The Allotment for Judah

15 The allotment for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans reached southward (A)to the boundary of Edom, to (B)the wilderness of Zin at the farthest south. And their south boundary ran from the end of the (C)Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward. It goes out southward of (D)the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh-barnea, along by Hezron, up to Addar, turns about to Karka, passes along to Azmon, goes out by (E)the Brook of Egypt, and comes to its end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary. And the east boundary is the (F)Salt Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary goes up to (G)Beth-hoglah and passes along north of (H)Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to (I)the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. And the boundary goes up to Debir from (J)the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite (K)the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. And the boundary passes along to the waters of (L)En-shemesh and ends at (M)En-rogel. Then the boundary goes up by (N)the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite ((O)that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley (P)of Rephaim. Then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain (Q)to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the boundary bends around to Baalah ((R)that is, Kiriath-jearim). 10 And the boundary circles west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passes along to the northern shoulder of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and goes down to (S)Beth-shemesh and passes along by (T)Timnah. 11 The boundary goes out (U)to the shoulder of the hill north of Ekron, then the boundary bends around to Shikkeron and passes along to Mount (V)Baalah and goes out to Jabneel. Then the boundary comes to an end at the sea. 12 And the west boundary was (W)the Great Sea with its coastline. This is the boundary around the people of Judah according to their clans.

13 According to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, (X)Kiriath-arba, that is, (Y)Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). 14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, (Z)Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak. 15 And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. (AA)Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher. 16 And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.” 17 (AB)And Othniel the son of Kenaz, (AC)the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. 18 When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” 19 She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

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, (AD)Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 (AE)Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28 Hazar-shual, (AF)Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31 (AG)Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.

33 And in the lowland, (AH)Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 (AI)Jarmuth, (AJ)Adullam, (AK)Socoh, (AL)Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.

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

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

45 (AR)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 (AS)Ashdod, its towns and its villages; (AT)Gaza, its towns and its villages; to (AU)the Brook of Egypt, and (AV)the Great Sea with its coastline.

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

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

55 (BB)Maon, (BC)Carmel, (BD)Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and (BE)Timnah: ten cities with their villages.

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

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

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

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

The Allotment of Judah

15 The allotment for the tribe of the descendants[a] of Judah according to their families reached to the border of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin, to the far south.[b] Their southern border was from the end of the Salt Sea,[c] from the bay facing southward; it continues[d] to the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, it goes up south of Kadesh Barnea, passes along Hezron, goes up to Addar, and makes a turn to Karka; it passes on[e] to Azmon, continues[f] by the wadi of Egypt, and it ends[g] at the sea. This will be your southern border. The eastern border is the Salt Sea[h] up to the mouth[i] of the Jordan. The border on the northern side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth[j] of the Jordan; the border goes up to Beth-hoglah and passes along north of Beth Arabah; and the border goes up the stone of Bohan son of Reuben; and the border goes up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and to the north, turning to Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is south of the wadi;[k] and the border passes on to the waters of En Shemesh, and it ends at En Rogel. Then the border goes up by the Valley of Ben Hinnom[l] to the slope of the Jebusites[m] from the south (that is, Jerusalem); and the border goes up to the top of the mountain that lies opposite the valley of Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the valley of Rephaim to the north; then the border turns from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and continues[n] from there to the cities of Mount Ephron; the border then turns to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim); 10 and the border goes around from Baalah to the west, to Mount Seir, and passes on to the slope of Mount Jearim from the north (that is, Kesalon), and goes down to Beth Shemesh, and passes along by Timnah. 11 The border continues[o] to the slope of Ekron to the north, then bends around to Shikkeron, it passes on to Mount Baalah and continues to Jabneel; and the border ends[p] at the sea. 12 And the western border is to the Great Sea[q] and its coast. This is the border surrounding the descendants[r] of Judah according to their families.

13 According to the commandment of Yahweh to Joshua,[s] he gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a plot of ground among the descendants[t] of Judah, Kiriath Arba,[u] which is Hebron (Arba was Anak’s father). 14 Caleb drove out from there three of Anak’s sons, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the descendants[v] of Anak. 15 And from there he went up against the inhabitants of Debir (the former name of Debir was Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and captures it, I will give to him my daughter Acsah as a wife.” 17 Othniel son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it, and he gave to him Acsah his daughter as a wife. 18 When she came to him she urged him to ask her father for a field. So she dismounted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”[w] 19 And she said to him, “Give to me a gift;[x] you have given me the land of the Negev,[y] and you must give to me a spring of water.” And he gave to her the upper and lower spring.[z]

The Cities of Judah

20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants[aa] of Judah according to their families: 21 the cities belonging to the tribe of the descendants[ab] of Judah to the far south, to the border of Edom to the 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; in all, twenty-nine cities and their villages.

33 In the Shephelah:[ac] Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahma, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities and their villages.

42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Jephthah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah; nine cities and their villages.

45 Ekron, its towns and villages; 46 from Ekron to the sea, and all that were near[ad] Ashdod and their villages.

47 Ashdod, its towns and villages; Gaza, its towns and villages, up to the wadi[ae] of Egypt and the Great Sea[af] and its coast.[ag]

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

52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba[ah] (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities and their villages.

55 Moan, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon; six cities and their villages.

60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah; two cities and their villages.

61 In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the city of Salt, and En Gedi; six cities and their villages.

63 But the descendants[ai] of Judah were unable to drive out the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live with the descendants[aj] of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 15:1 Or “sons”
  2. Joshua 15:1 Literally “to the south at the end of south”
  3. Joshua 15:2 That is, the Dead Sea
  4. Joshua 15:3 Hebrew “goes out”
  5. Joshua 15:4 Literally “it was to”
  6. Joshua 15:4 Hebrew “goes out”
  7. Joshua 15:4 Literally “the goings out of the border were”
  8. Joshua 15:5 That is, the Dead Sea
  9. Joshua 15:5 Or “end”
  10. Joshua 15:5 Or “end”
  11. Joshua 15:7 A valley that is dry most of the year, but contains a stream during the rainy season
  12. Joshua 15:8 Or “valley of the son of Hinnom”
  13. Joshua 15:8 Hebrew “Jebusite”
  14. Joshua 15:9 Hebrew “goes out”
  15. Joshua 15:11 “Hebrew “goes out”
  16. Joshua 15:11 Literally “the goings out of the border were”
  17. Joshua 15:12 That is, the Mediterranean
  18. Joshua 15:12 Or “sons”
  19. Joshua 15:13 Literally “according to the mouth of Yahweh to Joshua”
  20. Joshua 15:13 Or “sons”
  21. Joshua 15:13 Or “the city of Arba”
  22. Joshua 15:14 Or “children”
  23. Joshua 15:18 Literally “What is for you?”
  24. Joshua 15:19 Or “blessing”
  25. Joshua 15:19 An arid region south of the Judaean hills
  26. Joshua 15:19 Joshua 15:13–19 is almost identical to Judges 1:11–15
  27. Joshua 15:20 Or “sons”
  28. Joshua 15:21 Or “sons”
  29. Joshua 15:33 Or “lowlands”; a geographical region on the western edge of the hills of Judea
  30. Joshua 15:46 Literally “were on the hand of”
  31. Joshua 15:47 A valley that is dry most of the year, but contains a stream during the rainy season
  32. Joshua 15:47 That is, the Mediterranean
  33. Joshua 15:47 Literally “border”
  34. Joshua 15:54 Or “the city of Arba”
  35. Joshua 15:63 Or “sons”
  36. Joshua 15:63 Or “sons”