Scroll Scroll

Joshua 15

The Territory of Judah

1The lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was to the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the uttermost part of the south.

2Their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looks southward;

3and it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up by the south of Kadesh Barnea, and passed along by Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka;

4and it passed along to Azmon, went out at the brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your south border.

5The east border was the Salt Sea, even to the end of the Jordan. The border of the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the end of the Jordan.

6The border went up to Beth Hoglah, and passed along by the north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.

7The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that faces the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. The border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and ended at En Rogel.

8The border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite (also called Jerusalem) southward; and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the farthest part of the valley of Rephaim northward.

9The border extended from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of Mount Ephron; and the border extended to Baalah (also called Kiriath Jearim);

10and the border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim (also called Chesalon) on the north, and went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed along by Timnah;

11and the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

12The west border was to the shore of the great sea. This is the border of the children of Judah according to their families.

13He gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron).

14Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

15He went up against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher.

16Caleb said, “He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.”

17Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.

18When she came, she had him ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey, and Caleb said, “What do you want?”

19She said, “Give me a blessing. Because you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

20This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

21The farthest cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

22Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

23Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

24Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

25Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (also called Hazor),

26Amam, Shema, Moladah,

27Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,

28Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

29Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

30Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

31Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

32Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. All the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.

33In the lowland, Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

34Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

36Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim); fourteen cities with their villages.

37Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,

38Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

39Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

40Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,

41Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.

42Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

43Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

44Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.

45Ekron, with its towns and its villages;

46from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.

47Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea with its coastline.

48In the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

49Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (which is Debir),

50Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

51Goshen, Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.

52Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

53Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,

54Humtah, Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

55Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Jutah,

56Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

57Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.

58Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,

59Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.

60Kiriath Baal (also called Kiriath Jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.

61In the wilderness, Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,

62Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi; six cities with their villages.

63As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah couldn’t drive them out; but the Jebusites live with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

PreviousJoshua 14
NextJoshua 16

Joshua 15 details the territorial boundaries allotted to the tribe of Judah, the largest and most prominent tribe of Israel. The chapter provides extensive geographical descriptions of Judah's borders, stretching from the wilderness of Zin in the south to Jerusalem in the north, and from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean coast. Special attention is given to Caleb's inheritance of Hebron and his successful conquest of the land, including his daughter Achsah's marriage to Othniel and her request for additional water sources, demonstrating God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to His people.

Context

This chapter continues the systematic distribution of the Promised Land that began in chapter 14, with Judah receiving the first and largest tribal inheritance.

Key Themes

Outline

  • 1-12
    Judah's Territorial BoundariesDetailed description of Judah's borders extending from Edom in the south to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
  • 13-19
    Caleb's Inheritance and ConquestCaleb receives Hebron, defeats the Anakim, and his daughter Achsah secures additional land with water sources.
  • 20-63
    Cities Within Judah's TerritoryComprehensive listing of towns and cities allocated to Judah's clans, organized by geographical regions.

The Territory of Judah

15:1–15:63
narrativenarrationsolemn

Detailed description of the territorial boundaries allocated to the tribe of Judah. The passage provides extensive geographical boundaries defining Judah's inheritance in the Promised Land.

geographic

Hezron uniquely bridges genealogy and geography, appearing as both a son of Judah in Genesis and a boundary marker defining Judah's territorial inheritance.

Joshua 15:1

Numbers 34:3lexical

then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be fr…

Joshua 18:11lexical

The lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families. The border of their lot went out b…

Numbers 34:4lexical

Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of…

Ezekiel 48:28lexical

“By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh…

Joshua 18:16lexical

The border went down to the farthest part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in…

Joshua 15:2

Joshua 18:19lexical

The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at…

Numbers 34:3lexical

then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be fr…

Joshua 18:15lexical

The south quarter was from the farthest part of Kiriath Jearim. The border went out westward, and went out to the spring…

Numbers 34:12lexical

The border shall go down to the Jordan, and end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders around…

Deuteronomy 3:17lexical

the Arabah also, and the Jordan and its border, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the s…

Joshua 15:3

Numbers 34:4lexical

Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of…

Judges 1:36lexical

The border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

Joshua 15:4

Numbers 34:5lexical

The border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the sea.

Joshua 17:9lexical

The border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of…

Numbers 34:4lexical

Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of…

Joshua 18:14lexical

The border extended, and turned around on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon sout…

Joshua 16:8lexical

From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the…

Joshua 15:5

Joshua 18:19lexical

The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at…

Numbers 34:3lexical

then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be fr…

Ezekiel 48:1lexical

“Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar E…

Joshua 18:12lexical

Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went…

Numbers 35:5lexical

You shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits,…

Joshua 15:6

Joshua 18:17lexical

It extended northward, went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim. It wen…

Joshua 18:19lexical

The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at…

Joshua 15:7

Joshua 18:17lexical

It extended northward, went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim. It wen…

Joshua 18:16lexical

The border went down to the farthest part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in…

Joshua 17:9lexical

The border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of…

Ezekiel 46:9lexical

“‘“But when the people of the land come before the LORD in the appointed feasts, he who enters by the way of the north g…

Numbers 34:4lexical

Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of…

Joshua 15:8

Joshua 18:16lexical

The border went down to the farthest part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in…

Joshua 18:19lexical

The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at…

Zechariah 14:4lexical

His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives w…

Joshua 13:27lexical

and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the J…

Numbers 34:3lexical

then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be fr…

Joshua 15:9

Joshua 18:15lexical

The south quarter was from the farthest part of Kiriath Jearim. The border went out westward, and went out to the spring…

Joshua 18:14lexical

The border extended, and turned around on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon sout…

1 Chronicles 13:6lexical

David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God…

Joshua 15:10

Joshua 18:19lexical

The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at…

Joshua 18:12lexical

Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went…

Joshua 18:16lexical

The border went down to the farthest part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in…

Joshua 16:6lexical

The border went out westward at Michmethath on the north. The border turned about eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed…

Numbers 34:11lexical

The border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border shall go down, and shall reach to t…

Joshua 15:11

Joshua 18:12lexical

Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went…

Joshua 18:14lexical

The border extended, and turned around on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon sout…

Joshua 17:9lexical

The border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of…

Joshua 19:33lexical

Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakkum. It ended at the Jordan.

Joshua 18:19lexical

The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at…

Joshua 15:13

Joshua 14:13lexical

Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

Joshua 21:11lexical

They gave them Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, with its…

Judges 1:20lexical

They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drove the three sons of Anak out of there.

Joshua 14:14lexical

Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he followed the…

Numbers 14:6lexical

Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes.

Joshua 15:14

Numbers 13:22lexical

They went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now H…

Judges 1:10lexical

Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron. (The name of Hebron before that was Kiriath Arba.) They struck Sh…

Judges 1:20lexical

They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drove the three sons of Anak out of there.

Numbers 13:28lexical

However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the…

Joshua 15:15

Judges 1:11lexical

From there he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir before that was Kiriath Sepher.)

Joshua 15:16

Judges 1:12lexical

Caleb said, “I will give Achsah my daughter as wife to the man who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it.”

Judges 1:13lexical

Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, so he gave him Achsah his daughter as his wife.

1 Chronicles 2:49lexical

She bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of…

Joshua 15:17

Judges 1:13lexical

Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, so he gave him Achsah his daughter as his wife.

Judges 3:9lexical

When the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a savior to the children of Israel, who saved them, ev…

Judges 1:12lexical

Caleb said, “I will give Achsah my daughter as wife to the man who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it.”

1 Chronicles 4:13lexical

The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath.

Judges 3:11lexical

The land had rest forty years, then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Joshua 15:18

Judges 1:14lexical

When she came, she got him to ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey; and Caleb said to her, “What would you…

Joshua 15:19

Judges 1:15lexical

She said to him, “Give me a blessing; because you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water.”…

Joshua 15:20

Numbers 36:12lexical

They were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph. Their inheritance remained in the tribe o…

Joshua 19:31lexical

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villa…

Joshua 19:39lexical

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their vill…

Numbers 36:8lexical

Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of…

Joshua 19:23lexical

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their vill…

Joshua 15:21

Numbers 34:3lexical

then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be fr…

Joshua 18:19lexical

The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at…

Joshua 18:16lexical

The border went down to the farthest part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in…

Joshua 18:15lexical

The south quarter was from the farthest part of Kiriath Jearim. The border went out westward, and went out to the spring…

Joshua 15:23

2 Kings 15:29lexical

In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedes…

Joshua 15:28

Nehemiah 11:27lexical

in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its towns,

1 Chronicles 4:28lexical

They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazarshual,

Joshua 15:30

Joshua 19:4lexical

Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

Joshua 15:32

Joshua 19:7lexical

Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages;

1 Chronicles 4:32lexical

Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;

Joshua 15:33

Judges 18:2lexical

The children of Dan sent five men of their family from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to…

Joshua 19:41lexical

The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh,

Judges 18:11lexical

The family of the Danites set out from Zorah and Eshtaol with six hundred men armed with weapons of war.

Judges 18:8lexical

They came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol; and their brothers asked them, “What do you say?”

Judges 16:31lexical

Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zora…

Joshua 15:35

1 Samuel 17:1lexical

Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongs to…

Nehemiah 11:30lexical

Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba t…

2 Chronicles 11:7lexical

Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,

Joshua 15:42

Joshua 19:7lexical

Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages;

Joshua 15:47

Joshua 17:9lexical

The border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of…

Joshua 16:8lexical

From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the…

Ezekiel 48:28lexical

“By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh…

Numbers 34:5lexical

The border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the sea.

Joshua 19:11lexical

Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Joknea…

Joshua 15:49

Judges 1:11lexical

From there he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir before that was Kiriath Sepher.)

Joshua 15:55

1 Samuel 23:24lexical

They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the sou…

1 Samuel 25:2lexical

There was a man in Maon whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great. He had three thousand sheep and a…

Joshua 15:60

Joshua 18:14lexical

The border extended, and turned around on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon sout…

Interlinear

Word-by-word original language

v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
v. 25
v. 26
v. 27
v. 28
v. 29
v. 30
v. 31
v. 32
v. 33
v. 34
v. 35
v. 36
v. 37
v. 38
v. 39
v. 40
v. 41
v. 42
v. 43
v. 44
v. 45
v. 46
v. 47
v. 48
v. 49
v. 50
v. 51
v. 52
v. 53
v. 54
v. 55
v. 56
v. 57
v. 58
v. 59
v. 60
v. 61
v. 62
v. 63

Historical Context

Places and events in this chapter

Loading map...