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22 No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites. The only ones who survived lived in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. 23 So Joshua conquered the entire land just as the Lord had directed Moses to do. Joshua gave it to Israel following their tribal divisions, and there was a respite from fighting in the land.

Chapter 12[a]

Conquered Kings East of the Jordan. These are the kings of the land that the Israelites conquered and of which they took possession on the other side of the Jordan, from the Arnon River up to Mount Hermon, including the entire eastern side of the Arabah. There was Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer which lay on the banks of the Arnon River. The middle of the river up to the Jabbok River formed the boundary with the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of Arabah (the Salt Sea), the road to Beth-jeshimoth and southward below the slopes of the Pisgah. There was also Og, the king of Bashan and its territory. He was the last of the Rephaim,[b] and he lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei, and reigned over Mount Hermon, over Salecah, and over all of Bashan up to the boundary with the Geshurites and the Maachathites, as well as half of Gilead, up to the boundary with Sihon, the king of Heshbon.[c] Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave them into the possession of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and one of the halves of the tribe of Manasseh.

Kings Conquered West of the Jordan. These are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on this side of the Jordan, the western side, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon up to Mount Halak and the uplands toward Seir. Joshua gave it into the possession of the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions. There was the hill country, the western slope, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the desert, and the Negeb which belonged to the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. There was one king from Jericho, there was one king from Ai (which is near Bethel); 10 there was one king from Jerusalem; there was one king from Hebron; 11 there was one king from Jarmuth; there was one king from Lachish; 12 there was one king from Eglon; there was one king from Gezer; 13 there was one king from Debir; there was one king from Geder; 14 there was one king from Hormah; there was one king from Arad; 15 there was one king from Libnah; there was one king from Adullam; 16 there was one king from Makkedah; there was one king from Bethel; 17 there was one king from Tappuah; there was one king from Hepher; 18 there was one king from Aphek; there was one king from Lasharon; 19 there was one king from Madon; there was one king from Hazor; 20 there was one king from Shimron Meron; there was one king from Achshaph; 21 there was one king from Taanach; there was one king from Megiddo; 22 there was one king from Kedesh; there was one king from Jokneam in Carmel; 23 there was one king in Dor (in Naphath-dor); there was one king of the nations in Gilgal; 24 there was one king in Tirzah. There were thirty-one kings in all.

The Division of the Land among the Tribes[d]

Chapter 13

The Division Commanded by the Lord.When Joshua had grown old and was well advanced in years, the Lord said to him, “You have grown old, and there is still quite a bit of the land that you must conquer.[e] This is the part of the land that still remains: the territory of the Philistines and all of Geshur from Sihor which lay near Egypt, to the territory of Ekron in the north (all of which is Canaanite). This is the territory of the five lords of the Philistines: of the Gazathites, of the Ashdodthites, of the Ash-kalonites, of the Gittites, of the Ekronites, that is, the Avites. From the south, it includes all of the land of the Canaanites and Mearah, that belongs to the Sidonians, up to Aphek, to the boundary with the Amorites, and it includes the land of the Gebalites and all of Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad beneath Mount Hermon up to the entrance to Lebo-hamath. There are also all of the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon up to Misrephoth-maim, that is, the land of the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. You are to divide it among the Israelites as an inheritance as I have commanded you. Divide this land as an inheritance among the nine tribes and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

The Eastern Tribes. The other half, the Reubenites and the Gadites, had already received their inheritance from Moses on the other side of the Jordan, to the east. Moses, the servant of God, gave it to them. It began at Aroer on the banks of the Arnon River, from the city itself which is in the middle of the river, and it included the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, 10 all of the cities of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, up to the boundary with the Ammonites, 11 Gilead, the territory of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, all of Mount Hermon, all of Bashan up to Salecah, 12 and all of the kingdom of Og in Bashan who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei (he was the last of the Rephaim). Moses defeated them and cast them out.

13 The Israelites did not cast out the Geshurites or the Maachathites. The Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites up to the present.[f]

14 He did not give any inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The burnt offerings made to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he had told them.

15 The Tribe of Reuben. Moses had given an inheritance to the Reubenites dividing it according to their clans. 16 Their territory included Aroer on the banks of the Arnon River, from the city itself which is in the middle of the river, as well as the whole plain of Medeba, 17 Heshbon and all of its dependent towns in the plain: Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the mountain of the valley, 20 Beth-peor, the slopes of the Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth. 21 These were all the cities of the plain, the entire kingdom of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Moses had struck him down along with the princes of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, who were princes of Sihon dwelling in that land. 22 Among those who were slain was also Balaam, the son of Beor, whom the Israelites put to the sword. 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the banks of the Jordan. These towns and villages are the inheritance of the Reubenites, divided according to its clans.

24 The Tribe of Gad. Moses gave an inheritance to the Gadites, dividing it according to their clans. 25 It included the territory of Jezer, all of the cities of Gilead, and half of the land of the Ammonites that ran from Aroer near Rabbah 26 and Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the boundary of Debir, 27 and Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon in the valley, and the rest of the kingdom of Sihon, the king of Heshbon, with the boundary running along the banks of the Jordan up to the shores of the Sea of Chinnereth (on the eastern side of the Jordan). 28 These cities and towns were the inheritance of the Gadites, divided according to its clans.

29 The Half-tribe of Manasseh. This is what Moses gave to one of the halves of the tribe of Manasseh, that is, the tribe of half of the descendants of Manasseh, divided according to its clans. 30 The territory started in Mahanaim and included all of Bashan, the entire territory of Og, the king of Bashan, and all of the town in Jair in Bashan, sixty towns in all, 31 as well as half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan. This was for the descendants of Machir, the son of Manasseh, for one-half of the descendants of the Machirites, divided according to its clans.

32 These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan, to the east of Jericho. 33 But Moses did not give an inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The Lord, the God of Israel, was their inheritance, just as he had told them.

Chapter 14

These are the inheritances that the Israelites received in the land of Canaan. Eleazar, the priest, and Joshua, the son of Nun, and the leaders of the ancestral tribes distributed it to them. The inheritance of the nine and one-half tribes was divided by lot just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses had given the inheritance to the two and one-half tribes on the other side of the Jordan. The Levites were not given an inheritance among them.

The descendants of Joseph belonged to two tribes: Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were not given an inheritance in the land, only cities in which they could dwell along with their pastures for their herds and their flocks. The Israelites divided the land just as the Lord had commanded Moses.[g]

Caleb’s Inheritance. The Judahites came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses, the man of God, about me and you at Kadesh-barnea. I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of God, sent me out from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land. I brought him back a report that expressed what I felt, but my brethren who went up with me caused the hearts of the people to melt with fear. I, however, followed the Lord, my God, wholeheartedly. On that day Moses made an oath stating, ‘The land upon which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, for you have wholeheartedly followed the Lord, my God.’ 10 The Lord has kept me alive these forty-five years since the Lord said this to Moses while the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, as he promised. I am now eighty-five years old. 11 I am just as strong today as on the day that Moses sent me out. I am just as vigorous in going out to fight as I was then. 12 Therefore, give me the hill country just as the Lord promised on that day. You yourself heard that day how the Anakim were there, and that their cities were large and well fortified, but if the Lord is with me, then I will be able to drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.”

13 Joshua blessed Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 Hebron has belonged to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, as an inheritance ever since because he wholeheartedly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba. It was named after Arba, the greatest of the Anakim.)

There was then a respite from fighting in the land.

Chapter 15

The Tribe of Judah. The allotment for the tribe of the Judahites, divided according to its clans, extended to the boundary with Edom, down to the Desert of Zin in the extreme southern regions. Their southern boundary lie on the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea. It continued south of Akrabbim on to Zin, going up to the south of Kadesh-barnea past Hebron, up to Addar and it curved around to Karka. It then passed along to Azmon out to the Wadi of Egypt, the border being on the sea. This shall be your southern boundary. The eastern boundary was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The boundary of the northern quarter began at the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. The boundary ran up to Beth-hoglah and passed to the north of Beth-arabah, and then it ran up to the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben. The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and then northward, in the direction of Gilgal that faces the Pass of Adummim on the south side of the river. The boundary then passed along the waters of En-shemesh until they flow out at En-rogel. The boundary then runs along the Valley of Ben-hinnom to the south of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there the boundary climbs up to the top of the mountain that lies to the west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. The boundary then runs from the top of the hill down to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, going along to the cities of Mount Ephron, continuing down to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim). 10 The boundary then curves westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, running along the northern slopes of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), down to Beth-shemesh and over to Timnah. 11 The boundary runs along the northern slopes of Ekron, passing on to Shikkeron, running along Mount Baalah and reaching up to Jabneel. This boundary ends at the sea. 12 The western boundary lies along the shore of the Great Sea.[h] This is the boundary that runs around the Judahites according to their clans.

13 Conquest by Caleb. Joshua gave Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, an inheritance among the Judahites, as the Lord had commanded: Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of the Anak.) 14 Caleb drove the three Anakim out from it, that is Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. They were descendants of Anak. 15 From there he marched out against the people living in Debir. (Debir was previously called Kiriath-sepher.) 16 [i]Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Achsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” 17 Othniel, the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it, so he gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage. 18 One day she went up to him and she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What can I do for you?” 19 She answered, “Please do me a favor. Since you have already given me land in the Negeb, give me some springs as well.” He gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

20 The Cities of Judah. This is the inheritance of the Judahites, divided according to its clans. 21 The cities at the edge of the land of the Judahites in the direction of the boundary with Edom in the south were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28 Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. All together there were twenty-nine cities along with the towns dependent upon them.

33 On the western slopes there were: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (that is, Gederothaim). There were fourteen of these cities along with their dependent towns. 37 There were also Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Chitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah. There were sixteen of these cities along with their dependent towns. 42 There were also Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah. There were nine of these cities along with their dependent towns. 45 There was also Ekron with its dependent towns, 46 and the territory between Ekron and the sea, near Ashdod, with all of their dependent towns. 47 There was Ashdod along with its dependent towns and villages, as well as Gaza along with its dependent towns and villages, all the way to the Wadi of Egypt and the coast of the Great Sea.

48 In the mountains there were Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh. There were eleven of these cities along with their dependent towns. 52 There were also Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior. There were nine of these cities along with their dependent towns. 55 There were also Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibbeah, and Timnah. There were ten of these cities along with their dependent towns. 58 There were also Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon. There were six of these cities, along with their dependent towns. 60 There were also Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah. There were two of these cities along with their dependent towns.

61 In the wilderness there were Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi. There were six of these cities, along with their dependent towns. 63 The Judahites could not drive out the Jebusites, the people who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the Judahites up to the present.

Chapter 16

The Tribe of Ephraim.[j] The allotment for the descendants of Joseph ran from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, and ran up into the hill country of Bethel. It went from Bethel (that is, Luz) over to the boundary of the Arkites in Ataroth. It then descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites up to the territory of lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, ending at the sea. Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph, received their inheritance.

This is the territory of the Ephraimites, divided according to its clans. The boundary of the inheritance went from Ataroth-addar in the east to upper Beth-horon and it continued on to the sea. From Micmethath in the north it curved eastward to Taanath-shiloh, passing by it to the east of Janoah. It went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, arriving at Jericho and then ending at the Jordan. From Tappuah the boundary reached eastward to the Kanah River and from there it went to the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, divided according to its clans. It included all of the cities that were set aside for the Ephraimites in the inheritance of the Manassehites, the cities and their dependent towns. 10 They did not drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer. The Canaanites live among the Ephraimites up to the present and they serve them doing forced labor.

Chapter 17

The Tribe of Manasseh. This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh, who was the firstborn of Joseph, that is, of Machir, who was the firstborn of Manasseh, and he was also the father of the Gileadites because he had received Gilead and Bashan since he was a mighty warrior. This was the allotment for the rest of the Manassehites, the clans of the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, according to their clans.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 12:1 The conquered cities and their rulers were systematically overtaken by Joshua to the east and west of the Jordan River.
  2. Joshua 12:4 Rephaim: a legendary people to whom imposing monuments were attributed.
  3. Joshua 12:5 Peoples of the region, living on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon.
  4. Joshua 13:1 In the way in which they were distributed throughout Palestine and in their life there (chs. 13–22), the tribes saw the fulfillment of a promise and plan of God.
    The special situation of the tribe of Levi is noteworthy. The editor several times emphasizes the point that this tribe is dedicated to the conduct of worship: the Lord is their portion.
  5. Joshua 13:1 Although Joshua was well over 80 years of age, the Lord continued to use him to fulfill his plan begun by Moses 40 years before.
  6. Joshua 13:13 Because the Israelites did not drive out the people in the lands they occupied, they will continue to wage battle against their pagan customs and culture.
  7. Joshua 14:5 The division of the land by casting lots as commanded to Moses by the Lord (v. 2) was carried out exactly by his successor Joshua.
  8. Joshua 15:12 The Great Sea: the Mediterranean.
  9. Joshua 15:16 In addition to winning the hand of Caleb’s daughter Achsah in marriage, Othniel will become the first of the minor judges of Israel after Joshua’s death (Jdg 1:13; 3:7-11).
  10. Joshua 16:1 None of the 12 tribes is named for Joseph, the eldest of Jacob’s sons. Instead, the largest and most ideal area is reserved for Joseph’s two sons Ephraim and Manasseh.

22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza,(A) Gath(B) and Ashdod(C) did any survive.

23 So Joshua took the entire land,(D) just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance(E) to Israel according to their tribal divisions.(F) Then the land had rest(G) from war.(H)

List of Defeated Kings

12 These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took(I) over east of the Jordan,(J) from the Arnon(K) Gorge to Mount Hermon,(L) including all the eastern side of the Arabah:(M)

Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.(N)

He ruled from Aroer(O) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River,(P) which is the border of the Ammonites.(Q) This included half of Gilead.(R) He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee[a](S) to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea(T)), to Beth Jeshimoth,(U) and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.(V)

And the territory of Og king of Bashan,(W) one of the last of the Rephaites,(X) who reigned in Ashtaroth(Y) and Edrei.

He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah,(Z) all of Bashan(AA) to the border of the people of Geshur(AB) and Maakah,(AC) and half of Gilead(AD) to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them.(AE) And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession.(AF)

Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon(AG) to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions. The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev.(AH) These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These were the kings:(AI)

the king of Jericho(AJ)one
the king of Ai(AK) (near Bethel(AL))one
10 the king of Jerusalem(AM)one
the king of Hebronone
11 the king of Jarmuthone
the king of Lachish(AN)one
12 the king of Eglon(AO)one
the king of Gezer(AP)one
13 the king of Debir(AQ)one
the king of Gederone
14 the king of Hormah(AR)one
the king of Arad(AS)one
15 the king of Libnah(AT)one
the king of Adullam(AU)one
16 the king of Makkedah(AV)one
the king of Bethel(AW)one
17 the king of Tappuah(AX)one
the king of Hepher(AY)one
18 the king of Aphek(AZ)one
the king of Lasharonone
19 the king of Madonone
the king of Hazor(BA)one
20 the king of Shimron Meronone
the king of Akshaph(BB)one
21 the king of Taanach(BC)one
the king of Megiddo(BD)one
22 the king of Kedesh(BE)one
the king of Jokneam(BF) in Carmel(BG)one
23 the king of Dor (in Naphoth Dor(BH))one
the king of Goyim in Gilgalone
24 the king of Tirzah(BI)one
thirty-one kings in all.(BJ)

Land Still to Be Taken

13 When Joshua had grown old,(BK) the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

“This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines(BL) and Geshurites,(BM) from the Shihor River(BN) on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron(BO) on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers(BP) in Gaza, Ashdod,(BQ) Ashkelon,(BR) Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites(BS) on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek(BT) and the border of the Amorites;(BU) the area of Byblos;(BV) and all Lebanon(BW) to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon(BX) to Lebo Hamath.(BY)

“As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim,(BZ) that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out(CA) before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you,(CB) and divide it as an inheritance(CC) among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

Division of the Land East of the Jordan

The other half of Manasseh,[b] the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assigned(CD) it to them.(CE)

It extended from Aroer(CF) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau(CG) of Medeba as far as Dibon,(CH) 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon,(CI) out to the border of the Ammonites.(CJ) 11 It also included Gilead,(CK) the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah(CL) 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan,(CM) who had reigned in Ashtaroth(CN) and Edrei.(CO) (He was the last of the Rephaites.(CP)) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land.(CQ) 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur(CR) and Maakah,(CS) so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.(CT)

14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.(CU)

15 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans:

16 The territory from Aroer(CV) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba(CW) 17 to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau,(CX) including Dibon,(CY) Bamoth Baal,(CZ) Beth Baal Meon,(DA) 18 Jahaz,(DB) Kedemoth,(DC) Mephaath,(DD) 19 Kiriathaim,(DE) Sibmah,(DF) Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor,(DG) the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— 21 all the towns on the plateau(DH) and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs,(DI) Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba(DJ)—princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor,(DK) who practiced divination.(DL) 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans.(DM)

24 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans:

25 The territory of Jazer,(DN) all the towns of Gilead(DO) and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;(DP) 26 and from Heshbon(DQ) to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim(DR) to the territory of Debir;(DS) 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah,(DT) Sukkoth(DU) and Zaphon(DV) with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Galilee[c](DW)). 28 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites,(DX) according to their clans.

29 This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans:

30 The territory extending from Mahanaim(DY) and including all of Bashan,(DZ) the entire realm of Og king of Bashan(EA)—all the settlements of Jair(EB) in Bashan, sixty towns, 31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan).(EC) This was for the descendants of Makir(ED) son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans.(EE)

32 This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab(EF) across the Jordan east of Jericho.(EG) 33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance;(EH) the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance,(EI) as he promised them.(EJ)

Division of the Land West of the Jordan

14 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance(EK) in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar(EL) the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel(EM) allotted(EN) to them.(EO) Their inheritances were assigned by lot(EP) to the nine and a half tribes,(EQ) as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan(ER) but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,(ES) for Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim.(ET) The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.(EU) So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.(EV)

Allotment for Caleb

Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,(EW) and Caleb son of Jephunneh(EX) the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God(EY) at Kadesh Barnea(EZ) about you and me.(FA) I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea(FB) to explore the land.(FC) And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,(FD) but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.(FE) I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.(FF) So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance(FG) and that of your children(FH) forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’[d]

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

13 Then Joshua blessed(FQ) Caleb son of Jephunneh(FR) and gave him Hebron(FS) as his inheritance.(FT) 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.(FU) 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba(FV) after Arba,(FW) who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest(FX) from war.

Allotment for Judah(FY)

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

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

The eastern boundary(GH) is the Dead Sea(GI) as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern boundary(GJ) started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, went up to Beth Hoglah(GK) and continued north of Beth Arabah(GL) to the Stone of Bohan(GM) son of Reuben. The boundary then went up to Debir(GN) from the Valley of Achor(GO) and turned north to Gilgal,(GP) which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh(GQ) and came out at En Rogel.(GR) Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom(GS) along the southern slope of the Jebusite(GT) city (that is, Jerusalem(GU)). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley(GV) at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.(GW) From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah,(GX) came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah(GY) (that is, Kiriath Jearim).(GZ) 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah(HA) to Mount Seir,(HB) ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh(HC) and crossed to Timnah.(HD) 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron,(HE) turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah(HF) and reached Jabneel.(HG) The boundary ended at the sea.

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

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(HI) son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba(HJ), that is, Hebron.(HK) (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)(HL) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites(HM)—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai,(HN) the sons of Anak.(HO) 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(HP) in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 17 Othniel(HQ) 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[f] 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,(HR) give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.(HS)

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(HT) toward the boundary of Edom were:

Kabzeel,(HU) Eder,(HV) Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh,(HW) Hazor,(HX) Ithnan, 24 Ziph,(HY) Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),(HZ) 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,(IA) 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual,(IB) Beersheba,(IC) Biziothiah, 29 Baalah,(ID) Iyim, Ezem,(IE) 30 Eltolad,(IF) Kesil, Hormah,(IG) 31 Ziklag,(IH) Madmannah,(II) Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain(IJ) and Rimmon(IK)—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

33 In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,(IL) Zorah,(IM) Ashnah,(IN) 34 Zanoah,(IO) En Gannim,(IP) Tappuah,(IQ) Enam, 35 Jarmuth,(IR) Adullam,(IS) Sokoh,(IT) Azekah,(IU) 36 Shaaraim,(IV) Adithaim and Gederah(IW) (or Gederothaim)[g]—fourteen towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah,(IX) Joktheel,(IY) 39 Lachish,(IZ) Bozkath,(JA) Eglon,(JB) 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,(JC) Beth Dagon,(JD) Naamah and Makkedah(JE)—sixteen towns and their villages.

42 Libnah,(JF) Ether, Ashan,(JG) 43 Iphtah, Ashnah,(JH) Nezib, 44 Keilah,(JI) Akzib(JJ) and Mareshah(JK)—nine towns and their villages.

45 Ekron,(JL) with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,(JM) together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,(JN) its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt(JO) and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.(JP)

48 In the hill country:

Shamir,(JQ) Jattir,(JR) Sokoh,(JS) 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir(JT)), 50 Anab,(JU) Eshtemoh,(JV) Anim, 51 Goshen,(JW) Holon(JX) and Giloh(JY)—eleven towns and their villages.

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

55 Maon,(KB) Carmel,(KC) Ziph,(KD) Juttah,(KE) 56 Jezreel,(KF) Jokdeam, Zanoah,(KG) 57 Kain, Gibeah(KH) and Timnah(KI)—ten towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur,(KJ) Gedor,(KK) 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[h]

60 Kiriath Baal(KL) (that is, Kiriath Jearim(KM)) and Rabbah(KN)—two towns and their villages.

61 In the wilderness:(KO)

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

63 Judah could not(KR) dislodge the Jebusites(KS), who were living in Jerusalem;(KT) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.(KU)

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(KV) into the hill country of Bethel.(KW) It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz(KX)),[i] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites(KY) in Ataroth,(KZ) descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon(LA) and on to Gezer,(LB) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

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

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

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar(LD) in the east to Upper Beth Horon(LE) and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath(LF) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah(LG) on the east. Then it went down from Janoah(LH) to Ataroth(LI) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. From Tappuah(LJ) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine(LK) 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.(LL)

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.(LM)

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh(LN) as Joseph’s firstborn,(LO) that is, for Makir,(LP) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead(LQ) and Bashan(LR) because the Makirites were great soldiers. So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh(LS)—the clans of Abiezer,(LT) Helek, Asriel,(LU) Shechem, Hepher(LV) and Shemida.(LW) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 12:3 Hebrew Kinnereth
  2. Joshua 13:8 Hebrew With it (that is, with the other half of Manasseh)
  3. Joshua 13:27 Hebrew Kinnereth
  4. Joshua 14:9 Deut. 1:36
  5. Joshua 15:4 Septuagint; Hebrew your
  6. Joshua 15:18 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) Othniel, he urged her
  7. Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim
  8. Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).
  9. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz