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Joshua 15:9-19:16
New Living Translation

9 From there the boundary extended from the top of the mountain to the spring at the waters of Nephtoah,[a] and from there to the towns on Mount Ephron. Then it turned toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim). 10 The boundary circled west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passed along to the town of Kesalon on the northern slope of Mount Jearim, and went down to Beth-shemesh and on to Timnah. 11 The boundary then proceeded to the slope of the hill north of Ekron, where it turned toward Shikkeron and Mount Baalah. It passed Jabneel and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.

12 The western boundary was the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea.[b]

These are the boundaries for the clans of the tribe of Judah.

The Land Given to Caleb

13 The Lord commanded Joshua to assign some of Judah’s territory to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So Caleb was given the town of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor. 14 Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the sons of Anak.

15 From there he went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher). 16 Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” 17 Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.

18 When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him[c] to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?”

19 She said, “Give me another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

The Towns Allotted to Judah

20 This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Judah.

21 The towns of Judah situated along the borders of Edom in the extreme south were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28 Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine towns with their surrounding villages.

33 The following towns situated in the western foothills[d] were also given to Judah: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim—fourteen towns with their surrounding villages.

37 Also included were Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen towns with their surrounding villages.

42 Besides these, there were Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah—nine towns with their surrounding villages.

45 The territory of the tribe of Judah also included Ekron and its surrounding settlements and villages. 46 From Ekron the boundary extended west and included the towns near Ashdod with their surrounding villages. 47 It also included Ashdod with its surrounding settlements and villages and Gaza with its settlements and villages, as far as the Brook of Egypt and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

48 Judah also received the following towns in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven towns with their surrounding villages.

52 Also included were the towns of Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine towns with their surrounding villages.

55 Besides these, there were Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten towns with their surrounding villages.

58 In addition, there were Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six towns with their surrounding villages.

60 There were also Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah—two towns with their surrounding villages.

61 In the wilderness there were the towns of Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six towns with their surrounding villages.

63 But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.

The Land Given to Ephraim and West Manasseh

16 The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan River near Jericho, east of the springs of Jericho, through the wilderness and into the hill country of Bethel. 2 From Bethel (that is, Luz)[e] it ran over to Ataroth in the territory of the Arkites. 3 Then it descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer and over to the Mediterranean Sea.[f]

4 This was the homeland allocated to the families of Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

The Land Given to Ephraim

5 The following territory was given to the clans of the tribe of Ephraim.

The boundary of their homeland began at Ataroth-addar in the east. From there it ran to Upper Beth-horon, 6 then on to the Mediterranean Sea. From Micmethath on the north, the boundary curved eastward past Taanath-shiloh to the east of Janoah. 7 From Janoah it turned southward to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, and ended at the Jordan River. 8 From Tappuah the boundary extended westward, following the Kanah Ravine to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Ephraim.

9 In addition, some towns with their surrounding villages in the territory allocated to the half-tribe of Manasseh were set aside for the tribe of Ephraim. 10 They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.

The Land Given to West Manasseh

17 The next allotment of land was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph’s older son. Makir, the firstborn son of Manasseh, was the father of Gilead. Because his descendants were experienced soldiers, the regions of Gilead and Bashan on the east side of the Jordan had already been given to them. 2 So the allotment on the west side of the Jordan was for the remaining families within the clans of the tribe of Manasseh: Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These clans represent the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph.

3 However, Zelophehad, a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons. He had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 These women came to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us a grant of land along with the men of our tribe.”

So Joshua gave them a grant of land along with their uncles, as the Lord had commanded. 5 As a result, Manasseh’s total allocation came to ten parcels of land, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan across the Jordan River, 6 because the female descendants of Manasseh received a grant of land along with the male descendants. (The land of Gilead was given to the rest of the male descendants of Manasseh.)

7 The boundary of the tribe of Manasseh extended from the border of Asher to Micmethath, near Shechem. Then the boundary went south from Micmethath to the settlement near the spring of Tappuah. 8 The land surrounding Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah itself, on the border of Manasseh’s territory, belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. 9 From the spring of Tappuah, the boundary of Manasseh followed the Kanah Ravine to the Mediterranean Sea.[g] Several towns south of the ravine were inside Manasseh’s territory, but they actually belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. 10 In general, however, the land south of the ravine belonged to Ephraim, and the land north of the ravine belonged to Manasseh. Manasseh’s boundary ran along the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. North of Manasseh was the territory of Asher, and to the east was the territory of Issachar.

11 The following towns within the territory of Issachar and Asher, however, were given to Manasseh: Beth-shan,[h] Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphoth-dor),[i] Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements.

12 But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region. 13 Later, however, when the Israelites became strong enough, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves. But they did not drive them out of the land.

14 The descendants of Joseph came to Joshua and asked, “Why have you given us only one portion of land as our homeland when the Lord has blessed us with so many people?”

15 Joshua replied, “If there are so many of you, and if the hill country of Ephraim is not large enough for you, clear out land for yourselves in the forest where the Perizzites and Rephaites live.”

16 The descendants of Joseph responded, “It’s true that the hill country is not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shan and its surrounding settlements and those in the valley of Jezreel. They are too strong for us.”

17 Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, “Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion. 18 The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.”

The Allotments of the Remaining Land

18 Now that the land was under Israelite control, the entire community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle.[j] 2 But there remained seven tribes who had not yet been allotted their grants of land.

3 Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you? 4 Select three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to explore the land and map it out. They will then return to me with a written report of their proposed divisions of their new homeland. 5 Let them divide the land into seven sections, excluding Judah’s territory in the south and Joseph’s territory in the north. 6 And when you record the seven divisions of the land and bring them to me, I will cast sacred lots in the presence of the Lord our God to assign land to each tribe.

7 “The Levites, however, will not receive any allotment of land. Their role as priests of the Lord is their allotment. And the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh won’t receive any more land, for they have already received their grant of land, which Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave them on the east side of the Jordan River.”

8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua commanded them, “Go and explore the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will assign the land to the tribes by casting sacred lots here in the presence of the Lord at Shiloh.” 9 The men did as they were told and mapped the entire territory into seven sections, listing the towns in each section. They made a written record and then returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. 10 And there at Shiloh, Joshua cast sacred lots in the presence of the Lord to determine which tribe should have each section.

The Land Given to Benjamin

11 The first allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. It lay between the territory assigned to the tribes of Judah and Joseph.

12 The northern boundary of Benjamin’s land began at the Jordan River, went north of the slope of Jericho, then west through the hill country and the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13 From there the boundary went south to Luz (that is, Bethel) and proceeded down to Ataroth-addar on the hill that lies south of Lower Beth-horon.

14 The boundary then made a turn and swung south along the western edge of the hill facing Beth-horon, ending at the village of Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a town belonging to the tribe of Judah. This was the western boundary.

15 The southern boundary began at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim. From that western point it ran[k] to the spring at the waters of Nephtoah,[l] 16 and down to the base of the mountain beside the valley of Ben-Hinnom, at the northern end of the valley of Rephaim. From there it went down the valley of Hinnom, crossing south of the slope where the Jebusites lived, and continued down to En-rogel. 17 From En-rogel the boundary proceeded in a northerly direction and came to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth (which is across from the slopes of Adummim). Then it went down to the Stone of Bohan. (Bohan was Reuben’s son.) 18 From there it passed along the north side of the slope overlooking the Jordan Valley.[m] The border then went down into the valley, 19 ran past the north slope of Beth-hoglah, and ended at the north bay of the Dead Sea,[n] which is the southern end of the Jordan River. This was the southern boundary.

20 The eastern boundary was the Jordan River.

These were the boundaries of the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.

The Towns Given to Benjamin

21 These were the towns given to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.

Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, 22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Kephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve towns with their surrounding villages. 25 Also Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zela, Haeleph, the Jebusite town (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim[o]—fourteen towns with their surrounding villages.

This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.

The Land Given to Simeon

19 The second allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Simeon. Their homeland was surrounded by Judah’s territory.

2 Simeon’s homeland included Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, 3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, 6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen towns with their surrounding villages. 7 It also included Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four towns with their villages, 8 including all the surrounding villages as far south as Baalath-beer (also known as Ramah of the Negev).

This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Simeon. 9 Their allocation of land came from part of what had been given to Judah because Judah’s territory was too large for them. So the tribe of Simeon received an allocation within the territory of Judah.

The Land Given to Zebulun

10 The third allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Zebulun.

The boundary of Zebulun’s homeland started at Sarid. 11 From there it went west, going past Maralah, touching Dabbesheth, and proceeding to the brook east of Jokneam. 12 In the other direction, the boundary went east from Sarid to the border of Kisloth-tabor, and from there to Daberath and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued east to Gath-hepher, Eth-kazin, and Rimmon and turned toward Neah. 14 The northern boundary of Zebulun passed Hannathon and ended at the valley of Iphtah-el. 15 The towns in these areas included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem—twelve towns with their surrounding villages.

16 The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Zebulun included these towns and their surrounding villages.

Footnotes

  1. 15:9 Or the spring at Me-nephtoah.
  2. 15:12 Hebrew the Great Sea; also in 15:47.
  3. 15:18 Some Greek manuscripts read he urged her.
  4. 15:33 Hebrew the Shephelah.
  5. 16:2 As in Greek version (also see 18:13); Hebrew reads From Bethel to Luz.
  6. 16:3 Hebrew the sea; also in 16:6, 8.
  7. 17:9 Hebrew the sea; also in 17:10.
  8. 17:11a Hebrew Beth-shean, a variant spelling of Beth-shan; also in 17:16.
  9. 17:11b The meaning of the Hebrew here is uncertain.
  10. 18:1 Hebrew Tent of Meeting.
  11. 18:15a Or From there it went to Mozah. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  12. 18:15b Or the spring at Me-nephtoah.
  13. 18:18 Hebrew overlooking the Arabah, or overlooking Beth-arabah.
  14. 18:19 Hebrew Salt Sea.
  15. 18:28 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Kiriath.
Listen to Joshua 15:9-19:16
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Joshua 15:9-19:16
New International Version

9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah,(A) came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah(B) (that is, Kiriath Jearim).(C) 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah(D) to Mount Seir,(E) ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh(F) and crossed to Timnah.(G) 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron,(H) turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah(I) and reached Jabneel.(J) The boundary ended at the sea.

12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(K)

These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

13 In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb(L) son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba(M), that is, Hebron.(N) (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)(O) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites(P)—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai,(Q) the sons of Anak.(R) 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah(S) in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 17 Othniel(T) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.

18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him[a] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

19 She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev,(U) give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.(V)

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(W) toward the boundary of Edom were:

Kabzeel,(X) Eder,(Y) Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh,(Z) Hazor,(AA) Ithnan, 24 Ziph,(AB) Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),(AC) 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,(AD) 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual,(AE) Beersheba,(AF) Biziothiah, 29 Baalah,(AG) Iyim, Ezem,(AH) 30 Eltolad,(AI) Kesil, Hormah,(AJ) 31 Ziklag,(AK) Madmannah,(AL) Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain(AM) and Rimmon(AN)—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

33 In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,(AO) Zorah,(AP) Ashnah,(AQ) 34 Zanoah,(AR) En Gannim,(AS) Tappuah,(AT) Enam, 35 Jarmuth,(AU) Adullam,(AV) Sokoh,(AW) Azekah,(AX) 36 Shaaraim,(AY) Adithaim and Gederah(AZ) (or Gederothaim)[b]—fourteen towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah,(BA) Joktheel,(BB) 39 Lachish,(BC) Bozkath,(BD) Eglon,(BE) 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,(BF) Beth Dagon,(BG) Naamah and Makkedah(BH)—sixteen towns and their villages.

42 Libnah,(BI) Ether, Ashan,(BJ) 43 Iphtah, Ashnah,(BK) Nezib, 44 Keilah,(BL) Akzib(BM) and Mareshah(BN)—nine towns and their villages.

45 Ekron,(BO) with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,(BP) together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,(BQ) its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt(BR) and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(BS)

48 In the hill country:

Shamir,(BT) Jattir,(BU) Sokoh,(BV) 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir(BW)), 50 Anab,(BX) Eshtemoh,(BY) Anim, 51 Goshen,(BZ) Holon(CA) and Giloh(CB)—eleven towns and their villages.

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

55 Maon,(CE) Carmel,(CF) Ziph,(CG) Juttah,(CH) 56 Jezreel,(CI) Jokdeam, Zanoah,(CJ) 57 Kain, Gibeah(CK) and Timnah(CL)—ten towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur,(CM) Gedor,(CN) 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[c]

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

61 In the wilderness:(CR)

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

63 Judah could not(CU) dislodge the Jebusites(CV), who were living in Jerusalem;(CW) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.(CX)

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(CY) into the hill country of Bethel.(CZ) 2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(DA)),[d] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(DB) in Ataroth,(DC) 3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon(DD) and on to Gezer,(DE) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

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

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

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar(DG) in the east to Upper Beth Horon(DH) 6 and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath(DI) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah(DJ) on the east. 7 Then it went down from Janoah(DK) to Ataroth(DL) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah(DM) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine(DN) and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. 9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.(DO)

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.(DP)

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh(DQ) as Joseph’s firstborn,(DR) that is, for Makir,(DS) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead(DT) and Bashan(DU) because the Makirites were great soldiers. 2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh(DV)—the clans of Abiezer,(DW) Helek, Asriel,(DX) Shechem, Hepher(DY) and Shemida.(DZ) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,(EA) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,(EB) whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. 4 They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.(EC) 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,(ED) 6 because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

7 The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher(EE) to Mikmethath(EF) east of Shechem.(EG) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. 8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah(EH) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.(EI) 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(EJ) on the north and Issachar(EK) on the east.(EL)

11 Within Issachar(EM) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,(EN) Ibleam(EO) and the people of Dor,(EP) Endor,(EQ) Taanach(ER) and Megiddo,(ES) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth[e]).(ET)

12 Yet the Manassites were not able(EU) 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.(EV)

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.”(EW)

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(EX) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites(EY) and Rephaites.(EZ)”

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,(FA) both those in Beth Shan(FB) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”(FC)

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(FD) 18 but the forested hill country(FE) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron(FF) 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(FG) and set up the tent of meeting(FH) there. The country was brought under their control, 2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you? 4 Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it,(FI) according to the inheritance of each.(FJ) Then they will return to me. 5 You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south(FK) and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.(FL) 6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots(FM) for you in the presence of the Lord our God. 7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the Lord is their inheritance.(FN) 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.(FO)”

8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it.(FP) Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh(FQ) in the presence of the Lord.” 9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. 10 Joshua then cast lots(FR) for them in Shiloh in the presence(FS) of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.(FT)

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(FU) of Beth Aven.(FV) 13 From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz(FW) (that is, Bethel(FX)) and went down to Ataroth Addar(FY) on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.

14 From the hill facing Beth Horon(FZ) on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim),(GA) 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.(GB) 16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim.(GC) It continued down the Hinnom Valley(GD) along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.(GE) 17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth,(GF) which faces the Pass of Adummim,(GG) and ran down to the Stone of Bohan(GH) son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah[f](GI) and on down into the Arabah.(GJ) 19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah(GK) and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,(GL) 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.(GM)

21 The tribe of Benjamin, according to its clans, had the following towns:

Jericho, Beth Hoglah,(GN) Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah,(GO) Zemaraim,(GP) Bethel,(GQ) 23 Avvim,(GR) Parah, Ophrah,(GS) 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba(GT)—twelve towns and their villages.

25 Gibeon,(GU) Ramah,(GV) Beeroth,(GW) 26 Mizpah,(GX) Kephirah,(GY) Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah,(GZ) Haeleph, the Jebusite city(HA) (that is, Jerusalem(HB)), Gibeah(HC) and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.(HD)

This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.(HE)

Allotment for Simeon(HF)

19 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah.(HG) 2 It included:

Beersheba(HH) (or Sheba),[g] Moladah,(HI) 3 Hazar Shual,(HJ) Balah, Ezem,(HK) 4 Eltolad,(HL) Bethul, Hormah,(HM) 5 Ziklag,(HN) Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;

7 Ain, Rimmon,(HO) Ether and Ashan(HP)—four towns and their villages— 8 and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev).(HQ)

This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, according to its clans. 9 The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah,(HR) because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.(HS)

Allotment for Zebulun

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

The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid.(HU) 11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.(HV) 12 It turned east from Sarid(HW) toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath(HX) and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher(HY) and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon(HZ) and turned toward Neah. 14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.(IA) 15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal,(IB) Shimron,(IC) Idalah and Bethlehem.(ID) There were twelve towns and their villages.

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

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 15:18 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) Othniel, he urged her
  2. Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim
  3. Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).
  4. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
  5. Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor
  6. Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah
  7. Joshua 19:2 Or Beersheba, Sheba; 1 Chron. 4:28 does not have Sheba.
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