Joshua 14:1--22:34
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.
14:2 The land assignments to the nine-and-a-half tribes were made by drawing lots, as the Lord had instructed Moses.
14:3 Now Moses had assigned land to the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan, but he assigned no land to the Levites.
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.
14:5 The Israelites followed the Lord’s instructions to Moses and divided up the land.
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.
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.
14:8 My countrymen who accompanied me frightened the people, but I remained loyal to the Lord my God.
14:9 That day Moses made this solemn promise: ‘Surely the land on which you walked will belong to you and your descendants permanently, 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.
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. But, assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer them, as the Lord promised.”
14:13 Joshua asked God to empower Caleb son of Jephunneh and assigned him Hebron.
14:14 So Hebron remains the assigned land of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this very day because he remained loyal to the Lord God of Israel.
14:15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba. Arba was a famous Anakite.) 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.
15:2 Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea,
15:3 extended south of the Scorpion Ascent, 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, and ended at the sea. This was their southern border.
15:5 The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth of the Jordan River.
The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan,
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 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), 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. These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans.
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.)
15:14 Caleb drove out from there three Anakites – Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak.
15:15 From there he attacked the people of Debir. (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, captured it, Caleb gave Acsah his daughter to him as a wife.
15:18 One time Acsah came and charmed her father 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. 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:
15:21 These cities were located at the southern extremity of Judah’s tribal land near the border of Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
15:22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,
15:23 Kedesh, Hazor, 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.
15:33 These cities were in the lowlands: 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 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 and the border at the Mediterranean Sea.
15:48 These cities were 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, 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 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. The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day.
Joseph’s Tribal Lands
16:1 The land allotted to Joseph’s descendants extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho to the east, through the desert and on up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.
16:2 The southern border extended from Bethel to Luz, 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.
16:5 The territory of the tribe of Ephraim by its clans included the following: 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, and extended to the Jordan River.
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 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.
16:10 The Ephraimites 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. The descendants of Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn and the father of Gilead, received land, for they were warriors. They were assigned Gilead and Bashan.
17:2 The rest of Manasseh’s descendants were also assigned land 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.” So Joshua assigned them land among their uncles, as the Lord had commanded.
17:5 Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, 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 from Asher to Micmethath which is near 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, 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 western border and their territory 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, the three of Napheth, and the towns surrounding all these cities.
17:12 But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed 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.
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.”
17:15 Joshua replied to them, “Since you have so many people, 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 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.”
17:17 Joshua said to the family 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 will be yours; though it is a forest, you can clear it and it will be entirely yours. 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. Though they had subdued the land,
18:2 seven Israelite tribes had not been assigned their allotted land.
18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long do you intend to put off occupying the land the Lord God of your ancestors 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.
18:5 Divide it into seven regions. Judah will stay in its territory in the south, and the family 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. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their allotted land 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 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 by its clans. Their allotted territory was between Judah and Joseph.
18:12 Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho 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), 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 of Judah. This is the western border.
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 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 at the mouth of the Jordan River. 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.
18:21 These cities belonged to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz,
18:22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
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 (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath – a total of fourteen cities and their towns. This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans.
Simeon’s Tribal Lands
19:1 The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans.
19:2 Their assigned land included Beer Sheba, 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.
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.
Zebulun’s Tribal Lands
19:10 The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun by its clans. The border of their territory extended to Sarid.
19:11 Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near Jokneam.
19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward 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; in all they had twelve cities and their towns.
19:16 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
Issachar’s Tribal Lands
19:17 The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar by its clans.
19:18 Their assigned land 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 by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
Asher’s Tribal Lands
19:24 The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher 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
19:28 and on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.
19:29 It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Aczib,
19:30 Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had twenty-two cities and their towns.
19:31 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher by its clans, including these cities and their towns.
Naphtali’s Tribal Lands
19:32 The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali by its clans.
19:33 Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan River.
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 on the east.
19:35 The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth,
19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,
19:38 Yiron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had nineteen cities and their towns.
19:39 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali by its clans, including the cities and their towns.
Dan’s Tribal Lands
19:40 The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan 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, 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 Dan after their ancestor.)
19:48 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan 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.
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 made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.
Israel Designates Cities of Refuge
20:1 The Lord instructed Joshua:
20:2 “Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses.
20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood.
20:4 The one who committed manslaughter 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. They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there.
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.
20:6 He must remain in that city until his case is decided by the assembly and the high priest dies. Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.”
20:7 So they selected 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 they selected 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 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 the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly.
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 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, 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 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, 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: 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 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 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.
21:43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors, and they conquered it and lived in it.
21:44 The Lord made them secure, in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could resist them.
21:45 Not one of the Lord’s faithful promises to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; every one was realized.
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.
22:3 You have not abandoned your fellow Israelites this entire time, right up to this very day. You have completed the task given you by the Lord your God.
22:4 Now the Lord your God has made your fellow Israelites secure, just as he promised them. So now you may turn around and go to your homes in your own land 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 the Lord your God, follow all his instructions, obey his commands, be loyal to him, and serve him with all your heart and being!”
22:6 Joshua rewarded them and sent them on their way; they returned to their homes.
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, he rewarded them,
22:8 saying, “Take home great wealth, a lot of cattle, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and a lot of 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, 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.
22:11 The Israelites received this report: “Look, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the entrance to 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.
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.
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.
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.
22:18 Now today you dare to turn back from following the Lord! You are rebelling today against the Lord; tomorrow he may break out in anger against the entire community of Israel.
22:19 But if your own land is impure, cross over to the Lord’s own land, where the Lord himself lives, and settle down among us. But don’t rebel against the Lord or us 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, though only one man had sinned. He most certainly died for his sin!’”
22:21 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the Israelite clans:
22:22 “El, God, the Lord! El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, don’t spare us today!
22:23 If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn back from following the Lord by making burnt sacrifices and grain offerings on it, or by offering tokens of peace on it, the Lord himself will punish us.
22:24 We swear we have done this because we were worried that in the future your descendants would say to our descendants, ‘What relationship do you have with the Lord God of Israel?
22:25 The Lord made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no right to worship the Lord.’ In this way your descendants might cause our descendants to stop obeying 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, and to our descendants who follow us, that we will honor the Lord in his very presence with burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no right to worship the Lord.’
22:28 We said, ‘If in the future they say such a thing to us or to our descendants, we will reply, “See the model of the Lord’s altar that our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a reminder to us and you.”’
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 aside from the altar of the Lord our God located in front of his dwelling place!”
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, they were satisfied.
22:31 Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, said to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, “Today we know that the Lord is among us, because you have not disobeyed the Lord in this. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s judgment.”
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.
22:33 The Israelites were satisfied with their report and gave thanks to God. They said nothing more about launching an attack to destroy the land in which the Reubenites and Gadites lived.
22:34 The Reubenites and Gadites named the altar, “Surely it is a Reminder to us that the Lord is God.”