Joshua 15

1 Now the lot of the children of Juda by their kindreds was this: From the frontier of Edom, to the desert of Sin southward, and to the uttermost part of the south coast.

The land that was allotted to the tribe of Judah was divided among its clans. That land extended south along the border of the Edom region, as far as the Zin Desert.

2 Its beginning was from the top of the most salt sea, and from the bay thereof, that looketh to the south.

The southern border of the land that was allotted to the tribe of Judah started at the south end of the Dead Sea [and extended west].

3 And it goeth out towards the ascent of the Scorpion, and passeth on to Sina: and ascendeth into Cadesbarne, and reacheth into Esron, going up to Addar, and compassing Carcaa.

It extended south of Scorpion Pass to Zin [Desert], and from there west to a place south of Kadesh-Barnea, past Hezron [town], to Addar [town], and from there it turned [northwest] to Karka [town].

4 And from thence passing along into Asemona, and reaching the torrent of Egypt: and the bounds thereof shall be the great sea, this shall be the limit of the south coast.

From there it continued to Azmon, and from there to the dry riverbed on the border of Egypt, and from there [west] to the [Mediterranean] Sea. That was the southern border.

5 But on the east side the beginning shall be the most salt sea even to the end of the Jordan: and towards the north, from the bay of the sea unto the same river Jordan.

The eastern border of the land of the tribe of Judah was the Dead Sea, and it extended [north] to [where the Jordan River ends at] the Dead Sea.

6 And the border goeth up into Beth-Hagla, and passeth by the north into Beth-Araba: going up to the stone of Boen the son of Ruben.

The northern border started where the Jordan River ends at the Dead Sea. It extended [north] to Beth-Hoglah [town], and from there it extended north of Beth-Arabah [town] to the [big] stone [set up by] Reuben’s son Bohan.

7 And reaching as far as the borders of Debara from the valley of Achor, and so northward looking towards Galgal, which is opposite to the ascent of Adommin, on the south side of the torrent: and the border passeth the waters that are called the fountain of the sun: and the goings out thereof shall be at the fountain Rogel.

From there the border continued west through Achor Valley to Debir [city]. From there it turned north to Gilgal [city]. Gilgal is north of the road that goes through Adummim Pass, on the south side of the valley. From Gilgal the border extended west to the springs at En-Shemesh, and from there to En-Rogel.

8 And it goeth up by the valley of the son of Ennom on the side of the Jebusite towards the south, the same is Jerusalem: and thence ascending to the top of the mountain, which is over against Geennom to the west in the end of the valley of Raphaim, northward.

From there it extended through Ben-Hinnom Valley, south of the city where the Jebus people-group lived. (That city is now named Jerusalem.) From there the border extended to the top of the hill on the west side of Hinnom Valley, at the northern end of the valley where the Repha [giants] lived.

9 And it passeth on from the top of the mountain to the fountain of the water of Nephtoa: and reacheth to the towns of mount Ephron: and it bendeth towards Baala, which is Cariathiarim, that is to say, the city of the woods.

From there the border extended [northwest] to Nephtoah Spring, and from there to the cities near Ephron Mountain. From there the border extended [west] toward Baalah, which is now named Kiriath-Jearim.

10 And it compasseth from Baala westward unto mount Seir: and passeth by the side of mount Jarim to the north into Cheslon: and goeth down into Bethsames, and passeth into Thamna.

Then the border extended further west to Seir Mountain. Then it continued [southwest] along the north side of Jearim Mountain, which is also named Kesalon, to Beth-Shemesh [city]. From there it extended [northwest] past Timnah [city],

11 And it reacheth northward to a part of Accaron at the side: and bendeth to Sechrona, and passeth mount Baala: and cometh into Jebneel, and is bounded westward with the great sea.

to the hill north of Ekron [city]. From there it extended [west] to Shikkeron [town] and past Baalah Mountain to Jabneel [town], then [northwest] to the [Mediterranean] Sea.

12 These are the borders round about of the children of Juda in their kindreds.

The western border of the land that was allotted to the tribe of Judah was the Mediterranean Sea. All the clans of Judah lived inside those borders.

13 But to Caleb the son of Jephone he gave a portion in the midst of the children of Juda, as the Lord had commanded him: Cariath-Arbe the father of Enac. which is Hebron.

Yahweh commanded Joshua to give part of the land for the tribe of Judah to Caleb. So he gave to Caleb Kiriath-Arba [city], which is now named Hebron. (Arba was the ancestor of the Anak people-group.)

14 And Caleb destroyed out of it the three sons of Ehac, Sesai and Ahiman. and Tholmai of the race of Enac.

Caleb forced the three clans of the Anak people-group to leave Hebron. Those were the Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai clans.

15 And going up from thence he came to the inhabitants of Dabir, which before was called Cariath-Sepher, that is to say, the city of letters.

Then Caleb left there and went to fight against the people living in Debir [city], which was previously named Kiriath-Sepher.

16 And Caleb said: He that shall smite Cariath-Sepher, and take it, I will give him Axa my daughter to wife.

Caleb said, “If someone attacks [the people in] Kiriath-Sepher and captures their city, I will give my daughter Acsah to him to be his wife.”

17 And Othoniel the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Axa his daughter to wife.

Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, captured the city. So Caleb gave his daughter to him.

18 And as they were going together, she was moved by her husband to ask a field of her father, and she sighed as she sat on her ass. And Caleb said to her: What aileth thee?

When Caleb’s daughter married Othniel, she told him to ask her father to give her a field. Then Acsah went to talk with her father Caleb. As she got down from her donkey, Caleb asked her, “Do you want something?”

19 But she answered: Give me a blessing: thou hast given me a southern and dry land, give me also a land that is watered. And Caleb gave her the upper and the nether watery ground.

Acsah replied, “Yes, I want you to do something for me. You have given me some land in the southern part of Canaan, [but there is no water there]. So please give me some [land that has] springs.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs [near Hebron].

20 This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Juda by their kindreds.

[Here is a list of the towns in] the land [that God had promised to] give to the tribe of Judah. Each clan was allotted some of the land.

21 And the cities from the uttermost parts of the children of Juda by the borders of Edom to the south, were Cabseel and Eder and Jagur,

The tribe of Judah was allotted all these towns in the southern [desert area of Canaan], near the border of the Edom [region]: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

22 And Cina and Dimona and Adada,

Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

23 And Cades and Asor and Jethnam,

Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

24 Ziph and Telem and Baloth,

Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

25 New Asor and Carioth, Hesron, which is Asor.

Hazor-Hadattah, Kerioth-Hezron (which is also named Hazor),

26 Amam, Sama and Molada,

Amam, Shema, Molodah,

27 And Asergadda and Hassemon and Bethphelet,

Hazar-Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-Pelet,

28 And Hasersual and Bersabee and Baziothia,

Hazar-Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

29 And Baala and Jim and Esem,

Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

30 And Eltholad and Cesil and Harma,

Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,

31 And Siceleg and Medemena and Sensenna,

Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

32 Lebaoth and Selim and Aen and Remmon: all the cities twenty-nine, and their villages.

Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. There were 29 towns altogether and their surrounding villages.

33 But in the plains: Estaol and Sarea and Asena,

The tribe of Judah was allotted these towns in the [northern part of the western] foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

34 And Zanoe and Engannim and Taphua and Enaim,

Zanoah, En-Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

35 And Jerimoth and Adullam, Socho and Azeca,

Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

36 And Saraim and Adithaim and Gedera and Gederothaim: fourteen cities, and their villages.

Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (which is also named Gederothaim). Altogether there were 14 towns and their surrounding villages.

37 Sanan and Hadassa and Magdalgad,

[The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in the southern part of the western foothills]: Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-Gad,

38 Delean and Masepha and Jecthel,

Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

39 Lachis and Bascath and Eglon,

Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

40 Chebbon and Leheman and Cethlis,

Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,

41 And Gideroth and Bethdagon and Naama and Maceda: sixteen cities, and their villages.

Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah. There were 16 towns altogether and their surrounding villages.

42 Labana and Ether and Asan,

The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the central part of] the western foothills: Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

43 Jephtha and Esna and Nesib,

Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

44 And Ceila and Achzib and Maresa: nine cities, and their villages.

Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah. There were nine towns altogether, with their surrounding villages.

45 Accaron with the towns and villages thereof.

The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns [close to the Mediterranean Sea] with their surrounding villages: Ekron and the towns between Ekron and the coast, Ashdod, and Gaza. The area extended south to the dry riverbed on the border of Egypt.

46 From Accaron even to the sea: all places that lie towards Azotus and the villages thereof.

47 Azotus with its towns and villages. Gaza with its towns and villages, even to the torrent of Egypt, and the great sea that is the border thereof.

48 And in the mountain Samir and Jether and Socoth,

The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the southwest part of] the hilly region: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

49 And Danna and Cariath-senna, this is Dabir:

Dannah, Kiriath-Sannah (which is now named Debir),

50 Anab and Istemo and Anim,

Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

51 Gosen and Olon and Gilo: eleven cities and their villages.

Goshen, Holon, and Giloh. There were eleven towns with their surrounding villages.

52 Arab and Ruma and Esaan,

The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the south-central part of] the hilly region: Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

53 And Janum and Beththaphua and Apheca,

Janim, Beth-Tappuah, Aphekah,

54 Athmatha and Cariath-Arbe, this is Hebron and Sior: nine cities and their villages.

Humtah, Kiriath-Arba (which is now named Hebron), and Zior. There were nine towns altogether with their surrounding villages.

55 Maon and Carmel and Ziph and Jota,

The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns [in the southeastern part of the hilly region]: Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

56 Jezrael and Jucadam and Zanoe,

Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

57 Accain, Gabaa and Thamna: ten cities and their villages.

Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah. There were ten towns altogether with their surrounding villages.

58 Halhul, and Bessur, and Gedor,

The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns [in the central part of the hilly region]: Halhul, Beth-Zur, Gedor,

59 Mareth, and Bethanoth, and Eltecon: six cities and their villages.

Maarath, Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon. There were six towns altogether with their surrounding villages.

60 Cariathbaal, the same is Cariathiarim, the city of woods, and Arebba: two cities and their villages.

The tribe of Judah was also allotted two towns [in the northern part of the hilly region], Rabbah and Kiriath-Baal (which is also named Kiriath-Jearim).

61 In the desert Betharaba, Meddin and Sachacha,

The tribe of Judah was also [allotted these towns] in the desert [near the Dead Sea]: Beth-Arabah, Middin, Secacah,

62 And Nebsan, and the city of salt, and Engaddi: six cities and their villages.

Nibshan, Salt city, and En-Gedi. There were six towns altogether with their surrounding villages.

63 But the children of Juda could not destroy the Jebusite that dwelt in Jerusalem: and the Jebusite dwelt with the children of Juda in Jerusalem until this present day.

[The army of the tribe of] Judah was not able to force the people of the Jebus people-group to leave Jerusalem. So the people of that group are still living among the tribe of Judah.