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Joshua 15-19
New King James Version

The Land of Judah

15 So this was the [a]lot of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:

(A)The border of Edom at the (B)Wilderness of Zin southward was the extreme southern boundary. 2 And their (C)southern border began at the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward. 3 Then it went out to the southern side of (D)the Ascent of Akrabbim, passed along to Zin, ascended on the south side of Kadesh Barnea, passed along to Hezron, went up to Adar, and went around to Karkaa. 4 From there it passed (E)toward Azmon and went out to the Brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your southern border.

5 The east border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

And the (F)border on the northern quarter began at the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. 6 The border went up to (G)Beth Hoglah and passed north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up (H)to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 7 Then the border went up toward (I)Debir from (J)the Valley of Achor, and it turned northward toward Gilgal, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. The border continued toward the waters of En Shemesh and ended at (K)En Rogel. 8 And the border went up (L)by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope of the (M)Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem). The border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the Valley (N)of [b]Rephaim northward. 9 Then the border went around from the top of the hill to (O)the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and extended to the cities of Mount Ephron. And the border went around (P)to Baalah (which is (Q)Kirjath Jearim). 10 Then the border [c]turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (which is Chesalon), went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed on to (R)Timnah. 11 And the border went out to the side of (S)Ekron northward. Then the border went around to Shicron, passed along to Mount Baalah, and extended to Jabneel; and the border ended at the sea.

12 The west border was (T)the coastline of the Great Sea. This is the boundary of the children of Judah all around according to their families.

Caleb Occupies Hebron and Debir(U)

13 (V)Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of (W)Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, namely, (X)Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). 14 Caleb drove out (Y)the three sons of Anak from there: (Z)Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15 Then (AA)he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir (formerly the name of Debir was Kirjath Sepher).

16 (AB)And Caleb said, “He who [d]attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” 17 So (AC)Othniel the (AD)son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him (AE)Achsah his daughter as wife. 18 (AF)Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So (AG)she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” 19 She answered, “Give me a (AH)blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

The Cities of Judah

20 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:

21 The cities at the limits of the tribe of the children of Judah, toward the border of Edom in the South, were Kabzeel, (AI)Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 (AJ)Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor, Hadattah, Kerioth, Hezron (which is Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual, (AK)Beersheba, Bizjothjah, 29 Baalah, Ijim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, (AL)Hormah, 31 (AM)Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and (AN)Rimmon: all the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.

33 In the lowland: (AO)Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, (AP)Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Sharaim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages; 37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, (AQ)Joktheel, 39 (AR)Lachish, Bozkath, (AS)Eglon, 40 Cabbon, [e]Lahmas, Kithlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages; 42 (AT)Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Jiphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages; 45 Ekron, with its towns and villages; 46 from Ekron to the sea, all that lay near (AU)Ashdod, with their villages; 47 Ashdod with its towns and villages, Gaza with its towns and villages—as far as (AV)the Brook of Egypt and (AW)the Great Sea with its coastline.

48 And in the mountain country: Shamir, Jattir, Sochoh, 49 Dannah, Kirjath Sannah (which is Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 (AX)Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages; 52 Arab, Dumah, Eshean, 53 Janum, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, (AY)Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages; 55 (AZ)Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages; 58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon: six cities with their villages; 60 (BA)Kirjath Baal (which is Kirjath Jearim) and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.

61 In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and (BB)En Gedi: six cities with their villages.

63 As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, (BC)the children of Judah could not drive them out; (BD)but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

Ephraim and West Manasseh

16 The lot [f]fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the (BE)wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to [g]Bethel, 2 then went out [h]from (BF)Bethel to Luz, passed along to the border of the Archites at Ataroth, 3 and went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, (BG)as far as the boundary of Lower Beth Horon to (BH)Gezer; and [i]it ended at the sea.

4 (BI)So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their [j]inheritance.

The Land of Ephraim

5 (BJ)The border of the children of Ephraim, according to their families, was thus: The border of their inheritance on the east side was (BK)Ataroth Addar (BL)as far as Upper Beth Horon.

6 And the border went out toward the sea on the north side of (BM)Michmethath; then the border went around eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed by it on the east of Janohah. 7 Then it went down from Janohah to Ataroth and [k]Naarah, reached to Jericho, and came out at the Jordan.

8 The border went out from (BN)Tappuah westward to the (BO)Brook Kanah, and [l]it ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families. 9 (BP)The separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

10 (BQ)And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.

The Other Half-Tribe of Manasseh (West)

17 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the (BR)firstborn of Joseph: namely for (BS)Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war; therefore he was given (BT)Gilead and Bashan. 2 And there was a lot for (BU)the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: (BV)for the children of [m]Abiezer, the children of Helek, (BW)the children of Asriel, the children of Shechem, (BX)the children of Hepher, and the children of Shemida; these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.

3 But (BY)Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 And they came near before (BZ)Eleazar the priest, before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying, (CA)“The Lord commanded Moses to give us an [n]inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore, according to the commandment of the Lord, he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers. 5 Ten shares fell to (CB)Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side of the Jordan, 6 because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons; and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.

7 And the territory of Manasseh was from Asher to (CC)Michmethath, that lies east of Shechem; and the border went along south to the inhabitants of En Tappuah. 8 Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but (CD)Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim. 9 And the [o]border descended to the [p]Brook Kanah, southward to the brook. (CE)These cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook; and it ended at the sea.

10 Southward it was Ephraim’s, northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was its border. Manasseh’s territory was adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 11 And in Issachar and in Asher, (CF)Manasseh had (CG)Beth Shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of En Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns—three hilly regions. 12 Yet (CH)the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. 13 And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to (CI)forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

More Land for Ephraim and Manasseh

14 (CJ)Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only (CK)one [q]lot and one share to inherit, since we are (CL)a great people, inasmuch as the Lord has blessed us until now?”

15 So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”

16 But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have (CM)chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are (CN)of the Valley of Jezreel.”

17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one [r]lot, 18 but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its [s]farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, (CO)though they have iron chariots and are strong.”

The Remainder of the Land Divided

18 Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together (CP)at Shiloh, and (CQ)set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. 2 But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance.

3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: (CR)“How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you? 4 Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven parts. (CS)Judah shall remain in their territory on the south, and the (CT)house of Joseph shall remain in their territory on the north. 6 You shall therefore [t]survey the land in seven parts and bring the survey here to me, (CU)that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7 (CV)But the Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance. (CW)And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.”

8 Then the men arose to go away; and Joshua charged those who went to [u]survey the land, saying, “Go, walk (CX)through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.” 9 So the men went, passed through the land, and [v]wrote the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. 10 Then Joshua cast (CY)lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there (CZ)Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their [w]divisions.

The Land of Benjamin

11 (DA)Now the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph. 12 (DB)Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the mountains westward; it ended at the Wilderness of Beth Aven. 13 The border went over from there toward Luz, to the side of Luz (DC)(which is Bethel) southward; and the border descended to Ataroth Addar, near the hill that lies on the south side (DD)of Lower Beth Horon.

14 Then the border extended around the west side to the south, from the hill that lies before Beth Horon southward; and [x]it ended at (DE)Kirjath Baal (which is Kirjath Jearim), a city of the children of Judah. This was the west side.

15 The south side began at the end of Kirjath Jearim, and the border extended on the west and went out to (DF)the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 Then the border came down to the end of the mountain that lies before (DG)the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is in the Valley of the [y]Rephaim on the north, descended to the Valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite city on the south, and descended to (DH)En Rogel. 17 And it went around from the north, went out to En Shemesh, and extended toward Geliloth, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, and descended to (DI)the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 18 Then it passed along toward the north side of [z]Arabah, and went down to Arabah. 19 And the border passed along to the north side of Beth Hoglah; then [aa]the border ended at the north bay at the (DJ)Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the southern boundary.

20 The Jordan was its border on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, according to its boundaries all around, according to their families.

21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, according to their families, were Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Chephar Haammoni, Ophni, and Gaba: twelve cities with their villages; 25 (DK)Gibeon, (DL)Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpah, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah, Eleph, (DM)Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

Simeon’s Inheritance with Judah

19 The (DN)second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. (DO)And their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. 2 (DP)They had in their inheritance Beersheba (Sheba), Moladah, 3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen: thirteen cities and their villages; 7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan: four cities and their villages; 8 and all the villages that were all around these cities as far as Baalath Beer, (DQ)Ramah of the South. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.

9 The inheritance of the children of Simeon was included in the share of the children of Judah, for the share of the children of Judah was [ab]too much for them. (DR)Therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of [ac]that people.

The Land of Zebulun

10 The third lot came out for the children of Zebulun according to their families, and the border of their inheritance was as far as Sarid. 11 (DS)Their border went toward the west and to Maralah, went to Dabbasheth, and extended along the brook that is (DT)east of Jokneam. 12 Then from Sarid it went eastward toward the sunrise along the border of Chisloth Tabor, and went out toward (DU)Daberath, bypassing Japhia. 13 And from there it passed along on the east of (DV)Gath Hepher, toward Eth Kazin, and extended to Rimmon, which borders on Neah. 14 Then the border went around it on the north side of Hannathon, and [ad]it ended in the Valley of Jiphthah El. 15 Included were Kattath, Nahallal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages. 16 This was the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

The Land of Issachar

17 The fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 18 And their territory went to Jezreel, and included Chesulloth, Shunem, 19 Haphraim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Abez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez. 22 And the border reached to Tabor, Shahazimah, and (DW)Beth Shemesh; their border ended at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. 23 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

The Land of Asher

24 (DX)The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 25 And their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26 Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal; it reached to (DY)Mount Carmel westward, along the Brook Shihor Libnath. 27 It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon; and it reached to Zebulun and to the Valley of Jiphthah El, then northward beyond Beth Emek and Neiel, bypassing (DZ)Cabul which was on the left, 28 including [ae]Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, (EA)as far as Greater Sidon. 29 And the border turned to Ramah and to the fortified city of Tyre; then the border turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea by the region of (EB)Achzib. 30 Also Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob were included: twenty-two cities with their villages. 31 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

The Land of Naphtali

32 (EC)The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, for the children of Naphtali according to their families. 33 And their border began at Heleph, enclosing the territory from the terebinth tree in Zaanannim, Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; [af]it ended at the Jordan. 34 (ED)From Heleph the border extended westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there toward Hukkok; it adjoined Zebulun on the south side and Asher on the west side, and ended at Judah by the Jordan toward the sunrise. 35 And the fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 (EE)Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh: nineteen cities with their villages. 39 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

The Land of Dan

40 (EF)The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. 41 And the territory of their inheritance was Zorah, (EG)Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 42 (EH)Shaalabbin, (EI)Aijalon, Jethlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, (EJ)Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 46 Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the region [ag]near [ah]Joppa. 47 And the (EK)border of the children of Dan went beyond these, because the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem and took it; and they struck it with the edge of the sword, took possession of it, and dwelt in it. They called Leshem, (EL)Dan, after the name of Dan their father. 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Joshua’s Inheritance

49 When they had [ai]made an end of dividing the land as an inheritance according to their borders, the children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. 50 According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked for, (EM)Timnath (EN)Serah in the mountains of Ephraim; and he built the city and dwelt in it.

51 (EO)These were the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided as an inheritance by lot (EP)in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the country.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 15:1 allotment
  2. Joshua 15:8 Lit. Giants
  3. Joshua 15:10 turned around
  4. Joshua 15:16 Lit. strikes
  5. Joshua 15:40 Or Lahmam
  6. Joshua 16:1 Lit. went out
  7. Joshua 16:1 LXX Bethel Luz
  8. Joshua 16:2 LXX to Bethel,
  9. Joshua 16:3 Lit. the goings out of it were at the sea
  10. Joshua 16:4 possession
  11. Joshua 16:7 Naaran, 1 Chr. 7:28
  12. Joshua 16:8 Lit. the goings out of it were at the sea
  13. Joshua 17:2 Jeezer, Num. 26:30
  14. Joshua 17:4 possession
  15. Joshua 17:9 boundary
  16. Joshua 17:9 Wadi
  17. Joshua 17:14 allotment
  18. Joshua 17:17 allotment
  19. Joshua 17:18 Lit. goings out
  20. Joshua 18:6 describe in writing
  21. Joshua 18:8 describe in writing
  22. Joshua 18:9 described it in writing
  23. Joshua 18:10 portions
  24. Joshua 18:14 Lit. its goings out were
  25. Joshua 18:16 Lit. Giants
  26. Joshua 18:18 Beth Arabah, Josh. 15:6; 18:22
  27. Joshua 18:19 Lit. the goings out of the border were
  28. Joshua 19:9 too large
  29. Joshua 19:9 Lit. them
  30. Joshua 19:14 Lit. the goings out of it were
  31. Joshua 19:28 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; a few Heb. mss. Abdon (cf. 21:30 and 1 Chr. 6:74)
  32. Joshua 19:33 Lit. its goings out were
  33. Joshua 19:46 over against
  34. Joshua 19:46 Heb. Japho
  35. Joshua 19:49 finished
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Joshua 15-19
New International Version

Allotment for Judah(A)

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

2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea,(E) 3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass,(F) continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea.(G) Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. 4 It then passed along to Azmon(H) and joined the Wadi of Egypt,(I) ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their[a] southern boundary.

5 The eastern boundary(J) is the Dead Sea(K) as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern boundary(L) started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 6 went up to Beth Hoglah(M) and continued north of Beth Arabah(N) to the Stone of Bohan(O) son of Reuben. 7 The boundary then went up to Debir(P) from the Valley of Achor(Q) and turned north to Gilgal,(R) which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh(S) and came out at En Rogel.(T) 8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom(U) along the southern slope of the Jebusite(V) city (that is, Jerusalem(W)). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley(X) at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.(Y) 9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah,(Z) came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah(AA) (that is, Kiriath Jearim).(AB) 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah(AC) to Mount Seir,(AD) ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh(AE) and crossed to Timnah.(AF) 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron,(AG) turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah(AH) and reached Jabneel.(AI) The boundary ended at the sea.

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

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(AK) son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba(AL), that is, Hebron.(AM) (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)(AN) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites(AO)—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai,(AP) the sons of Anak.(AQ) 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(AR) in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 17 Othniel(AS) 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[b] 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,(AT) give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.(AU)

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(AV) toward the boundary of Edom were:

Kabzeel,(AW) Eder,(AX) Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh,(AY) Hazor,(AZ) Ithnan, 24 Ziph,(BA) Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),(BB) 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,(BC) 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual,(BD) Beersheba,(BE) Biziothiah, 29 Baalah,(BF) Iyim, Ezem,(BG) 30 Eltolad,(BH) Kesil, Hormah,(BI) 31 Ziklag,(BJ) Madmannah,(BK) Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain(BL) and Rimmon(BM)—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

33 In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,(BN) Zorah,(BO) Ashnah,(BP) 34 Zanoah,(BQ) En Gannim,(BR) Tappuah,(BS) Enam, 35 Jarmuth,(BT) Adullam,(BU) Sokoh,(BV) Azekah,(BW) 36 Shaaraim,(BX) Adithaim and Gederah(BY) (or Gederothaim)[c]—fourteen towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah,(BZ) Joktheel,(CA) 39 Lachish,(CB) Bozkath,(CC) Eglon,(CD) 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,(CE) Beth Dagon,(CF) Naamah and Makkedah(CG)—sixteen towns and their villages.

42 Libnah,(CH) Ether, Ashan,(CI) 43 Iphtah, Ashnah,(CJ) Nezib, 44 Keilah,(CK) Akzib(CL) and Mareshah(CM)—nine towns and their villages.

45 Ekron,(CN) with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,(CO) together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,(CP) its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt(CQ) and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(CR)

48 In the hill country:

Shamir,(CS) Jattir,(CT) Sokoh,(CU) 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir(CV)), 50 Anab,(CW) Eshtemoh,(CX) Anim, 51 Goshen,(CY) Holon(CZ) and Giloh(DA)—eleven towns and their villages.

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

55 Maon,(DD) Carmel,(DE) Ziph,(DF) Juttah,(DG) 56 Jezreel,(DH) Jokdeam, Zanoah,(DI) 57 Kain, Gibeah(DJ) and Timnah(DK)—ten towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur,(DL) Gedor,(DM) 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[d]

60 Kiriath Baal(DN) (that is, Kiriath Jearim(DO)) and Rabbah(DP)—two towns and their villages.

61 In the wilderness:(DQ)

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

63 Judah could not(DT) dislodge the Jebusites(DU), who were living in Jerusalem;(DV) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.(DW)

Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

16 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert(DX) into the hill country of Bethel.(DY) 2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(DZ)),[e] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(EA) in Ataroth,(EB) 3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon(EC) and on to Gezer,(ED) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.(EE)

5 This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans:

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar(EF) in the east to Upper Beth Horon(EG) 6 and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath(EH) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah(EI) on the east. 7 Then it went down from Janoah(EJ) to Ataroth(EK) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah(EL) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine(EM) and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. 9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.(EN)

10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.(EO)

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh(EP) as Joseph’s firstborn,(EQ) that is, for Makir,(ER) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead(ES) and Bashan(ET) because the Makirites were great soldiers. 2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh(EU)—the clans of Abiezer,(EV) Helek, Asriel,(EW) Shechem, Hepher(EX) and Shemida.(EY) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,(EZ) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,(FA) whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. 4 They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.(FB) 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,(FC) 6 because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

7 The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher(FD) to Mikmethath(FE) east of Shechem.(FF) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. 8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah(FG) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.(FH) There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. 10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher(FI) on the north and Issachar(FJ) on the east.(FK)

11 Within Issachar(FL) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,(FM) Ibleam(FN) and the people of Dor,(FO) Endor,(FP) Taanach(FQ) and Megiddo,(FR) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth[f]).(FS)

12 Yet the Manassites were not able(FT) to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.(FU)

14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”(FV)

15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest(FW) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites(FX) and Rephaites.(FY)”

16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron,(FZ) both those in Beth Shan(GA) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”(GB)

17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment(GC) 18 but the forested hill country(GD) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron(GE) and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Division of the Rest of the Land

18 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh(GF) and set up the tent of meeting(GG) there. The country was brought under their control, 2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you? 4 Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it,(GH) according to the inheritance of each.(GI) Then they will return to me. 5 You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south(GJ) and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.(GK) 6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots(GL) for you in the presence of the Lord our God. 7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the Lord is their inheritance.(GM) And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to them.(GN)”

8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it.(GO) Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh(GP) in the presence of the Lord.” 9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. 10 Joshua then cast lots(GQ) for them in Shiloh in the presence(GR) of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.(GS)

Allotment for Benjamin

11 The first lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin according to its clans. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:

12 On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the wilderness(GT) of Beth Aven.(GU) 13 From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz(GV) (that is, Bethel(GW)) and went down to Ataroth Addar(GX) on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.

14 From the hill facing Beth Horon(GY) on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim),(GZ) a town of the people of Judah. This was the western side.

15 The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.(HA) 16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim.(HB) It continued down the Hinnom Valley(HC) along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.(HD) 17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth,(HE) which faces the Pass of Adummim,(HF) and ran down to the Stone of Bohan(HG) son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah[g](HH) and on down into the Arabah.(HI) 19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah(HJ) and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,(HK) at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary.

20 The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side.

These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides.(HL)

21 The tribe of Benjamin, according to its clans, had the following towns:

Jericho, Beth Hoglah,(HM) Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah,(HN) Zemaraim,(HO) Bethel,(HP) 23 Avvim,(HQ) Parah, Ophrah,(HR) 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba(HS)—twelve towns and their villages.

25 Gibeon,(HT) Ramah,(HU) Beeroth,(HV) 26 Mizpah,(HW) Kephirah,(HX) Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah,(HY) Haeleph, the Jebusite city(HZ) (that is, Jerusalem(IA)), Gibeah(IB) and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.(IC)

This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.(ID)

Allotment for Simeon(IE)

19 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah.(IF) 2 It included:

Beersheba(IG) (or Sheba),[h] Moladah,(IH) 3 Hazar Shual,(II) Balah, Ezem,(IJ) 4 Eltolad,(IK) Bethul, Hormah,(IL) 5 Ziklag,(IM) Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;

7 Ain, Rimmon,(IN) Ether and Ashan(IO)—four towns and their villages— 8 and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev).(IP)

This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, according to its clans. 9 The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah,(IQ) because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.(IR)

Allotment for Zebulun

10 The third lot came up for Zebulun(IS) according to its clans:

The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid.(IT) 11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.(IU) 12 It turned east from Sarid(IV) toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath(IW) and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher(IX) and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon(IY) and turned toward Neah. 14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.(IZ) 15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal,(JA) Shimron,(JB) Idalah and Bethlehem.(JC) There were twelve towns and their villages.

16 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun,(JD) according to its clans.(JE)

Allotment for Issachar

17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar(JF) according to its clans. 18 Their territory included:

Jezreel,(JG) Kesulloth, Shunem,(JH) 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion,(JI) Ebez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim,(JJ) En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 22 The boundary touched Tabor,(JK) Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh,(JL) and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages.

23 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar,(JM) according to its clans.(JN)

Allotment for Asher

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher(JO) according to its clans. 25 Their territory included:

Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph,(JP) 26 Allammelek, Amad and Mishal.(JQ) On the west the boundary touched Carmel(JR) and Shihor Libnath. 27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon,(JS) touched Zebulun(JT) and the Valley of Iphtah El,(JU) and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul(JV) on the left. 28 It went to Abdon,[i](JW) Rehob,(JX) Hammon(JY) and Kanah,(JZ) as far as Greater Sidon.(KA) 29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah(KB) and went to the fortified city of Tyre,(KC) turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea(KD) in the region of Akzib,(KE) 30 Ummah, Aphek(KF) and Rehob.(KG) There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

31 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher,(KH) according to its clans.

Allotment for Naphtali

32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali according to its clans:

33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim,(KI) passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel(KJ) to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok.(KK) It touched Zebulun(KL) on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan[j] on the east. 35 The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath,(KM) Rakkath, Kinnereth,(KN) 36 Adamah, Ramah,(KO) Hazor,(KP) 37 Kedesh,(KQ) Edrei,(KR) En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath(KS) and Beth Shemesh.(KT) There were nineteen towns and their villages.

39 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, according to its clans.(KU)

Allotment for Dan

40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its clans. 41 The territory of their inheritance included:

Zorah, Eshtaol,(KV) Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon,(KW) Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah,(KX) Ekron,(KY) 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon,(KZ) Baalath,(LA) 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,(LB) 46 Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.(LC)

47 (When the territory of the Danites was lost to them,(LD) they went up and attacked Leshem(LE), took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named(LF) it Dan after their ancestor.)(LG)

48 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan,(LH) according to its clans.

Allotment for Joshua

49 When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, 50 as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah[k](LI) in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

51 These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing(LJ) the land.(LK)

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 15:4 Septuagint; Hebrew your
  2. Joshua 15:18 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) Othniel, he urged her
  3. Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim
  4. Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).
  5. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
  6. Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor
  7. Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah
  8. Joshua 19:2 Or Beersheba, Sheba; 1 Chron. 4:28 does not have Sheba.
  9. Joshua 19:28 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 21:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Ebron
  10. Joshua 19:34 Septuagint; Hebrew west, and Judah, the Jordan,
  11. Joshua 19:50 Also known as Timnath Heres (see Judges 2:9)
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