Joshua 15:20-63

Judah's Cities

20 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans.

21 These were the outermost cities of the tribe of the descendants of Judah toward the border of Edom in the Negev: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),

26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,

27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,

28 Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah,

29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon-29 cities in all, with their villages.

33 In the Judean foothills:^[a] Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah,^[b] Enam,

35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh,^[c] Azekah,

36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim-14 cities, with their villages;

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,

38 Dilan, Mizpeh, Jokthe-el,

39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,

41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah-16 cities, with their villages;

42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

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

45 Ekron, with its towns and villages;

46 from Ekron to the sea, all [the cities] near Ashdod, with their villages;

47 Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, to the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.

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

49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),

50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh-11 cities, with their villages;

52 Arab, Dumah,^[d] Eshan,

53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,

54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior-nine cities, with their villages;

55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah-10 cities, with their villages;

58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,

59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon-six cities, with their villages;^[e]

60 Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah-two cities, with their villages.

61 In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,

62 Nibshan, the City of Salt,^[f] and En-gedi-six cities, with their villages.

63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah to this day.

Joshua 15:20-63 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or the Shephelah
• [b]. Or possibly 1 name: En-gannim-tappuah
• [c]. Or possibly 1 name: Adullam-socoh
• [d]. Other Hb mss read Rumah
• [e]. LXX adds Tekoa, Ephrathah (that is, Bethlehem), Peor, Etam, Culom, Tatam, Sores, Carem, Gallim, Baither, and Manach-11 cities, with their villages
• [f]. Or Ir-hamelach