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The Territory of Benjamin

11 Now the lot (allotment) of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot fell between [the tribes of] the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph. 12 On the north side their border began at the Jordan, then it went up the slope of Jericho on the north, and up through the hill country westward, and it ended at the Beth-aven wilderness. 13 Then the border continued southward toward Luz, to the slope of Luz (that is, Bethel); then the border went down to Ataroth-addar, by the hill that lies south of lower Beth-horon. 14 The border changed course [from there] and turned around on the western side southward, from the hill that lies to the south opposite Beth-horon; it ended at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of [the tribe of] the sons of Judah. This formed the western side [of Benjamin’s territory]. 15 The southern side was from the edge of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went on westward and went to the source of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 Then the border went down to the edge of the hill overlooking the Valley of Ben-hinnom (son of Hinnom), which is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim; and it descended to the Valley of Hinnom, south to the slope of the Jebusite, and went on down to En-rogel. 17 Then it turned toward the north and went on to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the north to the side opposite [Beth-] Arabah and went down to the Arabah. 19 The border continued along to the north of the slope of Beth-hoglah; and the border ended at the northern bay of the Salt (Dead) Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the southern border. 20 And the Jordan River 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 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 Zelah, Haeleph and the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of [the tribe of] the sons of Benjamin according to their families (clans).

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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(A) of Beth Aven.(B) 13 From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz(C) (that is, Bethel(D)) and went down to Ataroth Addar(E) on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.

14 From the hill facing Beth Horon(F) on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim),(G) 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.(H) 16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim.(I) It continued down the Hinnom Valley(J) along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.(K) 17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth,(L) which faces the Pass of Adummim,(M) and ran down to the Stone of Bohan(N) son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah[a](O) and on down into the Arabah.(P) 19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah(Q) and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,(R) 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.(S)

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

Jericho, Beth Hoglah,(T) Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah,(U) Zemaraim,(V) Bethel,(W) 23 Avvim,(X) Parah, Ophrah,(Y) 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba(Z)—twelve towns and their villages.

25 Gibeon,(AA) Ramah,(AB) Beeroth,(AC) 26 Mizpah,(AD) Kephirah,(AE) Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah,(AF) Haeleph, the Jebusite city(AG) (that is, Jerusalem(AH)), Gibeah(AI) and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.(AJ)

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

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah