Joshua 13:6-18:28

New International Version

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

Division of the Land East of the Jordan

⁸The 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^(E) it to them.^(F)

⁹It extended from Aroer^(G) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau^(H) of Medeba as far as Dibon,^(I) ¹⁰and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon,^(J) out to the border of the Ammonites.^(K) ¹¹It also included Gilead,^(L) the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah^(M)— ¹²that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan,^(N) who had reigned in Ashtaroth^(O) and Edrei.^(P) (He was the last of the Rephaites.^(Q)) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land.^(R) ¹³But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur^(S) and Maakah,^(T) so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.^(U)

¹⁴But 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.^(V)

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

¹⁶The territory from Aroer^(W) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba^(X) ¹⁷to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau,^(Y) including Dibon,^(Z) Bamoth Baal,^(AA) Beth Baal Meon,^(AB) ¹⁸Jahaz,^(AC) Kedemoth,^(AD) Mephaath,^(AE) ¹⁹Kiriathaim,^(AF) Sibmah,^(AG) Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, ²⁰Beth Peor,^(AH) the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— ²¹all the towns on the plateau^(AI) and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs,^(AJ) Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba^(AK)—princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. ²²In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor,^(AL) who practiced divination.^(AM) ²³The 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.^(AN)

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

²⁵The territory of Jazer,^(AO) all the towns of Gilead^(AP) and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;^(AQ) ²⁶and from Heshbon^(AR) to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim^(AS) to the territory of Debir;^(AT) ²⁷and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah,^(AU) Sukkoth^(AV) and Zaphon^(AW) 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]^(AX)). ²⁸These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites,^(AY) according to their clans.

²⁹This 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:

³⁰The territory extending from Mahanaim^(AZ) and including all of Bashan,^(BA) the entire realm of Og king of Bashan^(BB)—all the settlements of Jair^(BC) in Bashan, sixty towns, ³¹half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan).^(BD) This was for the descendants of Makir^(BE) son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans.^(BF)

³²This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab^(BG) across the Jordan east of Jericho.^(BH) ³³But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance;^(BI) the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance,^(BJ) as he promised them.^(BK)

Division of the Land West of the Jordan

14 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance^(BL) in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar^(BM) the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel^(BN) allotted^(BO) to them.^(BP) ²Their inheritances were assigned by lot^(BQ) to the nine and a half tribes,^(BR) as the Lord had commanded through Moses. ³Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan^(BS) but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,^(BT) ⁴for Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim.^(BU) The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.^(BV) ⁵So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.^(BW)

Allotment for Caleb

⁶Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,^(BX) and Caleb son of Jephunneh^(BY) the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God^(BZ) at Kadesh Barnea^(CA) about you and me.^(CB) ⁷I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea^(CC) to explore the land.^(CD) And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,^(CE) ⁸but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.^(CF) I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.^(CG) ⁹So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance^(CH) and that of your children^(CI) forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’^[c]

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

¹³Then Joshua blessed^(CR) Caleb son of Jephunneh^(CS) and gave him Hebron^(CT) as his inheritance.^(CU) ¹⁴So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.^(CV) ¹⁵(Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba^(CW) after Arba,^(CX) who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest^(CY) from war.

Allotment for Judah^(CZ)

15 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom,^(DA) to the Desert of Zin^(DB) in the extreme south.^(DC)

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

⁵The eastern boundary^(DI) is the Dead Sea^(DJ) as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern boundary^(DK) started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, ⁶went up to Beth Hoglah^(DL) and continued north of Beth Arabah^(DM) to the Stone of Bohan^(DN) son of Reuben. ⁷The boundary then went up to Debir^(DO) from the Valley of Achor^(DP) and turned north to Gilgal,^(DQ) which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh^(DR) and came out at En Rogel.^(DS) ⁸Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom^(DT) along the southern slope of the Jebusite^(DU) city (that is, Jerusalem^(DV)). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley^(DW) at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.^(DX) ⁹From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah,^(DY) came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah^(DZ) (that is, Kiriath Jearim).^(EA) ¹⁰Then it curved westward from Baalah^(EB) to Mount Seir,^(EC) ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh^(ED) and crossed to Timnah.^(EE) ¹¹It went to the northern slope of Ekron,^(EF) turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah^(EG) and reached Jabneel.^(EH) The boundary ended at the sea.

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

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

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

¹⁸One 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?”

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

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

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

Kabzeel,^(EV) Eder,^(EW) Jagur, ²²Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, ²³Kedesh,^(EX) Hazor,^(EY) Ithnan, ²⁴Ziph,^(EZ) Telem, Bealoth, ²⁵Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),^(FA) ²⁶Amam, Shema, Moladah,^(FB) ²⁷Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, ²⁸Hazar Shual,^(FC) Beersheba,^(FD) Biziothiah, ²⁹Baalah,^(FE) Iyim, Ezem,^(FF) ³⁰Eltolad,^(FG) Kesil, Hormah,^(FH) ³¹Ziklag,^(FI) Madmannah,^(FJ) Sansannah, ³²Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain^(FK) and Rimmon^(FL)—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

³³In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,^(FM) Zorah,^(FN) Ashnah,^(FO) ³⁴Zanoah,^(FP) En Gannim,^(FQ) Tappuah,^(FR) Enam, ³⁵Jarmuth,^(FS) Adullam,^(FT) Sokoh,^(FU) Azekah,^(FV) ³⁶Shaaraim,^(FW) Adithaim and Gederah^(FX) (or Gederothaim)^[f]—fourteen towns and their villages.

³⁷Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, ³⁸Dilean, Mizpah,^(FY) Joktheel,^(FZ) ³⁹Lachish,^(GA) Bozkath,^(GB) Eglon,^(GC) ⁴⁰Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, ⁴¹Gederoth,^(GD) Beth Dagon,^(GE) Naamah and Makkedah^(GF)—sixteen towns and their villages.

⁴²Libnah,^(GG) Ether, Ashan,^(GH) ⁴³Iphtah, Ashnah,^(GI) Nezib, ⁴⁴Keilah,^(GJ) Akzib^(GK) and Mareshah^(GL)—nine towns and their villages.

⁴⁵Ekron,^(GM) with its surrounding settlements and villages; ⁴⁶west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,^(GN) together with their villages; ⁴⁷Ashdod,^(GO) its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt^(GP) and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.^(GQ)

⁴⁸In the hill country:

Shamir,^(GR) Jattir,^(GS) Sokoh,^(GT) ⁴⁹Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir^(GU)), ⁵⁰Anab,^(GV) Eshtemoh,^(GW) Anim, ⁵¹Goshen,^(GX) Holon^(GY) and Giloh^(GZ)—eleven towns and their villages.

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

⁵⁵Maon,^(HC) Carmel,^(HD) Ziph,^(HE) Juttah,^(HF) ⁵⁶Jezreel,^(HG) Jokdeam, Zanoah,^(HH) ⁵⁷Kain, Gibeah^(HI) and Timnah^(HJ)—ten towns and their villages.

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

⁶⁰Kiriath Baal^(HM) (that is, Kiriath Jearim^(HN)) and Rabbah^(HO)—two towns and their villages.

⁶¹In the wilderness:^(HP)

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

⁶³Judah could not^(HS) dislodge the Jebusites^(HT), who were living in Jerusalem;^(HU) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.^(HV)

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^(HW) into the hill country of Bethel.^(HX) ²It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz^(HY)),^[h] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites^(HZ) in Ataroth,^(IA) ³descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon^(IB) and on to Gezer,^(IC) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

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

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

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar^(IE) in the east to Upper Beth Horon^(IF) ⁶and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath^(IG) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah^(IH) on the east. ⁷Then it went down from Janoah^(II) to Ataroth^(IJ) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. ⁸From Tappuah^(IK) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine^(IL) and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. ⁹It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.^(IM)

¹⁰They 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.^(IN)

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh^(IO) as Joseph’s firstborn,^(IP) that is, for Makir,^(IQ) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead^(IR) and Bashan^(IS) because the Makirites were great soldiers. ²So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh^(IT)—the clans of Abiezer,^(IU) Helek, Asriel,^(IV) Shechem, Hepher^(IW) and Shemida.^(IX) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

³Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,^(IY) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,^(IZ) whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. ⁴They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.^(JA) ⁵Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,^(JB) ⁶because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

⁷The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher^(JC) to Mikmethath^(JD) east of Shechem.^(JE) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. ⁸(Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah^(JF) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) ⁹Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.^(JG) There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. ¹⁰On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher^(JH) on the north and Issachar^(JI) on the east.^(JJ)

¹¹Within Issachar^(JK) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,^(JL) Ibleam^(JM) and the people of Dor,^(JN) Endor,^(JO) Taanach^(JP) and Megiddo,^(JQ) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth^[i]).^(JR)

¹²Yet the Manassites were not able^(JS) to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. ¹³However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.^(JT)

¹⁴The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”^(JU)

¹⁵“If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest^(JV) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites^(JW) and Rephaites.^(JX)”

¹⁶The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron,^(JY) both those in Beth Shan^(JZ) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”^(KA)

¹⁷But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment^(KB) ¹⁸but the forested hill country^(KC) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron^(KD) and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Division of the Rest of the Land

18 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh^(KE) and set up the tent of meeting^(KF) there. The country was brought under their control, ²but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

³So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you? ⁴Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it,^(KG) according to the inheritance of each.^(KH) Then they will return to me. ⁵You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south^(KI) and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.^(KJ) ⁶After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots^(KK) for you in the presence of the Lord our God. ⁷The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the Lord is their inheritance.^(KL) And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to them.^(KM)”

⁸As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it.^(KN) Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh^(KO) in the presence of the Lord.” ⁹So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. ¹⁰Joshua then cast lots^(KP) for them in Shiloh in the presence^(KQ) of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.^(KR)

Allotment for Benjamin

¹¹The first lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin according to its clans. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:

¹²On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the wilderness^(KS) of Beth Aven.^(KT) ¹³From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz^(KU) (that is, Bethel^(KV)) and went down to Ataroth Addar^(KW) on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.

¹⁴From the hill facing Beth Horon^(KX) on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim),^(KY) a town of the people of Judah. This was the western side.

¹⁵The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.^(KZ) ¹⁶The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim.^(LA) It continued down the Hinnom Valley^(LB) along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.^(LC) ¹⁷It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth,^(LD) which faces the Pass of Adummim,^(LE) and ran down to the Stone of Bohan^(LF) son of Reuben. ¹⁸It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah^[j]^(LG) and on down into the Arabah.^(LH) ¹⁹It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah^(LI) and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,^(LJ) at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary.

²⁰The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side.

These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides.^(LK)

²¹The tribe of Benjamin, according to its clans, had the following towns:

Jericho, Beth Hoglah,^(LL) Emek Keziz, ²²Beth Arabah,^(LM) Zemaraim,^(LN) Bethel,^(LO) ²³Avvim,^(LP) Parah, Ophrah,^(LQ) ²⁴Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba^(LR)—twelve towns and their villages.

²⁵Gibeon,^(LS) Ramah,^(LT) Beeroth,^(LU) ²⁶Mizpah,^(LV) Kephirah,^(LW) Mozah, ²⁷Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, ²⁸Zelah,^(LX) Haeleph, the Jebusite city^(LY) (that is, Jerusalem^(LZ)), Gibeah^(MA) and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.^(MB)

This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.^(MC)

Footnotes

Joshua 13:8 Hebrew With it (that is, with the other half of Manasseh)
Joshua 13:27 Hebrew Kinnereth
Joshua 14:9 Deut. 1:36
Joshua 15:4 Septuagint; Hebrew your
Joshua 15:18 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) Othniel, he urged her
Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim
Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).
Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor
Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah