byblos;(L) and all Lebanon(M) to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon(N) to Lebo Hamath.(O)

“As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim,(P) that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out(Q) before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you,(R) and divide it as an inheritance(S) among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

Division of the Land East of the Jordan

The other half of Manasseh,[a] the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assigned(T) it to them.(U)

It extended from Aroer(V) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau(W) of Medeba as far as Dibon,(X) 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon,(Y) out to the border of the Ammonites.(Z) 11 It also included Gilead,(AA) the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah(AB) 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan,(AC) who had reigned in Ashtaroth(AD) and Edrei.(AE) (He was the last of the Rephaites.(AF)) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land.(AG) 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur(AH) and Maakah,(AI) so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.(AJ)

14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.(AK)

15 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans:

16 The territory from Aroer(AL) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba(AM) 17 to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau,(AN) including Dibon,(AO) Bamoth Baal,(AP) Beth Baal Meon,(AQ) 18 Jahaz,(AR) Kedemoth,(AS) Mephaath,(AT) 19 Kiriathaim,(AU) Sibmah,(AV) Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor,(AW) the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— 21 all the towns on the plateau(AX) and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs,(AY) Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba(AZ)—princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor,(BA) who practiced divination.(BB) 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans.(BC)

24 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans:

25 The territory of Jazer,(BD) all the towns of Gilead(BE) and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;(BF) 26 and from Heshbon(BG) to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim(BH) to the territory of Debir;(BI) 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah,(BJ) Sukkoth(BK) and Zaphon(BL) with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Galilee[b](BM)). 28 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites,(BN) according to their clans.

29 This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans:

30 The territory extending from Mahanaim(BO) and including all of Bashan,(BP) the entire realm of Og king of Bashan(BQ)—all the settlements of Jair(BR) in Bashan, sixty towns, 31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan).(BS) This was for the descendants of Makir(BT) son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans.(BU)

32 This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab(BV) across the Jordan east of Jericho.(BW) 33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance;(BX) the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance,(BY) as he promised them.(BZ)

Division of the Land West of the Jordan

14 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance(CA) in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar(CB) the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel(CC) allotted(CD) to them.(CE) Their inheritances were assigned by lot(CF) to the nine and a half tribes,(CG) as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan(CH) but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,(CI) for Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim.(CJ) The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.(CK) So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.(CL)

Allotment for Caleb

Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,(CM) and Caleb son of Jephunneh(CN) the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God(CO) at Kadesh Barnea(CP) about you and me.(CQ) I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea(CR) to explore the land.(CS) And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,(CT) but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.(CU) I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.(CV) So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance(CW) and that of your children(CX) forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’[c]

10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised,(CY) he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved(CZ) about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!(DA) 11 I am still as strong(DB) today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous(DC) to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.(DD) You yourself heard then that the Anakites(DE) were there and their cities were large and fortified,(DF) but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed(DG) Caleb son of Jephunneh(DH) and gave him Hebron(DI) as his inheritance.(DJ) 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.(DK) 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba(DL) after Arba,(DM) who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest(DN) from war.

Allotment for Judah(DO)

15 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom,(DP) to the Desert of Zin(DQ) in the extreme south.(DR)

Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea,(DS) crossed south of Scorpion Pass,(DT) continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea.(DU) Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. It then passed along to Azmon(DV) and joined the Wadi of Egypt,(DW) ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their[d] southern boundary.

The eastern boundary(DX) is the Dead Sea(DY) as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern boundary(DZ) started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, went up to Beth Hoglah(EA) and continued north of Beth Arabah(EB) to the Stone of Bohan(EC) son of Reuben. The boundary then went up to Debir(ED) from the Valley of Achor(EE) and turned north to Gilgal,(EF) which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh(EG) and came out at En Rogel.(EH) Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom(EI) along the southern slope of the Jebusite(EJ) city (that is, Jerusalem(EK)). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley(EL) at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.(EM) From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah,(EN) came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah(EO) (that is, Kiriath Jearim).(EP) 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah(EQ) to Mount Seir,(ER) ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh(ES) and crossed to Timnah.(ET) 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron,(EU) turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah(EV) and reached Jabneel.(EW) The boundary ended at the sea.

12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(EX)

These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

13 In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb(EY) son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba(EZ), that is, Hebron.(FA) (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)(FB) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites(FC)—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai,(FD) the sons of Anak.(FE) 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah(FF) in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 17 Othniel(FG) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.

18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him[e] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

19 She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev,(FH) give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.(FI)

20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans:

21 The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev(FJ) toward the boundary of Edom were:

Kabzeel,(FK) Eder,(FL) Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh,(FM) Hazor,(FN) Ithnan, 24 Ziph,(FO) Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),(FP) 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,(FQ) 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual,(FR) Beersheba,(FS) Biziothiah, 29 Baalah,(FT) Iyim, Ezem,(FU) 30 Eltolad,(FV) Kesil, Hormah,(FW) 31 Ziklag,(FX) Madmannah,(FY) Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain(FZ) and Rimmon(GA)—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

33 In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,(GB) Zorah,(GC) Ashnah,(GD) 34 Zanoah,(GE) En Gannim,(GF) Tappuah,(GG) Enam, 35 Jarmuth,(GH) Adullam,(GI) Sokoh,(GJ) Azekah,(GK) 36 Shaaraim,(GL) Adithaim and Gederah(GM) (or Gederothaim)[f]—fourteen towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah,(GN) Joktheel,(GO) 39 Lachish,(GP) Bozkath,(GQ) Eglon,(GR) 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,(GS) Beth Dagon,(GT) Naamah and Makkedah(GU)—sixteen towns and their villages.

42 Libnah,(GV) Ether, Ashan,(GW) 43 Iphtah, Ashnah,(GX) Nezib, 44 Keilah,(GY) Akzib(GZ) and Mareshah(HA)—nine towns and their villages.

45 Ekron,(HB) with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,(HC) together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,(HD) its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt(HE) and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(HF)

48 In the hill country:

Shamir,(HG) Jattir,(HH) Sokoh,(HI) 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir(HJ)), 50 Anab,(HK) Eshtemoh,(HL) Anim, 51 Goshen,(HM) Holon(HN) and Giloh(HO)—eleven towns and their villages.

52 Arab, Dumah,(HP) Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba(HQ) (that is, Hebron) and Zior—nine towns and their villages.

55 Maon,(HR) Carmel,(HS) Ziph,(HT) Juttah,(HU) 56 Jezreel,(HV) Jokdeam, Zanoah,(HW) 57 Kain, Gibeah(HX) and Timnah(HY)—ten towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur,(HZ) Gedor,(IA) 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[g]

60 Kiriath Baal(IB) (that is, Kiriath Jearim(IC)) and Rabbah(ID)—two towns and their villages.

61 In the wilderness:(IE)

Beth Arabah,(IF) Middin, Sekakah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi(IG)—six towns and their villages.

63 Judah could not(IH) dislodge the Jebusites(II), who were living in Jerusalem;(IJ) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.(IK)

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 13:8 Hebrew With it (that is, with the other half of Manasseh)
  2. Joshua 13:27 Hebrew Kinnereth
  3. Joshua 14:9 Deut. 1:36
  4. Joshua 15:4 Septuagint; Hebrew your
  5. Joshua 15:18 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) Othniel, he urged her
  6. Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim
  7. Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).

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