Discovery BoxJoshua 13:1--19:51 
Context13:1 When Joshua was very old, 1 the Lord told him, “You are very old, and a great deal of land remains to be conquered. 13:2 This is the land that remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all the Geshurites, 13:3 from the Shihor River 2 east of 3 Egypt northward to the territory of Ekron (it is regarded as Canaanite territory), 4 including the area belonging to the five Philistine lords who ruled in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as Avvite land 5 13:4 to the south; 6 all the Canaanite territory, 7 from Arah 8 in the region of Sidon 9 to Aphek, as far as Amorite territory; 13:5 the territory of Byblos 10 and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath. 11 13:6 I will drive out before the Israelites all who live in the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, 12 all the Sidonians; you be sure to parcel it out to Israel as I instructed you.” 13 13:7 Now, divide up this land 14 among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
13:8 The other half of Manasseh, 15 Reuben, and Gad received their allotted tribal lands beyond the Jordan, 16 just as Moses, the Lord’s servant, had assigned them. 13:9 Their territory started 17 from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley), included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, 13:10 and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, and ended at the Ammonite border. 13:11 Their territory also included 18 Gilead, Geshurite and Maacathite territory, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah – 13:12 the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was one of the few remaining Rephaites.) 19 Moses defeated them and took their lands. 20 13:13 But the Israelites did not conquer 21 the Geshurites and Maacathites; Geshur and Maacah live among Israel to this very day. 13:14 However, Moses 22 did not assign land as an inheritance 23 to the Levites; their inheritance 24 is the sacrificial offerings 25 made to the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed 26 them.
13:15 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Reuben 27 by its clans. 13:16 Their territory started at Aroer 28 (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba, 13:17 Heshbon and all its surrounding cities on the plain, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 13:18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 13:19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 13:20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth. 13:21 It encompassed 29 all the cities of the plain and the whole realm of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and the Midianite leaders Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (they were subjects of Sihon and lived in his territory). 30 13:22 The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen reader, 31 along with the others. 32 13:23 The border of the tribe of Reuben was the Jordan. The land allotted to the tribe of Reuben by its clans included these cities and their towns. 33
13:24 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Gad 34 by its clans. 13:25 Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half of Ammonite territory 35 as far as Aroer near 36 Rabbah. 13:26 Their territory ran 37 from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir. 13:27 It included the valley of Beth Haram, 38 Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, and the rest of the realm of King Sihon of Heshbon, the area east of the Jordan to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth. 39 13:28 The land allotted to the tribe of Gad by its clans included these cities and their towns. 40
13:29 Moses assigned land to the half-tribe of Manasseh 41 by its clans. 13:30 Their territory started at 42 Mahanaim and encompassed all Bashan, the whole realm of King Og of Bashan, including all sixty cities in Havvoth Jair 43 in Bashan. 13:31 Half of Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities in the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were assigned to the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh, to half the descendants of Makir by their clans.
13:32 These are the land assignments made by Moses 44 on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho. 45 13:33 However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance 46 to the Levites; their inheritance 47 is the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed 48 them.
14:1 The following is a record of the territory assigned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders. 49 14:2 The land assignments to the nine-and-a-half tribes were made by drawing lots, as the Lord had instructed Moses. 50 14:3 Now Moses had assigned land 51 to the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan, but he assigned no land 52 to the Levites. 53 14:4 The descendants of Joseph were considered as two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were allotted no territory, though they were assigned cities in which to live, along with the grazing areas for their cattle and possessions. 54 14:5 The Israelites followed the Lord’s instructions to Moses and divided up the land. 55
14:6 The men of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said about you and me to Moses, the man of God, at Kadesh Barnea. 56 14:7 I was forty years old when Moses, the Lord’s servant, sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy on the land and I brought back to him an honest report. 57 14:8 My countrymen 58 who accompanied 59 me frightened the people, 60 but I remained loyal to the Lord my God. 61 14:9 That day Moses made this solemn promise: 62 ‘Surely the land on which you walked 63 will belong to you and your descendants permanently, 64 for you remained loyal to the Lord your God.’ 14:10 So now, look, the Lord has preserved my life, just as he promised, these past forty-five years since the Lord spoke these words to Moses, during which Israel traveled through the wilderness. Now look, I am today eighty-five years old. 14:11 Today I am still as strong as when Moses sent me out. I can fight and go about my daily activities with the same energy I had then. 65 14:12 Now, assign me this hill country which the Lord promised me at that time! No doubt you heard at that time that the Anakites live there in large, fortified cities. 66 But, assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer 67 them, as the Lord promised.” 14:13 Joshua asked God to empower Caleb son of Jephunneh and assigned him Hebron. 68 14:14 So Hebron remains the assigned land of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this very day 69 because he remained loyal to the Lord God of Israel. 14:15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba. Arba was a famous Anakite. 70 ) Then the land was free of war.
15:1 The land allotted to the tribe of Judah by its clans reached to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin in the Negev far to the south. 71 15:2 Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea, 72 15:3 extended 73 south of the Scorpion Ascent, 74 crossed to Zin, went up from the south to Kadesh Barnea, crossed to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka. 15:4 It then crossed to Azmon, extended to the Stream of Egypt, 75 and ended at the sea. This was their 76 southern border.
15:5 The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth 77 of the Jordan River. 78
The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 79 15:6 went up to Beth Hoglah, crossed north of Beth Arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 15:7 It then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning northward to Gilgal (which is opposite the Pass 80 of Adummim south of the valley), crossed to the waters of En Shemesh and extended to En Rogel. 15:8 It then went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites on the south (that is, Jerusalem), 81 going up to the top of the hill opposite the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. 15:9 It then went from the top of the hill to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, extended to the cities of Mount Ephron, and went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). 15:10 It then turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, crossed to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is Kesalon), descended to Beth Shemesh, and crossed to Timnah. 15:11 It then extended to the slope of Ekron to the north, went toward Shikkeron, crossed to Mount Baalah, extended to Jabneel, and ended at the sea.
15:12 The western border was the Mediterranean Sea. 82 These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans. 83
15:13 Caleb son of Jephunneh was assigned Kiriath Arba (that is Hebron) within the tribe of Judah, according to the Lord’s instructions to Joshua. (Arba was the father of Anak.) 84 15:14 Caleb drove out 85 from there three Anakites – Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. 15:15 From there he attacked the people of Debir. 86 (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.) 15:16 Caleb said, “To the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher I will give my daughter Acsah as a wife.” 15:17 When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, 87 captured it, Caleb 88 gave Acsah his daughter to him as a wife.
15:18 One time Acsah 89 came and charmed her father 90 so that she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What would you like?” 15:19 She answered, “Please give me a special present. 91 Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water. So he gave her both upper and lower springs.
15:20 This is the land assigned to the tribe of Judah by its clans: 92 15:21 These cities were located at the southern extremity of Judah’s tribal land near the border of Edom: 93 Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 15:22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 15:23 Kedesh, Hazor, 94 Ithnan, 15:24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 15:25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), 15:26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 15:27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshbon, Beth Pelet, 15:28 Hazar Shual, Beer Sheba, Biziothiah, 15:29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 15:30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, 15:31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 15:32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon – a total of twenty-nine cities and their towns. 95
15:33 These cities were 96 in the lowlands: 97 Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 15:34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 15:35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 15:36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim) – a total of fourteen cities and their towns.
15:37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 15:38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 15:39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 15:40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 15:41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah – a total of sixteen cities and their towns.
15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 15:43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 15:44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah – a total of nine cities and their towns.
15:45 Ekron and its surrounding towns 98 and settlements; 15:46 from Ekron westward, all those in the vicinity of Ashdod and their towns; 15:47 Ashdod with its surrounding towns and settlements, and Gaza with its surrounding towns and settlements, as far as the Stream of Egypt 99 and the border at the Mediterranean Sea. 100
15:48 These cities were 101 in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 15:49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), 15:50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 15:51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh – a total of eleven cities and their towns.
15:52 Arab, Dumah, 102 Eshan, 15:53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 15:54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior – a total of nine cities and their towns.
15:55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 15:56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 15:57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah – a total of ten cities and their towns.
15:58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 15:59 Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon – a total of six cities and their towns.
15:60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah – a total of two cities and their towns.
15:61 These cities were 103 in the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 15:62 Nibshan, the city of Salt, and En Gedi – a total of six cities and their towns.
15:63 The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. 104 The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day. 105
16:1 The land allotted to Joseph’s descendants extended from the Jordan at Jericho 106 to the waters of Jericho to the east, through the desert and on up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. 107 16:2 The southern border 108 extended from Bethel to Luz, 109 and crossed to Arkite territory at Ataroth. 16:3 It then descended westward to Japhletite territory, as far as the territory of lower Beth Horon and Gezer, and ended at the sea.
16:4 Joseph’s descendants, Manasseh and Ephraim, were assigned their land. 110 16:5 The territory of the tribe of Ephraim by its clans included the following: 111 The border of their assigned land to the east was Ataroth Addar as far as upper Beth Horon. 16:6 It then extended on to the sea, with Micmethath on the north. It turned eastward to Taanath Shiloh and crossed it on the east to Janoah. 16:7 It then descended from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, 112 and extended to the Jordan River. 113 16:8 From Tappuah it went westward to the Valley of Kanah and ended at the sea. This is the land assigned to the tribe of Ephraim 114 by its clans. 16:9 Also included were the cities set apart for the tribe of Ephraim within Manasseh’s territory, along with their towns. 115
16:10 The Ephraimites 116 did not conquer the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites live among the Ephraimites to this very day and do hard labor as their servants.
17:1 The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s firstborn son, was also allotted land. 117 The descendants of Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn and the father of Gilead, received land, for they were warriors. 118 They were assigned Gilead and Bashan. 119 17:2 The rest of Manasseh’s descendants were also assigned land 120 by their clans, including the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.
17:3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 17:4 They went before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us land among our relatives.” 121 So Joshua 122 assigned them land among their uncles, as the Lord had commanded. 123 17:5 Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, 124 in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, 17:6 for the daughters of Manasseh were assigned land among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.
17:7 The border of Manasseh went 125 from Asher to Micmethath which is near 126 Shechem. It then went south toward those who live in Tappuah. 17:8 (The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah, located on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.) 17:9 The border then descended southward to the Valley of Kanah. Ephraim was assigned cities there among the cities of Manasseh, 127 but the border of Manasseh was north of the valley and ended at the sea. 17:10 Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s to the north. The sea was Manasseh’s 128 western border and their territory 129 touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 17:11 Within Issachar’s and Asher’s territory Manasseh was assigned Beth Shean, Ibleam, the residents of Dor, En Dor, the residents of Taanach, the residents of Megiddo, 130 the three of Napheth, 131 and the towns surrounding all these cities. 132 17:12 But the men 133 of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed 134 to remain in those areas. 17:13 Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them. 135
17:14 The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you assigned us only one tribal allotment? After all, we have many people, for until now the Lord has enabled us to increase in number.” 136 17:15 Joshua replied to them, “Since you have so many people, 137 go up into the forest and clear out a place to live in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites, for the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you.” 17:16 The descendants of Joseph said, “The whole hill country 138 is inadequate for us, and the Canaanites living down in the valley in Beth Shean and its surrounding towns and in the Valley of Jezreel have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels.” 139 17:17 Joshua said to the family 140 of Joseph – to both Ephraim and Manasseh: “You have many people and great military strength. You will not have just one tribal allotment. 17:18 The whole hill country 141 will be yours; though it is a forest, you can clear it and it will be entirely yours. 142 You can conquer the Canaanites, though they have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels and are strong.”
18:1 The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh and there they set up the tent of meeting. 143 Though they had subdued the land, 144 18:2 seven Israelite tribes had not been assigned their allotted land. 145 18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long do you intend to put off occupying 146 the land the Lord God of your ancestors 147 has given you? 18:4 Pick three men from each tribe. I will send them out to walk through the land and make a map of it for me. 148 18:5 Divide it into seven regions. 149 Judah will stay 150 in its territory in the south, and the family 151 of Joseph in its territory in the north. 18:6 But as for you, map out the land into seven regions and bring it to me. I will draw lots for you here before the Lord our God. 18:7 But the Levites will not have an allotted portion among you, for their inheritance is to serve the Lord. 152 Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their allotted land 153 east of the Jordan which Moses the Lord’s servant assigned them.”
18:8 When the men started out, Joshua told those going to map out the land, “Go, walk through the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will draw lots for you before the Lord here in Shiloh.” 18:9 The men journeyed 154 through the land and mapped it and its cities out into seven regions on a scroll. Then they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. 18:10 Joshua drew lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord and divided the land among the Israelites according to their allotted portions.
18:11 The first lot belonged to the tribe of Benjamin 155 by its clans. Their allotted territory was between Judah and Joseph. 156 18:12 Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho 157 on the north, ascended westward to the hill country, and extended to the desert of Beth Aven. 18:13 It then crossed from there to Luz, to the slope of Luz to the south (that is, Bethel), 158 and descended to Ataroth Addar located on the hill that is south of lower Beth Horon. 18:14 It then turned on the west side southward from the hill near Beth Horon on the south and extended to Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a city belonging to the tribe 159 of Judah. This is the western border. 160 18:15 The southern side started on the edge of Kiriath Jearim and extended westward to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 18:16 The border then descended to the edge of the hill country near the Valley of Ben Hinnom located in the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. It descended through the Valley of Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites to the south and then down to En Rogel. 18:17 It went northward, extending to En Shemesh and Geliloth opposite the Pass 161 of Adummim, and descended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 18:18 It crossed to the slope in front of the Arabah to the north and descended into the Arabah. 18:19 It then crossed to the slope of Beth Hoglah to the north and ended at the northern tip of the Salt Sea 162 at the mouth of the Jordan River. 163 This was the southern border. 18:20 The Jordan River borders it on the east. These were the borders of the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans. 164
18:21 These cities belonged to the tribe 165 of Benjamin by its clans: Jericho, 166 Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 18:22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 167 18:23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 18:24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba – a total of twelve cities and their towns.
18:25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 18:26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, 18:27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city 168 (that is, Jerusalem), 169 Gibeah, and Kiriath – a total of fourteen cities and their towns. 170 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin 171 by its clans.
19:1 The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 172 19:2 Their assigned land included 173 Beer Sheba, 174 Moladah, 19:3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 19:4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 19:5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 19:6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen – a total of thirteen cities and their towns, 19:7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan – a total of four cities and their towns, 19:8 as well as all the towns around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land assigned to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 175 19:9 Simeon’s assigned land was taken from Judah’s allotted portion, for Judah’s territory was too large for them; so Simeon was assigned land within Judah. 176
19:10 The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun 177 by its clans. The border of their territory 178 extended to Sarid. 19:11 Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near 179 Jokneam. 19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward 180 to the territory of Kisloth Tabor, extended to Daberath, and went up to Japhia. 19:13 From there it crossed eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin and extended to Rimmon, turning toward Neah. 19:14 It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. 19:15 Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; 181 in all they had twelve cities and their towns. 182 19:16 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun 183 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:17 The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar 184 by its clans. 19:18 Their assigned land 185 included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, 19:19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 19:20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 19:21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 19:22 Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had sixteen cities and their towns. 19:23 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Issachar 186 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
19:24 The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher 187 by its clans. 19:25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, 19:26 Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal. Their border touched Carmel to the west and Shihor Libnath. 19:27 It turned eastward toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El to the north, as well as the Valley of Emek and Neiel, and extended to Cabul on the north 188 19:28 and on to Ebron, 189 Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 190 19:29 It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, 191 turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Aczib, 19:30 Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had 192 twenty-two cities and their towns. 19:31 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher 193 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:32 The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali 194 by its clans. 19:33 Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, 195 and ended at the Jordan River. 196 19:34 It turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, extended from there to Hukok, touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and the Jordan 197 on the east. 19:35 The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 198 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 19:38 Yiron, 199 Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had 200 nineteen cities and their towns. 19:39 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali 201 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
19:40 The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan 202 by its clans. 19:41 Their assigned land included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 19:43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 19:45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 19:46 the waters of Jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory in front of Joppa. 19:47 (The Danites failed to conquer their territory, 203 so they went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. They put the sword to it, took possession of it, and lived in it. They renamed it 204 Dan after their ancestor. 205 ) 19:48 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan 206 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:49 When they finished dividing the land into its regions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun some land. 207 19:50 As the Lord had instructed, they gave him the city he requested – Timnath Serah in the Ephraimite hill country. He built up the city and lived in it.
19:51 These are the land assignments which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders 208 made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 209 So they finished dividing up the land.
1 tn Heb “was old, coming into the days.” This expression, referring to advancing in years, also occurs in the following clause.
2 tn Heb “the Shihor”; the word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.
3 tn Heb “in front of.”
4 tn Heb “it is reckoned to the Canaanites.”
5 tn Heb “the five lords of the Philistines, the Gazaite, the Ashdodite, the Ashkelonite, the Gathite, and the Ekronite, and the Avvites.”
6 tn Or “from Teman.” The phrase is especially problematic if taken with what follows, as the traditional verse division suggests. For further discussion see T. C. Butler, Joshua (WBC), 146.
7 tn Heb “all the land of the Canaanites.”
8 tc The reading “Arah” assumes a slight emendation of the Hebrew vowel pointing. The MT reads, “and a cave,” or “and Mearah” (if one understands the word as a proper noun).
9 tn Heb “which belongs to the Sidonians.”
map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
10 tn Heb “and the land of the Gebalites.”
11 tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.” Most modern translations take the phrase “Lebo Hamath” to be a proper name, but often provide a note with the alternative, where “Hamath” is the proper name and לְבוֹא (lÿvo’) is taken to mean “entrance to.”
12 tn The meaning of the Hebrew name “Misrephoth Maim” is perhaps “lime-kilns by the water” (see HALOT 2:641).
13 tn Heb “only you, assign it by lots to Israel as an inheritance as I commanded you.”
14 tn Heb “now apportion this land as an inheritance.”
15 tn The MT reads “with him,” which is problematic, since the reference would be to the other half of the tribe of Manasseh (not the half mentioned in v. 7).
16 tn Heb “received their inheritance, which Moses had assigned to them beyond the Jordan.”
17 tn The words “their territory started” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
18 tn The words “their territory also included” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
19 tn Heb “from the remnant of the Rephaites.”
sn The Rephaites were apparently an extremely tall ethnic group. See Deut 2:10-11, 20; 3:11.
20 tn Or “dispossessed them.”
21 tn Or “dispossess.”
22 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Moses) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
23 tn Heb “did not assign an inheritance.”
24 tn That is, “their source of food and life.”
25 tn Or “offerings made by fire.”
26 tn Or “promised” (Heb “spoke”).
sn For the background of this observation, see Deut 18:1-2.
27 tn Heb “assigned to the sons of Reuben.”
28 tn Heb “their territory was from.”
29 tn The words “it encompassed” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
30 tn Heb “princes of Sihon, inhabitants of the land.”
31 tn Or “diviner.”
32 tn Heb “Balaam son of Beor, the omen-reader, the Israelites killed with the sword, along with their slain ones.”
33 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Reuben by their clans, the cities and their towns.”
34 tn Heb “assigned to the tribe of Gad, to the sons of Gad.”
35 tn Heb “and half of the land of the sons of Ammon.”
36 tn Heb “in front of.”
37 tn The words “Their territory ran” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied for clarification.
38 tn Or “it included in the valley, Beth Haram.”
39 sn The Sea of Kinnereth is another name for the Sea of Galilee. See the note on the word “Kinnereth” in 11:2.
40 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Gad by their clans, the cities and their towns.”
41 tn Heb “assigned to the half-tribe of Manasseh, and it belonged to the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
42 tn The words “their territory started at” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied for clarification.
43 sn The Hebrew name Havvoth Jair means “the tent villages of Jair.”
44 tn Heb “These are [the lands] which Moses gave as an inheritance.”
45 tn Heb “beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho.” The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.
map For the location of Jericho see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
46 tn Heb “Moses did not assign an inheritance.” The word “land” has been supplied in the translation to clarify what the inheritance consisted of.
47 tn That is, “their source of food and life.”
48 tn Or “as he promised”; Heb “as he spoke to.”
sn For the background of this observation, see Deut 18:1-2.
49 tn Heb “These are [the lands] which the sons of Israel received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes assigned as an inheritance to the sons of Israel.”
50 tn Heb “By lot was their inheritance, as the
51 tn Or “assigned an inheritance.”
52 tn Or “no inheritance.”
53 tn The Hebrew text adds, “in their midst.”
54 tn Heb “and they did not assign a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities [in which] to live and their pastures for their cattle and property.”
55 tn Heb “Just as the
56 tn Heb “You know the word which the
sn On this incident at Kadesh Barnea see Num 14:30.
57 tn Heb “and I brought back to him a word just as [was] in my heart.”
58 tn Heb “brothers.”
59 tn Heb “went up with.”
60 tn Heb “made the heart[s] of the people melt.”
61 tn Heb “I filled up after the
62 tn Heb “swore an oath.”
63 tn Heb “on which your foot has walked.”
64 tn Heb “will belong to you for an inheritance, and to your sons forever.”
65 tn Heb “like my strength then, like my strength now, for battle and for going out and coming in.”
66 tn Heb “are there and large, fortified cities.”
67 tn Or “will dispossess.”
68 tn Heb “Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.”
69 tn Heb “Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance to this day.”
70 tn Heb “And he was the great man among the Anakites.”
71 tn Heb “The lot was to the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans to the border of Edom, the wilderness of Zin toward the south, southward.”
72 tn Heb “Their southern border was from the end of the Salt Sea, from the tongue that faces to the south.”
sn The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea (also in v. 5).
73 tn Heb “went out.”
74 tn Or “the Ascent of Scorpions” (עַקְרַבִּים [’aqrabbim] means “scorpions” in Hebrew).
75 tn Traditionally “the Brook of Egypt,” although a number of recent translations have “the Wadi of Egypt” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV).
76 tn The translation follows the LXX at this point. The MT reads, “This will be your southern border.”
77 tn Heb “end.”
78 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
79 tn Heb “the border on the northern side was from the tongue of the sea, from the end of the Jordan.”
80 tn Or “ascent.”
81 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
82 tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.
83 tn Heb “this was the border of the sons of Judah round about, by their clans.”
84 tn Heb “To Caleb son of Jephunneh he gave a portion in the midst of the sons of Judah according to the mouth [i.e., command] of the
85 tn Or “dispossessed.”
86 tn Heb “he went up against the inhabitants of Debir.”
87 tn “Caleb’s brother” may refer either to Othniel or to Kenaz. If Kenaz was the brother of Caleb, Othniel is Caleb’s nephew.
88 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Caleb) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
89 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Acsah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
90 tn Heb “him.” The referent of the pronoun could be Othniel, in which case the translation would be, “she incited him [Othniel] to ask her father for a field.” This is problematic, however, for Acsah, not Othniel, makes the request in v. 19. The LXX has “he [Othniel] urged her to ask her father for a field.” This appears to be an attempt to reconcile the apparent inconsistency and probably does not reflect the original text. If Caleb is understood as the referent of the pronoun, the problem disappears. For a fuller discussion of the issue, see P. G. Mosca, “Who Seduced Whom? A Note on Joshua 15:18//Judges 1:14,” CBQ 46 (1984): 18-22. This incident is also recorded in Judg 1:14.
91 tn Elsewhere this Hebrew word (בְּרָכָה, bÿrakhah) is often translated “blessing,” but here it refers to a gift (as in Gen 33:11; 1 Sam 25:27; 30:26; and 2 Kgs 5:15).
92 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans.”
93 tn Heb “and the cities were at the end of the tribe of the sons of Judah, at the border of Edom, to the south.”
94 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.
95 tn The total number of names in the list is thirty-six, not twenty-nine. Perhaps (1) some of the names are alternatives (though the text appears to delineate clearly such alternative names here and elsewhere, see vv. 8, 9, 10, 13, 25b) or (2), more likely, later scribes added to a list originally numbering twenty-nine and failed to harmonize the concluding summary statement with the expanded list.
96 tn The words “these cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.
97 tn Or “the foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”
98 tn Heb “daughters.”
99 tn See the note on this place name in 15:4.
100 tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.
101 tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied in the translation for English stylistic reasons.
102 tc Some Hebrew
103 tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.
104 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
105 sn The statement to this very day reflects the perspective of the author, who must have written prior to David’s conquest of the Jebusites (see 2 Sam 5:6-7).
106 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
107 tn Heb “The lot went out to the sons of Joseph from the Jordan [at] Jericho to the waters of Jericho to the east, the desert going up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.”
map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
108 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the southern border) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
109 tn In the Hebrew text the place name “Luz” has the directive ending, indicating that the border went from Bethel to Luz. Elsewhere Luz and Bethel appear to be names for the same site (cf. Judg 1:23), but here they appear to be distinct. Note that the NIV translates “from Bethel (that is, Luz)” here, following the reading of the LXX, εἰς Βαιθηλ Λουζα (eis Baiqhl Louza, “from Bethel [Luz]”).
110 tn Or “received their inheritance.”
111 tn Heb “The territory of the sons of Ephraim was for their clans.”
112 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
113 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
114 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim.”
115 tn Heb “and the cities set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities and their towns.”
116 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Ephraimites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
117 tn Heb “and the lot belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph.”
118 tn Heb “to Makir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, for he was a man of war.”
119 tn Heb “Gilead and Bashan belonged to him.”
sn On the assignment of Manasseh’s territory in Gilead and Bashan, see Josh 13:31.
120 tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Manasseh who remained.”
121 tn Heb “The
122 tn Heb “he.” The referent is probably Joshua, although Eleazar is mentioned first in the preceding list.
123 tn Heb “and he assigned to them in accordance with the mouth [i.e., command] of the
124 tn Heb “and the allotted portions of Manasseh fell out ten.”
125 tn Heb “was.”
126 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
127 tn Heb “these cities belonged to Ephraim in the midst of the cities of Manasseh.”
128 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Manasseh) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
129 tn Heb “they”; the referent (their territory) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
130 map For location see Map1 D4; Map2 C1; Map4 C2; Map5 F2; Map7 B1.
131 tn Or “the third [is] Napheth”; or “Napheth-dor.” The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain.
132 tn Heb “Beth Shean and its surrounding towns, Ibleam and its surrounding towns, the residents of Dor and its surrounding towns, the residents of En Dor and its surrounding towns, the residents of Taanach and its surrounding towns, the residents of Megiddo and its surrounding towns, three of Nepheth.”
133 tn Heb “sons”; “men” has been used in the translation because the context involves the conquest of cities; therefore, warriors (hence males) would be in view here.
134 tn Or “were determined.”
135 sn On the Israelites’ failure to conquer the Canaanites completely, see Judg 1:27-28.
136 tn Heb “Why have you given me as an inheritance one lot and one portion, though I am a great people until [the time] which, until now the
137 tn Heb “If you are a great people.”
138 tn The Hebrew text has simply “the hill country,” which must here include the hill country of Ephraim and the forest regions mentioned in v. 15.
139 tn Heb “and there are iron chariots among all the Canaanites who live in the land of the valley, to those who are in Beth Shean and its daughters and to those who are in the Valley of Jezreel.” Regarding the translation “chariots with iron-rimmed wheels” see Y. Yadin, The Art of Warfare in Biblical Lands, 255 and R. Drews, “The ‘Chariots of Iron’ of Joshua and Judges,” JSOT 45 (1989): 15-23.
140 tn Heb “house.”
141 tn The Hebrew text has simply “the hill country,” which must here include the hill country of Ephraim and the forest regions mentioned in v. 15.
142 tn Heb “and its limits will be yours.”
143 tn Heb “the tent of assembly.”
sn On the tent of meeting see Exod 33:7-11.
144 tn Heb “and the land was subdued before them.”
145 tn Heb “there were left among the sons of Israel who had not divided up their inheritance seven tribes.”
146 tn Heb “How long are you putting off entering and possessing.”
147 tn Or “fathers.”
148 tn Heb “I will send them so they may arise and walk about in the land and describe it in writing according to their inheritance and come to me.”
149 tn Heb “portions.”
150 tn Heb “stand.”
151 tn Heb “the house.”
152 tn Or “the priesthood of the
153 tn Or “inheritance.”
154 tn Heb “went and passed through.”
155 tn Heb “and the lot came up for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin.”
156 tn Heb “and the territory of their allotment went out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.”
157 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
158 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
159 tn Heb “sons,” here referring to the tribe.
160 tn Or “side.”
161 tn Or “ascent.”
162 sn The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea.
163 tn Heb “to the tongue of the Salt Sea to the north, to the end of the Jordan to the south.” The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity (also in the following verse).
164 tn Heb “This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by its borders round about, by their clans.”
165 tn Heb “the sons,” here referring to the tribe.
166 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
167 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
168 tn The word “city” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
169 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
170 tn The structure of this list presents problems. In v. 28 no conjunction appears before “Haeleph” or “Kiriath” in the Hebrew text. This suggests they should be compounded with the preceding names, yielding “Zelah Haeleph” and “Gibeah Kiriath” respectively. This results in a list of only twelve cities, however, while the summary statement (v. 28) gives the number fourteen. One should note, however, that the city lists in chap. 15 do not consistently use the conjunction before the name of each city. See also Josh 19:7, where no conjunction appears before “Rimmon,” but the summary assumes that Ain and Rimmon are distinct.
171 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin.”
172 tn Heb “and the second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon by their clans.”
173 tn Heb “and they had in their inheritance.”
174 tc The MT has “and Sheba” listed after “Beer Sheba.” The LXX suggests “Shema.” The Hebrew text appears to be corrupt, since the form “Sheba” duplicates the latter part of the preceding name. If Sheba (or Shema) is retained, the list numbers fourteen, one more than the number given in the concluding summary (v. 6).
175 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon.”
176 tn Heb “from the portion of the sons of Judah was the inheritance of the sons of Simeon for the portion of the sons of Judah was too large for them, and the sons of Simeon received an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.”
177 tn Heb “and the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun.”
178 tn Or “inheritance.”
179 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
180 tn Heb “eastward toward the rising of the sun.”
181 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
182 tn Heb “Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem, twelve cities and their towns.” The words “their territory included” and “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
183 tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun.”
184 tn Heb “the fourth lot came out for the sons of Issachar.”
185 tn Or “their inheritance.”
186 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar.”
187 tn Heb “and the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
188 tn Heb “left.”
189 tc Some Hebrew
190 map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
191 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
192 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
193 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
194 tn Heb “the sixth lot came out for the sons of Naphtali, for the sons of Naphtali.”
195 tn Heb “and their border was from Heleph, from the oak of Zaanannim, and Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel to Lakkum.”
196 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
197 tc The MT reads “Judah, the Jordan”; the LXX omits “Judah.” Perhaps there was a town named Judah, distinct from the tribe of Judah, located near the northern end of the Jordan.
198 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.
199 sn Instead of Yiron some English translations read Iron.
200 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
201 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali.”
202 tn Heb “the seventh lot came out for the sons of Dan.”
203 tn Heb “the territory of the sons of Dan went out from them.”
204 tn Heb “Leshem.” The pronoun (“it”) has replaced the name “Leshem” in the translation for stylistic reasons.
205 tn Heb “according to the name of their father.”
206 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan.”
207 tn Heb “an inheritance in their midst.”
208 tn Heb “the leaders of the fathers of the tribes.”
209 tn Heb “at the entrance of the tent of assembly.”
sn On the tent of meeting see Exod 33:7-11.
