Joshua 15
1 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.
Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:
2 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].
Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea,
3 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].
proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka.
4 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.
It proceeded to Azmon, joined the Brook of Egypt, and ended at the Sea. This was their southern border.
5 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.
The eastern border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern border started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan,
6 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.
went up to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
7 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.
Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to Gilgal, which faces the Ascent of Adummim south of the ravine. It continued along the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel.
8 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.
From there the border went up the Valley of Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
9 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.
From the hilltop the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then bent around toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).
10 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],
The border curled westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), went down to Beth-shemesh, and crossed to Timnah.
11 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.
Then it went out to the northern slope of Ekron, curved toward Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went on to Jabneel, and ended at the Sea.
12 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.
And the western border was the coastline of the Great Sea. These are the boundaries around the clans of the descendants of Judah.
13 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.)
According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)
14 Caleb forced the three clans of the Anak people-group to leave Hebron. Those were the Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai clans.
And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
15 Then Caleb left there and went to fight against the people living in Debir [city], which was previously named Kiriath-Sepher.
From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).
16 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.”
And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”
17 Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, captured the city. So Caleb gave his daughter to him.
So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
18 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?”
One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”
19 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].
“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.
20 [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.
This is the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Judah.
21 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,
These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the border of Edom: 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 (which is also named Hazor),
Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),
26 Amam, Shema, Molodah,
Amam, Shema, Moladah,
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, Chesil, Hormah,
31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. There were 29 towns altogether and their surrounding villages.
Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, along with their villages.
33 The tribe of Judah was allotted these towns in the [northern part of the western] foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
These were in the 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, and Gederah (which is also named Gederothaim). Altogether there were 14 towns and their surrounding villages.
Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—fourteen cities, along with their villages.
37 [The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in the southern part of the western foothills]: Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-Gad,
Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,
38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,
Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,
Cabbon, Lahmas, Chitlish,
41 Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah. There were 16 towns altogether and their surrounding villages.
Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities, along with their villages.
42 The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the central part of] the western foothills: Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah. There were nine towns altogether, with their surrounding villages.
Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, along with their villages.
45 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.
Ekron, with its towns and villages;
from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, along with their villages;
Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, as far as the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.
48 The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the southwest part of] the hilly region: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
These were in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
49 Dannah, Kiriath-Sannah (which is now named Debir),
Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),
50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh. There were eleven towns with their surrounding villages.
Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities, along with their villages.
52 The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the south-central part of] the hilly region: Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
53 Janim, Beth-Tappuah, Aphekah,
Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,
54 Humtah, Kiriath-Arba (which is now named Hebron), and Zior. There were nine towns altogether with their surrounding villages.
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, along with their villages.
55 The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns [in the southeastern part of the hilly region]: Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah. There were ten towns altogether with their surrounding villages.
Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities, along with their villages.
58 The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns [in the central part of the hilly region]: Halhul, Beth-Zur, Gedor,
Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,
59 Maarath, Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon. There were six towns altogether with their surrounding villages.
Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six cities, along with their villages.
60 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).
Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah—two cities, along with their villages.
61 The tribe of Judah was also [allotted these towns] in the desert [near the Dead Sea]: Beth-Arabah, Middin, Secacah,
These were in the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,
62 Nibshan, Salt city, and En-Gedi. There were six towns altogether with their surrounding villages.
Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six cities, along with their villages.
63 [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.
But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.
