Joshua 15

Judah’s Territory Laid Out

1 Judah’s crew got their land first. Their territory stretched all the way down south to the border of Edom, right into the Zin Desert.

2 The southern line started from the bottom of the Dead Sea, from the edge that faces south.

3 It ran south of Scorpion Pass, down to Zin, up to Kadesh-barnea, passed Hezron, then climbed to Addar and curved to Karka.

4 From there, it hit Azmon, followed the border of Egypt, and ended at the sea. That is Judah’s southern line.

5 The eastern line was the Dead Sea, up to where the Jordan River starts.

6 The northern line started at Beth-hoglah and ran north of Beth-arabah, up to the stone of Bohan (Reuben’s son).

7 Then it went up to Debir, turned north to Gilgal (across from Adummim Pass), down to En-shemesh, and out to En-rogel.

8 It went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom by the south side of the Jebusite city (Jerusalem), then climbed to the top of the hill on the west of Hinnom Valley.

9 The line curved from the top of the hill to Nephtoah’s spring, then out to Mount Ephron, then to Baalah (also called Kiriath-jearim).

10 From there, it turned west to Mount Seir, passed to the slope of Mount Jearim (aka Chesalon), went down to Beth-shemesh, and out to Timnah.

11 It ran out to Ekron’s hill, curved to Shikkeron, passed Mount Baalah, hit Jabneel, and ended at the sea.

12 The west border was the Mediterranean Sea. That is the full border of Judah’s land, top to bottom.

Caleb Claims Hebron

13 Joshua gave Caleb (son of Jephunneh) a piece of land inside Judah, just like God said. It was Kiriath-arba, aka Hebron. Arba was the father of the Anak giants.

14 Caleb rolled up and pushed out Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai - three of those Anak giants.

15 From there, he went after the people in Debir (used to be called Kiriath-sepher).

16 Caleb said, “Whoever takes Kiriath-sepher gets my daughter Achsah as his wife.”

17 Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, stepped up, took the city, and Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah.

18 When she came to him, she asked her father for more land. She got down off her donkey, and Caleb asked, “What do you need?”

19 She said, “Give me a blessing - you gave me dry land, now give me some water too.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

Towns in Judah’s Territory

20 That is what the tribe of Judah got for their land, divided by families.

21 Towns on the southern edge near Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur.

22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah.

23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan.

24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth.

25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (aka 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, Rimmon - 29 towns with their villages.

33 In the western hills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah.

34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam.

35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah.

36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim - 14 towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad.

38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel.

39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon.

40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish.

41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, Makkedah - 16 towns and their villages.

42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan.

43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib.

44 Keilah, Achzib, Mareshah - 9 towns and their villages.

45 Ekron and the towns around it.

46 From Ekron to the sea, all towns close to Ashdod and their villages.

47 Ashdod and its towns, Gaza and its towns, all the way to the Wadi of Egypt and the coast.

48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh.

49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (aka Debir).

50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim.

51 Goshen, Holon, Giloh - 11 towns and their villages.

52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan.

53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah.

54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (Hebron), Zior - 9 towns and their villages.

55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah.

56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah.

57 Kain, Gibeah, Timnah - 10 towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor.

59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, Eltekon - 6 towns and their villages.

60 Kiriath-baal (Kiriath-jearim), Rabbah - 2 towns and their villages.

Desert Towns

61 In the desert: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah.

62 Nibshan, Salt City, En-gedi - 6 towns and their villages.

Jebusites Still in Jerusalem

63 But Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem, so they still living there with Judah’s people to this day.