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Joshua 13

Land Still to Be Taken

 ²This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites:

    ³ from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite (the territory of the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron— that of the Avvites);

    ⁴ from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek, the region of the Amorites,

    ⁵ the area of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

 ⁶As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you,

    ⁷ and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

Division of the Land East of the Jordan

 ⁹It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon,

    ¹⁰ and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites.

    ¹¹ It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salecah—

    ¹² that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei and had survived as one of the last of the Rephaites. Moses had defeated them and taken over their land.

    ¹³ But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

 ¹⁴But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.

 ¹⁵This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, clan by clan:

 ¹⁶The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba

    ¹⁷ to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,

    ¹⁸ Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,

    ¹⁹ Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley,

    ²⁰ Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth

    ²¹ — all the towns on the plateau and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba— 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, who practised divination.

    ²³ The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, clan by clan.

 ²⁴This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, clan by clan:

 ²⁵The territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;

    ²⁶ and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir;

    ²⁷ and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth and Zaphon 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 Kinnereth).

    ²⁸ These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites, clan by clan.

 ²⁹This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, clan by clan:

 ³⁰The territory extending from Mahanaim and including all of Bashan, the entire realm of Og king of Bashan— all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns,

    ³¹ half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). This was for the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh— for half of the sons of Makir, clan by clan.

 ³²This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho.

    ³³ But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

Joshua 14

Division of the Land West of the Jordan

    ² Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine-and-a-half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

    ³ Moses had granted the two-and-a-half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,

    ⁴ for the sons of Joseph had become two tribes— Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasture-lands for their flocks and herds.

    ⁵ So the Israelites divided the land, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Hebron Given to Caleb

    ⁷ I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,

    ⁸ but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people sink. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.

    ⁹ So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children for ever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'

    ¹⁰ Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!

    ¹¹ I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

    ¹² Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.

    ¹³ Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

    ¹⁴ So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15(Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.

Joshua 15

Allotment for Judah

    ² Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea,

    ³ crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka.

    ⁴ It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. This is their southern boundary.

    ⁵ The eastern boundary is the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan,

    ⁶ went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.

    ⁷ The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel.

    ⁸ Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

    ⁹ From the hilltop the boundary headed towards the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down towards Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim).

    ¹⁰ Then it curved westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh and crossed to Timnah.

    ¹¹ It went to the northern slope of Ekron, turned towards Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah and reached Jabneel. The boundary ended at the sea.

    ¹² The western boundary is the coastline of the Great Sea. These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

 ¹³In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah— Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)

    ¹⁴ From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites— Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai— descendants of Anak.

    ¹⁵ From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).

    ¹⁶ And Caleb said, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.

    ¹⁷ Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

    ¹⁸ One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him 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 favour. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water. So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

 ²⁰This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan:

 ²¹The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev towards the boundary of Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

    ²² Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

    ²³ Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

    ²⁴ Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

    ²⁵ Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),

    ²⁶ Amam, Shema, Moladah,

    ²⁷ Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,

    ²⁸ Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

    ²⁹ Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

    ³⁰ Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,

    ³¹ Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

    ³² Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon— a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

 ³³In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

    ³⁴ Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

    ³⁵ Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

    ³⁶ Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim)— fourteen towns and their villages.

    ³⁷ Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,

    ³⁸ Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

    ³⁹ Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

    ⁴⁰ Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,

    ⁴¹ Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah— sixteen towns and their villages.

    ⁴² Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

    ⁴³ Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

    ⁴⁴ Keilah, Aczib and Mareshah— nine towns and their villages.

    ⁴⁵ Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages;

    ⁴⁶ west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages;

    ⁴⁷ Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.

 ⁴⁸In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

    ⁴⁹ Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir),

    ⁵⁰ Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

    ⁵¹ Goshen, Holon and Giloh— eleven towns and their villages.

    ⁵² Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

    ⁵³ Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,

    ⁵⁴ Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior— nine towns and their villages.

    ⁵⁵ Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

    ⁵⁶ Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

    ⁵⁷ Kain, Gibeah and Timnah— ten towns and their villages.

    ⁵⁸ Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,

    ⁵⁹ Maarath, Beth Anoth andEltekon— six towns and their villages.

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

 ⁶¹In the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,

    ⁶² Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi— six towns and their villages.

    ⁶³ Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

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The Birth of John the Baptist

    ⁵⁸ Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

    ⁵⁹ On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,

    ⁶⁰ but his mother spoke up and said, No! He is to be called John.

    ⁶¹ They said to her, There is no-one among your relatives who has that name.

    ⁶² Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.

    ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, His name is John.

    ⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.

    ⁶⁵ The neighbours were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.

    ⁶⁶ Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, What then is this child going to be? For the Lord's hand was with him.

Zechariah's Song

 ⁶⁸Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

    ⁶⁹ He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

    ⁷⁰ (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),

    ⁷¹ salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—

    ⁷² to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,

    ⁷³ the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

    ⁷⁴ to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear

    ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

 ⁷⁶And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

    ⁷⁷ to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

    ⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

    ⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.

 ⁸⁰And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.