Font Size
Joshua 16-18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joshua 16-18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joseph’s Inheritance
16 The allotment for the descendants of Joseph[a] went from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness(A) ascending from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. 2 From Bethel it went to Luz and proceeded to the border of the Archites by Ataroth.(B) 3 It then descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer,(C) and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. 4 So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph,(D) received their inheritance.(E)
Ephraim’s Inheritance
5 This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans:
The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar(F) on the east of Upper Beth-horon. 6 In the north the border went westward from Michmethath;(G) it turned eastward from Taanath-shiloh and passed it east of Janoah. 7 From Janoah it descended to Ataroth and Naarah,(H) and then reached Jericho and went to the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah the border[b] went westward along the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.(I)
This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans, together with 9 the cities set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of the descendants of Manasseh—all these cities with their villages. 10 But, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer.(J) So the Canaanites live in Ephraim to this day,(K) but they are forced laborers.
West Manasseh’s Inheritance
17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh(L) as Joseph’s firstborn. Gilead and Bashan came to Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh and the father of Gilead, who was a man of war.(M) 2 So the allotment was for the rest of Manasseh’s descendants by their clans, for the sons of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, by their clans.
3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.(N) 4 They came before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our male relatives.”[c] So they gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the Lord’s instruction.(O) 5 As a result, 10 tracts fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which are beyond the Jordan,[d] 6 because Manasseh’s daughters received an inheritance among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of Manasseh’s sons.
7 The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem. It then went southward toward the inhabitants of En-tappuah. 8 The region of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself on Manasseh’s border(P) belonged to the descendants of Ephraim. 9 From there the border descended to the Brook of Kanah; south of the brook, cities belonged to Ephraim among Manasseh’s cities. Manasseh’s border was on the north side of the brook and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. 10 Ephraim’s territory was to the south and Manasseh’s to the north, with the Sea as its border. They[e] reached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean with its towns, Ibleam with its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor with its towns;(Q) the inhabitants of En-dor with its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach with its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo with its towns—the three cities of[f] Naphath.(R)
12 The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they imposed forced labor on the Canaanites but did not drive them out completely.(S)
Joseph’s Additional Inheritance
14 Joseph’s descendants said to Joshua, “Why did you give us only one tribal allotment[g] as an inheritance? We have many people, because the Lord has been blessing us greatly.”
15 “If you have so many people,” Joshua replied to them, “go to the forest and clear an area for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, because Ephraim’s hill country is too small for you.”
16 But the descendants of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who inhabit the valley area have iron chariots, both at Beth-shean with its towns and in the Jezreel Valley.”
17 So Joshua replied to Joseph’s family (that is, Ephraim and Manasseh), “You have many people and great strength. You will not have just one allotment, 18 because the hill country will be yours also. It is a forest; clear it and its outlying areas will be yours. You can also drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and are strong.”
Land Distribution at Shiloh
18 The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh(T) where it set up the tent of meeting there; the land had been subdued by them. 2 Seven tribes among the Israelites were left who had not divided up their inheritance. 3 So Joshua said to the Israelites, “How long will you delay going out to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, gave you?(U) 4 Appoint for yourselves three men from each tribe, and I will send them out. They are to go and survey the land, write a description of it for the purpose of their inheritance, and return to me. 5 Then they are to divide it into seven portions. Judah is to remain in its territory in the south and Joseph’s family in their[h] territory in the north.(V) 6 When you have written a description of the seven portions of land and brought it to me, I will cast lots for you here in the presence of the Lord our God.(W) 7 But the Levites among you do not get a portion, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the Lord.(X) Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have taken their inheritance beyond the Jordan to the east, which Moses the Lord’s servant gave them.”
8 As the men prepared to go, Joshua commanded them[i] to write down a description of the land, saying, “Go and survey the land, write a description of it, and return to me. I will then cast lots for you here in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord.” 9 So the men left, went through the land, and described it by towns in a document of seven sections. They returned to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. 10 Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.
Benjamin’s Inheritance
11 The lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans, and their allotted territory lay between Judah’s descendants and Joseph’s descendants.
12 Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, ascended to the slope of Jericho on the north, through the hill country westward, and ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven.(Y) 13 From there the border went toward Luz, to the southern slope of Luz (that is, Bethel); it then went down by Ataroth-addar, over the hill south of Lower Beth-horon.(Z)
14 On the west side, from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south, the border curved, turning southward, and ended at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the descendants of Judah. This was the west side of their border.
15 The south side began at the edge of Kiriath-jearim, and the border extended westward; it went to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah. 16 The border descended to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. It ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the south Jebusite slope and downward to En-rogel. 17 It curved northward and went to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth, which is opposite the Ascent of Adummim, and continued down to the Stone of Bohan(AA) son of Reuben. 18 Then it went north to the slope opposite the Jordan Valley[j][k] and proceeded into the valley.[l] 19 The border continued to the north slope of Beth-hoglah and ended at the northern bay of the Dead Sea, at the southern end of the Jordan. This was the southern border.
20 The Jordan formed the border on the east side.
This was the inheritance of Benjamin’s descendants, by their clans, according to its surrounding borders.
Benjamin’s Cities
21 These were the cities of the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans:
Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, 22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—12 cities, with their villages; 25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpeh,[m] Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zela, Haeleph, Jebus[n] (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath[o]—14 cities, with their villages.
This was the inheritance for Benjamin’s descendants by their clans.
Footnotes
- Joshua 16:1 = the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh
- Joshua 16:8 Ephraim’s northern border
- Joshua 17:4 Lit our brothers
- Joshua 17:5 = east of the Jordan River
- Joshua 17:10 The people of Manasseh, or Manasseh’s borders
- Joshua 17:11 LXX, Vg read the third is
- Joshua 17:14 Lit one lot and one territory
- Joshua 18:5 = the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh
- Joshua 18:8 Lit the ones going around
- Joshua 18:18 LXX reads went northward to Beth-arabah
- Joshua 18:18 Or the Arabah
- Joshua 18:18 Or the Arabah
- Joshua 18:26 = Mizpah; Jos 11:3,8
- Joshua 18:28 Lit Jebusite
- Joshua 18:28 LXX, Syr read Kiriath-jearim
Joshua 16-18
New International Version
Joshua 16-18
New International Version
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(A) into the hill country of Bethel.(B) 2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(C)),[a] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(D) in Ataroth,(E) 3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon(F) and on to Gezer,(G) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.
4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.(H)
5 This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans:
The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar(I) in the east to Upper Beth Horon(J) 6 and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath(K) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah(L) on the east. 7 Then it went down from Janoah(M) to Ataroth(N) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah(O) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine(P) 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.(Q)
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.(R)
17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh(S) as Joseph’s firstborn,(T) that is, for Makir,(U) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead(V) and Bashan(W) because the Makirites were great soldiers. 2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh(X)—the clans of Abiezer,(Y) Helek, Asriel,(Z) Shechem, Hepher(AA) and Shemida.(AB) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.
3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,(AC) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,(AD) 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.(AE) 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,(AF) 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(AG) to Mikmethath(AH) east of Shechem.(AI) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. 8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah(AJ) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.(AK) 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(AL) on the north and Issachar(AM) on the east.(AN)
11 Within Issachar(AO) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,(AP) Ibleam(AQ) and the people of Dor,(AR) Endor,(AS) Taanach(AT) and Megiddo,(AU) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth[b]).(AV)
12 Yet the Manassites were not able(AW) 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.(AX)
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.”(AY)
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(AZ) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites(BA) and Rephaites.(BB)”
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,(BC) both those in Beth Shan(BD) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”(BE)
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(BF) 18 but the forested hill country(BG) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron(BH) 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(BI) and set up the tent of meeting(BJ) 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,(BK) according to the inheritance of each.(BL) 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(BM) and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.(BN) 6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots(BO) 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.(BP) 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.(BQ)”
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.(BR) Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh(BS) 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(BT) for them in Shiloh in the presence(BU) of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.(BV)
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(BW) of Beth Aven.(BX) 13 From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz(BY) (that is, Bethel(BZ)) and went down to Ataroth Addar(CA) on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.
14 From the hill facing Beth Horon(CB) on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim),(CC) 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.(CD) 16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim.(CE) It continued down the Hinnom Valley(CF) along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.(CG) 17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth,(CH) which faces the Pass of Adummim,(CI) and ran down to the Stone of Bohan(CJ) son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah[c](CK) and on down into the Arabah.(CL) 19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah(CM) and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,(CN) 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.(CO)
21 The tribe of Benjamin, according to its clans, had the following towns:
Jericho, Beth Hoglah,(CP) Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah,(CQ) Zemaraim,(CR) Bethel,(CS) 23 Avvim,(CT) Parah, Ophrah,(CU) 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba(CV)—twelve towns and their villages.
25 Gibeon,(CW) Ramah,(CX) Beeroth,(CY) 26 Mizpah,(CZ) Kephirah,(DA) Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah,(DB) Haeleph, the Jebusite city(DC) (that is, Jerusalem(DD)), Gibeah(DE) and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.(DF)
This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.(DG)
Footnotes
- Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
- Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor
- Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.