Joshua 15

1 And the lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah, for their families, is unto the border of Edom; the wilderness of Zin southward, at the extremity of the 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 and to them the south border is at the extremity of the salt sea, from the bay which is looking 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 hath gone out unto the south to Maaleh-Akrabbim, and passed over to Zin, and gone up on the south to Kadesh-Barnea, and passed over [to] Hezron, and gone up to Adar, and turned round 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 and passed over [to] Azmon, and gone out [at] the brook of Egypt, and the outgoings of the border have been at the sea; this is to you the south 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 And the east border [is] the salt sea, unto the extremity of the Jordan, and the border at the north quarter [is] from the bay of the sea, at the extremity of the 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 hath gone up [to] Beth-Hoglah, and passed over on the north of Beth-Arabah, and the border hath gone up [to] the stone of Bohan 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 hath gone up towards Debir from the valley of Achor, and northward looking unto Gilgal, which [is] over-against the ascent of Adummim, which [is] on the south of the brook, and the border hath passed over unto the waters of En-Shemesh, and its outgoings have been unto 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 hath gone up the valley of the son of Hinnom, unto the side of the Jebusite on the south (it [is] Jerusalem), and the border hath gone up unto the top of the hill-country which [is] on the front of the valley of Hinnom westward, which [is] in the extremity of the valley of the Rephaim 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 hath been marked out, from the top of the hill-country unto the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah, and hath gone out unto the cities of mount Ephron, and the border hath been marked out [to] Baalah, (it [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 hath gone round from Baalah westward, unto mount Seir, and passed over unto the side of mount Jearim (it [is] Chesalon), on the north, and gone down [to] Beth-Shemesh, and passed over 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 hath gone out unto the side of Ekron northward, and the border hath been marked out [to] Shicron, and hath passed over to mount Baalah, and gone out [to] Jabneel; and the outgoings of the border have been 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 [is] to the great sea, and [its] border; this [is] the border of the sons of Judah round about for 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 to Caleb son of Jephunneh hath he given a portion in the midst of the sons of Judah, according to the command of Jehovah to Joshua, [even] the city of Arba, father of Anak — it [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 is dispossessing thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, 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 goeth up thence unto the inhabitants of Debir; and the name of Debir formerly is 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 saith, 'He who smiteth Kirjath-Sephar, and hath captured it — I have given to him Achsah my daughter for a 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 son of Kenaz, brother of Caleb, doth capture it, and he giveth to him Achsah his daughter for a wife.

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

18 And it cometh to pass, in her coming in, that she persuadeth him to ask from her father a field, and she lighteth from off the ass, and Caleb saith to her, 'What — to 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 And she saith, 'Give to me a blessing; when the land of the south thou hast given me, then thou hast given to me springs of waters;' and he giveth to her the upper springs 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 [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah, for 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 cities at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah are unto the border of Edom in the south, 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, Hezron, (it [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, and their villages.

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

33 In the low country: 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 and 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 and 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 and their villages.

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

45 Ekron and its towns and its 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 and westward, all that [are] by the side of Ashdod, and their villages.

47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages, Gaza, its towns and its villages, unto the brook of Egypt, and the great sea, and [its] border.

48 And in the hill-country: 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 (it [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 and 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 (it [is] Hebron), and Zior; 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, 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 and 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 and their villages.

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

60 Kirjath-Baal (it [is] Kirjath-Jearim), and Rabbah; 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 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 and their villages.

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

63 As to the Jebusites, inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah have not been able to dispossess them, and the Jebusite dwelleth with the sons of Judah in 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.