Joshua 19-21

New English Translation

Simeon’s Tribal Lands

19 The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans.^[a] Their assigned land was in the middle of Judah’s assigned land. ² Their assigned land included^[b] Beer Sheba,^[c] Moladah, ³ Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, ⁴ Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, ⁵ Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, ⁶ Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen—a total of thirteen cities and their towns, ⁷ Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—a total of four cities and their towns, ⁸ as well as all the towns around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land assigned to the tribe of Simeon by its clans.^{[d] 9} Simeon’s assigned land was taken from Judah’s allotted portion, for Judah’s territory was too large for them; so Simeon was assigned land within Judah.^[e]

Zebulun’s Tribal Lands

¹⁰ The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun^[f] by its clans. The border of their territory^[g] extended to Sarid. ¹¹ Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near^[h] Jokneam. ¹² From Sarid it turned eastward^[i] to the territory of Kisloth Tabor, extended to Daberath, and went up to Japhia. ¹³ From there it crossed eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin and extended to Rimmon, turning toward Neah. ¹⁴ It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. ¹⁵ Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; in all they had twelve cities and their towns.^{[j] 16} This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun^[k] by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Issachar’s Tribal Lands

¹⁷ The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar^[l] by its clans. ¹⁸ Their assigned land^[m] included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, ¹⁹ Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, ²⁰ Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, ²¹ Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. ²² Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had sixteen cities and their towns. ²³ This was the land assigned to the tribe of Issachar^[n] by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Asher’s Tribal Lands

²⁴ The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher^[o] by its clans. ²⁵ Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, ²⁶ Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal. Their border touched Carmel to the west and Shihor Libnath. ²⁷ It turned eastward toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El to the north, as well as Beth Emek and Neiel, and extended to Cabul on the north^{[p] 28} and on to Ebron,^[q] Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. ²⁹ It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Achzib, ³⁰ Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had^[r] twenty-two cities and their towns. ³¹ This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher^[s] by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Naphtali’s Tribal Lands

³² The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali^[t] by its clans. ³³ Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum,^[u] and ended at the Jordan River.^{[v] 34} It turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, extended from there to Hukok, touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and the Jordan^[w] on the east. ³⁵ The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, ³⁶ Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, ³⁷ Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, ³⁸ Yiron,^[x] Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had^[y] nineteen cities and their towns. ³⁹ This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali^[z] by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Dan’s Tribal Lands

⁴⁰ The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan^[aa] by its clans. ⁴¹ Their assigned land included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, ⁴² Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, ⁴³ Elon, Timnah, Ekron, ⁴⁴ Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, ⁴⁵ Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, ⁴⁶ the waters of Jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory in front of Joppa. ⁴⁷ (The Danites failed to conquer their territory,^[ab] so they went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. They put the sword to it, took possession of it, and lived in it. They renamed it^[ac] Dan after their ancestor.^[ad]) ⁴⁸ This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan^[ae] by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Joshua Receives Land

⁴⁹ When they finished dividing the land into its regions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun some land.^{[af] 50} As the Lord had instructed, they gave him the city he requested—Timnath Serah in the Ephraimite hill country. He built up the city and lived in it.

⁵¹ These are the land assignments that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders^[ag] made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting.^[ah] So they finished dividing up the land.

Israel Designates Cities of Refuge

20 The Lord instructed Joshua: ² “Have the Israelites select^[ai] the cities of refuge^[aj] that I told you about through Moses. ³ Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there;^[ak] these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. ⁴ The one who committed manslaughter^[al] should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city.^[am] They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there.^{[an] 5} When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation.^{[ao] 6} He must remain^[ap] in that city until his case is decided by the assembly,^[aq] and the high priest dies.^[ar] Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.”^[as]

⁷ So they selected^[at] Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. ⁸ Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they selected^[au] Bezer in the wilderness on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. ⁹ These were the cities of refuge^[av] appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by^[aw] the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly.^[ax]

Levitical Cities

21 The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders ² in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.” ³ So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the Lord had instructed.

⁴ The first lot belonged to^[ay] the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. ⁵ The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh. ⁶ Gershon’s descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. ⁷ Merari’s descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. ⁸ So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the Lord had instructed Moses.

⁹ They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below. ¹⁰ (They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron,^[az] for the first lot fell to them.) ¹¹ They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding grazing areas. ¹² (Now the city’s fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.) ¹³ So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah, ¹⁴ Jattir, Eshtemoa, ¹⁵ Holon, Debir, ¹⁶ Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes. ¹⁷ From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned^[ba] Gibeon, Geba, ¹⁸ Anathoth, and Almon, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities. ¹⁹ The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.

²⁰ The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim. ²¹ They assigned them Shechem (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, ²² Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities. ²³ From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon, ²⁴ Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities. ²⁵ From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon,^[bb] along with the grazing areas of each—a total of two cities. ²⁶ The rest of the Kohathite clans received ten cities and their grazing areas.

²⁷ They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities:^[bc] from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of two cities; ²⁸ from the tribe of Issachar: Kishon, Daberath, ²⁹ Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities; ³⁰ from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon, ³¹ Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities; ³² from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of three cities. ³³ The Gershonite clans received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.

³⁴ They assigned to the Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) the following cities: from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, ³⁵ Dimnah, and Nahalal, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities; ^36 [bd] from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, ³⁷ Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities; ³⁸ from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim, ³⁹ Heshbon, and Jazer, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities. ⁴⁰ The Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) were allotted twelve cities.

⁴¹ The Levites received within the land owned by the Israelites^[be] forty-eight cities in all and their grazing areas. ⁴² Each of these cities had grazing areas around it; they were alike in this regard.^[bf]

⁴³ So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors,^[bg] and they conquered^[bh] it and lived in it. ⁴⁴ The Lord made them secure,^[bi] in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors.^[bj] None of their enemies could resist them.^[bk] The Lord handed all their enemies over to them.^{[bl] 45} Not one of the Lord’s faithful promises to the family of Israel^[bm] was left unfulfilled; every one was realized.^[bn]