Joshua 15:3-13

3 It goes out southward of 1the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh-barnea, along by Hezron, up to Addar, turns about to Karka,
4 passes along to Azmon, goes out by 2the Brook of Egypt, and comes to its end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary.
5 And the east boundary is the 3Salt Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.
6 And the boundary goes up to 4Beth-hoglah and passes along north of 5Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to 6the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
7 And the boundary goes up to Debir from 7the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite 8the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. And the boundary passes along to the waters of 9En-shemesh and ends at 10En-rogel.
8 Then the boundary goes up by 11the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite (12that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley 13of Rephaim.
9 Then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain 14to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the boundary bends around to Baalah (15that is, Kiriath-jearim).
10 And the boundary circles west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passes along to the northern shoulder of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and goes down to 16Beth-shemesh and passes along by 17Timnah.
11 The boundary goes out 18to the shoulder of the hill north of Ekron, then the boundary bends around to Shikkeron and passes along to Mount 19Baalah and goes out to Jabneel. Then the boundary comes to an end at the sea.
12 And the west boundary was 20the Great Sea with its coastline. This is the boundary around the people of Judah according to their clans.
13 According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, 21Kiriath-arba, that is, 22Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).

Joshua 15:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 15

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

Cross References 22

  • 1. Numbers 34:4; Judges 1:36
  • 2. ver. 47; Numbers 34:5; [Joshua 13:3]
  • 3. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 4. Joshua 18:19, 21
  • 5. Joshua 18:18, 22
  • 6. Joshua 18:17
  • 7. Joshua 7:26
  • 8. Joshua 18:17
  • 9. Joshua 18:17
  • 10. Joshua 18:16; 2 Samuel 17:17; 1 Kings 1:9
  • 11. Joshua 18:16; 2 Kings 23:10
  • 12. ver. 63; Joshua 18:28; [Judges 19:10; 1 Chronicles 11:4]
  • 13. Joshua 18:16; See Joshua 12:4
  • 14. Joshua 18:15
  • 15. ver. 60; 1 Chronicles 13:6
  • 16. 1 Samuel 6:9, 12
  • 17. Genesis 38:12-14; Judges 14:1
  • 18. Joshua 13:3
  • 19. ver. 9
  • 20. ver. 47; Joshua 23:4; Numbers 34:6, 7; Ezekiel 47:20
  • 21. ver. 54; See Joshua 14:13-15
  • 22. ver. 54; See Joshua 14:13-15
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.