Joshua 15
International Children’s Bible
Land for Judah
15 The land that was given to the tribe of Judah was divided among all the family groups. It went all the way to the Desert of Zin in the far south, at the border of Edom.
2 The southern border of Judah’s land started at the south end of the Dead Sea. 3 It went south of Scorpion Pass to Zin. From there it passed to the south of Kadesh Barnea. It continued past Hezron to Addar. From Addar it turned and went to Karka. 4 It continued to Azmon, the brook of Egypt and then to the Mediterranean Sea. This was the southern border.
5 The eastern border was the shore of the Dead Sea. It went as far as the area where the Jordan River flowed into the sea.
The northern border started at the area where the Jordan River flowed into the Dead Sea. 6 Then it went to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah. It continued to the stone of Bohan. Bohan was the son of Reuben. 7 Then the northern border went through the Valley of Achor to Debir. There it turned toward the north and went to Gilgal. Gilgal is across from the road that goes through the mountain of Adummim. It is on the south side of the ravine. The border continued along the waters of En Shemesh. It stopped at En Rogel. 8 Then it went through the Valley of Ben Hinnom. This is next to the southern side of the Jebusite city. (That city was called Jerusalem.) There the border went to the top of the hill on the west side of Hinnom Valley. This was at the northern end of the Valley of Giants. 9 From there it went to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah. Then it went to the cities near Mount Ephron. There it turned and went toward Baalah. (Baalah is also called Kiriath Jearim.) 10 At Baalah the border turned west and went toward Mount Edom. It continued along the north side of Mount Jearim (also called Kesalon) and came to Beth Shemesh. From there it went past Timnah. 11 Then it went to the hill north of Ekron. From there it turned toward Shikkeron and went past Mount Baalah. It continued on to Jabneel and ended at the sea.
12 The Mediterranean Sea was the western border. Inside these borders lived the family groups of Judah.
13 The Lord had commanded Joshua to give Caleb son of Jephunneh part of the land in Judah. So he gave Caleb the land God had commanded. He gave him the town of Kiriath Arba, also called Hebron. (Arba was the father of Anak.) 14 Caleb forced out the three Anakite families living in Hebron. Those families were Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. They were descendants of Anak. 15 Then he fought against the people living in Debir. (In the past Debir had been called Kiriath Sepher.) 16 Caleb said, “I want a man to attack and capture Kiriath Sepher. I will give him Acsah, my daughter, as a wife.” 17 Othniel son of Kenaz defeated the city. So Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to Othniel to be his wife. 18 Acsah wanted Othniel to ask her father Caleb for more land.
So Acsah went to her father. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?”
19 Acsah answered, “I would like a special favor. The land you gave me is very dry. So also give me land with springs of water on it.”
So Caleb gave her land with springs of water on the upper and lower part of it.
20 The tribe of Judah got the land God had promised them. Each family group got part of the land.
21 The tribe of Judah got all the towns in the southern part of Canaan. These towns were near the border of Edom. Here is a list of the towns: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor and Ithnan; 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah and Kerioth Hezron (also called Hazor); 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon and Beth Pelet; 28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Kesil and Hormah; 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon. There were 29 towns and all their fields.
33 The tribe of Judah got these towns in the western mountain slopes: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah and Enam; 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (also called Gederothaim). There were 14 towns and all their fields.
37 Judah was also given these towns in the western mountain slopes: Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath and Eglon; 40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah. There were 16 towns and all their fields.
42 Judah was also given these towns in the western mountain slopes: Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Aczib and Mareshah. There were nine towns and all their fields.
45 The tribe of Judah also got the town of Ekron and all the small towns and fields near it. 46 They also got the area west of Ekron and all the fields and towns near Ashdod. 47 Ashdod and all the small towns around it were part of the land of Judah. They also got the fields and towns around Gaza. Their land continued to the brook of Egypt. And it went on along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
48 The tribe of Judah was also given these towns in the mountains: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah and Kiriath Sannah (also called Debir); 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon and Giloh. There were 11 towns and all their fields.
52 They were also given these towns in the mountains: Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth Tappuah and Aphekah; 54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron) and Zior. There were 9 towns and all their fields.
55 Judah was also given these towns in the mountains: Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah and Timnah. There were 10 towns and all their fields.
58 They were also given these towns in the mountains: Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon. There were 6 towns and all their fields.
60 The people of Judah were also given the 2 towns of Rabbah and Kiriath Baal (also called Kiriath Jearim).
61 Judah was given towns in the desert. Here are those towns: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi. There were 6 towns and all their fields.
63 The army of Judah was not able to force out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites still live among the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.
Joshua 15
Christian Standard Bible
Judah’s Inheritance
15 Now the allotment for the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans(A) was in the southernmost region, south to the Wilderness of Zin and over to the border of Edom.
2 Their southern border began at the tip of the Dead Sea on the south bay[a] 3 and went south of the Scorpions’ Ascent, proceeded to Zin, ascended to the south of Kadesh-barnea, passed Hezron, ascended to Addar, and turned to Karka. 4 It proceeded to Azmon and to the Brook of Egypt(B) and so the border ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This is your[b] southern border.
5 Now the eastern border was along the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jordan.
The border on the north side was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. 6 It ascended to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and ascended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 7 Then the border ascended to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to the Gilgal that is opposite the Ascent of Adummim, which is south of the ravine. The border proceeded to the Waters of En-shemesh and ended at En-rogel. 8 From there the border ascended Ben Hinnom Valley to the southern Jebusite slope (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces Hinnom Valley on the west, at the northern end of Rephaim Valley. 9 From the top of the hill the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, went to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then curved to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim(C)). 10 The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.(D) 11 Then the border reached to the slope north of Ekron, curved to Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went to Jabneel, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.
12 Now the western border was the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
This was the boundary of the descendants of Judah around their clans.
Caleb and Othniel
13 He gave Caleb son of Jephunneh the following portion among the descendants of Judah based on the Lord’s instruction to Joshua: Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak). 14 Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak.(E) 15 From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir, which used to be called Kiriath-sepher,(F) 16 and Caleb said, “Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher, I will give my daughter Achsah to him as a wife.” 17 So Othniel(G) son of Caleb’s brother, Kenaz, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as a wife.(H) 18 When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” 19 She replied, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me the springs also.” So he gave her the upper and lower springs.
Judah’s Cities
20 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans.
21 These were the outermost cities of the tribe of the descendants of Judah toward the border of Edom in the Negev: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,(I) 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28 Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah,(J) 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,(K) 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, with their settlements.
33 In the Judean foothills:[c] Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah,[d] Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam,(L) Socoh,[e] Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim—fourteen cities, with their settlements; 37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 38 Dilan, Mizpeh, Jokthe-el, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities, with their settlements; 42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, with their settlements; 45 Ekron, with its surrounding villages and settlements; 46 from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, with their settlements; 47 Ashdod, with its surrounding villages and settlements; Gaza, with its surrounding villages and settlements, to the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities, with their settlements; 52 Arab, Dumah,[f] Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, with their settlements; 55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities, with their settlements; 58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six cities, with their settlements;[g] 60 Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah—two cities, with their settlements.
61 In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt,[h] and En-gedi—six cities, with their settlements.
63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem.(M) So the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah today.(N)
Footnotes
- 15:2 Lit Sea at the tongue that turns southward
- 15:4 LXX reads their
- 15:33 Or the Shephelah
- 15:34 Or En-gannim-tappuah
- 15:35 Or Adullam-socoh
- 15:52 Some Hb mss read Rumah
- 15:59 LXX adds Tekoa, Ephrathah (that is, Bethlehem), Peor, Etam, Culom, Tatam, Sores, Carem, Gallim, Baither, and Manach—eleven cities, with their settlements
- 15:62 Or Ir-hamelach
Joshua 15
Complete Jewish Bible
15 The territory chosen by lot for the tribe of the descendants of Y’hudah according to their families extended to the border of Edom in the Tzin Desert, toward the Negev in the far south.
2 Their southern border began at the far shore of the Dead Sea, from the bay facing southward, 3 and went out south of the Scorpion Ascent, passed toward Tzin, went up south of Kadesh-Barnea, passed Hetzron, went up toward Adar, turned toward Karka, 4 passed toward ‘Atzmon, and went out at the Vadi of Egypt, with the border ending at the sea; this will be your southern border.
5 The eastern border was the Dead Sea to where the Yarden entered it.
The northern border began at the bay of the sea at the end of the Yarden; 6 then the border went up to Beit-Hoglah and passed north of Beit-‘Aravah; next the border went up to the Stone of Bohan the son of Re’uven; 7 then the border went up to D’vir from the Akhor Valley, then northward facing Gilgal (that is, across from Ma‘alei-Adumim, which is on the south side of the vadi); next the border passed to the ‘Ein-Shemesh Spring and went out at ‘Ein-Rogel. 8 Then the border went up the Ben-Hinnom Valley to the south side of the Y’vusi (that is, Yerushalayim), and the border continued up to the top of the hill in front of the Hinnom Valley on the west (which is also at the northernmost end of the Refa’im Valley) 9 From this hilltop the border was drawn to the source of the Neftoach Spring and continued out to the cities of Mount ‘Efron; next the border was drawn to Ba‘alah (that is, Kiryat-Ye‘arim). 10 Then the border turned from Ba‘al westward to Mount Se‘ir, passed the spur of Mount Ye‘arim (also called K’salon) on the north, went down to Beit-Shemesh and passed Timnah. 11 Next the border went out toward the side of ‘Ekron northward; and finally, the border was drawn to Shikron, passed Mount Ba‘alah, and went out at Yavne’el, with the border ending at the sea.
12 As for the west border, the Great Sea was its border. These were the borders of the territory of the descendants of Y’hudah, by clans.
13 To Kalev the son of Y’funeh he gave a portion with the descendants of Y’hudah, as Adonai had ordered Y’hoshua, namely, Kiryat-Arba (Arba was the father of the ‘Anak), also called Hevron. 14 Kalev expelled from there three descendants of ‘Anak — Sheshai, Achiman and Talmai, children of ‘Anak. 15 From there he went up to fight the inhabitants of D’vir (D’vir was formerly called Kiryat-Sefer). 16 Kalev said, “To whoever overpowers Kiryat-Sefer and captures it I will give my daughter Akhsah as his wife.” 17 ‘Otni’el the son of K’naz, Kalev’s brother, captured it; so he gave him ‘Akhsah his daughter as his wife. 18 After becoming his wife, she persuaded him to ask her father to give them a field; when she got off her donkey, Kalev asked her, “What do you want?” 19 She said to him: “Give me a blessing: since you gave me land in the Negev, also give me sources of water.” So Kalev gave her the Upper Springs and the Lower Springs.
20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Y’hudah, by clans.
21 The cities at the outer part of the tribe of Y’hudah toward the border with Edom in the south were: Kavtze’el, ‘Eder, Yagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, ‘Ad‘adah, 23 Kedesh, Hatzor, Yitnan, 24 Zif, Telem, Be‘alot, 25 Hatzor, Hadatah, K’riot, Hetzron (which is Hatzor), 26 Amam, Sh’ma, Moladah, 27 Hatzar-Gadah, Heshmon, Beit-Pelet, 28 Hatzar-Shu‘al, Be’er-Sheva, Bizyot-Yah, 29 Ba‘alah, ‘Iyim, ‘Etzem, 30 El-Tolad, K’sil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmanah, Sansanah, 32 L’va’ot, Shilchim, ‘Ayin and Rimmon — twenty-nine cities in all, together with their villages.
33 In the Sh’felah: Eshta’ol, Tzor‘ah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoach, ‘Ein-Ganim, Tapuach, ‘Enam, 35 Yarmut, ‘Adulam, Sokhoh, ‘Azekah, 36 Sh’arim, ‘Aditayim, G’derah and G’derotayim — fourteen cities, together with their villages. 37 Tz’nan, Hadashah, Migdal-Gad, 38 Dil‘an, Mitzpeh, Yokte’el, 39 Lakhish, Bozkat, ‘Eglon, 40 Kabon, Lachmas, Kitlish, 41 G’derot, Beit-Dagon, Na‘amah and Makkedah — sixteen cities, together with their villages. 42 Livnah, ‘Eter, ‘Ashan, 43 Yiftach, Ashnah, N’tziv, 44 Ke‘ilah, Akhziv and Mareshah — nine cities, together with their villages. 45 ‘Ekron, with its towns and villages — 46 from ‘Ekron to the sea; all those near Ashdod, with their villages; 47 Ashdod, with its towns and villages; ‘Azah, with its towns and villages, to the Vadi of Egypt, with the Great Sea as its border.
48 In the hills: Shamir, Yatir, Sokhoh, 49 Danah, Kiryat-Sanna (that is, D’vir), 50 ‘Anav, Esht’moh, ‘Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon and Giloh — eleven cities, together with their villages. 52 Arav, Dumah, Esh’an, 53 Yanum, Beit-Tapuach, Afekah, 54 Humtah, Kiryat-Arba (that is, Hevron) and Tzi‘or — nine cities, together with their villages. 55 Ma‘on, Karmel, Zif, Yutah, 56 Yizre‘el, Yokde‘am, Zanoach, 57 Kayin, Giv‘ah and Timnah — ten cities, together with their villages. 58 Halchul, Beit-Tzur, G’dor, 59 Ma‘arat, Beit-‘Anot, Elt’kon — six cities, together with their villages. 60 Kiryat-Ba‘al (that is, Kiryat-Ye‘arim) and Rabbah — two cities, together with their villages.
61 In the desert: Beit-‘Aravah, Middin, S’khakhah, 62 Nivshan, ‘Ir-Hamelach and ‘Ein-Gedi — six cities, together with their villages.
63 As for the Y’vusi, who lived in Yerushalayim, the descendants of Y’hudah could not drive them out; so the Y’vusi live with the descendants of Y’hudah in Yerushalayim to this day.
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