The Land of Judah

15 So this was the [a]lot of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:

(A)The border of Edom at the (B)Wilderness of Zin southward was the extreme southern boundary. And their (C)southern border began at the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward. Then it went out to the southern side of (D)the Ascent of Akrabbim, passed along to Zin, ascended on the south side of Kadesh Barnea, passed along to Hezron, went up to Adar, and went around to Karkaa. From there it passed (E)toward Azmon and went out to the Brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your southern border.

The east border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

And the (F)border on the northern quarter began at the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. The border went up to (G)Beth Hoglah and passed north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up (H)to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. Then the border went up toward (I)Debir from (J)the Valley of Achor, and it turned northward toward Gilgal, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. The border continued toward the waters of En Shemesh and ended at (K)En Rogel. And the border went up (L)by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope of the (M)Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem). The border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the Valley (N)of [b]Rephaim northward. Then the border went around from the top of the hill to (O)the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and extended to the cities of Mount Ephron. And the border went around (P)to Baalah (which is (Q)Kirjath Jearim). 10 Then the border [c]turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (which is Chesalon), went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed on to (R)Timnah. 11 And the border went out to the side of (S)Ekron northward. Then the border went around to Shicron, passed along to Mount Baalah, and extended to Jabneel; and the border ended at the sea.

12 The west border was (T)the coastline of the Great Sea. This is the boundary of the children of Judah all around according to their families.

Caleb Occupies Hebron and Debir(U)

13 (V)Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of (W)Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, namely, (X)Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). 14 Caleb drove out (Y)the three sons of Anak from there: (Z)Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15 Then (AA)he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir (formerly the name of Debir was Kirjath Sepher).

16 (AB)And Caleb said, “He who [d]attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” 17 So (AC)Othniel the (AD)son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him (AE)Achsah his daughter as wife. 18 (AF)Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So (AG)she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” 19 She answered, “Give me a (AH)blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

The Cities of Judah

20 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:

21 The cities at the limits of the tribe of the children of Judah, toward the border of Edom in the South, were Kabzeel, (AI)Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 (AJ)Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor, Hadattah, Kerioth, Hezron (which is Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual, (AK)Beersheba, Bizjothjah, 29 Baalah, Ijim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, (AL)Hormah, 31 (AM)Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and (AN)Rimmon: all the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.

33 In the lowland: (AO)Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, (AP)Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Sharaim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages; 37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, (AQ)Joktheel, 39 (AR)Lachish, Bozkath, (AS)Eglon, 40 Cabbon, [e]Lahmas, Kithlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages; 42 (AT)Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Jiphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages; 45 Ekron, with its towns and villages; 46 from Ekron to the sea, all that lay near (AU)Ashdod, with their villages; 47 Ashdod with its towns and villages, Gaza with its towns and villages—as far as (AV)the Brook of Egypt and (AW)the Great Sea with its coastline.

48 And in the mountain country: Shamir, Jattir, Sochoh, 49 Dannah, Kirjath Sannah (which is Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 (AX)Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages; 52 Arab, Dumah, Eshean, 53 Janum, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, (AY)Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages; 55 (AZ)Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages; 58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon: six cities with their villages; 60 (BA)Kirjath Baal (which is Kirjath Jearim) and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.

61 In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and (BB)En Gedi: six cities with their villages.

63 As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, (BC)the children of Judah could not drive them out; (BD)but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 15:1 allotment
  2. Joshua 15:8 Lit. Giants
  3. Joshua 15:10 turned around
  4. Joshua 15:16 Lit. strikes
  5. Joshua 15:40 Or Lahmam

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, “He who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him 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 dismounted from 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.

15 This then was the goral (lot) of the tribe of the Bnei Yehudah by their mishpekhot; even to the territory of Edom, to the midbar of Tzin toward the Negev in the extreme south.

And their southern boundary was from the shore of the Yam HaMelach, from the bay that looketh southward;

And it went out to the south side to Maaleh Akrabbim, passed along to Tzin, ascended up on the south side unto Kadesh-Barnea, passed along to Chetzron, went up to Adar, and turned toward Karka;

From there it passed toward Atzmon, and went out unto the Wadi Mitzrayim; and the boundary ended at the Yam [Mediterranean Sea]; this shall be your south border.

And the east boundary is the Yam HaMelach, even unto the mouth of the Yarden. And their boundary in the north quarter was from the bay of the Yam [Dead Sea] at the mouth of the Yarden;

And the boundary went up to Beit-Chogla, and passed along by the north of Beit-Aravah; and the boundary went up to the Even Bohan ben Reuven;

And the boundary went up toward Devir from the Achor Valley, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, which faces Ma’aleh-Adumim, which is on the south side of the wadi; and the boundary passed toward the Ein-Shemesh Spring, and ended at Ein Rogel;

And the boundary went up by Ben Hinnom Valley unto the slope of the Yevusi (that is, Yerushalayim); and the boundary went up to the top of the har that is before the Hinnom Valley westward, which is at the end of the Repha’im Valley northward;

From the top of the har the boundary ran unto the source of Nephtoach Spring, and went out to the towns of Har Ephron; and the boundary went to Baalah (that is, Kiryat Yearim);

10 And the boundary curved from Baalah westward unto Mt Seir, and ran along unto the slope of Mt Yearim (that is, Kesalon), on the north side, and went down to Beit Shemesh, and passed on to Timnah;

11 And the boundary went out unto the side of Ekron northward; and the boundary ran over to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mt Baalah, and went out unto Yavne’el; and the boundary ended at the Yam [Mediterranean Sea].

12 And the western boundary is HaYamah HaGadol, and the coast thereof. This is the boundary around the Bnei Yehudah according to their mishpekhot.

13 And unto Kalev ben Yephunneh he gave chelek among the Bnei Yehudah, according to the commandment of Hashem to Yehoshua, even Kiryat-Arba (avi HaAnak), which is Chevron.

14 And Kalev drove from there the three Bnei Anak: Sheshai and Achiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak.

15 And he went up from there to the inhabitants of Devir; and the shem of Devir formerly was Kiryat Sefer.

16 And Kalev said, He that strikes down Kiryat Sefer, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my bat as isha.

17 And Otniel ben Kenaz, the brother of Kalev, took it; and he gave him Achsah his bat as isha.

18 And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she urged him to ask of her av a sadeh; and she got off her chamor; and Kalev said unto her, What wouldest thou?

19 She answered, Give me a brocha; for thou hast given me eretz HaNegev [land in the southern desert]; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the lower springs.

20 This is the nachalah of the tribe of the Bnei Yehudah according to their mishpekhot.

21 And the towns at the extremity of the tribe of the Bnei Yehudah toward the boundary of Edom southward were Kavtze’el, and Eder, and Yagur,

22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,

23 And Kedesh, and Chatzor, and Yitnan,

24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealot,

25 And Chatzor, Chadattah, and Keriot, and Chetzron, which is Chatzor,

26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,

27 And Chatzar Gaddah, Cheshmon, and Beit-Pelet,

28 And Chatzar Shual, Beer- Sheva, and Bizyot-Yah,

29 Baalah, Iyim, Etzem,

30 And Eltolad, and Kesil, and Chormah,

31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,

32 And Levaot, and Shilchim, and Ayin, and Rimmon; all the cities are 29, with their villages.

33 And in the Shefelah: Eshtaol, and Tzoreah, and Ashnah,

34 And Zanoach, and Ein-Gannim, Tapuach, and Enam,

35 Yarmut, and Adulam, Socho, and Azekah,

36 And Shearim, and Aditayim, and Gederah, and Gederotayim; 14 cities with their villages.

37 Tzenan, and Chadashah, and Migdal-Gad,

38 And Dilean, and Mitzpeh, and Yokte’el,

39 Lachish, and Botzkat, and Eglon,

40 And Kabbon, and Lachmas, and Kitlish,

41 And Gederot, Beit-Dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; 16 cities with their villages.

42 Livnah, and Eter, and Ashan,

43 And Yiphtach, and Ashnah, and Netziv,

44 And Keilah, and Achziv, and Mareshah; 9 cities with their villages.

45 Ekron, with her towns and her villages.

46 From Ekron even unto the Yam, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages.

47 Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Azah (Gaza) with her towns and her villages, unto the Wadi Mitzrayim, and the Yam HaGadol, and the coastline thereof.

48 And in the har, Shamir, and Yatir, and Socho,

49 And Dannah, and Kiryat Sannah, which is Devir,

50 And Anav, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,

51 And Goshen, and Cholon, and Giloh; 11 cities with their villages;

52 Arav, and Dumah, and Esh’an,

53 And Yanum, and Beit Tappuach, and Aphekah,

54 And Chumtah, and Kiryat Arba, which is Chevron, and Tzior; 9 cities with their villages;

55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Yutah,

56 And Yizre’el, and Yokdeam, and Zanoah,

57 Kayin, Giveah, and Timnah; 10 cities with their villages;

58 Chalchul, Beit-Tzur, and Gedor,

59 And Maarat, and Beit-Anot, and Eltekon; 6 cities with their villages;

60 Kiryat Baal, which is Kiryat-Ye’arim, and Rabbah; 2 cities with their villages;

61 In the midbar, Beit Aravah, Middin, and Sechachah,

62 And Nivshan, and the Ir HaMelach, and Engedi; 6 cities with their villages.

63 As for the Yevusi, the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, the Bnei Yehudah could not drive them out; but the Yevusi dwell with the Bnei Yehudah at Yerushalayim unto HaYom Hazeh.