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Joshua 17-23
New American Standard Bible

Territory of Manasseh

17 Now this was the lot for the tribe of (A)Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, [a]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, the sons of Helek, the sons of Asriel, the sons of Shechem, the sons of Hepher, and the sons of Shemida; these were the male [b]descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.

3 However, (B)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, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So (C)in accordance with the [c]command of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers. 5 So ten portions fell 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 (D)land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.

7 The border of Manasseh [d]ran from Asher to Michmethath which was east of Shechem; then the border went [e]southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah. 8 The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but (E)Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the sons of Ephraim. 9 And the (F)border went down to the [f]brook of Kanah, southward of the [g]brook (these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh), and the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the [h]brook, and [i]it ended at the sea. 10 The south side belonged to Ephraim and the north side to Manasseh, and the sea was [j]their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east. 11 In Issachar and in Asher, (G)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 (H)Napheth. 12 (I)But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in this land. 13 And it came about when the sons of Israel became strong, (J)they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not [k]drive them out completely.

14 Then the (K)sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one lot and one portion as an inheritance, though I am a numerous people whom the Lord has blessed up to this point?” 15 And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go [l]up to the forest and 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 then said, “The hill country is not enough for us, but all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have (L)iron chariots, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the Valley of Jezreel.” 17 But 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 clear it, and to its [m]farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall [n]drive out the Canaanites, even though they have (M)iron chariots and though they are strong.”

Rest of the Land Divided

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

2 But there remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes who had not divided their inheritance. 3 So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “(O)How long will you [o]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 [p]each tribe so 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 [q]return to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven portions; (P)Judah shall stay in its territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall stay in their territory on the north. 6 And you shall write a description of the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. (Q)Then I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7 For (R)the Levites have no portion among you, because the priesthood of the Lord is [r]their inheritance. Gad, 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 write a description of the land, saying, “Go and walk through the land and write a description of it, and return to me; then I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in (S)Shiloh.” 9 So the men went and passed through the land, and wrote a description of it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh. 10 (T)Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the land for 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 [s]lay between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph. 12 (U)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 [t]it ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13 Then from there the border continued to (V)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 (W)lower Beth-horon. 14 And the border changed direction from there and turned around on the west side southward, from the hill which lies opposite Beth-horon southward; and [u]it ended at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the west side. 15 Then the (X)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 Then the border went down to the edge of the hill which is [v]in the (Y)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 Then it turned northward and went to En-shemesh, and went to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, and it went down to the (Z)stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 18 And it continued to the side in front of the Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah. 19 Then the border continued to the side of Beth-hoglah northward; and the [w]border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the southern 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, Beth-hoglah, and Emek-keziz, 22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, and Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, and Ophrah, 24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and (AA)Geba; twelve cities with their villages. 25 Gibeon, Ramah, and Beeroth, 26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, and Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, and Taralah, 28 (AB)Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the (AC)sons of Benjamin according to their families.

Territory of Simeon

19 Then the second lot went to Simeon, to the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families; and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Judah. 2 So they had in their inheritance Beersheba or [x]Sheba and Moladah, 3 Hazar-shual, Balah, and Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, and Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah, 6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages; 7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages; 8 and all the villages which were around these cities as far as Baalath-beer, Ramah of the [y]Negev. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families. 9 The inheritance of the sons of Simeon was taken from the portion of the sons of Judah, because the share of the sons of Judah was too large for them; so the sons of Simeon received an inheritance in the midst of [z]Judah’s inheritance.

Territory of Zebulun

10 Now the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun according to their families. And the territory of their inheritance was as far as Sarid. 11 Then their border went up to the west and to Maralah, and it reached Dabbesheth and reached to the [aa]brook that is opposite Jokneam. 12 Then it turned from Sarid to the east toward the sunrise as far as the border of Chisloth-tabor, and it proceeded to Daberath and [ab]up to Japhia. 13 From there it continued eastward toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and it proceeded to Rimmon [ac]which stretches to Neah. 14 Then the border circled around it on the north to Hannathon, and [ad]it ended at the Valley of Iphtahel. 15 Included also were Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; twelve cities with their villages. 16 This was the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Territory of Issachar

17 The fourth lot went to Issachar, to the sons of Issachar according to their families. 18 Their territory was to Jezreel and included Chesulloth, (AD)Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shion, and Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, and Ebez, 21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez. 22 The border reached to (AE)Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and [ae]their border ended at the Jordan; sixteen cities with their villages. 23 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.

Territory of Asher

24 Now the fifth lot went to the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families. 25 Their territory was Helkath, Hali, Beten, and Achshaph, 26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal; and it reached to Carmel on the west and Shihor-libnath. 27 It turned toward the [af]east to Beth-dagon and reached Zebulun, and to the Valley of Iphtahel northward to Beth-emek and Neiel; then it proceeded on [ag]north to (AF)Cabul, 28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Great (AG)Sidon. 29 The border turned to Ramah and to the fortified city of Tyre; then the border turned to Hosah, and [ah]it ended at the sea by the region of (AH)Achzib. 30 Included also were Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob; twenty-two cities with their villages. 31 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Territory of Naphtali

32 The sixth lot went to the sons of Naphtali; to the sons of Naphtali according to their families. 33 Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and [ai]it ended at the Jordan. 34 Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and proceeded from there to Hukkok; and it reached Zebulun on the south and reached Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan toward the [aj]east. 35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, (AI)Hammath, Rakkath, and (AJ)Chinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, and Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, and En-hazor, 38 Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. 39 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.

Territory of Dan

40 The seventh lot went to the tribe of the sons of Dan according to their families. 41 The territory of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, and Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, and Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, and Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon, 46 Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the territory opposite [ak]Joppa. 47 The territory of the (AK)sons of Dan proceeded [al]beyond them; for the sons of Dan went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. Then they struck it with the edge of the sword and took possession of it and [am]settled in it; and they named [an](AL)Leshem Dan after the name of their father Dan. 48 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

49 When they finished apportioning the land for inheritance by its borders, the sons of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. 50 In accordance with the [ao]command of the Lord, they gave him the city for which he asked, (AM)Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. So he built the city and [ap]settled in it.

51 (AN)These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the tribes of the sons of Israel apportioned by lot in Shiloh before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.

Six Cities of Refuge

20 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘[aq]Designate (AO)the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you [ar]through Moses, 3 so that one who commits manslaughter by [as]killing a person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 Then he shall flee to one of these cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the (AP)gate of the city, and state his case in the [at]presence of the elders of that city; and they shall [au]receive him into the city to them and give him a place, so that he may remain among them. 5 Now (AQ)if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they are not to hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him, since he struck his neighbor without premeditation and did not hate him previously. 6 And he shall remain in that city (AR)until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then [av]he shall [aw]return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled.’”

7 So they [ax]set apart (AS)Kedesh in [ay]Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in (AT)the hill country of Judah. 8 And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they [az]designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 (AU)These were the designated cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who resides among them, so that whoever [ba]kills a person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation.

Forty-eight Cities of the Levites

21 Then the heads of fathers’ households of (AV)the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of fathers’ households of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “(AW)The Lord commanded [bb]through Moses to give us cities to live in, with their pasture lands for our cattle.” 3 So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, in accordance with the [bc]command of the Lord. 4 Then the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And to the sons of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, thirteen cities were given by lot from the tribe of Judah, from the tribe of the Simeonites, and from the tribe of Benjamin.

5 And to the rest of the sons of Kohath ten cities were given by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh.

6 And to the sons of Gershon thirteen cities were given by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 To the sons of Merari according to their families twelve cities were given from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun.

8 Now the (AX)sons of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their pasture lands, as the Lord had commanded [bd]through Moses.

9 They gave these cities which are mentioned here by name from the tribe of the sons of Judah and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon; 10 and they were for the sons of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites, of the sons of Levi, because the lot was theirs first. 11 So (AY)they gave them Kiriath-arba (Arba being the (AZ)father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with its surrounding pasture lands. 12 But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13 So (BA)to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave (BB)Hebron, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, (BC)Libnah with its pasture lands, 14 (BD)Jattir with its pasture lands, (BE)Eshtemoa with its pasture lands, 15 [be]Holon with its pasture lands, (BF)Debir with its pasture lands, 16 [bf]Ain with its pasture lands, (BG)Juttah with its pasture lands, and (BH)Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands; nine cities from these two tribes. 17 From the tribe of Benjamin, (BI)Gibeon with its pasture lands, (BJ)Geba with its pasture lands, 18 Anathoth with its pasture lands, and [bg]Almon with its pasture lands; four cities. 19 All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

20 Then the cities from the tribe of Ephraim were allotted to the (BK)families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, that is, to the rest of the sons of Kohath. 21 They gave them (BL)Shechem, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer with its pasture lands, 22 and Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth-horon with its pasture lands; four cities. 23 And from the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, 24 Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; four cities. 25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh, they allotted Taanach with its pasture lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; two cities. 26 All the cities with their pasture lands for the families of the rest of the sons of Kohath were ten.

27 And (BM)to the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities. 28 And from the tribe of Issachar they gave Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 29 Jarmuth with its pasture lands, and En-gannim with its pasture lands; four cities. 30 From the tribe of Asher, they gave Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 31 Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands; four cities. 32 And from the tribe of Naphtali, they gave (BN)Kedesh in Galilee, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands; three cities. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

34 And to the families of (BO)the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, they gave from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands, 35 Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands; four cities. 36 From the tribe of Reuben they gave (BP)Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands, 37 Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities. 38 And from the tribe of Gad, they gave (BQ)Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, (BR)Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 39 Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands; four cities in all. 40 All these were the cities of the sons of Merari according to their families, the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.

41 (BS)All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands. 42 These cities individually had [bh]their surrounding pasture lands; this is how it was with all these cities.

43 (BT)So the Lord gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and (BU)they took possession of it and lived in it. 44 And the Lord (BV)gave them rest on every side, in accordance with everything that He had sworn to their fathers, and (BW)no one of all their enemies stood before them; (BX)the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. 45 (BY)Not [bi]one of the good promises which the Lord had [bj]made to the house of Israel failed; everything came to pass.

Tribes beyond Jordan Return

22 (BZ)Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, (CA)and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you. 3 You have not abandoned your brothers these many days to this day, but have fulfilled the obligation of the commandment of the Lord your God. 4 And now (CB)the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as He spoke to them; therefore turn now and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan. 5 Only be very careful to [bk]follow the commandment and the Law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to (CC)love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways, and keep His commandments and cling to Him, and serve Him (CD)with all your heart and with all your soul.” 6 So Joshua (CE)blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.

7 Now (CF)to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but (CG)to the other half Joshua gave a possession among their brothers westward beyond the Jordan. So when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he also blessed them, 8 and said to [bl]them, “Return to your tents with great riches and with very many livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and with very many clothes; (CH)divide the spoils of your enemies with your brothers.” 9 So the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, [bm]leaving the sons of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the (CI)land of Gilead, to the land of their possession in which they had settled, in accordance with the [bn]command of the Lord [bo]through Moses.

The Offensive Altar

10 When they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, [bp]a large altar in appearance. 11 But the sons of Israel [bq]heard a report: “Behold, the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have (CJ)built an altar at the [br]frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel.” 12 And when the sons of Israel heard about it, the entire congregation of the sons of Israel assembled at (CK)Shiloh to go up against them in battle.

13 Then the sons of Israel sent to the sons of Reuben, to the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, (CL)Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 and with him ten leaders, one leader for each father’s household from each of the tribes of Israel; and (CM)each one of them was the head of his father’s household among the [bs]thousands of Israel. 15 They came to the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, 16 “This is what the whole congregation of the Lord says: ‘What is this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following the Lord this day, by (CN)building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the Lord this day? 17 Is (CO)the wrongdoing of Peor [bt]not enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although [bu]a plague came on the congregation of the Lord, 18 that you must turn away this day from following the Lord? If you rebel against the Lord today, (CP)He will be angry with the entire congregation of Israel tomorrow. 19 If, however, the land of your possession is unclean, then [bv]cross into the land of the possession of the Lord, where the Lord’s [bw]tabernacle [bx]stands, and settle among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord, or rebel against us, by (CQ)building an altar for yourselves besides the altar of the Lord our God. 20 Did (CR)Achan the son of Zerah not act unfaithfully in the things designated for destruction, and wrath fall on the entire congregation of Israel? So that man did not perish alone in his guilt.’”

21 Then the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and spoke to the heads of the [by]families of Israel. 22 “The (CS)Mighty One, God, the Lord, the Mighty One, God, the Lord! (CT)He knows, and may Israel itself know. If it was in rebellion, or if in an unfaithful act against the Lord, do not save us this day! 23 If we have built us an altar to turn away from following the Lord, or if to (CU)offer a burnt offering or grain offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings on it, may the Lord Himself [bz]demand it. 24 But truly we have done this out of concern, [ca]for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your sons may say to our [cb]sons, “What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 For the Lord has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no portion in the Lord.” So your sons may make our sons stop fearing the Lord.’

26 “Therefore we said, ‘Let’s [cc]build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; 27 rather, it shall be (CV)a witness between us and you and between our generations after us, that we are to (CW)perform the service of the Lord before Him with our burnt offerings, our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings, so that your sons will not say to our sons in time to come, “You have no portion in the Lord.”’ 28 Therefore we said, ‘It shall also come about if they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, then we shall say, “See the copy of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; rather, it is a witness between us and you.”’ 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away from following the Lord this day, by (CX)building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the Lord our God which is before His [cd]tabernacle.”

30 So when Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the congregation, that is, the heads of the [ce]families of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the sons of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and to the sons of Manasseh, “Today we know that the (CY)Lord is in our midst, because you have not committed this unfaithful act against the Lord; now you have saved the sons of Israel from the hand of the Lord.”

32 Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad, from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel, and brought back word to them. 33 The word pleased the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel (CZ)blessed God; and they did not speak of going up against them in battle to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad were living. 34 And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad (DA)called the altar Witness; “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”

Joshua’s Farewell Address

23 Now it came about after many days, when the Lord had given (DB)rest to Israel from all their enemies on every side, and Joshua was old, advanced in years, 2 that (DC)Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, their heads, their judges, and their officers, and said to them, “I am old, advanced in years. 3 And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for (DD)the Lord your God is He who has been fighting for you. 4 See, (DE)I have apportioned to you these nations which remain as an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations which I have eliminated, from the Jordan even to the Great Sea toward the [cf]west. 5 And the Lord your God, He will thrust them away from you and [cg](DF)drive them from you; and (DG)you will take possession of their land, just as the Lord your God [ch]promised you. 6 (DH)Be very determined, then, to keep and do everything that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, so that you will not turn aside from it to the right or to the left, 7 so that you will not [ci]associate with these nations, these which remain with you, or (DI)mention the name of their gods, or (DJ)make anyone swear by them, or (DK)serve them, or bow down to them. 8 But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. 9 (DL)For the Lord has [cj]driven out great and mighty nations from before you; and as for you, (DM)no one has stood against you to this day. 10 (DN)One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the Lord your God is (DO)He who fights for you, just as He [ck]promised you. 11 So take great care for yourselves that you love the Lord your God. 12 For if you ever go back and (DP)cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain with you, and (DQ)intermarry with them, so that you [cl]associate with them and they with you, 13 know with certainty that the Lord your God will not continue to [cm]drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a (DR)snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

14 “Now behold, today (DS)I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that (DT)not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; they all have [cn]been fulfilled for you, not [co]one of them has failed. 15 But it will come about that just as all the good words which the Lord your God spoke to you have come upon you, so (DU)the Lord will bring upon you [cp]all the warnings, until He has eliminated you from this good land which the Lord your God has given you. 16 (DV)When you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and you go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 17:1 Lit and there was to him
  2. Joshua 17:2 Lit sons
  3. Joshua 17:4 Lit mouth
  4. Joshua 17:7 Lit was
  5. Joshua 17:7 Lit to the right hand
  6. Joshua 17:9 Or wadi
  7. Joshua 17:9 Or wadi
  8. Joshua 17:9 Or wadi
  9. Joshua 17:9 Lit goings out of it were
  10. Joshua 17:10 Lit its
  11. Joshua 17:13 Or dispossess
  12. Joshua 17:15 Lit up for yourself
  13. Joshua 17:18 Lit goings out
  14. Joshua 17:18 Or dispossess
  15. Joshua 18:3 Or show yourselves lax in
  16. Joshua 18:4 Lit the
  17. Joshua 18:4 Lit come
  18. Joshua 18:7 Lit his
  19. Joshua 18:11 Lit went out
  20. Joshua 18:12 Lit the goings out of it were
  21. Joshua 18:14 Lit the goings out of it were
  22. Joshua 18:16 Lit on the face of
  23. Joshua 18:19 Lit goings out of the border were
  24. Joshua 19:2 In Josh 15:26, Shema
  25. Joshua 19:8 I.e., South country
  26. Joshua 19:9 Lit their
  27. Joshua 19:11 Or wadi
  28. Joshua 19:12 Lit went up
  29. Joshua 19:13 Or and is marked off
  30. Joshua 19:14 Lit the goings out of it were
  31. Joshua 19:22 Lit the goings out of their border were
  32. Joshua 19:27 Lit sunrise
  33. Joshua 19:27 Lit from the left hand
  34. Joshua 19:29 Lit the goings out of it were
  35. Joshua 19:33 Lit the goings out of it were
  36. Joshua 19:34 Lit sunrise
  37. Joshua 19:46 Heb Japho
  38. Joshua 19:47 Lit from
  39. Joshua 19:47 Lit dwelt
  40. Joshua 19:47 In Judg 18:7 Laish
  41. Joshua 19:50 Lit mouth
  42. Joshua 19:50 Lit dwelt
  43. Joshua 20:2 Lit Give for yourselves
  44. Joshua 20:2 Lit by the hand of
  45. Joshua 20:3 Lit striking
  46. Joshua 20:4 Lit ears of
  47. Joshua 20:4 Lit gather
  48. Joshua 20:6 Lit the one who committed manslaughter
  49. Joshua 20:6 Lit return and come
  50. Joshua 20:7 Lit sanctified
  51. Joshua 20:7 Heb Galil
  52. Joshua 20:8 Lit gave
  53. Joshua 20:9 Lit strikes
  54. Joshua 21:2 Lit by the hand of
  55. Joshua 21:3 Lit mouth
  56. Joshua 21:8 Lit by the hand of
  57. Joshua 21:15 In 1 Chr 6:58, Hilen
  58. Joshua 21:16 In 1 Chr 6:59, Ashan
  59. Joshua 21:18 In 1 Chr 6:60, Allemeth
  60. Joshua 21:42 Lit its
  61. Joshua 21:45 Lit a word from every good word
  62. Joshua 21:45 Lit spoken
  63. Joshua 22:5 Lit perform
  64. Joshua 22:8 Lit them, saying,
  65. Joshua 22:9 Lit and went from
  66. Joshua 22:9 Lit mouth
  67. Joshua 22:9 Lit by the hand of
  68. Joshua 22:10 Or an altar clearly visible
  69. Joshua 22:11 Lit heard, saying, Behold
  70. Joshua 22:11 Lit front
  71. Joshua 22:14 Or families
  72. Joshua 22:17 Lit a trifle for us
  73. Joshua 22:17 Lit an affliction
  74. Joshua 22:19 Lit cross for yourselves
  75. Joshua 22:19 Lit dwelling place
  76. Joshua 22:19 Lit resides
  77. Joshua 22:21 Lit thousands
  78. Joshua 22:23 I.e., hold him responsible
  79. Joshua 22:24 Lit from
  80. Joshua 22:24 Lit sons, saying
  81. Joshua 22:26 Lit prepare to build for ourselves
  82. Joshua 22:29 Lit dwelling place
  83. Joshua 22:30 Lit thousands
  84. Joshua 23:4 Lit sunset
  85. Joshua 23:5 Or dispossess
  86. Joshua 23:5 Lit spoke to
  87. Joshua 23:7 Lit come among
  88. Joshua 23:9 Or dispossessed
  89. Joshua 23:10 Lit spoke to
  90. Joshua 23:12 Lit come among
  91. Joshua 23:13 Or dispossess
  92. Joshua 23:14 Lit come
  93. Joshua 23:14 Lit one word
  94. Joshua 23:15 Lit every bad word
Listen to Joshua 17-23
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Joshua 17-23
New International Version

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh(A) as Joseph’s firstborn,(B) that is, for Makir,(C) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead(D) and Bashan(E) because the Makirites were great soldiers. 2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh(F)—the clans of Abiezer,(G) Helek, Asriel,(H) Shechem, Hepher(I) and Shemida.(J) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,(K) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,(L) 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.(M) 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,(N) 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(O) to Mikmethath(P) east of Shechem.(Q) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. 8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah(R) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.(S) 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(T) on the north and Issachar(U) on the east.(V)

11 Within Issachar(W) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,(X) Ibleam(Y) and the people of Dor,(Z) Endor,(AA) Taanach(AB) and Megiddo,(AC) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth[a]).(AD)

12 Yet the Manassites were not able(AE) 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.(AF)

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.”(AG)

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(AH) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites(AI) and Rephaites.(AJ)”

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,(AK) both those in Beth Shan(AL) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”(AM)

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(AN) 18 but the forested hill country(AO) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron(AP) 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(AQ) and set up the tent of meeting(AR) 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,(AS) according to the inheritance of each.(AT) 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(AU) and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.(AV) 6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots(AW) 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.(AX) 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.(AY)”

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.(AZ) Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh(BA) 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(BB) for them in Shiloh in the presence(BC) of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.(BD)

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(BE) of Beth Aven.(BF) 13 From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz(BG) (that is, Bethel(BH)) and went down to Ataroth Addar(BI) on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.

14 From the hill facing Beth Horon(BJ) on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim),(BK) 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.(BL) 16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim.(BM) It continued down the Hinnom Valley(BN) along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.(BO) 17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth,(BP) which faces the Pass of Adummim,(BQ) and ran down to the Stone of Bohan(BR) son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah[b](BS) and on down into the Arabah.(BT) 19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah(BU) and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,(BV) 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.(BW)

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

Jericho, Beth Hoglah,(BX) Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah,(BY) Zemaraim,(BZ) Bethel,(CA) 23 Avvim,(CB) Parah, Ophrah,(CC) 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba(CD)—twelve towns and their villages.

25 Gibeon,(CE) Ramah,(CF) Beeroth,(CG) 26 Mizpah,(CH) Kephirah,(CI) Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah,(CJ) Haeleph, the Jebusite city(CK) (that is, Jerusalem(CL)), Gibeah(CM) and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.(CN)

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

Allotment for Simeon(CP)

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

Beersheba(CR) (or Sheba),[c] Moladah,(CS) 3 Hazar Shual,(CT) Balah, Ezem,(CU) 4 Eltolad,(CV) Bethul, Hormah,(CW) 5 Ziklag,(CX) Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;

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

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,(DB) because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.(DC)

Allotment for Zebulun

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

The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid.(DE) 11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.(DF) 12 It turned east from Sarid(DG) toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath(DH) and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher(DI) and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon(DJ) and turned toward Neah. 14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.(DK) 15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal,(DL) Shimron,(DM) Idalah and Bethlehem.(DN) There were twelve towns and their villages.

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

Allotment for Issachar

17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar(DQ) according to its clans. 18 Their territory included:

Jezreel,(DR) Kesulloth, Shunem,(DS) 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion,(DT) Ebez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim,(DU) En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 22 The boundary touched Tabor,(DV) Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh,(DW) 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,(DX) according to its clans.(DY)

Allotment for Asher

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher(DZ) according to its clans. 25 Their territory included:

Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph,(EA) 26 Allammelek, Amad and Mishal.(EB) On the west the boundary touched Carmel(EC) and Shihor Libnath. 27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon,(ED) touched Zebulun(EE) and the Valley of Iphtah El,(EF) and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul(EG) on the left. 28 It went to Abdon,[d](EH) Rehob,(EI) Hammon(EJ) and Kanah,(EK) as far as Greater Sidon.(EL) 29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah(EM) and went to the fortified city of Tyre,(EN) turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea(EO) in the region of Akzib,(EP) 30 Ummah, Aphek(EQ) and Rehob.(ER) There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

31 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher,(ES) 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,(ET) passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel(EU) to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok.(EV) It touched Zebulun(EW) on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan[e] on the east. 35 The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath,(EX) Rakkath, Kinnereth,(EY) 36 Adamah, Ramah,(EZ) Hazor,(FA) 37 Kedesh,(FB) Edrei,(FC) En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath(FD) and Beth Shemesh.(FE) 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.(FF)

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,(FG) Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon,(FH) Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah,(FI) Ekron,(FJ) 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon,(FK) Baalath,(FL) 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,(FM) 46 Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.(FN)

47 (When the territory of the Danites was lost to them,(FO) they went up and attacked Leshem(FP), took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named(FQ) it Dan after their ancestor.)(FR)

48 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan,(FS) 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[f](FT) 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(FU) the land.(FV)

Cities of Refuge(FW)

20 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally(FX) may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.(FY) 4 When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate(FZ) and state their case before the elders(GA) of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. 5 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. 6 They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly(GB) 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.”

7 So they set apart Kedesh(GC) in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem(GD) in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba(GE) (that is, Hebron(GF)) in the hill country of Judah.(GG) 8 East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer(GH) in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead(GI) in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan(GJ) in the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally(GK) could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.(GL)

Towns for the Levites(GM)

21 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel(GN) 2 at Shiloh(GO) in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns(GP) to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.”(GQ) 3 So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

4 The first lot came out for the Kohathites,(GR) according to their clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.(GS) 5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.(GT)

6 The descendants of Gershon(GU) were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar,(GV) Asher,(GW) Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 The descendants of Merari,(GX) according to their clans, received twelve(GY) towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.(GZ)

8 So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name 10 (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):

11 They gave them Kiriath Arba(HA) (that is, Hebron(HB)), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 12 But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.(HC)

13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge(HD) for one accused of murder), Libnah,(HE) 14 Jattir,(HF) Eshtemoa,(HG) 15 Holon,(HH) Debir,(HI) 16 Ain,(HJ) Juttah(HK) and Beth Shemesh,(HL) together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.

17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon,(HM) Geba,(HN) 18 Anathoth(HO) and Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

19 The total number of towns(HP) for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.(HQ)

20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:

21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem(HR) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer,(HS) 22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon,(HT) together with their pasturelands—four towns.(HU)

23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon,(HV) 24 Aijalon(HW) and Gath Rimmon,(HX) together with their pasturelands—four towns.

25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach(HY) and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns.

26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.(HZ)

27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given:

from the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Golan in Bashan(IA) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder(IB)) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns;

28 from the tribe of Issachar,(IC)

Kishion,(ID) Daberath,(IE) 29 Jarmuth(IF) and En Gannim,(IG) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

30 from the tribe of Asher,(IH)

Mishal,(II) Abdon,(IJ) 31 Helkath and Rehob,(IK) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

32 from the tribe of Naphtali,

Kedesh(IL) in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder(IM)), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands—three towns.

33 The total number of towns of the Gershonite(IN) clans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

34 The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given:

from the tribe of Zebulun,(IO)

Jokneam,(IP) Kartah, 35 Dimnah and Nahalal,(IQ) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

36 from the tribe of Reuben,

Bezer,(IR) Jahaz,(IS) 37 Kedemoth and Mephaath,(IT) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

38 from the tribe of Gad,

Ramoth(IU) in Gilead(IV) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim,(IW) 39 Heshbon and Jazer,(IX) together with their pasturelands—four towns in all.

40 The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve.(IY)

41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands.(IZ) 42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors,(JA) and they took possession(JB) of it and settled there.(JC) 44 The Lord gave them rest(JD) on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies(JE) withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies(JF) into their hands.(JG) 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises(JH) to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Eastern Tribes Return Home

22 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2 and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded,(JI) and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3 For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. 4 Now that the Lord your God has given them rest(JJ) as he promised, return to your homes(JK) in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan.(JL) 5 But be very careful to keep the commandment(JM) and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord(JN) your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands,(JO) to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.(JP)”

6 Then Joshua blessed(JQ) them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. 7 (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan,(JR) and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side(JS) of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them,(JT) 8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock,(JU) with silver, gold, bronze and iron,(JV) and a great quantity of clothing—and divide(JW) the plunder(JX) from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”

9 So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh(JY) in Canaan to return to Gilead,(JZ) their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.

10 When they came to Geliloth(KA) near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar(KB) there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh(KC) to go to war against them.

13 So the Israelites sent Phinehas(KD) son of Eleazar,(KE) the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14 With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.(KF)

15 When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: 16 “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith(KG) with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion(KH) against him now? 17 Was not the sin of Peor(KI) enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! 18 And are you now turning away from the Lord?

“‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community(KJ) of Israel. 19 If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle(KK) stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar(KL) for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. 20 When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things,[g](KM) did not wrath(KN) come on the whole community(KO) of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”(KP)

21 Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God,(KQ) the Lord!(KR) He knows!(KS) And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day. 23 If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings,(KT) or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.(KU)

24 “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.

26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness(KV) between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings.(KW) Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’

28 “And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness(KX) between us and you.’

29 “Far be it from us to rebel(KY) against the Lord and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.(KZ)”

30 When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. 31 And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us,(LA) because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.”

32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites.(LB) 33 They were glad to hear the report and praised God.(LC) And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.

34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness(LD) Between Us—that the Lord is God.

Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders

23 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest(LE) from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man,(LF) 2 summoned all Israel—their elders,(LG) leaders, judges and officials(LH)—and said to them: “I am very old.(LI) 3 You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.(LJ) 4 Remember how I have allotted(LK) as an inheritance(LL) for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea(LM) in the west. 5 The Lord your God himself will push them out(LN) for your sake. He will drive them out(LO) before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.(LP)

6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law(LQ) of Moses, without turning aside(LR) to the right or to the left.(LS) 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear(LT) by them. You must not serve them or bow down(LU) to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord(LV) your God, as you have until now.

9 “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations;(LW) to this day no one has been able to withstand you.(LX) 10 One of you routs a thousand,(LY) because the Lord your God fights for you,(LZ) just as he promised. 11 So be very careful(MA) to love the Lord(MB) your God.

12 “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them(MC) and associate with them,(MD) 13 then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out(ME) these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares(MF) and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes,(MG) until you perish from this good land,(MH) which the Lord your God has given you.

14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth.(MI) You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise(MJ) has been fulfilled; not one has failed.(MK) 15 But just as all the good things(ML) the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things(MM) he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you(MN) from this good land he has given you.(MO) 16 If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.(MP)”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor
  2. Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah
  3. Joshua 19:2 Or Beersheba, Sheba; 1 Chron. 4:28 does not have Sheba.
  4. Joshua 19:28 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 21:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Ebron
  5. Joshua 19:34 Septuagint; Hebrew west, and Judah, the Jordan,
  6. Joshua 19:50 Also known as Timnath Heres (see Judges 2:9)
  7. Joshua 22:20 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
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