Joshua 13:1--24:33

The Lord Speaks to Joshua

13:1 When Joshua was very old, the Lord told him, “You are very old, and a great deal of land remains to be conquered. 13:2 This is the land that remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all the Geshurites, 13:3 from the Shihor River east of Egypt northward to the territory of Ekron (it is regarded as Canaanite territory), including the area belonging to the five Philistine lords who ruled in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as Avvite land 13:4 to the south; all the Canaanite territory, from Arah in the region of Sidon to Aphek, as far as Amorite territory; 13:5 the territory of Byblos 10  and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath. 11  13:6 I will drive out before the Israelites all who live in the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, 12  all the Sidonians; you be sure to parcel it out to Israel as I instructed you.” 13  13:7 Now, divide up this land 14  among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”

Tribal Lands East of the Jordan

13:8 The other half of Manasseh, 15  Reuben, and Gad received their allotted tribal lands beyond the Jordan, 16  just as Moses, the Lord’s servant, had assigned them. 13:9 Their territory started 17  from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley), included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, 13:10 and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, and ended at the Ammonite border. 13:11 Their territory also included 18  Gilead, Geshurite and Maacathite territory, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah – 13:12 the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was one of the few remaining Rephaites.) 19  Moses defeated them and took their lands. 20  13:13 But the Israelites did not conquer 21  the Geshurites and Maacathites; Geshur and Maacah live among Israel to this very day. 13:14 However, Moses 22  did not assign land as an inheritance 23  to the Levites; their inheritance 24  is the sacrificial offerings 25  made to the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed 26  them.

13:15 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Reuben 27  by its clans. 13:16 Their territory started at Aroer 28  (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba, 13:17 Heshbon and all its surrounding cities on the plain, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 13:18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 13:19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 13:20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth. 13:21 It encompassed 29  all the cities of the plain and the whole realm of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and the Midianite leaders Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (they were subjects of Sihon and lived in his territory). 30  13:22 The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen reader, 31  along with the others. 32  13:23 The border of the tribe of Reuben was the Jordan. The land allotted to the tribe of Reuben by its clans included these cities and their towns. 33 

13:24 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Gad 34  by its clans. 13:25 Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half of Ammonite territory 35  as far as Aroer near 36  Rabbah. 13:26 Their territory ran 37  from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir. 13:27 It included the valley of Beth Haram, 38  Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, and the rest of the realm of King Sihon of Heshbon, the area east of the Jordan to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth. 39  13:28 The land allotted to the tribe of Gad by its clans included these cities and their towns. 40 

13:29 Moses assigned land to the half-tribe of Manasseh 41  by its clans. 13:30 Their territory started at 42  Mahanaim and encompassed all Bashan, the whole realm of King Og of Bashan, including all sixty cities in Havvoth Jair 43  in Bashan. 13:31 Half of Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities in the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were assigned to the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh, to half the descendants of Makir by their clans.

13:32 These are the land assignments made by Moses 44  on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho. 45  13:33 However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance 46  to the Levites; their inheritance 47  is the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed 48  them.

Judah’s Tribal Lands

14:1 The following is a record of the territory assigned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders. 49  14:2 The land assignments to the nine-and-a-half tribes were made by drawing lots, as the Lord had instructed Moses. 50  14:3 Now Moses had assigned land 51  to the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan, but he assigned no land 52  to the Levites. 53  14:4 The descendants of Joseph were considered as two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were allotted no territory, though they were assigned cities in which to live, along with the grazing areas for their cattle and possessions. 54  14:5 The Israelites followed the Lord’s instructions to Moses and divided up the land. 55 

14:6 The men of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said about you and me to Moses, the man of God, at Kadesh Barnea. 56  14:7 I was forty years old when Moses, the Lord’s servant, sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy on the land and I brought back to him an honest report. 57  14:8 My countrymen 58  who accompanied 59  me frightened the people, 60  but I remained loyal to the Lord my God. 61  14:9 That day Moses made this solemn promise: 62  ‘Surely the land on which you walked 63  will belong to you and your descendants permanently, 64  for you remained loyal to the Lord your God.’ 14:10 So now, look, the Lord has preserved my life, just as he promised, these past forty-five years since the Lord spoke these words to Moses, during which Israel traveled through the wilderness. Now look, I am today eighty-five years old. 14:11 Today I am still as strong as when Moses sent me out. I can fight and go about my daily activities with the same energy I had then. 65  14:12 Now, assign me this hill country which the Lord promised me at that time! No doubt you heard at that time that the Anakites live there in large, fortified cities. 66  But, assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer 67  them, as the Lord promised.” 14:13 Joshua asked God to empower Caleb son of Jephunneh and assigned him Hebron. 68  14:14 So Hebron remains the assigned land of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this very day 69  because he remained loyal to the Lord God of Israel. 14:15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba. Arba was a famous Anakite. 70 ) Then the land was free of war.

15:1 The land allotted to the tribe of Judah by its clans reached to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin in the Negev far to the south. 71  15:2 Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea, 72  15:3 extended 73  south of the Scorpion Ascent, 74  crossed to Zin, went up from the south to Kadesh Barnea, crossed to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka. 15:4 It then crossed to Azmon, extended to the Stream of Egypt, 75  and ended at the sea. This was their 76  southern border.

15:5 The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth 77  of the Jordan River. 78 

The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 79  15:6 went up to Beth Hoglah, crossed north of Beth Arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 15:7 It then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning northward to Gilgal (which is opposite the Pass 80  of Adummim south of the valley), crossed to the waters of En Shemesh and extended to En Rogel. 15:8 It then went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites on the south (that is, Jerusalem), 81  going up to the top of the hill opposite the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. 15:9 It then went from the top of the hill to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, extended to the cities of Mount Ephron, and went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). 15:10 It then turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, crossed to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is Kesalon), descended to Beth Shemesh, and crossed to Timnah. 15:11 It then extended to the slope of Ekron to the north, went toward Shikkeron, crossed to Mount Baalah, extended to Jabneel, and ended at the sea.

15:12 The western border was the Mediterranean Sea. 82  These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans. 83 

15:13 Caleb son of Jephunneh was assigned Kiriath Arba (that is Hebron) within the tribe of Judah, according to the Lord’s instructions to Joshua. (Arba was the father of Anak.) 84  15:14 Caleb drove out 85  from there three Anakites – Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. 15:15 From there he attacked the people of Debir. 86  (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.) 15:16 Caleb said, “To the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher I will give my daughter Acsah as a wife.” 15:17 When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, 87  captured it, Caleb 88  gave Acsah his daughter to him as a wife.

15:18 One time Acsah 89  came and charmed her father 90  so that she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What would you like?” 15:19 She answered, “Please give me a special present. 91  Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water. So he gave her both upper and lower springs.

15:20 This is the land assigned to the tribe of Judah by its clans: 92  15:21 These cities were located at the southern extremity of Judah’s tribal land near the border of Edom: 93  Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 15:22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 15:23 Kedesh, Hazor, 94  Ithnan, 15:24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 15:25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), 15:26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 15:27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshbon, Beth Pelet, 15:28 Hazar Shual, Beer Sheba, Biziothiah, 15:29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 15:30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, 15:31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 15:32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon – a total of twenty-nine cities and their towns. 95 

15:33 These cities were 96  in the lowlands: 97  Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 15:34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 15:35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 15:36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim) – a total of fourteen cities and their towns.

15:37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 15:38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 15:39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 15:40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 15:41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah – a total of sixteen cities and their towns.

15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 15:43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 15:44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah – a total of nine cities and their towns.

15:45 Ekron and its surrounding towns 98  and settlements; 15:46 from Ekron westward, all those in the vicinity of Ashdod and their towns; 15:47 Ashdod with its surrounding towns and settlements, and Gaza with its surrounding towns and settlements, as far as the Stream of Egypt 99  and the border at the Mediterranean Sea. 100 

15:48 These cities were 101  in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 15:49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), 15:50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 15:51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh – a total of eleven cities and their towns.

15:52 Arab, Dumah, 102  Eshan, 15:53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 15:54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior – a total of nine cities and their towns.

15:55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 15:56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 15:57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah – a total of ten cities and their towns.

15:58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 15:59 Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon – a total of six cities and their towns.

15:60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah – a total of two cities and their towns.

15:61 These cities were 103  in the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 15:62 Nibshan, the city of Salt, and En Gedi – a total of six cities and their towns.

15:63 The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. 104  The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day. 105 

Joseph’s Tribal Lands

16:1 The land allotted to Joseph’s descendants extended from the Jordan at Jericho 106  to the waters of Jericho to the east, through the desert and on up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. 107  16:2 The southern border 108  extended from Bethel to Luz, 109  and crossed to Arkite territory at Ataroth. 16:3 It then descended westward to Japhletite territory, as far as the territory of lower Beth Horon and Gezer, and ended at the sea.

16:4 Joseph’s descendants, Manasseh and Ephraim, were assigned their land. 110  16:5 The territory of the tribe of Ephraim by its clans included the following: 111  The border of their assigned land to the east was Ataroth Addar as far as upper Beth Horon. 16:6 It then extended on to the sea, with Micmethath on the north. It turned eastward to Taanath Shiloh and crossed it on the east to Janoah. 16:7 It then descended from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, 112  and extended to the Jordan River. 113  16:8 From Tappuah it went westward to the Valley of Kanah and ended at the sea. This is the land assigned to the tribe of Ephraim 114  by its clans. 16:9 Also included were the cities set apart for the tribe of Ephraim within Manasseh’s territory, along with their towns. 115 

16:10 The Ephraimites 116  did not conquer the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites live among the Ephraimites to this very day and do hard labor as their servants.

17:1 The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s firstborn son, was also allotted land. 117  The descendants of Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn and the father of Gilead, received land, for they were warriors. 118  They were assigned Gilead and Bashan. 119  17:2 The rest of Manasseh’s descendants were also assigned land 120  by their clans, including the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

17:3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 17:4 They went before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us land among our relatives.” 121  So Joshua 122  assigned them land among their uncles, as the Lord had commanded. 123  17:5 Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, 124  in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, 17:6 for the daughters of Manasseh were assigned land among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

17:7 The border of Manasseh went 125  from Asher to Micmethath which is near 126  Shechem. It then went south toward those who live in Tappuah. 17:8 (The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah, located on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.) 17:9 The border then descended southward to the Valley of Kanah. Ephraim was assigned cities there among the cities of Manasseh, 127  but the border of Manasseh was north of the valley and ended at the sea. 17:10 Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s to the north. The sea was Manasseh’s 128  western border and their territory 129  touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 17:11 Within Issachar’s and Asher’s territory Manasseh was assigned Beth Shean, Ibleam, the residents of Dor, En Dor, the residents of Taanach, the residents of Megiddo, 130  the three of Napheth, 131  and the towns surrounding all these cities. 132  17:12 But the men 133  of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed 134  to remain in those areas. 17:13 Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them. 135 

17:14 The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you assigned us only one tribal allotment? After all, we have many people, for until now the Lord has enabled us to increase in number.” 136  17:15 Joshua replied to them, “Since you have so many people, 137  go up into the forest and clear out a place to live in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites, for the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you.” 17:16 The descendants of Joseph said, “The whole hill country 138  is inadequate for us, and the Canaanites living down in the valley in Beth Shean and its surrounding towns and in the Valley of Jezreel have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels.” 139  17:17 Joshua said to the family 140  of Joseph – to both Ephraim and Manasseh: “You have many people and great military strength. You will not have just one tribal allotment. 17:18 The whole hill country 141  will be yours; though it is a forest, you can clear it and it will be entirely yours. 142  You can conquer the Canaanites, though they have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels and are strong.”

The Tribes Meet at Shiloh

18:1 The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh and there they set up the tent of meeting. 143  Though they had subdued the land, 144  18:2 seven Israelite tribes had not been assigned their allotted land. 145  18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long do you intend to put off occupying 146  the land the Lord God of your ancestors 147  has given you? 18:4 Pick three men from each tribe. I will send them out to walk through the land and make a map of it for me. 148  18:5 Divide it into seven regions. 149  Judah will stay 150  in its territory in the south, and the family 151  of Joseph in its territory in the north. 18:6 But as for you, map out the land into seven regions and bring it to me. I will draw lots for you here before the Lord our God. 18:7 But the Levites will not have an allotted portion among you, for their inheritance is to serve the Lord. 152  Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their allotted land 153  east of the Jordan which Moses the Lord’s servant assigned them.”

18:8 When the men started out, Joshua told those going to map out the land, “Go, walk through the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will draw lots for you before the Lord here in Shiloh.” 18:9 The men journeyed 154  through the land and mapped it and its cities out into seven regions on a scroll. Then they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. 18:10 Joshua drew lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord and divided the land among the Israelites according to their allotted portions.

Benjamin’s Tribal Lands

18:11 The first lot belonged to the tribe of Benjamin 155  by its clans. Their allotted territory was between Judah and Joseph. 156  18:12 Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho 157  on the north, ascended westward to the hill country, and extended to the desert of Beth Aven. 18:13 It then crossed from there to Luz, to the slope of Luz to the south (that is, Bethel), 158  and descended to Ataroth Addar located on the hill that is south of lower Beth Horon. 18:14 It then turned on the west side southward from the hill near Beth Horon on the south and extended to Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a city belonging to the tribe 159  of Judah. This is the western border. 160  18:15 The southern side started on the edge of Kiriath Jearim and extended westward to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 18:16 The border then descended to the edge of the hill country near the Valley of Ben Hinnom located in the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. It descended through the Valley of Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites to the south and then down to En Rogel. 18:17 It went northward, extending to En Shemesh and Geliloth opposite the Pass 161  of Adummim, and descended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 18:18 It crossed to the slope in front of the Arabah to the north and descended into the Arabah. 18:19 It then crossed to the slope of Beth Hoglah to the north and ended at the northern tip of the Salt Sea 162  at the mouth of the Jordan River. 163  This was the southern border. 18:20 The Jordan River borders it on the east. These were the borders of the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans. 164 

18:21 These cities belonged to the tribe 165  of Benjamin by its clans: Jericho, 166  Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 18:22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 167  18:23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 18:24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba – a total of twelve cities and their towns.

18:25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 18:26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, 18:27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city 168  (that is, Jerusalem), 169  Gibeah, and Kiriath – a total of fourteen cities and their towns. 170  This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin 171  by its clans.

Simeon’s Tribal Lands

19:1 The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 172  19:2 Their assigned land included 173  Beer Sheba, 174  Moladah, 19:3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 19:4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 19:5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 19:6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen – a total of thirteen cities and their towns, 19:7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan – a total of four cities and their towns, 19:8 as well as all the towns around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land assigned to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 175  19:9 Simeon’s assigned land was taken from Judah’s allotted portion, for Judah’s territory was too large for them; so Simeon was assigned land within Judah. 176 

Zebulun’s Tribal Lands

19:10 The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun 177  by its clans. The border of their territory 178  extended to Sarid. 19:11 Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near 179  Jokneam. 19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward 180  to the territory of Kisloth Tabor, extended to Daberath, and went up to Japhia. 19:13 From there it crossed eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin and extended to Rimmon, turning toward Neah. 19:14 It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. 19:15 Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; 181  in all they had twelve cities and their towns. 182  19:16 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun 183  by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Issachar’s Tribal Lands

19:17 The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar 184  by its clans. 19:18 Their assigned land 185  included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, 19:19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 19:20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 19:21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 19:22 Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had sixteen cities and their towns. 19:23 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Issachar 186  by its clans, including the cities and their towns.

Asher’s Tribal Lands

19:24 The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher 187  by its clans. 19:25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, 19:26 Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal. Their border touched Carmel to the west and Shihor Libnath. 19:27 It turned eastward toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El to the north, as well as the Valley of Emek and Neiel, and extended to Cabul on the north 188  19:28 and on to Ebron, 189  Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 190  19:29 It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, 191  turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Aczib, 19:30 Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had 192  twenty-two cities and their towns. 19:31 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher 193  by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Naphtali’s Tribal Lands

19:32 The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali 194  by its clans. 19:33 Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, 195  and ended at the Jordan River. 196  19:34 It turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, extended from there to Hukok, touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and the Jordan 197  on the east. 19:35 The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 198  19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 19:38 Yiron, 199  Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had 200  nineteen cities and their towns. 19:39 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali 201  by its clans, including the cities and their towns.

Dan’s Tribal Lands

19:40 The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan 202  by its clans. 19:41 Their assigned land included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 19:43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 19:45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 19:46 the waters of Jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory in front of Joppa. 19:47 (The Danites failed to conquer their territory, 203  so they went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. They put the sword to it, took possession of it, and lived in it. They renamed it 204  Dan after their ancestor. 205 ) 19:48 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan 206  by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Joshua Receives Land

19:49 When they finished dividing the land into its regions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun some land. 207  19:50 As the Lord had instructed, they gave him the city he requested – Timnath Serah in the Ephraimite hill country. He built up the city and lived in it.

19:51 These are the land assignments which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders 208  made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 209  So they finished dividing up the land.

Israel Designates Cities of Refuge

20:1 The Lord instructed Joshua: 20:2 “Have the Israelites select 210  the cities of refuge 211  that I told you about through Moses. 20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; 212  these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 20:4 The one who committed manslaughter 213  should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. 214  They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. 215  20:5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation. 216  20:6 He must remain 217  in that city until his case is decided by the assembly 218  and the high priest dies. 219  Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.” 220 

20:7 So they selected 221  Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 20:8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho 222  they selected 223  Bezer in the desert on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. 20:9 These were the cities of refuge 224  appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by 225  the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly. 226 

Levitical Cities

21:1 The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders 21:2 in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.” 21:3 So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the Lord had instructed.

21:4 The first lot belonged to 227  the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 21:5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 21:6 Gershon’s descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 21:7 Merari’s descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 21:8 So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the Lord had instructed Moses.

21:9 They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below. 21:10 They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron, 228  for the first lot belonged to them. 21:11 They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding grazing areas. 21:12 (Now the city’s fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.) 21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah, 21:14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 21:15 Holon, Debir, 21:16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes. 21:17 From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned 229  Gibeon, Geba, 21:18 Anathoth, and Almon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:19 The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.

21:20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim. 21:21 They assigned them Shechem (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, 21:22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:23 From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 21:24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon, 230  along with the grazing areas of each – a total of two cities. 21:26 The rest of the Kohathite clans received ten cities and their grazing areas.

21:27 They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities: 231  from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of two cities; 21:28 from the tribe of Issachar: Kishon, Daberath, 21:29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:30 from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon, 21:31 Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:32 from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of three cities. 21:33 The Gershonite clans received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.

21:34 They assigned to the Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) the following cities: from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, 21:35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:36 232  from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, 21:37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities; 21:38 from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim, 21:39 Heshbon, and Jazer, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities. 21:40 The Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) were allotted twelve cities.

21:41 The Levites received within the land owned by the Israelites 233  forty-eight cities in all and their grazing areas. 21:42 Each of these cities had grazing areas around it; they were alike in this regard. 234 

21:43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors, 235  and they conquered 236  it and lived in it. 21:44 The Lord made them secure, 237  in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors. 238  None of their enemies could resist them. 239  21:45 Not one of the Lord’s faithful promises to the family of Israel 240  was left unfulfilled; every one was realized. 241 

Joshua Sends Home the Eastern Tribes

22:1 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh 22:2 and told them: “You have carried out all the instructions of Moses the Lord’s servant, and you have obeyed all I have told you. 242  22:3 You have not abandoned your fellow Israelites 243  this entire time, 244  right up to this very day. You have completed the task given you by the Lord your God. 245  22:4 Now the Lord your God has made your fellow Israelites secure, 246  just as he promised them. So now you may turn around and go to your homes 247  in your own land 248  which Moses the Lord’s servant assigned to you east of the Jordan. 22:5 But carefully obey the commands and instructions Moses the Lord’s servant gave you. Love 249  the Lord your God, follow all his instructions, 250  obey 251  his commands, be loyal to him, 252  and serve him with all your heart and being!” 253 

22:6 Joshua rewarded 254  them and sent them on their way; they returned to their homes. 255  22:7 (Now to one half-tribe of Manasseh, Moses had assigned land in Bashan; and to the other half Joshua had assigned land on the west side of the Jordan with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, 256  he rewarded 257  them, 22:8 saying, “Take home 258  great wealth, a lot of cattle, 259  silver, gold, bronze, iron, and a lot of 260  clothing. Divide up the goods captured from your enemies with your brothers.” 22:9 So the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and headed home to their own land in Gilead, 261  which they acquired by the Lord’s command through Moses.

Civil War is Averted

22:10 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan and built there, near the Jordan, an impressive altar. 262  22:11 The Israelites received this report: 263  “Look, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the entrance to 264  the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side.” 22:12 When the Israelites heard this, the entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh to launch an attack against them. 265 

22:13 The Israelites sent Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 22:14 He was accompanied by ten leaders, one from each of the Israelite tribes, each one a family leader among the Israelite clans. 266  22:15 They went to the land of Gilead to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them: 22:16 “The entire community of the Lord says, ‘Why have you disobeyed the God of Israel by turning back today from following the Lord? You built an altar for yourselves and have rebelled today against the Lord. 267  22:17 The sin we committed at Peor was bad enough. To this very day we have not purified ourselves; it even brought a plague on the community of the Lord. 268  22:18 Now today you dare to turn back 269  from following the Lord! You are rebelling today against the Lord; tomorrow he may break out in anger against 270  the entire community of Israel. 22:19 But if your own land 271  is impure, 272  cross over to the Lord’s own land, 273  where the Lord himself lives, 274  and settle down among us. 275  But don’t rebel against the Lord or us 276  by building for yourselves an altar aside from the altar of the Lord our God. 22:20 When Achan son of Zerah disobeyed the command about the city’s riches, the entire Israelite community was judged, 277  though only one man had sinned. He most certainly died for his sin!’” 278 

22:21 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders 279  of the Israelite clans: 22:22 “El, God, the Lord! 280  El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! 281  Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, 282  don’t spare us 283  today! 22:23 If we have built 284  an altar for ourselves to turn back from following the Lord by making 285  burnt sacrifices and grain offerings on it, or by offering 286  tokens of peace 287  on it, the Lord himself will punish us. 288  22:24 We swear we have done this because we were worried that 289  in the future your descendants would say to our descendants, ‘What relationship do you have with the Lord God of Israel? 290  22:25 The Lord made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no right to worship the Lord.’ 291  In this way your descendants might cause our descendants to stop obeying 292  the Lord. 22:26 So we decided to build this altar, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, 22:27 but as a reminder to us and you, 293  and to our descendants who follow us, that we will honor the Lord in his very presence 294  with burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace. 295  Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no right to worship the Lord.’ 296  22:28 We said, ‘If in the future they say such a thing 297  to us or to our descendants, we will reply, “See the model of the Lord’s altar that our ancestors 298  made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a reminder to us and you.”’ 299  22:29 Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord by turning back today from following after the Lord by building an altar for burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace 300  aside from the altar of the Lord our God located in front of his dwelling place!” 301 

22:30 When Phinehas the priest and the community leaders and clan leaders who accompanied him heard the defense of the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, 302  they were satisfied. 303  22:31 Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, said to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, 304  “Today we know that the Lord is among us, because you have not disobeyed the Lord in this. 305  Now 306  you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s judgment.” 307 

22:32 Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders left the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead and reported back to the Israelites in the land of Canaan. 308  22:33 The Israelites were satisfied with their report and gave thanks to God. 309  They said nothing more about launching an attack to destroy the land in which the Reubenites and Gadites lived. 310  22:34 The Reubenites and Gadites named the altar, “Surely it is a Reminder to us 311  that the Lord is God.”

Joshua Challenges Israel to be Faithful

23:1 A long time 312  passed after the Lord made Israel secure from all their enemies, 313  and Joshua was very old. 314  23:2 So Joshua summoned all Israel, including the elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and told them: “I am very old. 23:3 You saw everything the Lord your God did to all these nations on your behalf, for the Lord your God fights for you. 315  23:4 See, I have parceled out to your tribes these remaining nations, 316  from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea 317  in the west, including all the nations I defeated. 318  23:5 The Lord your God will drive them out from before you and remove them, 319  so you can occupy 320  their land as the Lord your God promised 321  you. 23:6 Be very strong! Carefully obey 322  all that is written in the law scroll of Moses so you won’t swerve from it to the right or the left, 23:7 or associate with these nations that remain near 323  you. You must not invoke or make solemn declarations by the names of their gods! 324  You must not worship 325  or bow down to them! 23:8 But you must be loyal to 326  the Lord your God, as you have been 327  to this very day.

23:9 “The Lord drove out from before you great and mighty nations; no one has been able to resist you 328  to this very day. 23:10 One of you makes a thousand run away, 329  for the Lord your God fights for you 330  as he promised you he would. 331  23:11 Watch yourselves carefully! Love the Lord your God! 332  23:12 But if you ever turn away and make alliances with 333  these nations that remain near you, 334  and intermarry with them and establish friendly relations with them, 335  23:13 know for certain that the Lord our God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. They will trap and ensnare you; 336  they will be a whip that tears 337  your sides and thorns that blind 338  your eyes until you disappear 339  from this good land the Lord your God gave you.

23:14 “Look, today I am about to die. 340  You know with all your heart and being 341  that not even one of all the faithful promises the Lord your God made to you is left unfulfilled; every one was realized – not one promise is unfulfilled! 342  23:15 But in the same way every faithful promise the Lord your God made to you has been realized, 343  it is just as certain, if you disobey, that the Lord will bring on you every judgment 344  until he destroys you from this good land which the Lord your God gave you. 23:16 If you violate the covenantal laws of the Lord your God which he commanded you to keep, 345  and follow, worship, and bow down to other gods, 346  the Lord will be very angry with you and you will disappear 347  quickly from the good land which he gave to you.”

Israel Renews its Commitment to the Lord

24:1 Joshua assembled all the Israelite tribes at Shechem. He summoned Israel’s elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and they appeared before God. 24:2 Joshua told all the people, “Here is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘In the distant past your ancestors 348  lived beyond the Euphrates River, 349  including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor. They worshiped 350  other gods, 24:3 but I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates 351  and brought him into 352  the entire land of Canaan. I made his descendants numerous; I gave him Isaac, 24:4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned Mount Seir, 353  while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 24:5 I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt down when I intervened in their land. 354  Then I brought you out. 24:6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you arrived at the sea. The Egyptians chased your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 24:7 Your fathers 355  cried out for help to the Lord; he made the area between you and the Egyptians dark, 356  and then drowned them in the sea. 357  You witnessed with your very own eyes 358  what I did in Egypt. You lived in the wilderness for a long time. 359  24:8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought with you, but I handed them over to you; you conquered 360  their land and I destroyed them from before you. 24:9 Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, launched an attack 361  against Israel. He summoned 362  Balaam son of Beor to call down judgment 363  on you. 24:10 I refused to respond to Balaam; he kept 364  prophesying good things about 365  you, and I rescued you from his power. 366  24:11 You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. 367  The leaders 368  of Jericho, as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, fought with you, but I handed them over to you. 24:12 I sent terror 369  ahead of you to drive out before you the two 370  Amorite kings. I gave you the victory; it was not by your swords or bows. 371  24:13 I gave you a land in 372  which you had not worked hard; you took up residence in cities you did not build and you are eating the produce of 373  vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.’

24:14 Now 374  obey 375  the Lord and worship 376  him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors 377  worshiped 378  beyond the Euphrates 379  and in Egypt and worship 380  the Lord. 24:15 If you have no desire 381  to worship 382  the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, 383  whether it be the gods whom your ancestors 384  worshiped 385  beyond the Euphrates, 386  or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family 387  will worship 388  the Lord!”

24:16 The people responded, “Far be it from us to abandon the Lord so we can 389  worship 390  other gods! 24:17 For the Lord our God took us and our fathers out of slavery 391  in the land of Egypt 392  and performed these awesome miracles 393  before our very eyes. He continually protected us as we traveled and when we passed through nations. 394  24:18 The Lord drove out from before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship 395  the Lord, for he is our God!”

24:19 Joshua warned 396  the people, “You will not keep worshiping 397  the Lord, for 398  he is a holy God. 399  He is a jealous God who will not forgive 400  your rebellion or your sins. 24:20 If 401  you abandon the Lord and worship 402  foreign gods, he will turn against you; 403  he will bring disaster on you and destroy you, 404  though he once treated you well.” 405 

24:21 The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will 406  worship 407  the Lord!” 24:22 Joshua said to the people, “Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the Lord?” 408  They replied, “We are witnesses!” 409  24:23 Joshua said, 410  “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to 411  the Lord God of Israel.”

24:24 The people said to Joshua, “We will worship 412  the Lord our God and obey him.” 413 

24:25 That day Joshua drew up an agreement 414  for the people, and he established rules and regulations 415  for them in Shechem. 24:26 Joshua wrote these words in the Law Scroll of God. He then took a large stone and set it up there under the oak tree near the Lord’s shrine. 24:27 Joshua said to all the people, “Look, this stone will be a witness against you, for it has heard everything the Lord said to us. 416  It will be a witness against you if 417  you deny your God.” 24:28 When Joshua dismissed the people, they went to their allotted portions of land. 418 

An Era Ends

24:29 After all this 419  Joshua son of Nun, the Lord’s servant, died at the age of one hundred ten. 24:30 They buried him in his allotted territory 420  in Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 24:31 Israel worshiped 421  the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. 422  These men had experienced firsthand everything the Lord had done for Israel. 423 

24:32 The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the part of the field that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred pieces of money. 424  So it became the inheritance of the tribe of Joseph. 425 

24:33 Eleazar son of Aaron died, and they buried him in Gibeah in the hill country of Ephraim, where his son Phinehas had been assigned land. 426 


tn Heb “was old, coming into the days.” This expression, referring to advancing in years, also occurs in the following clause.

tn Heb “the Shihor”; the word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.

tn Heb “in front of.”

tn Heb “it is reckoned to the Canaanites.”

tn Heb “the five lords of the Philistines, the Gazaite, the Ashdodite, the Ashkelonite, the Gathite, and the Ekronite, and the Avvites.”

tn Or “from Teman.” The phrase is especially problematic if taken with what follows, as the traditional verse division suggests. For further discussion see T. C. Butler, Joshua (WBC), 146.

tn Heb “all the land of the Canaanites.”

tc The reading “Arah” assumes a slight emendation of the Hebrew vowel pointing. The MT reads, “and a cave,” or “and Mearah” (if one understands the word as a proper noun).

tn Heb “which belongs to the Sidonians.”

10 tn Heb “and the land of the Gebalites.”

11 tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.” Most modern translations take the phrase “Lebo Hamath” to be a proper name, but often provide a note with the alternative, where “Hamath” is the proper name and לְבוֹא (lÿvo’) is taken to mean “entrance to.”

12 tn The meaning of the Hebrew name “Misrephoth Maim” is perhaps “lime-kilns by the water” (see HALOT 2:641).

13 tn Heb “only you, assign it by lots to Israel as an inheritance as I commanded you.”

14 tn Heb “now apportion this land as an inheritance.”

15 tn The MT reads “with him,” which is problematic, since the reference would be to the other half of the tribe of Manasseh (not the half mentioned in v. 7).

16 tn Heb “received their inheritance, which Moses had assigned to them beyond the Jordan.”

17 tn The words “their territory started” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

18 tn The words “their territory also included” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

19 tn Heb “from the remnant of the Rephaites.”

20 tn Or “dispossessed them.”

21 tn Or “dispossess.”

22 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Moses) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

23 tn Heb “did not assign an inheritance.”

24 tn That is, “their source of food and life.”

25 tn Or “offerings made by fire.”

26 tn Or “promised” (Heb “spoke”).

27 tn Heb “assigned to the sons of Reuben.”

28 tn Heb “their territory was from.”

29 tn The words “it encompassed” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

30 tn Heb “princes of Sihon, inhabitants of the land.”

31 tn Or “diviner.”

32 tn Heb “Balaam son of Beor, the omen-reader, the Israelites killed with the sword, along with their slain ones.”

33 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Reuben by their clans, the cities and their towns.”

34 tn Heb “assigned to the tribe of Gad, to the sons of Gad.”

35 tn Heb “and half of the land of the sons of Ammon.”

36 tn Heb “in front of.”

37 tn The words “Their territory ran” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied for clarification.

38 tn Or “it included in the valley, Beth Haram.”

39 sn The Sea of Kinnereth is another name for the Sea of Galilee. See the note on the word “Kinnereth” in 11:2.

40 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Gad by their clans, the cities and their towns.”

41 tn Heb “assigned to the half-tribe of Manasseh, and it belonged to the half-tribe of Manasseh.”

42 tn The words “their territory started at” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied for clarification.

43 sn The Hebrew name Havvoth Jair means “the tent villages of Jair.”

44 tn Heb “These are [the lands] which Moses gave as an inheritance.”

45 tn Heb “beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho.” The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.

46 tn Heb “Moses did not assign an inheritance.” The word “land” has been supplied in the translation to clarify what the inheritance consisted of.

47 tn That is, “their source of food and life.”

48 tn Or “as he promised”; Heb “as he spoke to.”

49 tn Heb “These are [the lands] which the sons of Israel received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes assigned as an inheritance to the sons of Israel.”

50 tn Heb “By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord had commanded by Moses, to the nine tribes and the half-tribe.”

51 tn Or “assigned an inheritance.”

52 tn Or “no inheritance.”

53 tn The Hebrew text adds, “in their midst.”

54 tn Heb “and they did not assign a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities [in which] to live and their pastures for their cattle and property.”

55 tn Heb “Just as the Lord had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did, and they divided up the land.”

56 tn Heb “You know the word which the Lord spoke to Moses, the man of God, because of me and because of you in Kadesh Barnea.”

57 tn Heb “and I brought back to him a word just as [was] in my heart.”

58 tn Heb “brothers.”

59 tn Heb “went up with.”

60 tn Heb “made the heart[s] of the people melt.”

61 tn Heb “I filled up after the Lord my God,” an idiomatic statement meaning that Caleb remained loyal to the Lord.

62 tn Heb “swore an oath.”

63 tn Heb “on which your foot has walked.”

64 tn Heb “will belong to you for an inheritance, and to your sons forever.”

65 tn Heb “like my strength then, like my strength now, for battle and for going out and coming in.”

66 tn Heb “are there and large, fortified cities.”

67 tn Or “will dispossess.”

68 tn Heb “Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.”

69 tn Heb “Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance to this day.”

70 tn Heb “And he was the great man among the Anakites.”

71 tn Heb “The lot was to the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans to the border of Edom, the wilderness of Zin toward the south, southward.”

72 tn Heb “Their southern border was from the end of the Salt Sea, from the tongue that faces to the south.”

73 tn Heb “went out.”

74 tn Or “the Ascent of Scorpions” (עַקְרַבִּים [’aqrabbim] means “scorpions” in Hebrew).

75 tn Traditionally “the Brook of Egypt,” although a number of recent translations have “the Wadi of Egypt” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV).

76 tn The translation follows the LXX at this point. The MT reads, “This will be your southern border.”

77 tn Heb “end.”

78 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.

79 tn Heb “the border on the northern side was from the tongue of the sea, from the end of the Jordan.”

80 tn Or “ascent.”

81 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

82 tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.

83 tn Heb “this was the border of the sons of Judah round about, by their clans.”

84 tn Heb “To Caleb son of Jephunneh he gave a portion in the midst of the sons of Judah according to the mouth [i.e., command] of the Lord to Joshua, Kiriath Arba (the father of Anak), it is Hebron.”

85 tn Or “dispossessed.”

86 tn Heb “he went up against the inhabitants of Debir.”

87 tn “Caleb’s brother” may refer either to Othniel or to Kenaz. If Kenaz was the brother of Caleb, Othniel is Caleb’s nephew.

88 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Caleb) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

89 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Acsah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

90 tn Heb “him.” The referent of the pronoun could be Othniel, in which case the translation would be, “she incited him [Othniel] to ask her father for a field.” This is problematic, however, for Acsah, not Othniel, makes the request in v. 19. The LXX has “he [Othniel] urged her to ask her father for a field.” This appears to be an attempt to reconcile the apparent inconsistency and probably does not reflect the original text. If Caleb is understood as the referent of the pronoun, the problem disappears. For a fuller discussion of the issue, see P. G. Mosca, “Who Seduced Whom? A Note on Joshua 15:18//Judges 1:14,” CBQ 46 (1984): 18-22. This incident is also recorded in Judg 1:14.

91 tn Elsewhere this Hebrew word (בְּרָכָה, bÿrakhah) is often translated “blessing,” but here it refers to a gift (as in Gen 33:11; 1 Sam 25:27; 30:26; and 2 Kgs 5:15).

92 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans.”

93 tn Heb “and the cities were at the end of the tribe of the sons of Judah, at the border of Edom, to the south.”

94 map For location see Map1-D2; Map2-D3; Map3-A2; Map4-C1.

95 tn The total number of names in the list is thirty-six, not twenty-nine. Perhaps (1) some of the names are alternatives (though the text appears to delineate clearly such alternative names here and elsewhere, see vv. 8, 9, 10, 13, 25b) or (2), more likely, later scribes added to a list originally numbering twenty-nine and failed to harmonize the concluding summary statement with the expanded list.

96 tn The words “these cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.

97 tn Or “the foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”

98 tn Heb “daughters.”

99 tn See the note on this place name in 15:4.

100 tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.

101 tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied in the translation for English stylistic reasons.

102 tc Some Hebrew mss and some mss of the LXX read “Rumah” in place of “Dumah.”

103 tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.

104 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

105 sn The statement to this very day reflects the perspective of the author, who must have written prior to David’s conquest of the Jebusites (see 2 Sam 5:6-7).

106 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

107 tn Heb “The lot went out to the sons of Joseph from the Jordan [at] Jericho to the waters of Jericho to the east, the desert going up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.”

108 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the southern border) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

109 tn In the Hebrew text the place name “Luz” has the directive ending, indicating that the border went from Bethel to Luz. Elsewhere Luz and Bethel appear to be names for the same site (cf. Judg 1:23), but here they appear to be distinct. Note that the NIV translates “from Bethel (that is, Luz)” here, following the reading of the LXX, εἰς Βαιθηλ Λουζα (eis Baiqhl Louza, “from Bethel [Luz]”).

110 tn Or “received their inheritance.”

111 tn Heb “The territory of the sons of Ephraim was for their clans.”

112 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

113 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

114 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim.”

115 tn Heb “and the cities set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities and their towns.”

116 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Ephraimites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

117 tn Heb “and the lot belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph.”

118 tn Heb “to Makir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, for he was a man of war.”

119 tn Heb “Gilead and Bashan belonged to him.”

120 tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Manasseh who remained.”

121 tn Heb “The Lord commanded Moses to assign to us an inheritance in the midst of our brothers.” Since Zelophehad had no sons, “brothers” must refer to their uncles, as the next sentence makes clear.

122 tn Heb “he.” The referent is probably Joshua, although Eleazar is mentioned first in the preceding list.

123 tn Heb “and he assigned to them in accordance with the mouth [i.e., command] of the Lord an inheritance in the midst of the brothers of their father.”

124 tn Heb “and the allotted portions of Manasseh fell out ten.”

125 tn Heb “was.”

126 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”

127 tn Heb “these cities belonged to Ephraim in the midst of the cities of Manasseh.”

128 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Manasseh) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

129 tn Heb “they”; the referent (their territory) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

130 map For location see Map1-D4; Map2-C1; Map4-C2; Map5-F2; Map7-B1.

131 tn Or “the third [is] Napheth”; or “Napheth-dor.” The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain.

132 tn Heb “Beth Shean and its surrounding towns, Ibleam and its surrounding towns, the residents of Dor and its surrounding towns, the residents of En Dor and its surrounding towns, the residents of Taanach and its surrounding towns, the residents of Megiddo and its surrounding towns, three of Nepheth.”

133 tn Heb “sons”; “men” has been used in the translation because the context involves the conquest of cities; therefore, warriors (hence males) would be in view here.

134 tn Or “were determined.”

135 sn On the Israelites’ failure to conquer the Canaanites completely, see Judg 1:27-28.

136 tn Heb “Why have you given me as an inheritance one lot and one portion, though I am a great people until [the time] which, until now the Lord has blessed me?” The construction עַד אֲשֶׁר־עַד־כֹּה (’ad-asher-ad-koh, “until [the time] which, until now”) is extremely awkward. An emendation of the first עַד (’ad) to עַל (’al) yields a more likely reading: “for until now” (see HALOT 2:787).

137 tn Heb “If you are a great people.”

138 tn The Hebrew text has simply “the hill country,” which must here include the hill country of Ephraim and the forest regions mentioned in v. 15.

139 tn Heb “and there are iron chariots among all the Canaanites who live in the land of the valley, to those who are in Beth Shean and its daughters and to those who are in the Valley of Jezreel.” Regarding the translation “chariots with iron-rimmed wheels” see Y. Yadin, The Art of Warfare in Biblical Lands, 255 and R. Drews, “The ‘Chariots of Iron’ of Joshua and Judges,” JSOT 45 (1989): 15-23.

140 tn Heb “house.”

141 tn The Hebrew text has simply “the hill country,” which must here include the hill country of Ephraim and the forest regions mentioned in v. 15.

142 tn Heb “and its limits will be yours.”

143 tn Heb “the tent of assembly.”

144 tn Heb “and the land was subdued before them.”

145 tn Heb “there were left among the sons of Israel who had not divided up their inheritance seven tribes.”

146 tn Heb “How long are you putting off entering and possessing.”

147 tn Or “fathers.”

148 tn Heb “I will send them so they may arise and walk about in the land and describe it in writing according to their inheritance and come to me.”

149 tn Heb “portions.”

150 tn Heb “stand.”

151 tn Heb “the house.”

152 tn Or “the priesthood of the Lord.”

153 tn Or “inheritance.”

154 tn Heb “went and passed through.”

155 tn Heb “and the lot came up for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin.”

156 tn Heb “and the territory of their allotment went out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.”

157 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

158 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

159 tn Heb “sons,” here referring to the tribe.

160 tn Or “side.”

161 tn Or “ascent.”

162 sn The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea.

163 tn Heb “to the tongue of the Salt Sea to the north, to the end of the Jordan to the south.” The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity (also in the following verse).

164 tn Heb “This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by its borders round about, by their clans.”

165 tn Heb “the sons,” here referring to the tribe.

166 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

167 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

168 tn The word “city” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

169 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

170 tn The structure of this list presents problems. In v. 28 no conjunction appears before “Haeleph” or “Kiriath” in the Hebrew text. This suggests they should be compounded with the preceding names, yielding “Zelah Haeleph” and “Gibeah Kiriath” respectively. This results in a list of only twelve cities, however, while the summary statement (v. 28) gives the number fourteen. One should note, however, that the city lists in chap. 15 do not consistently use the conjunction before the name of each city. See also Josh 19:7, where no conjunction appears before “Rimmon,” but the summary assumes that Ain and Rimmon are distinct.

171 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin.”

172 tn Heb “and the second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon by their clans.”

173 tn Heb “and they had in their inheritance.”

174 tc The MT has “and Sheba” listed after “Beer Sheba.” The LXX suggests “Shema.” The Hebrew text appears to be corrupt, since the form “Sheba” duplicates the latter part of the preceding name. If Sheba (or Shema) is retained, the list numbers fourteen, one more than the number given in the concluding summary (v. 6).

175 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon.”

176 tn Heb “from the portion of the sons of Judah was the inheritance of the sons of Simeon for the portion of the sons of Judah was too large for them, and the sons of Simeon received an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.”

177 tn Heb “and the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun.”

178 tn Or “inheritance.”

179 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”

180 tn Heb “eastward toward the rising of the sun.”

181 map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

182 tn Heb “Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem, twelve cities and their towns.” The words “their territory included” and “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

183 tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun.”

184 tn Heb “the fourth lot came out for the sons of Issachar.”

185 tn Or “their inheritance.”

186 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar.”

187 tn Heb “and the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the sons of Asher.”

188 tn Heb “left.”

189 tc Some Hebrew mss read “Abdon.”

190 map For location see Map1-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.

191 map For location see Map1-A2; Map2-G2; Map4-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.

192 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

193 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher.”

194 tn Heb “the sixth lot came out for the sons of Naphtali, for the sons of Naphtali.”

195 tn Heb “and their border was from Heleph, from the oak of Zaanannim, and Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel to Lakkum.”

196 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.

197 tc The MT reads “Judah, the Jordan”; the LXX omits “Judah.” Perhaps there was a town named Judah, distinct from the tribe of Judah, located near the northern end of the Jordan.

198 map For location see Map1-D2; Map2-D3; Map3-A2; Map4-C1.

199 sn Instead of Yiron some English translations read Iron.

200 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

201 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali.”

202 tn Heb “the seventh lot came out for the sons of Dan.”

203 tn Heb “the territory of the sons of Dan went out from them.”

204 tn Heb “Leshem.” The pronoun (“it”) has replaced the name “Leshem” in the translation for stylistic reasons.

205 tn Heb “according to the name of their father.”

206 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan.”

207 tn Heb “an inheritance in their midst.”

208 tn Heb “the leaders of the fathers of the tribes.”

209 tn Heb “at the entrance of the tent of assembly.”

210 tn Heb “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘Set aside for yourselves.’”

211 tn Or “asylum.”

212 tn Heb “so that the one who kills, taking life accidentally without knowledge, may flee there.”

213 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the one who accidentally kills another, cf. v. 2) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

214 tn Heb “and speak into the ears of the elders of that city his words.”

215 tn Heb “and they should gather him into the city to themselves, give to him a place, and he will live with them.”

216 tn Heb “for without knowledge he killed his neighbor, and he was not hating him prior to that.”

217 tn Or “live.”

218 tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly for judgment.”

219 tn Heb “until the death of the high priest who is in those days.”

220 tn Heb “may return and enter his city and his house, the city from which he escaped.”

221 tn Heb “set apart.”

222 map For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

223 tn Or “set aside.”

224 tn The Hebrew text reads simply “the cities.” The words “for refuge” are supplied for clarification.

225 tn Heb “and not die by the hand of.”

226 tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly.” The words “at least” are supplied for clarification.

227 tn Heb “came out for.”

228 tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Aaron, from the Kohathite clans, from the sons of Levi.”

229 tn The words “they assigned” are supplied for clarification (also in vv. 23, 25).

230 tn The name “Gath Rimmon” is problematic here, for it appears in the preceding list of Danite cities. The LXX reads “Iebatha”; 1 Chr 6:55 HT (6:70 ET) reads “Bileam.” Most modern translations retain the name “Gath Rimmon,” however.

231 tn The words “they assigned” and “the following cities” are supplied for clarification (also in v. 34).

232 tc 21:36-37 are accidentally omitted from a number of significant Hebrew mss. They are, however, found in some Hebrew mss, the LXX and Vulgate.

233 tn Heb “in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel.”

234 tn Heb “these cities were city [by] city, and its grazing areas [were] around it; so [it was] for all these cities.”

235 tn Heb “which he had sworn to give to their fathers.”

236 tn Or “possessed.”

237 tn Heb “gave them rest all around.”

238 tn Heb “according to all he swore to their fathers.”

239 tn Heb “not a man stood from before them from all their enemies.”

240 tn Heb “the house of Israel.” Cf. NCV “the Israelites”; TEV “the people of Israel”; CEV, NLT “Israel.”

241 tn Heb “not a word from all the good word which the Lord spoke to the house of Israel fell; the whole came to pass.”

242 tn Heb “You have kept all which Moses, the Lord’s servant, commanded you, and you have listened to my voice, to all which I commanded you.”

243 tn Heb “your brothers” (also in vv. 4, 7), but this does not refer to siblings or necessarily even to relatives. It refers to the Israelites of the remaining tribes.

244 tn Heb “these many days.”

245 tn Heb “you have kept the charge of the command of the Lord your God.”

246 tn Heb “has given rest to your brothers.”

247 tn Heb “tents.”

248 tn Heb “the land of your possession.”

249 tn Heb “But be very careful to do the commandment and the law which Moses, the Lord’s servant, commanded you, to love.”

250 tn Heb “walk in all his paths.”

251 tn Or “keep.”

252 tn Heb “hug him.”

253 tn Or “soul.”

254 tn Heb “blessed.” However, see v. 8, where rewards are given.

255 tn Heb “and they went to their tents.”

256 tn Heb “to their tents.”

257 tn Heb “blessed.”

258 tn Heb “return to your tents with.”

259 tn Heb “very many cattle.”

260 tn Heb “very much clothing.”

261 tn Heb “returned and went from the sons of Israel, from Shiloh which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession.”

262 tn Heb “and they went to Geliloth of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, and the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar near the Jordan, an altar great with respect to appearance.”

263 tn Heb “the sons of Israel heard, saying.”

264 tn Heb “toward the front of.”

265 tn Heb “to go up against them for battle.”

266 tn Heb “ten leaders with him, one leader, one leader for a paternal house, for all the tribes of Israel, and each a head of the house of their father, they belong to the clans of Israel.”

267 tn Heb “What is this unfaithfulness with which you have been unfaithful against the God of Israel, turning today from after the Lord, when you built for yourselves an altar, rebelling today against the Lord?”

268 tn Heb “Was the sin of Peor too insignificant for us, from which we have not made purification to this day? And there was a plague in the assembly of the Lord.”

269 tn Heb “you are turning back.”

270 tn Or “he will be angry with.”

271 tn Heb “the land of your possession.”

272 sn The western tribes here imagine a possible motive for the action of the eastern tribes. T. C. Butler explains the significance of the land’s “impurity”: “East Jordan is impure because it is not Yahweh’s possession. Rather it is simply ‘your possession.’ That means it is land where Yahweh does not live, land which his presence has not sanctified and purified” (Joshua [WBC], 247).

273 tn Heb “the land of the possession of the Lord.”

274 tn Heb “where the dwelling place of the Lord resides.”

275 tn Heb “and take for yourselves in our midst.”

276 tc Heb “and us to you rebel.” The reading of the MT, the accusative sign with suffix (וְאֹתָנוּ, vÿotanu), is problematic with the verb “rebel” (מָרַד, marad). Many Hebrew mss correctly read the negative particle אַל (’al) for the preposition אֶל (’el, “to”).

277 tn Heb “Is it not [true that] Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful with unfaithfulness concerning what was set apart [to the Lord] and against all the assembly of Israel there was anger?”

278 tn The second half of the verse reads literally, “and he [was] one man, he did not die for his sin.” There are at least two possible ways to explain this statement: (1) One might interpret the statement to mean that Achan was not the only person who died for his sin. In this case it could be translated, “and he was not the only one to die because of his sin.” (2) Another option, the one reflected in the translation, is to take the words וְהוּא אִישׁ אֶחָד (vÿhu’ ’ishekhad, “and he [was] one man”) as a concessive clause and join it with what precedes. The remaining words (לֹא גָוַע בַּעֲוֹנוֹ, logavabaavono) must then be taken as a rhetorical question (“Did he not die for his sin?”). Taking the last sentence as interrogative is consistent with the first part of the verse, a rhetorical question introduced with the interrogative particle. The present translation has converted these rhetorical questions into affirmative statements to bring out more clearly the points they are emphasizing. For further discussion, see T. C. Butler, Joshua (WBC), 240.

279 tn Heb “answered and spoke to the heads of.”

280 sn Israel’s God is here identified with three names: (1) אֵל (’el), “El” (or “God”); (2) אֱלֹהִים (’elohim), “Elohim” (or “God”), and (3) יְהוָה (yÿhvah), “Yahweh” (or “the Lord”). The name אֵל (’el, “El”) is often compounded with titles, for example, El Elyon, “God Most High.”

281 tn Heb “he knows.”

282 tn Heb “if in rebellion or if in unfaithfulness against the Lord.”

283 tn Heb “do not save us.” The verb form is singular, being addressed to either collective Israel or the Lord himself. The LXX translates in the third person.

284 tn Heb “by building.” The prepositional phrase may be subordinated to what precedes, “if in unfaithfulness…by building.”

285 tn Heb “or if to offer up.”

286 tn Heb “or if to make.”

287 tn Or “peace offerings.”

288 tn Heb “the Lord, he will seek.” Perhaps this is a self-imprecation in an oath, “may the Lord himself punish us.”

289 tn Heb “Surely, from worry concerning a matter we have done this, saying.”

290 tn Heb “What is there to you and to the Lord God of Israel?” The rhetorical question is sarcastic in tone and anticipates a response, “Absolutely none!”

291 tn Heb “You have no portion in the Lord.”

292 tn Heb “fearing.”

293 tn Heb “but it is a witness between us and you.”

294 tn Heb “to do the service of the Lord before him.”

295 tn Or “peace offerings.”

296 tn Heb “You have no portion in the Lord.”

297 tn The words “such a thing” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

298 tn Heb “fathers.”

299 tn Heb “but it is a witness between us and you.”

300 tn Or “peace offerings.”

301 sn The Lord’s dwelling place here refers to the tabernacle.

302 tn Heb “the sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, and the sons of Manasseh.”

303 tn Heb “it was good in their eyes.”

304 tn Heb “the sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, and the sons of Manasseh.”

305 tn Heb “because you were not unfaithful with this unfaithfulness against the Lord.”

306 tn On the use of אָז in a logical sense, see Waltke-O’Connor, Hebrew Syntax, 667.

307 tn Heb “the hand (i.e., power) of the Lord.”

308 tn Heb “and Phinehas…returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad, from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel. And they brought back to them a word.”

309 tn Heb “and the word was good in the eyes of the sons of Israel and the sons of Israel blessed God.”

310 tn Heb “and they did not speak about going up against them for battle to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad were living.”

311 tn Heb “a witness between us.”

312 tn Heb “many days.”

313 tn Heb “the Lord had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around.”

314 tn Heb “was old, coming into the days.” This expression, referring to advancing in years, also occurs in the following verse.

315 tn Heb “for the Lord your God, he [is] the one who fights for you.”

316 tn Heb “I have assigned by lots to you these remaining nations as an inheritance for your tribes.”

317 tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.

318 tn Heb “from the Jordan and all the nations which I cut off and the Great Sea [at] the place where the sun sets.” The relationship of the second half of the verse, which mentions nations already conquered, to the first half, which speaks of “remaining nations,” is difficult to understand.

319 tn The Hebrew text reads, “from before you.” This has not been included in the translation because it is redundant in English.

320 tn Or “take possession of.”

321 tn Heb “said to.”

322 tn Heb “Be strong so you can be careful to do.”

323 tn Heb “with.”

324 tn Heb “and in the name of their gods you must not invoke and you must not make solemn declarations.” The words “and you must not make solemn declarations” are omitted in the LXX and may represent a later scribal addition to elucidate the immediately preceding command. The Hiphil of שָׁבַע (shava’) without an object occurs only here and in Josh 6:26.

325 tn Or “serve.”

326 tn Heb “hug.”

327 tn Heb “done.”

328 tn Heb “not a man has stood before you.”

329 tn Or “chases a thousand.”

330 tn Heb “for the Lord your God, he [is] the one who fights for you.”

331 tn Heb “as he said to you.”

332 tn Heb “Watch carefully yourselves so as to love the Lord your God.”

333 tn Heb “and hug.”

334 tn Heb “the remnant of the these nations, these nations that are with you.”

335 tn Heb “and go into them, and they into you.”

336 tn Heb “be a trap and a snare to you.”

337 tn Heb “in.”

338 tn Heb “thorns in your eyes.”

339 tn Or “perish.”

340 tn Heb “go the way of all the earth.”

341 tn Or “soul.”

342 tn Heb “one word from all these words which the Lord your God spoke to you has not fallen, the whole has come to pass for you, one word from it has not fallen.”

343 tn Heb “and it will be as every good word which the Lord your God spoke to you has come to pass.”

344 tn Heb “so the Lord will bring every injurious [or “evil”] word [or “thing”] upon you.”

345 tn Heb “when you violate the covenant of the Lord your God which he commanded you.”

346 tn Heb “and you walk and serve other gods and bow down to them.”

347 tn Or “perish.”

348 tn Heb “your fathers.”

349 tn Heb “the river,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity.

350 tn Or “served.”

351 tn Heb “the river,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity.

352 tn Or “through.”

353 tn Heb “I gave to Esau Mount Seir to possess it.”

354 tn Heb “by that which I did in its midst.”

355 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the fathers) has been specified in the translation for clarity (see the previous verse).

356 tn Or “put darkness between you and the Egyptians.”

357 tn Heb “and he brought over them the sea and covered them.”

358 tn Heb “your eyes saw.”

359 tn Heb “many days.”

360 tn Or “took possession of.”

361 tn Heb “arose and fought.”

362 tn Heb “sent and called.”

363 tn Or “to curse.”

364 tn The infinitive absolute follows the finite verb in the Hebrew text and indicates continuation or repetition of the action. Balaam pronounced several oracles of blessing over Israel (see Num 23-24).

365 tn Heb “blessing.” Balaam’s “blessings” were actually prophecies of how God would prosper Israel.

366 tn Heb “hand.”

367 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

368 tn Or perhaps, “citizens.”

369 tn Traditionally, “the hornet” (so KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV) but the precise meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (cf. NEB “panic”).

370 tn The LXX has “twelve,” apparently understanding this as a reference to Amorite kings west of the Jordan (see Josh 5:1, rather than the trans-Jordanian Amorite kings Sihon and Og (see Josh 2:10; 9:10).

371 tn Heb “and it drove them out from before you, the two kings of the Amorites, not by your sword and not by your bow.” The words “I gave you the victory” are supplied for clarification.

372 tn Or perhaps, “for.”

373 tn The words “the produce of” are supplied for clarification.

374 sn Joshua quotes the Lord’s words in vv. 2b-13 (note that the Lord speaks in the first person in these verses); in vv. 14-15 Joshua himself exhorts the people (note the third person references to the Lord).

375 tn Heb “fear.”

376 tn Or “and serve.”

377 tn Heb “your fathers.”

378 tn Or “served.”

379 tn Heb “the river,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity; see v. 3.

380 tn Or “and serve.”

381 tn Heb “if it is bad in your eyes.”

382 tn Or “to serve.”

383 tn Or “will serve.”

384 tn Heb “your fathers.”

385 tn Or “served.”

386 tn Heb “the river,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity; see v. 3.

387 tn Heb “house.”

388 tn Or “will serve.”

389 tn Heb “to.”

390 tn Or “can serve.”

391 tn Heb “of the house of slavery.”

392 tn Heb “for the Lord our God, he is the one who brought up us and our fathers from the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.”

393 tn Or “great signs.”

394 tn Heb “and he guarded us in all the way in which we walked and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.”

395 tn Or “will serve.”

396 tn Heb “said to.”

397 tn Heb “you are not able to serve.”

398 sn For an excellent discussion of Joshua’s logical argument here, see T. C. Butler, Joshua (WBC), 274-75.

399 tn In the Hebrew text both the divine name (אֱלֹהִים, ’elohim) and the adjective (קְדֹשִׁים, qÿdoshim, “holy”) are plural. Normally the divine name, when referring to the one true God, takes singular modifiers, but this is a rare exception where the adjective agrees grammatically with the honorific plural noun. See GKC §124.i and IBHS 122.

400 tn Heb “lift up” or “take away.”

401 tn Or “when.”

402 tn Or “and serve.”

403 tn The words “against you” are added for clarification.

404 tn Heb “bring you to an end.”

405 tn Heb “after he did good for you.”

406 tn The translation assumes that כִּי (ki) is emphatic. Another option is to take it as explanatory, “No, for we will….”

407 tn Or “will serve.”

408 tn Heb “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the Lord to serve him.”

409 sn Like witnesses in a court of law, Israel’s solemn vow to worship the Lord will testify against them in the divine court if the nation ever violates its commitment.

410 tn The words “Joshua said” are supplied for clarification.

411 tn Heb “bend your heart toward.” The term לֵבָב (levav, “heart”) probably here refers to the people’s volition or will.

412 tn Or “will serve.”

413 tn Heb “and listen to his voice.”

414 tn Heb “cut a covenant.”

415 tn Heb “a statute and a judgment.”

416 tn Heb “all the words of the Lord which he spoke with us.”

417 tn Or “lest,” “so that you might not.”

418 tn Heb “And Joshua sent the people away, each to his inheritance.”

419 tn Heb “after these things.”

420 tn Heb “in the territory of his inheritance.”

421 tn Or “served.”

422 tn Heb “all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived him.”

423 tn Heb “who knew all the work of the Lord which he had done for Israel.”

424 tn Heb “one hundred qesitahs.” The Hebrew word קְשִׂיטָה (qesitah) is generally understood to refer to a unit of money, but the value and/or weight is unknown. The word occurs only here and in Gen 33:19 and Job 42:11.

425 tn Heb “and they became for the sons of Joseph an inheritance.” One might think “bones” is the subject of the verb “they became,” but the verb is masculine, while “bones” is feminine. The translation follows the emendation suggested in the BHS note, which appeals to the Syriac and Vulgate for support. The emended reading understands “the part (of the field)” as the subject of the verb “became.” The emended verb is feminine singular; this agrees with “the part” (of the field), which is feminine in Hebrew.

426 tn Heb “in Gibeah of Phinehas, his son, which had been given to him in the hill country of Ephraim.”