Joshua 16-19

New International Version

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^(A) into the hill country of Bethel.^(B) ²It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz^(C)),^[a] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites^(D) in Ataroth,^(E) ³descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon^(F) and on to Gezer,^(G) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

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

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

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar^(I) in the east to Upper Beth Horon^(J) ⁶and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath^(K) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah^(L) on the east. ⁷Then it went down from Janoah^(M) to Ataroth^(N) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. ⁸From Tappuah^(O) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine^(P) 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.^(Q)

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.^(R)

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh^(S) as Joseph’s firstborn,^(T) that is, for Makir,^(U) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead^(V) and Bashan^(W) because the Makirites were great soldiers. ²So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh^(X)—the clans of Abiezer,^(Y) Helek, Asriel,^(Z) Shechem, Hepher^(AA) and Shemida.^(AB) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

³Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,^(AC) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,^(AD) 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.^(AE) ⁵Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,^(AF) 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^(AG) to Mikmethath^(AH) east of Shechem.^(AI) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. ⁸(Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah^(AJ) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) ⁹Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.^(AK) 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^(AL) on the north and Issachar^(AM) on the east.^(AN)

¹¹Within Issachar^(AO) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,^(AP) Ibleam^(AQ) and the people of Dor,^(AR) Endor,^(AS) Taanach^(AT) and Megiddo,^(AU) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth^[b]).^(AV)

¹²Yet the Manassites were not able^(AW) 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.^(AX)

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.”^(AY)

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^(AZ) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites^(BA) and Rephaites.^(BB)”

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,^(BC) both those in Beth Shan^(BD) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”^(BE)

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^(BF) ¹⁸but the forested hill country^(BG) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron^(BH) 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^(BI) and set up the tent of meeting^(BJ) 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,^(BK) according to the inheritance of each.^(BL) 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^(BM) and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.^(BN) ⁶After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots^(BO) 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.^(BP) 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.^(BQ)”

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.^(BR) Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh^(BS) 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^(BT) for them in Shiloh in the presence^(BU) of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.^(BV)

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^(BW) of Beth Aven.^(BX) ¹³From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz^(BY) (that is, Bethel^(BZ)) and went down to Ataroth Addar^(CA) on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.

¹⁴From the hill facing Beth Horon^(CB) on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim),^(CC) 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.^(CD) ¹⁶The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim.^(CE) It continued down the Hinnom Valley^(CF) along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.^(CG) ¹⁷It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth,^(CH) which faces the Pass of Adummim,^(CI) and ran down to the Stone of Bohan^(CJ) son of Reuben. ¹⁸It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah^[c]^(CK) and on down into the Arabah.^(CL) ¹⁹It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah^(CM) and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,^(CN) 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.^(CO)

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

Jericho, Beth Hoglah,^(CP) Emek Keziz, ²²Beth Arabah,^(CQ) Zemaraim,^(CR) Bethel,^(CS) ²³Avvim,^(CT) Parah, Ophrah,^(CU) ²⁴Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba^(CV)—twelve towns and their villages.

²⁵Gibeon,^(CW) Ramah,^(CX) Beeroth,^(CY) ²⁶Mizpah,^(CZ) Kephirah,^(DA) Mozah, ²⁷Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, ²⁸Zelah,^(DB) Haeleph, the Jebusite city^(DC) (that is, Jerusalem^(DD)), Gibeah^(DE) and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.^(DF)

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

Allotment for Simeon^(DH)

19 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah.^(DI) ²It included:

Beersheba^(DJ) (or Sheba),^[d] Moladah,^(DK) ³Hazar Shual,^(DL) Balah, Ezem,^(DM) ⁴Eltolad,^(DN) Bethul, Hormah,^(DO) ⁵Ziklag,^(DP) Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, ⁶Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;

⁷Ain, Rimmon,^(DQ) Ether and Ashan^(DR)—four towns and their villages— ⁸and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev).^(DS)

This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, according to its clans. ⁹The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah,^(DT) because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.^(DU)

Allotment for Zebulun

¹⁰The third lot came up for Zebulun^(DV) according to its clans:

The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid.^(DW) ¹¹Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.^(DX) ¹²It turned east from Sarid^(DY) toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath^(DZ) and up to Japhia. ¹³Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher^(EA) and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon^(EB) and turned toward Neah. ¹⁴There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.^(EC) ¹⁵Included were Kattath, Nahalal,^(ED) Shimron,^(EE) Idalah and Bethlehem.^(EF) There were twelve towns and their villages.

¹⁶These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun,^(EG) according to its clans.^(EH)

Allotment for Issachar

¹⁷The fourth lot came out for Issachar^(EI) according to its clans. ¹⁸Their territory included:

Jezreel,^(EJ) Kesulloth, Shunem,^(EK) ¹⁹Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, ²⁰Rabbith, Kishion,^(EL) Ebez, ²¹Remeth, En Gannim,^(EM) En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. ²²The boundary touched Tabor,^(EN) Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh,^(EO) and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages.

²³These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar,^(EP) according to its clans.^(EQ)

Allotment for Asher

²⁴The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher^(ER) according to its clans. ²⁵Their territory included:

Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph,^(ES) ²⁶Allammelek, Amad and Mishal.^(ET) On the west the boundary touched Carmel^(EU) and Shihor Libnath. ²⁷It then turned east toward Beth Dagon,^(EV) touched Zebulun^(EW) and the Valley of Iphtah El,^(EX) and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul^(EY) on the left. ²⁸It went to Abdon,^[e]^(EZ) Rehob,^(FA) Hammon^(FB) and Kanah,^(FC) as far as Greater Sidon.^(FD) ²⁹The boundary then turned back toward Ramah^(FE) and went to the fortified city of Tyre,^(FF) turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea^(FG) in the region of Akzib,^(FH) ³⁰Ummah, Aphek^(FI) and Rehob.^(FJ) There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

³¹These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher,^(FK) according to its clans.

Allotment for Naphtali

³²The sixth lot came out for Naphtali according to its clans:

³³Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim,^(FL) passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel^(FM) to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. ³⁴The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok.^(FN) It touched Zebulun^(FO) on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan^[f] on the east. ³⁵The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath,^(FP) Rakkath, Kinnereth,^(FQ) ³⁶Adamah, Ramah,^(FR) Hazor,^(FS) ³⁷Kedesh,^(FT) Edrei,^(FU) En Hazor, ³⁸Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath^(FV) and Beth Shemesh.^(FW) There were nineteen towns and their villages.

³⁹These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, according to its clans.^(FX)

Allotment for Dan

⁴⁰The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its clans. ⁴¹The territory of their inheritance included:

Zorah, Eshtaol,^(FY) Ir Shemesh, ⁴²Shaalabbin, Aijalon,^(FZ) Ithlah, ⁴³Elon, Timnah,^(GA) Ekron,^(GB) ⁴⁴Eltekeh, Gibbethon,^(GC) Baalath,^(GD) ⁴⁵Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,^(GE) ⁴⁶Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.^(GF)

⁴⁷(When the territory of the Danites was lost to them,^(GG) they went up and attacked Leshem^(GH), took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named^(GI) it Dan after their ancestor.)^(GJ)

⁴⁸These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan,^(GK) according to its clans.

Allotment for Joshua

⁴⁹When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, ⁵⁰as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah^[g]^(GL) in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

⁵¹These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing^(GM) the land.^(GN)

Footnotes

Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor
Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah
Joshua 19:2 Or Beersheba, Sheba; 1 Chron. 4:28 does not have Sheba.
Joshua 19:28 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 21:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Ebron
Joshua 19:34 Septuagint; Hebrew west, and Judah, the Jordan,
Joshua 19:50 Also known as Timnath Heres (see Judges 2:9)