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The Borders of Judah

15 This was the allotment for the tribe of the descendants of Judah according to their clans. It extended south to the border with Edom and through the Negev to the Wilderness of Zin in the extreme south.

Their border on the south started from the south end of the Dead Sea,[a] from the bay[b] that faces south.

It goes south from the Ascent of Akrabbim and crosses over to Zin and ascends from south of Kadesh Barnea.

Then it crosses over to Hezron and ascends to Adar and curves around to Karka.

Then it crosses over to Azmon and goes out to the Stream of Egypt.[c]

The border ends at the Mediterranean Sea.

This is your southern border.

The border on the east is the Dead Sea,[d] up to the mouth of the Jordan.

The border on the north side starts from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.

The border ascends to Beth Hoglah and crosses over north of Beth Arabah.

Then the border ascends to the Stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben.

Then the border ascends to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turns north toward Gilgal, which is opposite the Ascent of Adummim, which is south of the streambed.

Then the border crosses over to the waters of En Shemesh, ending at En Rogel.

Then the border ascends through the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the slope of the Jebusites on the south side of Jerusalem.

Then the border ascends to the top of the mountain that is across the Valley of Hinnom on the west side, where Hinnom meets the north end of the Valley of Rephaim.

Then the border bends from the top of the mountain to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah and goes out to the cities of Mount Ephron.

Then the border bends toward Baalah—that is, Kiriath Jearim.

10 The border curves around from Baalah westward to Mount Seir and crosses over to the slope of Mount Jearim from the north—that is, Kesalon—and descends to Beth Shemesh, then crosses over to Timnah.

11 The border goes out to the slope of Ekron, on the north.

Then the border bends to Shikkeron and crosses over Mount Baalah and goes out to Jabne’el, and the border ends at the sea.

12 The border on the west—the Mediterranean Sea[e] is the border.

This is the border on all sides for the descendants of Judah according to their clans.

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 15:2 Hebrew Salt Sea
  2. Joshua 15:2 The Hebrew word lashon, translated bay in this verse and in verse 5, means tongue. Tongue might plausibly refer to a tongue-shaped bay, but there are no noticeable bays or peninsulas on the north and south shores of the sea, so the significance of the term in these verses is uncertain. It may simply mean shore or end.
  3. Joshua 15:4 This is not the Nile but one of the seasonal streams in the wilderness, perhaps at Arish. It is also called the Wadi of Egypt or the Brook of Egypt.
  4. Joshua 15:5 Hebrew Salt Sea
  5. Joshua 15:12 Hebrew the Great Sea

The Allotment of Judah

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

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 15:1 Or “sons”
  2. Joshua 15:1 Literally “to the south at the end of south”
  3. Joshua 15:2 That is, the Dead Sea
  4. Joshua 15:3 Hebrew “goes out”
  5. Joshua 15:4 Literally “it was to”
  6. Joshua 15:4 Hebrew “goes out”
  7. Joshua 15:4 Literally “the goings out of the border were”
  8. Joshua 15:5 That is, the Dead Sea
  9. Joshua 15:5 Or “end”
  10. Joshua 15:5 Or “end”
  11. Joshua 15:7 A valley that is dry most of the year, but contains a stream during the rainy season
  12. Joshua 15:8 Or “valley of the son of Hinnom”
  13. Joshua 15:8 Hebrew “Jebusite”
  14. Joshua 15:9 Hebrew “goes out”
  15. Joshua 15:11 “Hebrew “goes out”
  16. Joshua 15:11 Literally “the goings out of the border were”
  17. Joshua 15:12 That is, the Mediterranean
  18. Joshua 15:12 Or “sons”