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Joshua 13-16
Contemporary English Version

The Land Israel Had Not Yet Taken

13 Many years later, the Lord told Joshua:

Now you are very old, but there is still a lot of land that Israel has not yet taken. 2-7 (A) First, there is the Canaanite territory that starts at the Shihor River just east of Egypt and goes north to Ekron. The southern part of this region belongs to the Avvites and the Geshurites,[a] and the land around Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron belongs to the five Philistine rulers.

The other Canaanite territory is in the north. Its northern border starts at the town of Arah, which belongs to the Sidonians. From there, it goes to Aphek,[b] then along the Amorite border[c] to Hamath Pass.[d] The eastern border starts at Hamath Pass and goes south to Baal-Gad at the foot of Mount Hermon, and its southern boundary runs west from there to Misrephoth-Maim.[e] This northern region includes the Lebanon Mountains and the land that belongs to the Gebalites[f] and the Sidonians who live in the hill country from the Lebanon Mountains to Misrephoth-Maim.

With my help, Israel will capture these Canaanite territories and force out the people who live there. But you must divide up the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea[g] among the nine tribes and the half of Manasseh that don't have any land yet. Then each tribe will have its own land.

The Land East of the Jordan River

8 (B) Moses had already given land east of the Jordan River to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. 9 This region stretched north from the town in the middle of the Arnon River valley, and included the town of Aroer on the northern edge of the valley. It covered the flatlands of Medeba north of Dibon, 10 and took in the towns that had belonged to Sihon, the Amorite king of Heshbon. Some of these towns were as far east as the Ammonite border.

11-12 Geshur and Maacah were part of this region, and so was the whole territory that King Og had ruled, that is, Gilead, Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far east as Salecah. Og had lived in Ashtaroth part of each year, and he had lived in Edrei the rest of the year. Og had been one of the last of the Rephaim,[h] but Moses had defeated Sihon and Og and their people[i] and had forced them to leave their land. 13 However, the Israelites did not force the people of Geshur and Maacah to leave, and they still live there among the Israelites.

Why Moses Did Not Give Land to the Levi Tribe

14 (C) Moses did not give any land to the Levi tribe, because the Lord God of Israel had told them, “Instead of land, you will receive the sacrifices offered at my altar.”

The Land Moses Gave to the Reuben Tribe

15 Moses gave land to each of the clans in the Reuben tribe. 16 Their land started in the south at the town in the middle of the Arnon River valley, took in the town of Aroer on the northern edge of the valley, and went as far north as the flatlands around Medeba. 17-21 The Amorite King Sihon had lived in Heshbon and had ruled the towns in the flatlands. Now Heshbon belonged to Reuben, and so did the following towns in the flatlands: Dibon, Bamoth-Baal, Beth-Baal-Meon, Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-Shahar on the hill in the valley, Beth-Peor, Slopes of Mount Pisgah, and Beth-Jeshimoth.

Moses defeated Sihon and killed him and the Midianite chiefs who ruled parts of his kingdom for him. Their names were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. 22 The Israelites also killed Balaam the son of Beor, who had been a fortuneteller.

23 This region with its towns and villages was the land for the Reuben tribe, and the Jordan River was its western border.

The Land Moses Gave to the Gad Tribe

24 Moses also gave land to each of the clans in the Gad tribe. 25 It included the town of Jazer, and in the Gilead region their territory took in the land and towns as far east as the town of Aroer[j] just west of Rabbah.[k] This was about half of the land that had once belonged to the Ammonites. 26 The land given to Gad stretched from Heshbon in the south to Ramath-Mizpeh and Betonim in the north, and even further north to Mahanaim and Lidebor.[l] 27 Gad also received the eastern half of the Jordan River valley, which had been ruled by King Sihon of Heshbon. This territory stretched as far north as Lake Galilee,[m] and included the towns of Beth-Haram, Beth-Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon. 28 These regions with their towns and villages were given to the Gad tribe.

The Land Moses Gave to Half the Manasseh Tribe

29 Moses gave land east of the Jordan River to half of the clans from the Manasseh tribe. 30-31 Their land started at Mahanaim and took in the region that King Og of Bashan had ruled, including Ashtaroth and Edrei, the two towns where he had lived. The villages where the Jair clan settled were part of Manasseh's land, and so was the northern half of the region of Gilead. The clans of this half of Manasseh had 60 towns in all.

The Manasseh tribe is sometimes called the Machir tribe, after Manasseh's son Machir.

32 That was how Moses divided up the Moab Plains to the east of Jericho on the other side of the Jordan River, so these two and a half tribes would have land of their own. 33 (D) But Moses did not give any land to the Levi tribe, because the Lord had promised that he would always provide for them.

The Land West of the Jordan River

14 1-5 (E) Nine and a half tribes still did not have any land, although two and a half tribes had already received land east of the Jordan River. Moses had divided that land among them, and he had also said that the Levi tribe would not receive a large region like the other tribes. Instead, the people of Levi would receive towns and the nearby pastures for their sheep, goats, and cattle. And since the descendants of Joseph had become the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, there were still nine and a half tribes that needed land. The Lord had told Moses that he would show those tribes[n] how to divide up the land of Canaan.

When the priest Eleazar, Joshua, and the leaders of the families and tribes of Israel met to divide up the land of Canaan, the Lord showed them how to do it.

Joshua Gives Hebron to Caleb

6 (F) One day while the Israelites were still camped at Gilgal, Caleb the son of Jephunneh went to talk with Joshua. Caleb belonged to the Kenaz clan, and many other people from the Judah tribe went with Caleb. He told Joshua:

You know that back in Kadesh-Barnea the Lord talked to his prophet Moses about you and me. 7 (G) I was 40 years old at the time Moses sent me from Kadesh-Barnea into Canaan as a spy. When I came back and told him about the land, everything I said was true. 8 The other spies said things that made our people afraid, but I completely trusted the Lord God. 9 (H) The same day I came back, Moses told me, “Since you were faithful to the Lord God, I promise that the places where you went as a spy will belong to you and your descendants forever.”

10 Joshua, it was 45 years ago that the Lord told Moses to make that promise, and now I am 85. Even though Israel has moved from place to place in the desert, the Lord has kept me alive all this time as he said he would. 11 I'm just as strong today as I was then, and I can still fight as well in battle.

12 So I'm asking you for the hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You were there. You heard the other spies talk about that part of the hill country and the large, walled towns where the Anakim[o] live. But maybe the Lord will help me take their land, just as he promised.

13 Joshua prayed that God would help Caleb, then he gave Hebron to Caleb and his descendants. 14 And Hebron still belongs to Caleb's descendants, because he was faithful to the Lord God of Israel.

15 Hebron used to be called Arba's Town,[p] because Arba had been one of the greatest[q] of the Anakim.

There was peace in the land.

Judah's Land

15 The clans of the Judah tribe were given land that went south along the border of Edom, and at its farthest point south it even reached the Zin Desert. 2 Judah's southern border started at the south end of the Dead Sea. 3 As it went west from there, it ran south of Scorpion Pass[r] to Zin, and then came up from the south to Kadesh-Barnea. It continued past Hezron up to Addar, turned toward Karka, 4 and ran along to Azmon. After that, it followed the Egyptian Gorge and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was also Israel's southern border.

5 Judah's eastern border ran the full length of the Dead Sea.

The northern border started at the northern end of the Dead Sea.[s] 6 From there it went west up to Beth-Hoglah, continued north of Beth-Arabah, and went up to the Monument of Bohan,[t] who belonged to the Reuben tribe. 7 From there, it went to Trouble Valley[u] and Debir,[v] then turned north and went to Gilgal,[w] which is on the north side of the valley across from Adummim Pass. It continued on to Enshemesh, Enrogel, 8 and up through Hinnom Valley on the land sloping south from Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem itself belonged to the Jebusites.

Next, the border went up to the top of the mountain on the west side of Hinnom Valley and at the north end of Rephaim Valley. 9 At the top of the mountain it turned and went to Nephtoah Spring and then to the ruins[x] on Mount Ephron. From there, it went to Baalah, which is now called Kiriath-Jearim.

10 From Baalah the northern border curved west to Mount Seir and then ran along the northern ridge of Mount Jearim, where Chesalon is located. Then it went down to Beth-Shemesh[y] and over to Timnah. 11 It continued along to the hillside north of Ekron, curved around to Shikkeron, and then went to Mount Baalah. After going to Jabneel, the border finally ended at the Mediterranean Sea, 12 which was Judah's western border.

The clans of Judah lived within these borders.

Caleb's Land

(Judges 1.12-15)

13 (I) Joshua gave Caleb some land among the people of Judah, as God had told him to do. Caleb's share was Hebron, which at that time was known as Arba's Town,[z] because Arba was the famous ancestor of the Anakim.[aa]

14 Caleb attacked Hebron and forced the three Anakim clans of[ab] Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai to leave. 15 Next, Caleb started a war with the town of Debir, which at that time was called Kiriath-Sepher. 16 He told his men, “The man who captures Kiriath-Sepher can marry my daughter Achsah.”

17 Caleb's nephew Othniel[ac] captured Kiriath-Sepher, and Caleb let him marry Achsah. 18 Right after the wedding, Achsah started telling Othniel that he[ad] ought to ask her father for a field. She went to see her father, and while she was getting down from[ae] her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What's bothering you?”

19 She answered, “I need your help. The land you gave me is in the Southern Desert, so I really need some spring-fed ponds[af] for a water supply.”

Caleb gave her a couple of small ponds, named Higher Pond and Lower Pond.[ag]

Towns in Judah's Land

20 The following is a list of the towns in each region given to the Judah clans:

21-32 The first region was located in the Southern Desert along the border with Edom, and it had the following 29 towns with their surrounding villages:

Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Aradah,[ah] Kedesh, Hazor of Ithnan,[ai] Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor-Hadattah, Kerioth-Hezron, which is also called Hazor, Amam, Shema, Moladah, Hazar-Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-Pelet, Hazar-Shual, Beersheba and its surrounding villages,[aj] Baalah, Iim, Ezem, Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, Lebaoth, Shilhim, and Enrimmon.[ak]

33-36 The second region was located in the northern part of the lower foothills, and it had the following 14 towns with their surrounding villages:

Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En-Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim.

37-41 The third region was located in the southern part of the lower foothills, and it had the following 16 towns with their surrounding villages:

Zenan, Hadashah, Migdalgad, Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Cabbon, Lahmas,[al] Chitlish, Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah.

42-44 The fourth region was located in the central part of the lower foothills, and it had the following nine towns with their surrounding villages:

Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah.

45-47 The fifth region was located along the Mediterranean seacoast, and it had the following towns with their surrounding settlements and villages:

Ekron and the towns between there and the coast, Ashdod and the larger towns nearby, Gaza, the towns from Gaza to the Egyptian Gorge, and the towns along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

48-51 The sixth region was in the southwestern part of the hill country, and it had the following eleven towns with their surrounding villages:

Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, Dannah, Kiriath-Sannah, which is now called Debir, Anab, Eshtemoh,[am] Anim, Goshen, Holon, and Giloh.

52-54 The seventh region was located in the south-central part of Judah's hill country, and it had the following nine towns with their surrounding villages:

Arab, Dumah,[an] Eshan, Janim, Beth-Tappuah, Aphekah, Humtah, Kiriath-Arba, which is now called Hebron, and Zior.

55-57 The eighth region was located in the southeastern part of the hill country, and it had the following ten towns with their surrounding villages:

Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel,[ao] Jokdeam,[ap] Zanoah, Kain, Gibeah,[aq] and Timnah.

58-59 The ninth region was located in the central part of Judah's hill country, and it had the following six towns with their surrounding villages:

Halhul, Beth-Zur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon.

The tenth region was located in the north-central part of Judah's hill country, and it had the following eleven towns with their surrounding villages:

Tekoa, Ephrath, which is also called Bethlehem, Peor, Etam, Culon, Tatam, Shoresh, Kerem, Gallim, Bether, and Manahath.[ar]

60 The eleventh region was located in the northern part of Judah's hill country, and it had the following two towns with their surrounding villages:

Rabbah, and Kiriath-Baal, which is also called Kiriath-Jearim.

61-62 The twelfth region was located in the desert along the Dead Sea, and it had the following six towns with their surrounding villages:

Beth-Arabah, Middin, Secacah, Nibshan, Salt Town, and En-Gedi.

The Jebusites

63 (J) The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem, and the people of the Judah tribe could not capture the city and get rid of them. That's why Jebusites still live in Jerusalem along with the people of Judah.[as]

Ephraim's Land

16 1-4 Ephraim and Manasseh are the two tribes descended from Joseph, and the following is a description of the land they received. The southern border of their land started at the Jordan River east of the spring at Jericho. From there it went west through the desert up to the hill country around Bethel. From Bethel it went to Luz and then[at] to the border of the Archites in Ataroth.[au] It continued west down to the land that belonged to the Japhlet clan, then went on to Lower Beth-Horon, Gezer, and the Mediterranean Sea.

5 The following is a description of the land that was divided among the clans of the Ephraim tribe. Their southern border started at Ataroth-Addar and went west to Upper Beth-Horon 6-8 and the Mediterranean Sea. Their northern border started on the east at Janoah, curved a little to the north, then came back south to Michmethath and Tappuah, where it followed the Kanah Gorge west to the Mediterranean Sea.

The eastern border started on the north near Janoah and went between Janoah on the southwest and Taanath-Shiloh on the northeast. Then it went south to Ataroth, Naarah, and on as far as the edge of the land that belonged to Jericho. At that point it turned east and went to the Jordan River. The clans of Ephraim received this region as their tribal land. 9 Ephraim also had some towns and villages that were inside Manasseh's tribal land.

10 (K) Ephraim could not force the Canaanites out of Gezer, so there are still some Canaanites who live there among the Israelites. But now these Canaanites have to work as slaves for the Israelites.

Footnotes

  1. 13.2-7 Geshurites: Not the same Geshur as in 12.5 and 13.11. One ancient translation has “Gezerites.” Gezer was a town north of Ekron that the Israelites did not capture (see Judges 1.29).
  2. 13.2-7 Aphek: Not the same Aphek as in 12.9-24.
  3. 13.2-7 Amorite border: What had been the southern border of the old Amorite kingdom of Amurru.
  4. 13.2-7 Hamath Pass: Or “Lebo-Hamath.”
  5. 13.2-7 Misrephoth-Maim: Or “Misrephoth” or “the Misrephoth River.”
  6. 13.2-7 Gebalites: Gebal was another name for Byblos.
  7. 13.2-7 from … Sea: One ancient translation; the Hebrew text does not have these words.
  8. 13.11,12 Rephaim: See the note at 12.4.
  9. 13.11,12 Sihon … people: Or “the Rephaim.”
  10. 13.25 Aroer: Not the same town as the Aroer in verse 16.
  11. 13.25 Rabbah: The capital city of Ammon.
  12. 13.26 Lidebor: This may be another name for Lo-Debar, a town a few kilometers east of the Jordan River and about 16 kilometers south of Lake Galilee.
  13. 13.27 Lake Galilee: See the note at 11.2.
  14. 14.1-5 he would show those tribes: The Hebrew text has “those tribes must cast lots to find out.” Pieces of wood or stone (called “lots”) were used to find out what God wanted his people to do.
  15. 14.12 Anakim: See the note at 11.21.
  16. 14.15 Arba's Town: Or “Kiriath-Arba.”
  17. 14.15 Arba's Town, because … greatest: Hebrew; one ancient translation “Arba's Town. It was one of the main towns.”
  18. 15.3 Scorpion Pass: Or “Akrabbim Pass.”
  19. 15.5 at … Dead Sea: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  20. 15.6 Monument of Bohan: Or “Bohan Rock,” possibly a natural rock formation.
  21. 15.7 Trouble Valley: Or “Achor Valley.”
  22. 15.7 Debir: Not the same town as in 10.38,39.
  23. 15.7 Gilgal: Not the same “Gilgal” as in 4.19.
  24. 15.9 ruins: Hebrew; one ancient translation “towns.”
  25. 15.10 Beth-Shemesh: Probably the same town as the Ir-Shemesh of 19.41-46. Two other towns were also named Beth-Shemesh (see 19.17-23 and 19.35-39).
  26. 15.13 Arba's Town: See the note at 14.15.
  27. 15.13 Anakim: See the note at 11.21.
  28. 15.14 clans of: Or “warriors.”
  29. 15.17 Caleb's nephew Othniel: Hebrew “Othniel the son of Caleb's brother Kenaz.”
  30. 15.18 Achsah … Othniel … he: Hebrew; one manuscript of one ancient translation and two ancient translations of the parallel in Judges 1.14 “Othniel … Achsah … she.”
  31. 15.18 getting down from: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  32. 15.19 spring-fed ponds: Or “wells.”
  33. 15.19 small ponds … Pond … Pond: Or “wells … Well … Well.”
  34. 15.21-32 Aradah: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  35. 15.21-32 Hazor of Ithnan: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Hazor and Ithnan.”
  36. 15.21-32 its … villages: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Biziothiah.”
  37. 15.21-32 Enrimmon: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Ain and Rimmon.”
  38. 15.37-41 Lahmas: Most Hebrew manuscripts; many other Hebrew manuscripts and one manuscript of one ancient translation “Lahmam.”
  39. 15.48-51 Eshtemoh: Another spelling for the name Eshtemoa (see 21.9-19).
  40. 15.52-54 Dumah: Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and one ancient translation “Rumah.”
  41. 15.55-57 Jezreel: Not the same Jezreel as in 19.17-23.
  42. 15.55-57 Jokdeam: Hebrew; one ancient translation “Jorkeam.”
  43. 15.55-57 Gibeah: Not the same Gibeah as in 18.25-28.
  44. 15.58,59 The tenth region … Manahath: One ancient translation; the Hebrew text does not have these words.
  45. 15.63 Jebusites … Judah: Israel captured Jerusalem in King David's time, but even then the Jebusites were not forced to leave.
  46. 16.1-4 it … then: Or “which is also called Luz, it went.”
  47. 16.1-4 Ataroth: This is the same Ataroth as Ataroth-Addar in verse 5, but a different Ataroth from the one in verses 6-8.
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Joshua 13-16
New International Version

Land Still to Be Taken

13 When Joshua had grown old,(A) the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

2 “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines(B) and Geshurites,(C) 3 from the Shihor River(D) on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron(E) on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers(F) in Gaza, Ashdod,(G) Ashkelon,(H) Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites(I) 4 on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek(J) and the border of the Amorites;(K) 5 the area of Byblos;(L) and all Lebanon(M) to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon(N) to Lebo Hamath.(O)

6 “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim,(P) that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out(Q) before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you,(R) 7 and divide it as an inheritance(S) among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

Division of the Land East of the Jordan

8 The other half of Manasseh,[a] the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assigned(T) it to them.(U)

9 It extended from Aroer(V) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau(W) of Medeba as far as Dibon,(X) 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon,(Y) out to the border of the Ammonites.(Z) 11 It also included Gilead,(AA) the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah(AB)— 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan,(AC) who had reigned in Ashtaroth(AD) and Edrei.(AE) (He was the last of the Rephaites.(AF)) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land.(AG) 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur(AH) and Maakah,(AI) so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.(AJ)

14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.(AK)

15 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans:

16 The territory from Aroer(AL) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba(AM) 17 to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau,(AN) including Dibon,(AO) Bamoth Baal,(AP) Beth Baal Meon,(AQ) 18 Jahaz,(AR) Kedemoth,(AS) Mephaath,(AT) 19 Kiriathaim,(AU) Sibmah,(AV) Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor,(AW) the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— 21 all the towns on the plateau(AX) and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs,(AY) Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba(AZ)—princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor,(BA) who practiced divination.(BB) 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans.(BC)

24 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans:

25 The territory of Jazer,(BD) all the towns of Gilead(BE) and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;(BF) 26 and from Heshbon(BG) to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim(BH) to the territory of Debir;(BI) 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah,(BJ) Sukkoth(BK) and Zaphon(BL) with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Galilee[b](BM)). 28 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites,(BN) according to their clans.

29 This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans:

30 The territory extending from Mahanaim(BO) and including all of Bashan,(BP) the entire realm of Og king of Bashan(BQ)—all the settlements of Jair(BR) in Bashan, sixty towns, 31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan).(BS) This was for the descendants of Makir(BT) son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans.(BU)

32 This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab(BV) across the Jordan east of Jericho.(BW) 33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance;(BX) the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance,(BY) as he promised them.(BZ)

Division of the Land West of the Jordan

14 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance(CA) in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar(CB) the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel(CC) allotted(CD) to them.(CE) 2 Their inheritances were assigned by lot(CF) to the nine and a half tribes,(CG) as the Lord had commanded through Moses. 3 Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan(CH) but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,(CI) 4 for Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim.(CJ) The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.(CK) 5 So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.(CL)

Allotment for Caleb

6 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,(CM) and Caleb son of Jephunneh(CN) the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God(CO) at Kadesh Barnea(CP) about you and me.(CQ) 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea(CR) to explore the land.(CS) And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,(CT) 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.(CU) I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.(CV) 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance(CW) and that of your children(CX) forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’[c]

10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised,(CY) he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved(CZ) about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!(DA) 11 I am still as strong(DB) today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous(DC) to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.(DD) You yourself heard then that the Anakites(DE) were there and their cities were large and fortified,(DF) but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed(DG) Caleb son of Jephunneh(DH) and gave him Hebron(DI) as his inheritance.(DJ) 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.(DK) 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba(DL) after Arba,(DM) who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest(DN) from war.

Allotment for Judah(DO)

15 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom,(DP) to the Desert of Zin(DQ) in the extreme south.(DR)

2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea,(DS) 3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass,(DT) continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea.(DU) Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. 4 It then passed along to Azmon(DV) and joined the Wadi of Egypt,(DW) ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their[d] southern boundary.

5 The eastern boundary(DX) is the Dead Sea(DY) as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern boundary(DZ) started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 6 went up to Beth Hoglah(EA) and continued north of Beth Arabah(EB) to the Stone of Bohan(EC) son of Reuben. 7 The boundary then went up to Debir(ED) from the Valley of Achor(EE) and turned north to Gilgal,(EF) which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh(EG) and came out at En Rogel.(EH) 8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom(EI) along the southern slope of the Jebusite(EJ) city (that is, Jerusalem(EK)). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley(EL) at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.(EM) 9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah,(EN) came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah(EO) (that is, Kiriath Jearim).(EP) 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah(EQ) to Mount Seir,(ER) ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh(ES) and crossed to Timnah.(ET) 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron,(EU) turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah(EV) and reached Jabneel.(EW) The boundary ended at the sea.

12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(EX)

These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

13 In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb(EY) son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba(EZ), that is, Hebron.(FA) (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)(FB) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites(FC)—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai,(FD) the sons of Anak.(FE) 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah(FF) in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 17 Othniel(FG) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.

18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him[e] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

19 She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev,(FH) give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.(FI)

20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans:

21 The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev(FJ) toward the boundary of Edom were:

Kabzeel,(FK) Eder,(FL) Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh,(FM) Hazor,(FN) Ithnan, 24 Ziph,(FO) Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),(FP) 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,(FQ) 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual,(FR) Beersheba,(FS) Biziothiah, 29 Baalah,(FT) Iyim, Ezem,(FU) 30 Eltolad,(FV) Kesil, Hormah,(FW) 31 Ziklag,(FX) Madmannah,(FY) Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain(FZ) and Rimmon(GA)—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

33 In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,(GB) Zorah,(GC) Ashnah,(GD) 34 Zanoah,(GE) En Gannim,(GF) Tappuah,(GG) Enam, 35 Jarmuth,(GH) Adullam,(GI) Sokoh,(GJ) Azekah,(GK) 36 Shaaraim,(GL) Adithaim and Gederah(GM) (or Gederothaim)[f]—fourteen towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah,(GN) Joktheel,(GO) 39 Lachish,(GP) Bozkath,(GQ) Eglon,(GR) 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,(GS) Beth Dagon,(GT) Naamah and Makkedah(GU)—sixteen towns and their villages.

42 Libnah,(GV) Ether, Ashan,(GW) 43 Iphtah, Ashnah,(GX) Nezib, 44 Keilah,(GY) Akzib(GZ) and Mareshah(HA)—nine towns and their villages.

45 Ekron,(HB) with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,(HC) together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,(HD) its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt(HE) and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(HF)

48 In the hill country:

Shamir,(HG) Jattir,(HH) Sokoh,(HI) 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir(HJ)), 50 Anab,(HK) Eshtemoh,(HL) Anim, 51 Goshen,(HM) Holon(HN) and Giloh(HO)—eleven towns and their villages.

52 Arab, Dumah,(HP) Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba(HQ) (that is, Hebron) and Zior—nine towns and their villages.

55 Maon,(HR) Carmel,(HS) Ziph,(HT) Juttah,(HU) 56 Jezreel,(HV) Jokdeam, Zanoah,(HW) 57 Kain, Gibeah(HX) and Timnah(HY)—ten towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur,(HZ) Gedor,(IA) 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[g]

60 Kiriath Baal(IB) (that is, Kiriath Jearim(IC)) and Rabbah(ID)—two towns and their villages.

61 In the wilderness:(IE)

Beth Arabah,(IF) Middin, Sekakah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi(IG)—six towns and their villages.

63 Judah could not(IH) dislodge the Jebusites(II), who were living in Jerusalem;(IJ) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.(IK)

Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

16 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert(IL) into the hill country of Bethel.(IM) 2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(IN)),[h] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(IO) in Ataroth,(IP) 3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon(IQ) and on to Gezer,(IR) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.(IS)

5 This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans:

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar(IT) in the east to Upper Beth Horon(IU) 6 and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath(IV) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah(IW) on the east. 7 Then it went down from Janoah(IX) to Ataroth(IY) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah(IZ) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine(JA) and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. 9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.(JB)

10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.(JC)

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 13:8 Hebrew With it (that is, with the other half of Manasseh)
  2. Joshua 13:27 Hebrew Kinnereth
  3. Joshua 14:9 Deut. 1:36
  4. Joshua 15:4 Septuagint; Hebrew your
  5. Joshua 15:18 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) Othniel, he urged her
  6. Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim
  7. Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).
  8. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
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