Discovery BoxJoshua 14:1--21:45 
Context14:1 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. 1 14:2 The land assignments to the nine-and-a-half tribes were made by drawing lots, as the Lord had instructed Moses. 2 14:3 Now Moses had assigned land 3 to the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan, but he assigned no land 4 to the Levites. 5 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. 6 14:5 The Israelites followed the Lord’s instructions to Moses and divided up the land. 7
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. 8 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. 9 14:8 My countrymen 10 who accompanied 11 me frightened the people, 12 but I remained loyal to the Lord my God. 13 14:9 That day Moses made this solemn promise: 14 ‘Surely the land on which you walked 15 will belong to you and your descendants permanently, 16 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. 17 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. 18 But, assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer 19 them, as the Lord promised.” 14:13 Joshua asked God to empower Caleb son of Jephunneh and assigned him Hebron. 20 14:14 So Hebron remains the assigned land of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this very day 21 because he remained loyal to the Lord God of Israel. 14:15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba. Arba was a famous Anakite. 22 ) 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. 23 15:2 Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea, 24 15:3 extended 25 south of the Scorpion Ascent, 26 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, 27 and ended at the sea. This was their 28 southern border.
15:5 The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth 29 of the Jordan River. 30
The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 31 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 32 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), 33 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. 34 These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans. 35
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.) 36 15:14 Caleb drove out 37 from there three Anakites – Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. 15:15 From there he attacked the people of Debir. 38 (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, 39 captured it, Caleb 40 gave Acsah his daughter to him as a wife.
15:18 One time Acsah 41 came and charmed her father 42 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. 43 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: 44 15:21 These cities were located at the southern extremity of Judah’s tribal land near the border of Edom: 45 Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 15:22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 15:23 Kedesh, Hazor, 46 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. 47
15:33 These cities were 48 in the lowlands: 49 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 50 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 51 and the border at the Mediterranean Sea. 52
15:48 These cities were 53 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, 54 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 55 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. 56 The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day. 57
16:1 The land allotted to Joseph’s descendants extended from the Jordan at Jericho 58 to the waters of Jericho to the east, through the desert and on up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. 59 16:2 The southern border 60 extended from Bethel to Luz, 61 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. 62 16:5 The territory of the tribe of Ephraim by its clans included the following: 63 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, 64 and extended to the Jordan River. 65 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 66 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. 67
16:10 The Ephraimites 68 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. 69 The descendants of Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn and the father of Gilead, received land, for they were warriors. 70 They were assigned Gilead and Bashan. 71 17:2 The rest of Manasseh’s descendants were also assigned land 72 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.” 73 So Joshua 74 assigned them land among their uncles, as the Lord had commanded. 75 17:5 Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, 76 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 77 from Asher to Micmethath which is near 78 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, 79 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 80 western border and their territory 81 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, 82 the three of Napheth, 83 and the towns surrounding all these cities. 84 17:12 But the men 85 of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed 86 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. 87
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.” 88 17:15 Joshua replied to them, “Since you have so many people, 89 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 90 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.” 91 17:17 Joshua said to the family 92 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 93 will be yours; though it is a forest, you can clear it and it will be entirely yours. 94 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. 95 Though they had subdued the land, 96 18:2 seven Israelite tribes had not been assigned their allotted land. 97 18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long do you intend to put off occupying 98 the land the Lord God of your ancestors 99 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. 100 18:5 Divide it into seven regions. 101 Judah will stay 102 in its territory in the south, and the family 103 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. 104 Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their allotted land 105 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 106 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 107 by its clans. Their allotted territory was between Judah and Joseph. 108 18:12 Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho 109 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), 110 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 111 of Judah. This is the western border. 112 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 113 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 114 at the mouth of the Jordan River. 115 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. 116
18:21 These cities belonged to the tribe 117 of Benjamin by its clans: Jericho, 118 Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 18:22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 119 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 120 (that is, Jerusalem), 121 Gibeah, and Kiriath – a total of fourteen cities and their towns. 122 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin 123 by its clans.
19:1 The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 124 19:2 Their assigned land included 125 Beer Sheba, 126 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. 127 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. 128
19:10 The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun 129 by its clans. The border of their territory 130 extended to Sarid. 19:11 Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near 131 Jokneam. 19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward 132 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; 133 in all they had twelve cities and their towns. 134 19:16 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun 135 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:17 The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar 136 by its clans. 19:18 Their assigned land 137 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 138 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
19:24 The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher 139 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 140 19:28 and on to Ebron, 141 Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 142 19:29 It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, 143 turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Aczib, 19:30 Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had 144 twenty-two cities and their towns. 19:31 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher 145 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:32 The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali 146 by its clans. 19:33 Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, 147 and ended at the Jordan River. 148 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 149 on the east. 19:35 The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 150 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 19:38 Yiron, 151 Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had 152 nineteen cities and their towns. 19:39 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali 153 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
19:40 The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan 154 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, 155 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 156 Dan after their ancestor. 157 ) 19:48 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan 158 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. 159 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 160 made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 161 So they finished dividing up the land.
20:1 The Lord instructed Joshua: 20:2 “Have the Israelites select 162 the cities of refuge 163 that I told you about through Moses. 20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; 164 these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 20:4 The one who committed manslaughter 165 should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. 166 They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. 167 20:5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation. 168 20:6 He must remain 169 in that city until his case is decided by the assembly 170 and the high priest dies. 171 Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.” 172
20:7 So they selected 173 Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 20:8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho 174 they selected 175 Bezer in the desert on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. 20:9 These were the cities of refuge 176 appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by 177 the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly. 178
21:1 The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders 21:2 in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.” 21:3 So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the Lord had instructed.
21:4 The first lot belonged to 179 the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 21:5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 21:6 Gershon’s descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 21:7 Merari’s descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 21:8 So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the Lord had instructed Moses.
21:9 They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below. 21:10 They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron, 180 for the first lot belonged to them. 21:11 They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding grazing areas. 21:12 (Now the city’s fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.) 21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah, 21:14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 21:15 Holon, Debir, 21:16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes. 21:17 From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned 181 Gibeon, Geba, 21:18 Anathoth, and Almon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:19 The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.
21:20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim. 21:21 They assigned them Shechem (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, 21:22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:23 From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 21:24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon, 182 along with the grazing areas of each – a total of two cities. 21:26 The rest of the Kohathite clans received ten cities and their grazing areas.
21:27 They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities: 183 from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of two cities; 21:28 from the tribe of Issachar: Kishon, Daberath, 21:29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:30 from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon, 21:31 Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:32 from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of three cities. 21:33 The Gershonite clans received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.
21:34 They assigned to the Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) the following cities: from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, 21:35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:36 184 from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, 21:37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:38 from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim, 21:39 Heshbon, and Jazer, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:40 The Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) were allotted twelve cities.
21:41 The Levites received within the land owned by the Israelites 185 forty-eight cities in all and their grazing areas. 21:42 Each of these cities had grazing areas around it; they were alike in this regard. 186
21:43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors, 187 and they conquered 188 it and lived in it. 21:44 The Lord made them secure, 189 in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors. 190 None of their enemies could resist them. 191 21:45 Not one of the Lord’s faithful promises to the family of Israel 192 was left unfulfilled; every one was realized. 193
1 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.”
2 tn Heb “By lot was their inheritance, as the
3 tn Or “assigned an inheritance.”
4 tn Or “no inheritance.”
5 tn The Hebrew text adds, “in their midst.”
6 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.”
7 tn Heb “Just as the
8 tn Heb “You know the word which the
sn On this incident at Kadesh Barnea see Num 14:30.
9 tn Heb “and I brought back to him a word just as [was] in my heart.”
10 tn Heb “brothers.”
11 tn Heb “went up with.”
12 tn Heb “made the heart[s] of the people melt.”
13 tn Heb “I filled up after the
14 tn Heb “swore an oath.”
15 tn Heb “on which your foot has walked.”
16 tn Heb “will belong to you for an inheritance, and to your sons forever.”
17 tn Heb “like my strength then, like my strength now, for battle and for going out and coming in.”
18 tn Heb “are there and large, fortified cities.”
19 tn Or “will dispossess.”
20 tn Heb “Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.”
21 tn Heb “Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance to this day.”
22 tn Heb “And he was the great man among the Anakites.”
23 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.”
24 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).
25 tn Heb “went out.”
26 tn Or “the Ascent of Scorpions” (עַקְרַבִּים [’aqrabbim] means “scorpions” in Hebrew).
27 tn Traditionally “the Brook of Egypt,” although a number of recent translations have “the Wadi of Egypt” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV).
28 tn The translation follows the LXX at this point. The MT reads, “This will be your southern border.”
29 tn Heb “end.”
30 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
31 tn Heb “the border on the northern side was from the tongue of the sea, from the end of the Jordan.”
32 tn Or “ascent.”
33 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
34 tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.
35 tn Heb “this was the border of the sons of Judah round about, by their clans.”
36 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
37 tn Or “dispossessed.”
38 tn Heb “he went up against the inhabitants of Debir.”
39 tn “Caleb’s brother” may refer either to Othniel or to Kenaz. If Kenaz was the brother of Caleb, Othniel is Caleb’s nephew.
40 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Caleb) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
41 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Acsah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
42 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.
43 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).
44 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans.”
45 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.”
46 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.
47 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.
48 tn The words “these cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.
49 tn Or “the foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”
50 tn Heb “daughters.”
51 tn See the note on this place name in 15:4.
52 tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.
53 tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied in the translation for English stylistic reasons.
54 tc Some Hebrew
55 tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.
56 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
57 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).
58 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
59 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.
60 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the southern border) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
61 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]”).
62 tn Or “received their inheritance.”
63 tn Heb “The territory of the sons of Ephraim was for their clans.”
64 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
65 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
66 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim.”
67 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.”
68 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Ephraimites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
69 tn Heb “and the lot belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph.”
70 tn Heb “to Makir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, for he was a man of war.”
71 tn Heb “Gilead and Bashan belonged to him.”
sn On the assignment of Manasseh’s territory in Gilead and Bashan, see Josh 13:31.
72 tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Manasseh who remained.”
73 tn Heb “The
74 tn Heb “he.” The referent is probably Joshua, although Eleazar is mentioned first in the preceding list.
75 tn Heb “and he assigned to them in accordance with the mouth [i.e., command] of the
76 tn Heb “and the allotted portions of Manasseh fell out ten.”
77 tn Heb “was.”
78 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
79 tn Heb “these cities belonged to Ephraim in the midst of the cities of Manasseh.”
80 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Manasseh) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
81 tn Heb “they”; the referent (their territory) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
82 map For location see Map1 D4; Map2 C1; Map4 C2; Map5 F2; Map7 B1.
83 tn Or “the third [is] Napheth”; or “Napheth-dor.” The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain.
84 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.”
85 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.
86 tn Or “were determined.”
87 sn On the Israelites’ failure to conquer the Canaanites completely, see Judg 1:27-28.
88 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
89 tn Heb “If you are a great people.”
90 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.
91 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.
92 tn Heb “house.”
93 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.
94 tn Heb “and its limits will be yours.”
95 tn Heb “the tent of assembly.”
sn On the tent of meeting see Exod 33:7-11.
96 tn Heb “and the land was subdued before them.”
97 tn Heb “there were left among the sons of Israel who had not divided up their inheritance seven tribes.”
98 tn Heb “How long are you putting off entering and possessing.”
99 tn Or “fathers.”
100 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.”
101 tn Heb “portions.”
102 tn Heb “stand.”
103 tn Heb “the house.”
104 tn Or “the priesthood of the
105 tn Or “inheritance.”
106 tn Heb “went and passed through.”
107 tn Heb “and the lot came up for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin.”
108 tn Heb “and the territory of their allotment went out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.”
109 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
110 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
111 tn Heb “sons,” here referring to the tribe.
112 tn Or “side.”
113 tn Or “ascent.”
114 sn The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea.
115 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).
116 tn Heb “This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by its borders round about, by their clans.”
117 tn Heb “the sons,” here referring to the tribe.
118 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
119 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
120 tn The word “city” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
121 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
122 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.
123 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin.”
124 tn Heb “and the second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon by their clans.”
125 tn Heb “and they had in their inheritance.”
126 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).
127 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon.”
128 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.”
129 tn Heb “and the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun.”
130 tn Or “inheritance.”
131 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
132 tn Heb “eastward toward the rising of the sun.”
133 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
134 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.
135 tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun.”
136 tn Heb “the fourth lot came out for the sons of Issachar.”
137 tn Or “their inheritance.”
138 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar.”
139 tn Heb “and the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
140 tn Heb “left.”
141 tc Some Hebrew
142 map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
143 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
144 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
145 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
146 tn Heb “the sixth lot came out for the sons of Naphtali, for the sons of Naphtali.”
147 tn Heb “and their border was from Heleph, from the oak of Zaanannim, and Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel to Lakkum.”
148 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
149 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.
150 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.
151 sn Instead of Yiron some English translations read Iron.
152 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
153 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali.”
154 tn Heb “the seventh lot came out for the sons of Dan.”
155 tn Heb “the territory of the sons of Dan went out from them.”
156 tn Heb “Leshem.” The pronoun (“it”) has replaced the name “Leshem” in the translation for stylistic reasons.
157 tn Heb “according to the name of their father.”
158 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan.”
159 tn Heb “an inheritance in their midst.”
160 tn Heb “the leaders of the fathers of the tribes.”
161 tn Heb “at the entrance of the tent of assembly.”
sn On the tent of meeting see Exod 33:7-11.
162 tn Heb “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘Set aside for yourselves.’”
163 tn Or “asylum.”
164 tn Heb “so that the one who kills, taking life accidentally without knowledge, may flee there.”
165 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the one who accidentally kills another, cf. v. 2) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
166 tn Heb “and speak into the ears of the elders of that city his words.”
167 tn Heb “and they should gather him into the city to themselves, give to him a place, and he will live with them.”
168 tn Heb “for without knowledge he killed his neighbor, and he was not hating him prior to that.”
169 tn Or “live.”
170 tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly for judgment.”
171 tn Heb “until the death of the high priest who is in those days.”
172 tn Heb “may return and enter his city and his house, the city from which he escaped.”
173 tn Heb “set apart.”
174 map For the location of Jericho see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
175 tn Or “set aside.”
176 tn The Hebrew text reads simply “the cities.” The words “for refuge” are supplied for clarification.
177 tn Heb “and not die by the hand of.”
178 tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly.” The words “at least” are supplied for clarification.
179 tn Heb “came out for.”
180 tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Aaron, from the Kohathite clans, from the sons of Levi.”
181 tn The words “they assigned” are supplied for clarification (also in vv. 23, 25).
182 tn The name “Gath Rimmon” is problematic here, for it appears in the preceding list of Danite cities. The LXX reads “Iebatha”; 1 Chr 6:55 HT (6:70 ET) reads “Bileam.” Most modern translations retain the name “Gath Rimmon,” however.
183 tn The words “they assigned” and “the following cities” are supplied for clarification (also in v. 34).
184 tc 21:36-37 are accidentally omitted from a number of significant Hebrew
185 tn Heb “in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel.”
186 tn Heb “these cities were city [by] city, and its grazing areas [were] around it; so [it was] for all these cities.”
187 tn Heb “which he had sworn to give to their fathers.”
188 tn Or “possessed.”
189 tn Heb “gave them rest all around.”
190 tn Heb “according to all he swore to their fathers.”
191 tn Heb “not a man stood from before them from all their enemies.”
192 tn Heb “the house of Israel.” Cf. NCV “the Israelites”; TEV “the people of Israel”; CEV, NLT “Israel.”
193 tn Heb “not a word from all the good word which the
