Joshua 15

1 This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was 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 And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:

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 went out to the south side to Maaleh–acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadesh–barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:

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 From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your 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 And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of 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 went up to Beth–hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth–arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:

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 the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of En–shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at 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 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants 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 the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath–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 And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Beth–shemesh, and passed 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 And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were 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 And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their 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 And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of Yhwh to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city 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 drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

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

15 And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath–sepher.

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 smiteth Kirjath–sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah 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 Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

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

18 And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her donkey; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

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 Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether 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 is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their 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 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, 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 Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,

Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,

Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,

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

26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,

Amam, Shema, Molodah,

27 And Hazar–gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth–palet,

Hazar-Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-Pelet,

28 And Hazar–shual, and Beer–sheba, and Bizjothjah,

Hazar-Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,

Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,

Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,

31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,

Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:

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

33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

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

34 And Zanoah, and En–gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,

Zanoah, En-Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

35 Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,

Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

36 And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:

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

37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal–gad,

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

38 And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,

Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,

Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,

Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,

41 And Gederoth, Beth–dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:

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

42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,

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

43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,

Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

44 And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:

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

45 Ekron, with her towns and her 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 even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:

47 Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:

48 And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,

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

49 And Dannah, and Kirjath–sannah, which is Debir,

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

50 And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,

Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

51 And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:

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

52 Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,

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 Beth–tappuah, and Aphekah,

Janim, Beth-Tappuah, Aphekah,

54 And Humtah, and Kirjath–arba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:

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

55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,

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

56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,

Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:

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

58 Halhul, Beth–zur, and Gedor,

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

59 And Maarath, and Beth–anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:

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

60 Kirjath–baal, which is Kirjath–jearim, and Rabbah; two cities with 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 wilderness, Beth–arabah, Middin, and Secacah,

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

62 And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En–gedi; six cities with their villages.

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

63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this 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.