Joshua 15
Christian Standard Bible
Judah’s Inheritance
15 Now the allotment for the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans(A) was in the southernmost region, south to the Wilderness of Zin and over to the border of Edom.
2 Their southern border began at the tip of the Dead Sea on the south bay[a] 3 and went south of the Scorpions’ Ascent, proceeded to Zin, ascended to the south of Kadesh-barnea, passed Hezron, ascended to Addar, and turned to Karka. 4 It proceeded to Azmon and to the Brook of Egypt(B) and so the border ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This is your[b] southern border.
5 Now the eastern border was along the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jordan.
The border on the north side was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. 6 It ascended to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and ascended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 7 Then the border ascended to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to the Gilgal that is opposite the Ascent of Adummim, which is south of the ravine. The border proceeded to the Waters of En-shemesh and ended at En-rogel. 8 From there the border ascended Ben Hinnom Valley to the southern Jebusite slope (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces Hinnom Valley on the west, at the northern end of Rephaim Valley. 9 From the top of the hill the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, went to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then curved to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim(C)). 10 The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.(D) 11 Then the border reached to the slope north of Ekron, curved to Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went to Jabneel, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.
12 Now the western border was the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
This was the boundary of the descendants of Judah around their clans.
Caleb and Othniel
13 He gave Caleb son of Jephunneh the following portion among the descendants of Judah based on the Lord’s instruction to Joshua: Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak). 14 Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak.(E) 15 From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir, which used to be called Kiriath-sepher,(F) 16 and Caleb said, “Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher, I will give my daughter Achsah to him as a wife.” 17 So Othniel(G) son of Caleb’s brother, Kenaz, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as a wife.(H) 18 When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” 19 She replied, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me the springs also.” So he gave her the upper and lower springs.
Judah’s Cities
20 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans.
21 These were the outermost cities of the tribe of the descendants of Judah toward the border of Edom in the Negev: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,(I) 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28 Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah,(J) 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,(K) 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, with their settlements.
33 In the Judean foothills:[c] Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah,[d] Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam,(L) Socoh,[e] Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim—fourteen cities, with their settlements; 37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 38 Dilan, Mizpeh, Jokthe-el, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities, with their settlements; 42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, with their settlements; 45 Ekron, with its surrounding villages and settlements; 46 from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, with their settlements; 47 Ashdod, with its surrounding villages and settlements; Gaza, with its surrounding villages and settlements, to the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities, with their settlements; 52 Arab, Dumah,[f] Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, with their settlements; 55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities, with their settlements; 58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six cities, with their settlements;[g] 60 Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah—two cities, with their settlements.
61 In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt,[h] and En-gedi—six cities, with their settlements.
63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem.(M) So the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah today.(N)
Footnotes
- 15:2 Lit Sea at the tongue that turns southward
- 15:4 LXX reads their
- 15:33 Or the Shephelah
- 15:34 Or En-gannim-tappuah
- 15:35 Or Adullam-socoh
- 15:52 Some Hb mss read Rumah
- 15:59 LXX adds Tekoa, Ephrathah (that is, Bethlehem), Peor, Etam, Culom, Tatam, Sores, Carem, Gallim, Baither, and Manach—eleven cities, with their settlements
- 15:62 Or Ir-hamelach
Joshua 15
New King James Version
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. 2 And their (C)southern border began at the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward. 3 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. 4 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.
5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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
- Joshua 15:1 allotment
- Joshua 15:8 Lit. Giants
- Joshua 15:10 turned around
- Joshua 15:16 Lit. strikes
- Joshua 15:40 Or Lahmam
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.