The Inheritance West of the Jordan

14 These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which (A)Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit. Their inheritance was (B)by lot, just as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes. (C)For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, (D)but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. For (E)the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their substance. The people of Israel did (F)as the Lord commanded Moses; they allotted the land.

Caleb's Request and Inheritance

Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the (G)Kenizzite said to him, “You know (H)what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord (I)sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. But (J)my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, (K)‘Surely the land (L)on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, (M)just as he said, these (N)forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day (O)eighty-five years old. 11 (P)I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and (Q)for going and coming. 12 So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the (R)Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”

13 Then Joshua (S)blessed him, and he gave (T)Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. 14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, (U)because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 (V)Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba.[a] (Arba[b] was the greatest man among the Anakim.) (W)And the land had rest from war.

The Allotment for Judah

15 The allotment for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans reached southward (X)to the boundary of Edom, to (Y)the wilderness of Zin at the farthest south. And their south boundary ran from the end of the (Z)Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward. It goes out southward of (AA)the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh-barnea, along by Hezron, up to Addar, turns about to Karka, passes along to Azmon, goes out by (AB)the Brook of Egypt, and comes to its end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary. And the east boundary is the (AC)Salt Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary goes up to (AD)Beth-hoglah and passes along north of (AE)Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to (AF)the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. And the boundary goes up to Debir from (AG)the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite (AH)the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. And the boundary passes along to the waters of (AI)En-shemesh and ends at (AJ)En-rogel. Then the boundary goes up by (AK)the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite ((AL)that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley (AM)of Rephaim. Then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain (AN)to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the boundary bends around to Baalah ((AO)that is, Kiriath-jearim). 10 And the boundary circles west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passes along to the northern shoulder of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and goes down to (AP)Beth-shemesh and passes along by (AQ)Timnah. 11 The boundary goes out (AR)to the shoulder of the hill north of Ekron, then the boundary bends around to Shikkeron and passes along to Mount (AS)Baalah and goes out to Jabneel. Then the boundary comes to an end at the sea. 12 And the west boundary was (AT)the Great Sea with its coastline. This is the boundary around the people of Judah according to their clans.

13 According to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, (AU)Kiriath-arba, that is, (AV)Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). 14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, (AW)Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak. 15 And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. (AX)Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher. 16 And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.” 17 (AY)And Othniel the son of Kenaz, (AZ)the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. 18 When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” 19 She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans. 21 The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme south, toward the boundary of Edom, were Kabzeel, (BA)Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 (BB)Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28 Hazar-shual, (BC)Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31 (BD)Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.

33 And in the lowland, (BE)Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 (BF)Jarmuth, (BG)Adullam, (BH)Socoh, (BI)Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel, 39 (BJ)Lachish, Bozkath, (BK)Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and (BL)Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages.

42 (BM)Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 (BN)Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages.

45 (BO)Ekron, with its towns and its villages; 46 from Ekron to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.

47 (BP)Ashdod, its towns and its villages; (BQ)Gaza, its towns and its villages; to (BR)the Brook of Egypt, and (BS)the Great Sea with its coastline.

48 And in the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah ((BT)that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 (BU)Goshen, Holon, and (BV)Giloh: eleven cities with their villages.

52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, (BW)Kiriath-arba (that is, (BX)Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages.

55 (BY)Maon, (BZ)Carmel, (CA)Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and (CB)Timnah: ten cities with their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon: six cities with their villages.

60 (CC)Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.

61 In the wilderness, (CD)Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and (CE)Engedi: six cities with their villages.

63 But the (CF)Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, (CG)the people of Judah could not drive out, (CH)so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

The Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

16 The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, (CI)into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel. Then (CJ)going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to Ataroth, the territory of the Archites. Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower (CK)Beth-horon, then to (CL)Gezer, and it ends at the sea.

(CM)The people of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.

The territory of the people of Ephraim by their clans was as follows: the boundary of their inheritance on the east was (CN)Ataroth-addar as far as Upper Beth-horon, and the boundary goes from there to the sea. On the north is (CO)Michmethath. Then on the east the boundary turns around toward Taanath-shiloh and passes along beyond it on the east to Janoah, then it goes down from Janoah to Ataroth and (CP)to Naarah, and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan. From (CQ)Tappuah the boundary goes westward to the brook Kanah and ends at the sea. Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Ephraim by their clans, together with (CR)the towns that were set apart for the people of Ephraim within the inheritance of the Manassites, all those towns with their villages. 10 However, (CS)they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made (CT)to do forced labor.

17 Then allotment was made to the people of Manasseh, for he was (CU)the firstborn of Joseph. To (CV)Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, (CW)were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war. And allotments were made (CX)to the rest of the people of Manasseh by their clans, Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph, by their clans.

Now (CY)Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters, and these are the names of his daughters: (CZ)Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached (DA)Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, (DB)“The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers.” So according to the mouth of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father. Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions, besides (DC)the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan, because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the people of Manasseh.

The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to (DD)Michmethath, which is east of Shechem. Then the boundary goes along southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah. The land of (DE)Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the people of Ephraim. (DF)Then the boundary went down to the brook Kanah. These cities, to the south of the brook, among the cities of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea, 10 the land to the south being Ephraim's and that to the north being Manasseh's, with the sea forming its boundary. On the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar. 11 Also in Issachar and in Asher (DG)Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages, and Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of (DH)Dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of (DI)Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of (DJ)Megiddo and its villages; (DK)the third is Naphath.[c] 12 (DL)Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. 13 Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites (DM)to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

14 Then (DN)the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but (DO)one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am (DP)a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?” 15 And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and (DQ)the Rephaim, since (DR)the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” 16 The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have (DS)chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in (DT)the Valley of Jezreel.” 17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, 18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, (DU)though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”

Allotment of the Remaining Land

18 Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at (DV)Shiloh and set up (DW)the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.

There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned. So Joshua said to the people of Israel, (DX)“How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you? Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. They shall write a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me. They shall divide it into seven portions. (DY)Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, (DZ)and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north. And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. (EA)And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. (EB)The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their heritage. (EC)And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.”

So the men arose and went, and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, “Go up and down in the land and write a description and return to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.” So the men went and passed up and down in the land and wrote in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh, 10 and Joshua (ED)cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, (EE)to each his portion.

The Inheritance for Benjamin

11 The lot of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to its clans came up, and the territory allotted to it fell between the people of Judah and the people of Joseph. 12 (EF)On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan. (EG)Then the boundary goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill country westward, and it ends at the wilderness of (EH)Beth-aven. 13 From there the boundary passes along southward in the direction of Luz, to the shoulder of (EI)Luz (that is, Bethel), then the boundary goes down to (EJ)Ataroth-addar, on the mountain that lies south of Lower (EK)Beth-horon. 14 Then the boundary goes in another direction, turning on the (EL)western side southward from the mountain that lies to the south, opposite Beth-horon, and it ends at Kiriath-baal ((EM)that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city belonging to the people of Judah. This forms the western side. 15 And the southern side begins at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim. And the boundary goes from there to Ephron,[d] (EN)to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 Then the boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that overlooks (EO)the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of the Valley of (EP)Rephaim. And it then goes down the (EQ)Valley of Hinnom, south of the shoulder of the Jebusites, and downward to (ER)En-rogel. 17 Then it bends in a northerly direction going on to En-shemesh, and from there goes to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim. Then it goes down to (ES)the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 18 and passing on to the north of (ET)the shoulder of Beth-arabah[e] it goes down to (EU)the Arabah. 19 Then the boundary passes on to the north of the shoulder of (EV)Beth-hoglah. And the boundary ends at the northern bay of (EW)the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this is the southern border. 20 The Jordan forms its boundary on the eastern side. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin, according to their clans, boundary by boundary all around.

21 Now the cities of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to their clans were (EX)Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, 22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, Geba—twelve cities with their villages: 25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zela, Haeleph, (EY)Jebus[f] (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah[g] and Kiriath-jearim[h]—fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin according to its clans.

The Inheritance for Simeon

19 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans, (EZ)and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah. (FA)And they had for their inheritance Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities with their villages; Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities with their villages, together with all the villages around these cities as far as Baalath-beer, Ramah of the Negeb. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Simeon according to their clans. (FB)The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.

The Inheritance for Zebulun

10 The third lot came up for the people of Zebulun, according to their clans. And the territory of their inheritance reached as far as Sarid. 11 Then their boundary goes up (FC)westward and on to Mareal and touches Dabbesheth, then the brook that is east of (FD)Jokneam. 12 From Sarid it goes in the other direction eastward toward the sunrise to the boundary of Chisloth-tabor. From there it goes to Daberath, then up to Japhia. 13 From there it passes along on the east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and going on to Rimmon it bends toward Neah, 14 then on the north the boundary turns about to Hannathon, and it ends at the Valley of Iphtahel; 15 and Kattath, Nahalal, (FE)Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem—twelve cities with their villages. 16 This is the inheritance of the people of Zebulun, according to their clans—these cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Issachar

17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the people of Issachar, according to their clans. 18 Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, (FF)Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Beth-pazzez. 22 The boundary also touches Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and its boundary ends at the Jordan—sixteen cities with their villages. 23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Issachar, according to their clans—the cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Asher

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans. 25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west it touches (FG)Carmel and Shihor-libnath, 27 then it turns eastward, it goes to Beth-dagon, and touches Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtahel northward to Beth-emek and Neiel. Then it continues in the north to (FH)Cabul, 28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as (FI)Sidon the Great. 29 Then the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre. Then the boundary turns to Hosah, and it ends at the sea; Mahalab,[i] Achzib, 30 Ummah, Aphek and Rehob—twenty-two cities with their villages. 31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans—these cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Naphtali

32 The sixth lot came out for the people of Naphtali, for the people of Naphtali, according to their clans. 33 And their boundary ran from Heleph, from (FJ)the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan. 34 Then the boundary turns (FK)westward to Aznoth-tabor and goes from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun at the south and Asher on the west and Judah on the east at the Jordan. 35 The fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, (FL)Chinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, (FM)Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor, 38 Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh—nineteen cities with their villages. 39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Naphtali according to their clans—the cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Dan

40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans. 41 And the territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, 42 (FN)Shaalabbin, (FO)Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, 46 and Me-jarkon and Rakkon with the territory over against (FP)Joppa. 47 When (FQ)the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor. 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans—these cities with their villages.

The Inheritance for Joshua

49 When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. 50 By command of the Lord they gave him the city that he asked, (FR)Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.

51 (FS)These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot (FT)at Shiloh before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 14:15 Kiriath-arba means the city of Arba
  2. Joshua 14:15 Hebrew He
  3. Joshua 17:11 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  4. Joshua 18:15 See 15:9; Hebrew westward
  5. Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew to the shoulder over against the Arabah
  6. Joshua 18:28 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew the Jebusite
  7. Joshua 18:28 Hebrew Gibeath
  8. Joshua 18:28 Septuagint; Hebrew Kiriath
  9. Joshua 19:29 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew Mehebel

Division of the Land West of the Jordan

14 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance(A) in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar(B) the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel(C) allotted(D) to them.(E) Their inheritances were assigned by lot(F) to the nine and a half tribes,(G) as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan(H) but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,(I) for Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim.(J) The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.(K) So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.(L)

Allotment for Caleb

Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,(M) and Caleb son of Jephunneh(N) the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God(O) at Kadesh Barnea(P) about you and me.(Q) I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea(R) to explore the land.(S) And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,(T) but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.(U) I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.(V) So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance(W) and that of your children(X) forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’[a]

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

13 Then Joshua blessed(AG) Caleb son of Jephunneh(AH) and gave him Hebron(AI) as his inheritance.(AJ) 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.(AK) 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba(AL) after Arba,(AM) who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest(AN) from war.

Allotment for Judah(AO)

15 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom,(AP) to the Desert of Zin(AQ) in the extreme south.(AR)

Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea,(AS) crossed south of Scorpion Pass,(AT) continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea.(AU) Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. It then passed along to Azmon(AV) and joined the Wadi of Egypt,(AW) ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their[b] southern boundary.

The eastern boundary(AX) is the Dead Sea(AY) as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern boundary(AZ) started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, went up to Beth Hoglah(BA) and continued north of Beth Arabah(BB) to the Stone of Bohan(BC) son of Reuben. The boundary then went up to Debir(BD) from the Valley of Achor(BE) and turned north to Gilgal,(BF) which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh(BG) and came out at En Rogel.(BH) Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom(BI) along the southern slope of the Jebusite(BJ) city (that is, Jerusalem(BK)). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley(BL) at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.(BM) From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah,(BN) came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah(BO) (that is, Kiriath Jearim).(BP) 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah(BQ) to Mount Seir,(BR) ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh(BS) and crossed to Timnah.(BT) 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron,(BU) turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah(BV) and reached Jabneel.(BW) The boundary ended at the sea.

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

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

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

18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him[c] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

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

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

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

Kabzeel,(CK) Eder,(CL) Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh,(CM) Hazor,(CN) Ithnan, 24 Ziph,(CO) Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),(CP) 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,(CQ) 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual,(CR) Beersheba,(CS) Biziothiah, 29 Baalah,(CT) Iyim, Ezem,(CU) 30 Eltolad,(CV) Kesil, Hormah,(CW) 31 Ziklag,(CX) Madmannah,(CY) Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain(CZ) and Rimmon(DA)—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

33 In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,(DB) Zorah,(DC) Ashnah,(DD) 34 Zanoah,(DE) En Gannim,(DF) Tappuah,(DG) Enam, 35 Jarmuth,(DH) Adullam,(DI) Sokoh,(DJ) Azekah,(DK) 36 Shaaraim,(DL) Adithaim and Gederah(DM) (or Gederothaim)[d]—fourteen towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah,(DN) Joktheel,(DO) 39 Lachish,(DP) Bozkath,(DQ) Eglon,(DR) 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,(DS) Beth Dagon,(DT) Naamah and Makkedah(DU)—sixteen towns and their villages.

42 Libnah,(DV) Ether, Ashan,(DW) 43 Iphtah, Ashnah,(DX) Nezib, 44 Keilah,(DY) Akzib(DZ) and Mareshah(EA)—nine towns and their villages.

45 Ekron,(EB) with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,(EC) together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,(ED) its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt(EE) and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(EF)

48 In the hill country:

Shamir,(EG) Jattir,(EH) Sokoh,(EI) 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir(EJ)), 50 Anab,(EK) Eshtemoh,(EL) Anim, 51 Goshen,(EM) Holon(EN) and Giloh(EO)—eleven towns and their villages.

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

55 Maon,(ER) Carmel,(ES) Ziph,(ET) Juttah,(EU) 56 Jezreel,(EV) Jokdeam, Zanoah,(EW) 57 Kain, Gibeah(EX) and Timnah(EY)—ten towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur,(EZ) Gedor,(FA) 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[e]

60 Kiriath Baal(FB) (that is, Kiriath Jearim(FC)) and Rabbah(FD)—two towns and their villages.

61 In the wilderness:(FE)

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

63 Judah could not(FH) dislodge the Jebusites(FI), who were living in Jerusalem;(FJ) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.(FK)

Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

16 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert(FL) into the hill country of Bethel.(FM) It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(FN)),[f] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(FO) in Ataroth,(FP) descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon(FQ) and on to Gezer,(FR) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.(FS)

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

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar(FT) in the east to Upper Beth Horon(FU) and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath(FV) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah(FW) on the east. Then it went down from Janoah(FX) to Ataroth(FY) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. From Tappuah(FZ) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine(GA) and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.(GB)

10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.(GC)

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh(GD) as Joseph’s firstborn,(GE) that is, for Makir,(GF) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead(GG) and Bashan(GH) because the Makirites were great soldiers. So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh(GI)—the clans of Abiezer,(GJ) Helek, Asriel,(GK) Shechem, Hepher(GL) and Shemida.(GM) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

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

The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher(GR) to Mikmethath(GS) east of Shechem.(GT) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah(GU) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.(GV) There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. 10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher(GW) on the north and Issachar(GX) on the east.(GY)

11 Within Issachar(GZ) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,(HA) Ibleam(HB) and the people of Dor,(HC) Endor,(HD) Taanach(HE) and Megiddo,(HF) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth[g]).(HG)

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

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

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

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

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

Division of the Rest of the Land

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

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

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

Allotment for Benjamin

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

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

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

15 The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.(IO) 16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim.(IP) It continued down the Hinnom Valley(IQ) along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.(IR) 17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth,(IS) which faces the Pass of Adummim,(IT) and ran down to the Stone of Bohan(IU) son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah[h](IV) and on down into the Arabah.(IW) 19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah(IX) and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,(IY) at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary.

20 The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side.

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

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

Jericho, Beth Hoglah,(JA) Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah,(JB) Zemaraim,(JC) Bethel,(JD) 23 Avvim,(JE) Parah, Ophrah,(JF) 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba(JG)—twelve towns and their villages.

25 Gibeon,(JH) Ramah,(JI) Beeroth,(JJ) 26 Mizpah,(JK) Kephirah,(JL) Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah,(JM) Haeleph, the Jebusite city(JN) (that is, Jerusalem(JO)), Gibeah(JP) and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.(JQ)

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

Allotment for Simeon(JS)

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

Beersheba(JU) (or Sheba),[i] Moladah,(JV) Hazar Shual,(JW) Balah, Ezem,(JX) Eltolad,(JY) Bethul, Hormah,(JZ) Ziklag,(KA) Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;

Ain, Rimmon,(KB) Ether and Ashan(KC)—four towns and their villages— and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev).(KD)

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

Allotment for Zebulun

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

The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid.(KH) 11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.(KI) 12 It turned east from Sarid(KJ) toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath(KK) and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher(KL) and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon(KM) and turned toward Neah. 14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.(KN) 15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal,(KO) Shimron,(KP) Idalah and Bethlehem.(KQ) There were twelve towns and their villages.

16 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun,(KR) according to its clans.(KS)

Allotment for Issachar

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

Jezreel,(KU) Kesulloth, Shunem,(KV) 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion,(KW) Ebez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim,(KX) En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 22 The boundary touched Tabor,(KY) Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh,(KZ) and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages.

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

Allotment for Asher

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

Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph,(LD) 26 Allammelek, Amad and Mishal.(LE) On the west the boundary touched Carmel(LF) and Shihor Libnath. 27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon,(LG) touched Zebulun(LH) and the Valley of Iphtah El,(LI) and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul(LJ) on the left. 28 It went to Abdon,[j](LK) Rehob,(LL) Hammon(LM) and Kanah,(LN) as far as Greater Sidon.(LO) 29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah(LP) and went to the fortified city of Tyre,(LQ) turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea(LR) in the region of Akzib,(LS) 30 Ummah, Aphek(LT) and Rehob.(LU) There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

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

Allotment for Naphtali

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

33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim,(LW) passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel(LX) to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok.(LY) It touched Zebulun(LZ) on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan[k] on the east. 35 The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath,(MA) Rakkath, Kinnereth,(MB) 36 Adamah, Ramah,(MC) Hazor,(MD) 37 Kedesh,(ME) Edrei,(MF) En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath(MG) and Beth Shemesh.(MH) There were nineteen towns and their villages.

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

Allotment for Dan

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

Zorah, Eshtaol,(MJ) Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon,(MK) Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah,(ML) Ekron,(MM) 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon,(MN) Baalath,(MO) 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,(MP) 46 Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.(MQ)

47 (When the territory of the Danites was lost to them,(MR) they went up and attacked Leshem(MS), took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named(MT) it Dan after their ancestor.)(MU)

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

Allotment for Joshua

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

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

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 14:9 Deut. 1:36
  2. Joshua 15:4 Septuagint; Hebrew your
  3. Joshua 15:18 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) Othniel, he urged her
  4. Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim
  5. Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).
  6. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
  7. Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor
  8. Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah
  9. Joshua 19:2 Or Beersheba, Sheba; 1 Chron. 4:28 does not have Sheba.
  10. Joshua 19:28 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 21:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Ebron
  11. Joshua 19:34 Septuagint; Hebrew west, and Judah, the Jordan,
  12. Joshua 19:50 Also known as Timnath Heres (see Judges 2:9)

52 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 53 (A)“Among these the land shall be divided for inheritance according to the number of names. 54 (B)To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance; every tribe shall be given its inheritance in proportion to its list. 55 But the land shall be (C)divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 Their inheritance shall be divided according to lot between the larger and the smaller.”

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52 The Lord said to Moses, 53 “The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names.(A) 54 To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number(B) of those listed.(C) 55 Be sure that the land is distributed by lot.(D) What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. 56 Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”

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