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. 1 15:2 Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea, 2 15:3 extended 3 south of the Scorpion Ascent, 4 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, 5 and ended at the sea. This was their 6 southern border.
15:5 The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth 7 of the Jordan River. 8
The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 9 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 10 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), 11 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. 12 These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans. 13
16:1 The land allotted to Joseph’s descendants extended from the Jordan at Jericho 14 to the waters of Jericho to the east, through the desert and on up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. 15 16:2 The southern border 16 extended from Bethel to Luz, 17 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. 18
17:1 The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s firstborn son, was also allotted land. 19 The descendants of Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn and the father of Gilead, received land, for they were warriors. 20 They were assigned Gilead and Bashan. 21 17:2 The rest of Manasseh’s descendants were also assigned land 22 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.” 23 So Joshua 24 assigned them land among their uncles, as the Lord had commanded. 25 17:5 Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, 26 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 27 from Asher to Micmethath which is near 28 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, 29 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 30 western border and their territory 31 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, 32 the three of Napheth, 33 and the towns surrounding all these cities. 34 17:12 But the men 35 of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed 36 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. 37
18:11 The first lot belonged to the tribe of Benjamin 38 by its clans. Their allotted territory was between Judah and Joseph. 39 18:12 Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho 40 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), 41 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 42 of Judah. This is the western border. 43 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 44 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 45 at the mouth of the Jordan River. 46 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. 47
18:21 These cities belonged to the tribe 48 of Benjamin by its clans: Jericho, 49 Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 18:22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 50 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 51 (that is, Jerusalem), 52 Gibeah, and Kiriath – a total of fourteen cities and their towns. 53 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin 54 by its clans.
19:1 The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 55 19:2 Their assigned land included 56 Beer Sheba, 57 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. 58 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. 59
19:10 The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun 60 by its clans. The border of their territory 61 extended to Sarid. 19:11 Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near 62 Jokneam. 19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward 63 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; 64 in all they had twelve cities and their towns. 65 19:16 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun 66 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:17 The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar 67 by its clans. 19:18 Their assigned land 68 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 69 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
19:24 The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher 70 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 71 19:28 and on to Ebron, 72 Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 73 19:29 It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, 74 turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Aczib, 19:30 Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had 75 twenty-two cities and their towns. 19:31 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher 76 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
19:32 The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali 77 by its clans. 19:33 Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, 78 and ended at the Jordan River. 79 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 80 on the east. 19:35 The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 81 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 19:38 Yiron, 82 Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had 83 nineteen cities and their towns. 19:39 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali 84 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
19:40 The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan 85 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, 86 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 87 Dan after their ancestor. 88 ) 19:48 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan 89 by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
1 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.”
2 tn Heb “Their southern border was from the end of the Salt Sea, from the tongue that faces to the south.”
3 tn Heb “went out.”
4 tn Or “the Ascent of Scorpions” (עַקְרַבִּים [’aqrabbim] means “scorpions” in Hebrew).
5 tn Traditionally “the Brook of Egypt,” although a number of recent translations have “the Wadi of Egypt” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV).
6 tn The translation follows the LXX at this point. The MT reads, “This will be your southern border.”
7 tn Heb “end.”
8 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
9 tn Heb “the border on the northern side was from the tongue of the sea, from the end of the Jordan.”
10 tn Or “ascent.”
11 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
12 tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.
13 tn Heb “this was the border of the sons of Judah round about, by their clans.”
14 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
15 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.”
16 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the southern border) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
17 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]”).
18 tn Or “received their inheritance.”
19 tn Heb “and the lot belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph.”
20 tn Heb “to Makir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, for he was a man of war.”
21 tn Heb “Gilead and Bashan belonged to him.”
22 tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Manasseh who remained.”
23 tn Heb “The
24 tn Heb “he.” The referent is probably Joshua, although Eleazar is mentioned first in the preceding list.
25 tn Heb “and he assigned to them in accordance with the mouth [i.e., command] of the
26 tn Heb “and the allotted portions of Manasseh fell out ten.”
27 tn Heb “was.”
28 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
29 tn Heb “these cities belonged to Ephraim in the midst of the cities of Manasseh.”
30 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Manasseh) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
31 tn Heb “they”; the referent (their territory) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
32 map For location see Map1-D4; Map2-C1; Map4-C2; Map5-F2; Map7-B1.
33 tn Or “the third [is] Napheth”; or “Napheth-dor.” The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain.
34 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.”
35 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.
36 tn Or “were determined.”
37 sn On the Israelites’ failure to conquer the Canaanites completely, see Judg 1:27-28.
38 tn Heb “and the lot came up for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin.”
39 tn Heb “and the territory of their allotment went out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.”
40 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
41 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.
42 tn Heb “sons,” here referring to the tribe.
43 tn Or “side.”
44 tn Or “ascent.”
45 sn The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea.
46 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).
47 tn Heb “This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by its borders round about, by their clans.”
48 tn Heb “the sons,” here referring to the tribe.
49 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
50 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.
51 tn The word “city” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
52 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
53 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.
54 tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin.”
55 tn Heb “and the second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon by their clans.”
56 tn Heb “and they had in their inheritance.”
57 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).
58 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon.”
59 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.”
60 tn Heb “and the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun.”
61 tn Or “inheritance.”
62 tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
63 tn Heb “eastward toward the rising of the sun.”
64 map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.
65 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.
66 tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun.”
67 tn Heb “the fourth lot came out for the sons of Issachar.”
68 tn Or “their inheritance.”
69 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar.”
70 tn Heb “and the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
71 tn Heb “left.”
72 tc Some Hebrew
73 map For location see Map1-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.
74 map For location see Map1-A2; Map2-G2; Map4-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.
75 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
76 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
77 tn Heb “the sixth lot came out for the sons of Naphtali, for the sons of Naphtali.”
78 tn Heb “and their border was from Heleph, from the oak of Zaanannim, and Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel to Lakkum.”
79 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
80 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.
81 map For location see Map1-D2; Map2-D3; Map3-A2; Map4-C1.
82 sn Instead of Yiron some English translations read Iron.
83 tn The words “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
84 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali.”
85 tn Heb “the seventh lot came out for the sons of Dan.”
86 tn Heb “the territory of the sons of Dan went out from them.”
87 tn Heb “Leshem.” The pronoun (“it”) has replaced the name “Leshem” in the translation for stylistic reasons.
88 tn Heb “according to the name of their father.”
89 tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan.”