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.
The assignment of land for the tribe of the people of Judah, clan by clan, extended south to the border of Edom, with the wilderness of Zin being the farthest point to the south.
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 border on the south ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces to the south.
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].
Their boundary next went out to the south of the hill of Akrabbim and passed along to Zin, and went up south of Kadesh Barnea, along by Hezron, and up to Addar, where it turned about to 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 passed along to Azmon, went by the brook of Egypt, and came to its end at the sea. This was their south boundary.
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 boundary was the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan. The border on the north ran 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.
It went up to Beth Hoglah and passed along north of Beth Arabah. Then it went up to the Stone of Bohan the 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, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the hill of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. Then the border passed along to the springs of En Shemesh and went to 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.
Then the border went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the south side of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). Then it went up to the top of the hill that lies over the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, which is 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.
Then the border extended from the top of the hills to the spring of Nephtoah, and went out from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the border bends around to Baalah (the same as 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],
Then the border circled around west of Baalah to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (the same as Kesalon), went down to Beth Shemesh, and crossed over 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.
The border went out beside the northern hill of Ekron, and then it bends around to Shikkeron and passed along to Mount Baalah, from there it went to Jabneel. The border 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.
The western boundary was the Great Sea and its coastline. This is the border around the tribe of Judah, clan by clan.
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.)
In keeping with the commandment of Yahweh to Joshua, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh an assignment of land among the tribe of Judah, Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).
14 Caleb forced the three clans of the Anak people-group to leave Hebron. Those were the Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai clans.
Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, descendants of Anak.
15 Then Caleb left there and went to fight against the people living in Debir [city], which was previously named Kiriath-Sepher.
He went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir (Debir used to be called 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.”
Caleb said, “The man who attacks Kiriath Sepher and captures it, to him I will give Aksah my daughter as a wife.”
17 Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, captured the city. So Caleb gave his daughter to him.
When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, captured it, Caleb gave him Aksah his daughter as a wife.
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?”
Soon after that, Aksah came to Othniel and she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”
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].
Aksah replied, “Do me a special favor, since you have given me the land of the Negev: Also give me some springs of water.” Then Caleb gave her the upper springs 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 was the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan.
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,
The cities belonging to the tribe of Judah in the extreme south, toward the border of Edom, were 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 (this was also known as 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, Iyim, Ezem,
30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,
Eltolad, Kesil, 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. These were twenty-nine cities in all, including their villages.
33 The tribe of Judah was allotted these towns in the [northern part of the western] foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
In the lower hill country to the west, there were Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
34 Zanoah, En-Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh, Azekah,
36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (which is also named Gederothaim). Altogether there were 14 towns and their surrounding villages.
Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (that is, Gederothaim). These were fourteen cities in number, including 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, Migdalgad,
38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,
Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,
39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon.
40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,
Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,
41 Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah. There were 16 towns altogether and their surrounding villages.
Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, Makkedah. These were sixteen cities in number, including 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, Akzib, Mareshah. These were nine cities, including 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 surrounding towns and villages;
from Ekron to the Great Sea, all the settlements that were near Ashdod, including their villages.
Ashdod, its surrounding towns, including their villages; Gaza, its surrounding towns including their villages; to the brook of Egypt, and to the Great Sea with its coastline.
48 The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns in [the southwest part of] the hilly region: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
In the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Sokoh,
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. These were eleven cities, including 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. These were nine cities, including 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. These were ten cities, including 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. These were six cities, including 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. These were two cities, including their villages.
61 The tribe of Judah was also [allotted these towns] in the desert [near the Dead Sea]: Beth-Arabah, Middin, Secacah,
In the wilderness, there were 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. These were six cities, including 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 as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the tribe of Judah could not drive them out, so the Jebusites live there with the tribe of Judah to this day.
