Allotment for Judah

15:15–19pp—Jdg 1:11–15

15 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom,s to the Desert of Zint in the extreme south.u

2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea,v 3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass,w continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea.x Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. 4 It then passed along to Azmony and joined the Wadi of Egypt,z ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is theira southern boundary.

5 The eastern boundarya is the Dead Seab as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern boundaryc started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 6 went up to Beth Hoglahd and continued north of Beth Arabahe to the Stone of Bohanf son of Reuben. 7 The boundary then went up to Debirg from the Valley of Achorh and turned north to Gilgal,i which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemeshj and came out at En Rogel.k 8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnoml along the southern slope of the Jebusitem city (that is, Jerusalemn). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valleyo at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.p 9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah,q came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalahr (that is, Kiriath Jearim).s 10 Then it curved westward from Baalaht to Mount Seir,u ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemeshv and crossed to Timnah.w 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron,x turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalahy and reached Jabneel.z The boundary ended at the sea.

12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.a

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 Calebb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arbac, that is, Hebron.d (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)e 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakitesf—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai,g the sons of Anak.h 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksahi in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 17 Othnielj 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 himb 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,k give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.l

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 Negevm toward the boundary of Edom were:

Kabzeel,n Eder,o Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh,p Hazor,q Ithnan, 24 Ziph,r Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),s 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,t 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual,u Beersheba,v Biziothiah, 29 Baalah,w Iyim, Ezem,x 30 Eltolad,y Kesil, Hormah,z 31 Ziklag,a Madmannah,b Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ainc and Rimmond—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

33 In the western foothills:

Eshtaol,e Zorah,f Ashnah,g 34 Zanoah,h En Gannim,i Tappuah,j Enam, 35 Jarmuth,k Adullam,l Sokoh,m Azekah,n 36 Shaaraim,o Adithaim and Gederahp (or Gederothaim)c—fourteen towns and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah,q Joktheel,r 39 Lachish,s Bozkath,t Eglon,u 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,v Beth Dagon,w Naamah and Makkedahx—sixteen towns and their villages.

42 Libnah,y Ether, Ashan,z 43 Iphtah, Ashnah,a Nezib, 44 Keilah,b Akzibc and Mareshahd—nine towns and their villages.

45 Ekron,e with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod,f together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,g its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypth and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.i

48 In the hill country:

Shamir,j Jattir,k Sokoh,l 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debirm), 50 Anab,n Eshtemoh,o Anim, 51 Goshen,p Holonq and Gilohr—eleven towns and their villages.

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

55 Maon,u Carmel,v Ziph,w Juttah,x 56 Jezreel,y Jokdeam, Zanoah,z 57 Kain, Gibeaha and Timnahb—ten towns and their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth Zur,c Gedor,d 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.d

60 Kiriath Baale (that is, Kiriath Jearimf) and Rabbahg—two towns and their villages.

61 In the wilderness:h

Beth Arabah,i Middin, Sekakah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedij—six towns and their villages.

63 Judah could notk dislodge the Jebusitesl, who were living in Jerusalem;m to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.n