Joshua 15
1 This was the land allotted to the tribe of Judah, by families: it stretched south to the border of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin in the far south.
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 Their boundary began at the end of the Salt Sea—the bay that faces 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 then went south of Scorpion Pass through the wilderness of Zin, then heading south from Kadesh-barnea to Hezron. From there it went up to Addar and then turned towards Karka,
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 passing through Azmon and out to the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. This was their southern border.
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 The eastern border of Judah was the Salt Sea, up to where the Jordan River ends. The northern boundary ran from the northern bay of the sea where the Jordan ends
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 up to the border of Beth-hoglath, and then north of Beth-arabah to the Stone of Bohan (Reuben's son).
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 From there it went to the border of Debir through the valley of Achor, and turned north towards Gilgal, opposite the heights of Adummim to the south of the valley. Then the boundary continued to the waters of En-shemesh and out to En-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 The boundary then went through the valley of Ben-hinnom, along the southern slopes of the Jebusites, (that is Jerusalem), then on up to the top of the mountain overlooking the valley of Hinnom right up to the northern end of the valley of Rephaim.
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 From there the boundary ran from the top of the mountain to the water spring at Nephtoah and on to the towns on Mount Ephron. Then it bent towards Ballah (Kiriath-jearim).
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 Then the boundary moved around to the west of Baalah to Mount Seir and passed along the northern slope of Mount Jearim to the town of Kesalon, down to Beth Shemesh and on to Timnah.
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 The boundary then ran to the north slope of Ekron, and bent towards Shikkeron, passing Mount Baalah, out to Jabneel, and ending at the 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 The western boundary was the coastline of the Great Sea. These were the boundaries around the tribe of Judah, by families.
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 The Lord had instructed Joshua to allocate some land in Judah's territory to Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and so he was given the town of Kiriath-arba, or Hebron. (Arba was the father of Anak.)
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 Caleb drove out three family groups—Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak.
Caleb forced the three clans of the Anak people-group to leave Hebron. Those were the Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai clans.
15 From there he went to attack the inhabitants of Debir (previously known as Kiriath-sepher).
Then Caleb left there and went to fight against the people living in Debir [city], which was previously named Kiriath-Sepher.
16 Caleb announced, “Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him my daughter Acsah to marry.”
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 Othniel, son of Kenaz, brother of Caleb, captured the town so Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah to marry.
Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, captured the city. So Caleb gave his daughter to him.
18 When she came to him, she encouraged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?”
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 She replied, “Please give me a blessing. Since you have already given me land that's like the desert, please give me springs of water as well.” So he gave her both the upper and the lower springs.
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 was the land allotted to the tribe of Judah, by families.
[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 The towns for the tribe of Judah in the far south on the border with Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, 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 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,
Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,
23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,
Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,
25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (or Hazor),
Hazor-Hadattah, Kerioth-Hezron (which is also named Hazor),
26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,
Amam, Shema, Molodah,
27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,
Hazar-Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-Pelet,
28 Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
Hazar-Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,
Baalah, Iim, Ezem,
30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,
Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,
31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine towns with their associated villages.
Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. There were 29 towns altogether and their surrounding villages.
33 The towns in the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
The tribe of Judah was allotted these towns in the [northern part of the western] foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
Zanoah, En-Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim—fourteen towns with their associated villages.
Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (which is also named Gederothaim). Altogether there were 14 towns and their surrounding villages.
37 Also: Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,
[The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in the southern part of the western foothills]: Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-Gad,
38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,
39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Kitlish,
Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,
41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen towns with their associated villages.
Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah. There were 16 towns altogether and their surrounding villages.
42 In addition: Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the central part of] the western foothills: Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah—nine towns with their associated villages.
Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah. There were nine towns altogether, with their surrounding villages.
45 Ekron and its towns and villages,
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 Ekron to the sea those towns near Ashdod and their associated villages,
47 Ashdod and its towns with its associated villages, and Gaza with its towns and associated villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt, and along the coastline of the sea.
48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the southwest part of] the hilly region: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (or Debir),
Dannah, Kiriath-Sannah (which is now named Debir),
50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven towns with their associated villages.
Goshen, Holon, and Giloh. There were eleven towns with their surrounding villages.
52 Also: Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the south-central part of] the hilly region: Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,
Janim, Beth-Tappuah, Aphekah,
54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (or Hebron), and Zior—nine towns with their associated villages.
Humtah, Kiriath-Arba (which is now named Hebron), and Zior. There were nine towns altogether with their surrounding villages.
55 In addition: Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns [in the southeastern part of the hilly region]: Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten towns with their ssociated villages.
Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah. There were ten towns altogether with their surrounding villages.
58 Also: Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,
The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns [in the central part of the hilly region]: Halhul, Beth-Zur, Gedor,
59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six towns with their associated villages.
Maarath, Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon. There were six towns altogether with their surrounding villages.
60 In addition: Kiriath-baal (or Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah—two towns with their associated 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 wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,
The tribe of Judah was also [allotted these towns] in the desert [near the Dead Sea]: Beth-Arabah, Middin, Secacah,
62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six towns with their associated villages.
Nibshan, Salt city, and En-Gedi. There were six towns altogether with their surrounding villages.
63 However, the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live among the tribe of Judah in Jerusalem to this very 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.
