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) It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(C)),[a] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(D) in Ataroth,(E) 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.

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

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) 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. Then it went down from Janoah(M) to Ataroth(N) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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) Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,(AF) 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.

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. (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah(AJ) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 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, but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

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? 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. 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) 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. 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)

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.” 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)

Allotment for Simeon(DH)

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

Beersheba(DJ) (or Sheba),[d] Moladah,(DK) Hazar Shual,(DL) Balah, Ezem,(DM) Eltolad,(DN) Bethul, Hormah,(DO) Ziklag,(DP) Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;

Ain, Rimmon,(DQ) Ether and Ashan(DR)—four towns and their villages— and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev).(DS)

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

Allotment for Zebulun

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

The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid.(DW) 11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.(DX) 12 It turned east from Sarid(DY) toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath(DZ) and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher(EA) and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon(EB) and turned toward Neah. 14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.(EC) 15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal,(ED) Shimron,(EE) Idalah and Bethlehem.(EF) There were twelve towns and their villages.

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

Allotment for Issachar

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

Jezreel,(EJ) Kesulloth, Shunem,(EK) 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion,(EL) Ebez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim,(EM) En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 22 The boundary touched Tabor,(EN) Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh,(EO) 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,(EP) according to its clans.(EQ)

Allotment for Asher

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

Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph,(ES) 26 Allammelek, Amad and Mishal.(ET) On the west the boundary touched Carmel(EU) and Shihor Libnath. 27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon,(EV) touched Zebulun(EW) and the Valley of Iphtah El,(EX) and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul(EY) on the left. 28 It went to Abdon,[e](EZ) Rehob,(FA) Hammon(FB) and Kanah,(FC) as far as Greater Sidon.(FD) 29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah(FE) and went to the fortified city of Tyre,(FF) turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea(FG) in the region of Akzib,(FH) 30 Ummah, Aphek(FI) and Rehob.(FJ) There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

31 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher,(FK) 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,(FL) passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel(FM) to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok.(FN) It touched Zebulun(FO) on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan[f] on the east. 35 The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath,(FP) Rakkath, Kinnereth,(FQ) 36 Adamah, Ramah,(FR) Hazor,(FS) 37 Kedesh,(FT) Edrei,(FU) En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath(FV) and Beth Shemesh.(FW) 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.(FX)

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,(FY) Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon,(FZ) Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah,(GA) Ekron,(GB) 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon,(GC) Baalath,(GD) 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,(GE) 46 Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.(GF)

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

48 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan,(GK) 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[g](GL) 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(GM) the land.(GN)

Cities of Refuge(GO)

20 Then the Lord said to Joshua: “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally(GP) may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.(GQ) When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate(GR) and state their case before the elders(GS) of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly(GT) and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”

So they set apart Kedesh(GU) in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem(GV) in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba(GW) (that is, Hebron(GX)) in the hill country of Judah.(GY) East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer(GZ) in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead(HA) in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan(HB) in the tribe of Manasseh. Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally(HC) could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.(HD)

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
  2. Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor
  3. Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah
  4. Joshua 19:2 Or Beersheba, Sheba; 1 Chron. 4:28 does not have Sheba.
  5. Joshua 19:28 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 21:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Ebron
  6. Joshua 19:34 Septuagint; Hebrew west, and Judah, the Jordan,
  7. Joshua 19:50 Also known as Timnath Heres (see Judges 2:9)

16 And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,

And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,

And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer; and the goings out thereof are at the sea.

So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;

And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;

And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.

The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.

And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

10 And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.

17 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.

But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;

Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.

And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.

Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;

And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:

10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.

12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.

14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?

15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:

18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.

18 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.

And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?

Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.

And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.

Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord our God.

But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.

And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the Lord in Shiloh.

And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.

10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.

12 And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.

13 And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.

14 And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.

15 And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:

16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,

17 And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,

18 And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:

19 And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.

20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.

21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,

22 And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,

23 And Avim, and Pharah, and Ophrah,

24 And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:

25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,

26 And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,

27 And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,

28 And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

19 And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.

And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,

And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,

And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,

And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:

Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:

And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.

Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:

11 And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;

12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,

13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;

14 And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:

15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.

16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

17 And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.

18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,

19 And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,

20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,

21 And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;

22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.

23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.

25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,

26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;

27 And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,

28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;

29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:

30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.

31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

32 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.

33 And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:

34 And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.

35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,

36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,

37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,

38 And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.

39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

40 And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,

42 And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,

43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,

44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,

45 And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,

46 And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.

47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, 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.

49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:

50 According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.

51 These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

20 The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.

And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

Ephraim and West Manasseh

16 The lot [a]fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the (A)wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to [b]Bethel, then went out [c]from (B)Bethel to Luz, passed along to the border of the Archites at Ataroth, and went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, (C)as far as the boundary of Lower Beth Horon to (D)Gezer; and [d]it ended at the sea.

(E)So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their [e]inheritance.

The Land of Ephraim

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

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

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

10 (M)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 (N)firstborn of Joseph: namely for (O)Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war; therefore he was given (P)Gilead and Bashan. And there was a lot for (Q)the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: (R)for the children of [h]Abiezer, the children of Helek, (S)the children of Asriel, the children of Shechem, (T)the children of Hepher, and the children of Shemida; these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.

But (U)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. And they came near before (V)Eleazar the priest, before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying, (W)“The Lord commanded Moses to give us an [i]inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore, according to the commandment of the Lord, he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers. Ten shares fell to (X)Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side of the Jordan, because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons; and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.

And the territory of Manasseh was from Asher to (Y)Michmethath, that lies east of Shechem; and the border went along south to the inhabitants of En Tappuah. Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but (Z)Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim. And the [j]border descended to the [k]Brook Kanah, southward to the brook. (AA)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, (AB)Manasseh had (AC)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 (AD)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 (AE)forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

More Land for Ephraim and Manasseh

14 (AF)Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only (AG)one [l]lot and one share to inherit, since we are (AH)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 (AI)chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are (AJ)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 [m]lot, 18 but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its [n]farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, (AK)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 (AL)at Shiloh, and (AM)set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance.

Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: (AN)“How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you? 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. And they shall divide it into seven parts. (AO)Judah shall remain in their territory on the south, and the (AP)house of Joseph shall remain in their territory on the north. You shall therefore [o]survey the land in seven parts and bring the survey here to me, (AQ)that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. (AR)But the Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance. (AS)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.”

Then the men arose to go away; and Joshua charged those who went to [p]survey the land, saying, “Go, walk (AT)through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.” So the men went, passed through the land, and [q]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 (AU)lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there (AV)Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their [r]divisions.

The Land of Benjamin

11 (AW)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 (AX)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 (AY)(which is Bethel) southward; and the border descended to Ataroth Addar, near the hill that lies on the south side (AZ)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 [s]it ended at (BA)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 (BB)the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 Then the border came down to the end of the mountain that lies before (BC)the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is in the Valley of the [t]Rephaim on the north, descended to the Valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite city on the south, and descended to (BD)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 (BE)the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 18 Then it passed along toward the north side of [u]Arabah, and went down to Arabah. 19 And the border passed along to the north side of Beth Hoglah; then [v]the border ended at the north bay at the (BF)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 (BG)Gibeon, (BH)Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpah, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah, Eleph, (BI)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 (BJ)second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. (BK)And their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. (BL)They had in their inheritance Beersheba (Sheba), Moladah, Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen: thirteen cities and their villages; Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan: four cities and their villages; and all the villages that were all around these cities as far as Baalath Beer, (BM)Ramah of the South. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.

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 [w]too much for them. (BN)Therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of [x]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 (BO)Their border went toward the west and to Maralah, went to Dabbasheth, and extended along the brook that is (BP)east of Jokneam. 12 Then from Sarid it went eastward toward the sunrise along the border of Chisloth Tabor, and went out toward (BQ)Daberath, bypassing Japhia. 13 And from there it passed along on the east of (BR)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 [y]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 (BS)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 (BT)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 (BU)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 (BV)Cabul which was on the left, 28 including [z]Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, (BW)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 (BX)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 (BY)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; [aa]it ended at the Jordan. 34 (BZ)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 (CA)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 (CB)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, (CC)Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 42 (CD)Shaalabbin, (CE)Aijalon, Jethlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, (CF)Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 46 Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the region [ab]near [ac]Joppa. 47 And the (CG)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, (CH)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 [ad]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, (CI)Timnath (CJ)Serah in the mountains of Ephraim; and he built the city and dwelt in it.

51 (CK)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 (CL)in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the country.

The Cities of Refuge(CM)

20 The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: (CN)‘Appoint[ae] for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and [af]declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. (CO)Then if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand. And he shall dwell in that city (CP)until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ”

So they appointed (CQ)Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, (CR)Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and (CS)Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in (CT)the mountains of Judah. And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned (CU)Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, (CV)Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and (CW)Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. (CX)These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who [ag]dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood (CY)until he stood before the congregation.

Footnotes

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