20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans. 21 The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme south, toward the boundary of Edom, were Kabzeel, (A)Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 (B)Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28 Hazar-shual, (C)Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31 (D)Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.

33 And in the lowland, (E)Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 (F)Jarmuth, (G)Adullam, (H)Socoh, (I)Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel, 39 (J)Lachish, Bozkath, (K)Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and (L)Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages.

42 (M)Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 (N)Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages.

45 (O)Ekron, with its towns and its villages; 46 from Ekron to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.

47 (P)Ashdod, its towns and its villages; (Q)Gaza, its towns and its villages; to (R)the Brook of Egypt, and (S)the Great Sea with its coastline.

48 And in the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah ((T)that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 (U)Goshen, Holon, and (V)Giloh: eleven cities with their villages.

52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, (W)Kiriath-arba (that is, (X)Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages.

55 (Y)Maon, (Z)Carmel, (AA)Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and (AB)Timnah: ten cities with their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon: six cities with their villages.

60 (AC)Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.

61 In the wilderness, (AD)Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and (AE)Engedi: six cities with their villages.

63 But the (AF)Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, (AG)the people of Judah could not drive out, (AH)so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

The Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

16 The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, (AI)into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel. Then (AJ)going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to Ataroth, the territory of the Archites. Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower (AK)Beth-horon, then to (AL)Gezer, and it ends at the sea.

(AM)The people of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.

The territory of the people of Ephraim by their clans was as follows: the boundary of their inheritance on the east was (AN)Ataroth-addar as far as Upper Beth-horon, and the boundary goes from there to the sea. On the north is (AO)Michmethath. Then on the east the boundary turns around toward Taanath-shiloh and passes along beyond it on the east to Janoah, then it goes down from Janoah to Ataroth and (AP)to Naarah, and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan. From (AQ)Tappuah the boundary goes westward to the brook Kanah and ends at the sea. Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Ephraim by their clans, together with (AR)the towns that were set apart for the people of Ephraim within the inheritance of the Manassites, all those towns with their villages. 10 However, (AS)they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made (AT)to do forced labor.

17 Then allotment was made to the people of Manasseh, for he was (AU)the firstborn of Joseph. To (AV)Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, (AW)were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war. And allotments were made (AX)to the rest of the people of Manasseh by their clans, Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph, by their clans.

Now (AY)Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters, and these are the names of his daughters: (AZ)Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached (BA)Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, (BB)“The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers.” So according to the mouth of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father. Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions, besides (BC)the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan, because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the people of Manasseh.

The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to (BD)Michmethath, which is east of Shechem. Then the boundary goes along southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah. The land of (BE)Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the people of Ephraim. (BF)Then the boundary went down to the brook Kanah. These cities, to the south of the brook, among the cities of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea, 10 the land to the south being Ephraim's and that to the north being Manasseh's, with the sea forming its boundary. On the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar. 11 Also in Issachar and in Asher (BG)Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages, and Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of (BH)Dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of (BI)Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of (BJ)Megiddo and its villages; (BK)the third is Naphath.[a] 12 (BL)Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. 13 Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites (BM)to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

14 Then (BN)the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but (BO)one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am (BP)a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?” 15 And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and (BQ)the Rephaim, since (BR)the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” 16 The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have (BS)chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in (BT)the Valley of Jezreel.” 17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, 18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, (BU)though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 17:11 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans:

21 The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev(A) toward the boundary of Edom were:

Kabzeel,(B) Eder,(C) Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh,(D) Hazor,(E) Ithnan, 24 Ziph,(F) Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),(G) 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,(H) 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual,(I) Beersheba,(J) Biziothiah, 29 Baalah,(K) Iyim, Ezem,(L) 30 Eltolad,(M) Kesil, Hormah,(N) 31 Ziklag,(O) Madmannah,(P) Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain(Q) and Rimmon(R)—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

33 In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,(S) Zorah,(T) Ashnah,(U) 34 Zanoah,(V) En Gannim,(W) Tappuah,(X) Enam, 35 Jarmuth,(Y) Adullam,(Z) Sokoh,(AA) Azekah,(AB) 36 Shaaraim,(AC) Adithaim and Gederah(AD) (or Gederothaim)[a]—fourteen towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah,(AE) Joktheel,(AF) 39 Lachish,(AG) Bozkath,(AH) Eglon,(AI) 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,(AJ) Beth Dagon,(AK) Naamah and Makkedah(AL)—sixteen towns and their villages.

42 Libnah,(AM) Ether, Ashan,(AN) 43 Iphtah, Ashnah,(AO) Nezib, 44 Keilah,(AP) Akzib(AQ) and Mareshah(AR)—nine towns and their villages.

45 Ekron,(AS) with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,(AT) together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,(AU) its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt(AV) and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(AW)

48 In the hill country:

Shamir,(AX) Jattir,(AY) Sokoh,(AZ) 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir(BA)), 50 Anab,(BB) Eshtemoh,(BC) Anim, 51 Goshen,(BD) Holon(BE) and Giloh(BF)—eleven towns and their villages.

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

55 Maon,(BI) Carmel,(BJ) Ziph,(BK) Juttah,(BL) 56 Jezreel,(BM) Jokdeam, Zanoah,(BN) 57 Kain, Gibeah(BO) and Timnah(BP)—ten towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur,(BQ) Gedor,(BR) 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[b]

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

61 In the wilderness:(BV)

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

63 Judah could not(BY) dislodge the Jebusites(BZ), who were living in Jerusalem;(CA) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.(CB)

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(CC) into the hill country of Bethel.(CD) It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(CE)),[c] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(CF) in Ataroth,(CG) descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon(CH) and on to Gezer,(CI) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

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

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

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar(CK) in the east to Upper Beth Horon(CL) and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath(CM) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah(CN) on the east. Then it went down from Janoah(CO) to Ataroth(CP) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. From Tappuah(CQ) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine(CR) 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.(CS)

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.(CT)

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh(CU) as Joseph’s firstborn,(CV) that is, for Makir,(CW) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead(CX) and Bashan(CY) because the Makirites were great soldiers. So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh(CZ)—the clans of Abiezer,(DA) Helek, Asriel,(DB) Shechem, Hepher(DC) and Shemida.(DD) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,(DE) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,(DF) 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.(DG) Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,(DH) 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(DI) to Mikmethath(DJ) east of Shechem.(DK) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah(DL) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.(DM) 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(DN) on the north and Issachar(DO) on the east.(DP)

11 Within Issachar(DQ) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,(DR) Ibleam(DS) and the people of Dor,(DT) Endor,(DU) Taanach(DV) and Megiddo,(DW) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth[d]).(DX)

12 Yet the Manassites were not able(DY) 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.(DZ)

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.”(EA)

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(EB) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites(EC) and Rephaites.(ED)

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,(EE) both those in Beth Shan(EF) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”(EG)

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(EH) 18 but the forested hill country(EI) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron(EJ) and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim
  2. Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).
  3. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
  4. Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor