Joshua 15

Allotment for Judah

1 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south.
2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea,
3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka.
4 It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their[a] southern boundary.
5 The eastern boundary is the Dead Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan,
6 went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
7 The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel.
8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim).
10 Then it curved westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh and crossed to Timnah.
11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron, turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah and reached Jabneel. The boundary ended at the sea.
12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. 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 son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)
14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak.
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 in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.”
17 Othniel 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[b] 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, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
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 toward the boundary of Edom 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, Iyim, Ezem,
30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,
31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.
33 In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh, Azekah,
36 Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim)[c] —fourteen towns and their villages.
37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,
38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,
39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,
41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah—sixteen towns and their villages.
42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
44 Keilah, Akzib and Mareshah—nine towns and their villages.
45 Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages;
46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages;
47 Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Sokoh,
49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir),
50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
51 Goshen, Holon and Giloh—eleven towns and their villages.
52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,
54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior—nine towns and their villages.
55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
57 Kain, Gibeah and Timnah—ten towns and their villages.
58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,
59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[d]
60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah—two towns and their villages.
61 In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Sekakah,
62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi—six towns and their villages.
63 Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

Joshua 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

The borders of the lot of Judah. (1-12) Caleb's portion, His daughter's blessing. (13-19) The cities of Judah. (20-63)

Verses 1-12 Joshua allotted to Judah, Ephraim, and the half of Manasseh, their inheritances before they left Gilgal. Afterwards removing to Shiloh, another survey was made, and the other tribes had their portion assigned. In due time all God's people are settled.

Verses 13-19 Achsah obtained some land by Caleb's free grant. He gave her a south land. Land indeed, but a south land, dry and apt to be parched. She obtained more, on her request, and he gave the upper and the nether springs. Those who understand it but of one field, watered both with the rain of heaven, and the springs that issued out of the earth, countenance the allusion commonly made to this, when we pray for spiritual and heavenly blessings which relate to our souls, as blessings of the upper springs, and those which relate to the body and the life that now is, as blessings of the nether springs. All the blessings, both of the upper and the nether springs, belong to the children of God. As related to Christ, they have them freely given of the Father, for the lot of their inheritance.

Verses 20-63 Here is a list of the cities of Judah. But we do not here find Bethlehem, afterwards the city of David, and ennobled by the birth of our Lord Jesus in it. That city, which, at the best, was but little among the thousands of Judah, ( Micah 5:2 ) , except that it was thus honoured, was now so little as not to be accounted one of the cities.

Cross References 126

  • 1. Numbers 34:3
  • 2. S Numbers 13:21; Numbers 33:36
  • 3. Joshua 18:5
  • 4. S Genesis 14:3
  • 5. S Numbers 34:4
  • 6. S Deuteronomy 1:2
  • 7. Numbers 34:4; Numbers 34:5
  • 8. S Genesis 15:18
  • 9. Numbers 34:10
  • 10. S Genesis 14:3
  • 11. Joshua 18:15-19
  • 12. Joshua 18:19,21
  • 13. ver 61; Joshua 18:18
  • 14. Joshua 18:17
  • 15. S Joshua 10:3
  • 16. S Joshua 7:24
  • 17. S Deuteronomy 11:30
  • 18. Joshua 18:17
  • 19. Joshua 18:16; 2 Samuel 17:17; 1 Kings 1:9
  • 20. 2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 19:6
  • 21. ver 63; Joshua 18:16,28; Judges 1:21; Judges 19:10; 2 Samuel 5:6; 1 Chronicles 11:4; Ezra 9:1
  • 22. S Joshua 10:1
  • 23. 2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31; Jeremiah 19:2
  • 24. 2 Samuel 5:18,22; 1 Chronicles 14:9; Isaiah 17:5
  • 25. Joshua 18:15
  • 26. ver 10,11,29; 2 Samuel 6:2; 1 Chronicles 13:6
  • 27. S Joshua 9:17
  • 28. S ver 9
  • 29. S Numbers 24:18
  • 30. Joshua 19:22,38; Joshua 21:16; Judges 1:33; 1 Samuel 6:9; 1 Kings 4:9; 2 Kings 14:11
  • 31. S Genesis 38:12; Judges 14:1
  • 32. S Joshua 13:3
  • 33. S ver 9
  • 34. Joshua 19:33
  • 35. S Numbers 34:6
  • 36. 1 Samuel 25:3; 1 Samuel 30:14
  • 37. S Genesis 23:2
  • 38. S Joshua 10:36; Joshua 21:12; 1 Chronicles 6:56
  • 39. S Numbers 13:22; Joshua 14:13-15
  • 40. S Numbers 13:33
  • 41. S Numbers 13:22
  • 42. Judges 1:10,20
  • 43. 1 Chronicles 2:49; Judges 1:12
  • 44. Judges 3:9,11; 1 Chronicles 4:13; 1 Chronicles 27:15
  • 45. S Joshua 10:40
  • 46. Genesis 36:24
  • 47. S Joshua 10:40
  • 48. 2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Chronicles 11:22
  • 49. Genesis 35:21
  • 50. S Joshua 12:22
  • 51. S Joshua 11:1
  • 52. ver 55; 1 Samuel 23:14; 2 Chronicles 11:8
  • 53. S Joshua 11:1
  • 54. Joshua 19:2; 1 Chronicles 4:28; Nehemiah 11:26
  • 55. Joshua 19:3; 1 Chronicles 4:28
  • 56. S Genesis 21:14; Genesis 21:31
  • 57. S ver 9
  • 58. Joshua 19:3; 1 Chronicles 4:29
  • 59. Joshua 19:4
  • 60. S Numbers 14:45
  • 61. Joshua 19:5; 1 Samuel 27:6; 1 Chronicles 4:30; 1 Chronicles 12:1; Nehemiah 11:28
  • 62. 1 Chronicles 2:49
  • 63. S Numbers 34:11
  • 64. Joshua 19:7; Judges 20:45; Judges 21:13; Zechariah 14:10
  • 65. Joshua 19:41; Judges 13:25; Judges 16:31; Judges 18:2
  • 66. Judges 13:2; Judges 18:11; 2 Chronicles 11:10; Nehemiah 11:29
  • 67. ver 43
  • 68. ver 56; 1 Chronicles 4:18; Nehemiah 3:13; Nehemiah 11:30
  • 69. Joshua 19:21; Joshua 21:29
  • 70. S Joshua 12:17
  • 71. S Joshua 10:3
  • 72. S Genesis 38:1; 1 Samuel 22:1
  • 73. ver 48; 1 Kings 4:10
  • 74. S Joshua 10:10
  • 75. 1 Samuel 17:52; 1 Chronicles 4:31
  • 76. 1 Chronicles 12:4
  • 77. S Joshua 11:3
  • 78. 2 Kings 14:7
  • 79. S Joshua 10:3; 2 Kings 14:19
  • 80. 2 Kings 22:1
  • 81. S Joshua 10:3
  • 82. 2 Chronicles 28:18
  • 83. Joshua 19:27
  • 84. S Joshua 10:10
  • 85. S Numbers 33:20
  • 86. Joshua 19:7; 1 Samuel 30:30; 1 Chronicles 4:32; 1 Chronicles 6:59
  • 87. ver 33
  • 88. 1Sa 23:1-2,1; 1 Chronicles 4:19; Nehemiah 3:17,18
  • 89. Joshua 19:29; Judges 1:31; Micah 1:14
  • 90. Micah 1:15
  • 91. S Joshua 13:3
  • 92. Joshua 11:22
  • 93. S Joshua 11:22
  • 94. S Genesis 15:18; ver 4
  • 95. S Numbers 34:6
  • 96. Judges 10:1
  • 97. Joshua 21:14; 1 Samuel 30:27; 1 Chronicles 6:57
  • 98. S ver 35
  • 99. S Joshua 10:3
  • 100. Joshua 11:21
  • 101. Joshua 21:14; 1 Samuel 30:28
  • 102. S Joshua 10:41; Joshua 11:16
  • 103. Joshua 21:15; Jeremiah 48:21
  • 104. 2 Samuel 15:12
  • 105. S Genesis 25:14
  • 106. S Genesis 35:27
  • 107. Judges 10:12; 1 Samuel 23:24,25; 1 Samuel 25:1,2; 1 Chronicles 2:45
  • 108. S Joshua 12:22
  • 109. S ver 24
  • 110. Joshua 21:16
  • 111. Joshua 17:16; Joshua 19:18; Judges 6:33; 1 Samuel 25:43; 1 Kings 18:45; 1 Chronicles 3:1; Hosea 1:5
  • 112. S ver 34
  • 113. Joshua 18:28; Joshua 24:33; Judges 19:12; Judges 20:4; 2 Samuel 23:29; 1 Chronicles 11:31
  • 114. S Genesis 38:12
  • 115. 1 Chronicles 2:45; 2 Chronicles 11:7; Nehemiah 3:16
  • 116. 1 Chronicles 4:39; 1 Chronicles 12:7
  • 117. ver 9
  • 118. S Joshua 9:17; Joshua 18:14
  • 119. S Deuteronomy 3:11
  • 120. S Joshua 8:15
  • 121. S ver 6
  • 122. 1 Samuel 23:29; 1 Samuel 24:1; Ezekiel 47:10
  • 123. Joshua 16:10; Joshua 17:12; Judges 1:21; 1 Kings 9:21
  • 124. S ver 8; 2 Samuel 5:6
  • 125. S Joshua 10:1
  • 126. Ezekiel 48:7

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Septuagint; Hebrew "your"
  • [b]. Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) "Othniel, he urged her"
  • [c]. Or "Gederah and Gederothaim"
  • [d]. The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 15

In this chapter are related the boundaries of the lot of the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:1-12; and the assignment of Hebron to Caleb, from whence he drove out the giants, and of Debir, which was taken by Othniel his brother, to whom, on that account, he gave his daughter in marriage, who made a further request to her father, which was granted, Jos 15:13-19; and then follows an account of the several cities by name, which fell to the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:20-63.

Joshua 15 Commentaries

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.