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)

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