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Joshua 16-18
New American Standard Bible 1995

Territory of Ephraim

16 Then the lot for the sons of Joseph went from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east into (A)the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel. 2 It went from Bethel to Luz, and (B)continued to the border of the Archites at Ataroth. 3 It went down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of lower (C)Beth-horon even to (D)Gezer, and [a]it ended at the sea.

4 The (E)sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance. 5 Now this was the territory of the sons of Ephraim according to their families: the border of their inheritance eastward was (F)Ataroth-addar, as far as upper Beth-horon. 6 Then the border went westward at (G)Michmethath on the north, and the border turned about eastward to Taanath-shiloh and continued beyond it to the east of Janoah. 7 It went down from Janoah to Ataroth and to (H)Naarah, then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 From (I)Tappuah the border continued westward to the [b]brook of Kanah, and [c]it ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim according to their families, 9 together with the cities which were set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. 10 (J)But they did not [d]drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so (K)the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers.

Territory of Manasseh

17 Now this was the lot for the tribe of (L)Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, [e]were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war. 2 So the lot was made for the rest of the sons of Manasseh according to their families: for the sons of Abiezer and for the sons of Helek and for the sons of Asriel and for the sons of Shechem and for the sons of Hepher and for the sons of Shemida; these were the male [f]descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.

3 However, (M)Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. 4 They came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the leaders, saying, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So (N)according to the [g]command of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers. 5 Thus there fell ten portions to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan, 6 because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons. And the (O)land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.

7 The border of Manasseh [h]ran from Asher to Michmethath which was east of Shechem; then the border went [i]southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah. 8 The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but (P)Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the sons of Ephraim. 9 The (Q)border went down to the [j]brook of Kanah, southward of the [k]brook (these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh), and the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the [l]brook and [m]it ended at the sea. 10 The south side belonged to Ephraim and the north side to Manasseh, and the sea was [n]their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east. 11 In Issachar and in Asher, (R)Manasseh had Beth-shean and its towns and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, the third is (S)Napheth. 12 (T)But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land. 13 It came about when the sons of Israel became strong, (U)they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not [o]drive them out completely.

14 Then the (V)sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one lot and one portion for an inheritance, since I am a numerous people whom the Lord has thus far blessed?” 15 Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go [p]up to the forest and [q]clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” 16 The sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have (W)chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.” 17 Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, 18 but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall [r]clear it, and to its [s]farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall [t]drive out the Canaanites, even though they have (X)chariots of iron and though they are strong.”

Rest of the Land Divided

18 Then the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled themselves at (Y)Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.

2 There remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes who had not divided their inheritance. 3 So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “(Z)How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you? 4 Provide for yourselves three men from [u]each tribe that I may send them, and that they may arise and walk through the land and write a description of it according to their inheritance; then they shall [v]return to me. 5 They shall divide it into seven portions; (AA)Judah shall stay in its territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall stay in their territory on the north. 6 You shall describe the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. (AB)I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7 For (AC)the Levites have no portion among you, because the priesthood of the Lord is [w]their inheritance. Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh also have received their inheritance eastward beyond the Jordan, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.”

8 Then the men arose and went, and Joshua commanded those who went to describe the land, saying, “Go and walk through the land and describe it, and return to me; then I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in (AD)Shiloh.” 9 So the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh. 10 And (AE)Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the land to the sons of Israel according to their divisions.

The Territory of Benjamin

11 Now the lot of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot [x]lay between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph. 12 (AF)Their border on the north side was from the Jordan, then the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward, and [y]it ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13 From there the border continued to (AG)Luz, to the side of Luz (that is, Bethel) southward; and the border went down to Ataroth-addar, near the hill which lies on the south of (AH)lower Beth-horon. 14 The border extended from there and turned round on the west side southward, from the hill which lies before Beth-horon southward; and [z]it ended at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the west side. 15 Then the (AI)south side was from the edge of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went westward and went to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 The border went down to the edge of the hill which is in the (AJ)valley of Ben-hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim northward; and it went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the slope of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En-rogel. 17 It extended northward and went to En-shemesh and went to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, and it went down to the (AK)stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the side in front of the Arabah northward and went down to the Arabah. 19 The border continued to the side of Beth-hoglah northward; and the [aa]border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the south border. 20 Moreover, the Jordan was its border on the east side. This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, according to their families and according to its borders all around.

21 Now the cities of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho and Beth-hoglah and Emek-keziz, 22 and Beth-arabah and Zemaraim and Bethel, 23 and Avvim and Parah and Ophrah, 24 and Chephar-ammoni and Ophni and (AL)Geba; twelve cities with their villages. 25 Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth, 26 and Mizpeh and Chephirah and Mozah, 27 and Rekem and Irpeel and Taralah, 28 and (AM)Zelah, Haeleph and the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the (AN)sons of Benjamin according to their families.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 16:3 Lit the goings out of it were
  2. Joshua 16:8 Or wadi
  3. Joshua 16:8 Lit the goings out of it were
  4. Joshua 16:10 Or dispossess
  5. Joshua 17:1 Lit and there was to him
  6. Joshua 17:2 Lit sons
  7. Joshua 17:4 Lit mouth
  8. Joshua 17:7 Lit was
  9. Joshua 17:7 Lit to the right hand
  10. Joshua 17:9 Or wadi
  11. Joshua 17:9 Or wadi
  12. Joshua 17:9 Or wadi
  13. Joshua 17:9 Lit goings out of it were
  14. Joshua 17:10 Lit its
  15. Joshua 17:13 Or dispossess
  16. Joshua 17:15 Lit up for yourself
  17. Joshua 17:15 Lit cut down
  18. Joshua 17:18 Lit cut it down
  19. Joshua 17:18 Lit goings out
  20. Joshua 17:18 Or dispossess
  21. Joshua 18:4 Lit the
  22. Joshua 18:4 Lit come
  23. Joshua 18:7 Lit his
  24. Joshua 18:11 Lit went out
  25. Joshua 18:12 Lit the goings out of it were
  26. Joshua 18:14 Lit the goings out of it were
  27. Joshua 18:19 Lit goings out of the border were
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Joshua 16-18
New International Version

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) 2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(C)),[a] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(D) in Ataroth,(E) 3 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.

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

5 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) 6 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. 7 Then it went down from Janoah(M) to Ataroth(N) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 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. 9 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. 2 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.

3 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. 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.(AE) 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,(AF) 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(AG) to Mikmethath(AH) east of Shechem.(AI) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. 8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah(AJ) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 9 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, 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,(BK) according to the inheritance of each.(BL) 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(BM) and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.(BN) 6 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. 7 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)”

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.(BR) Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh(BS) 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(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)

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
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New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

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