Joshua 15:1-9

The Allotment for Judah

1 The allotment for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans reached southward ¹to the boundary of Edom, to ²the wilderness of Zin at the farthest south.

2 And their south boundary ran from the end of the ³Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.

3 It goes out southward of ⁴the 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 ⁵the Brook of Egypt, and comes to its end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary.

5 And the east boundary is the ⁶Salt 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 ⁷Beth-hoglah and passes along north of ⁸Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to ⁹the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.

7 And the boundary goes up to Debir from ¹⁰the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite ¹¹the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. And the boundary passes along to the waters of ¹²En-shemesh and ends at ¹³En-rogel.

8 Then the boundary goes up by ¹⁴the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite ( ¹⁵that 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 ¹⁶of Rephaim.

9 Then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain ¹⁷to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the boundary bends around to Baalah ( ¹⁸that is, Kiriath-jearim).

Joshua 15:1-9 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

• 1. 15:1 Num. 34:3
• 2. 15:1 Num. 33:36
• 3. 15:2 [See ver. 1 above]
• 4. 15:3 Num. 34:4; Judg. 1:36
• 5. 15:4 ver. 47; Num. 34:5; [ch. 13:3]
• 6. 15:5 [See ver. 1 above]
• 7. 15:6 ch. 18:19, 21
• 8. 15:6 ch. 18:18, 22
• 9. 15:6 ch. 18:17
• 10. 15:7 ch. 7:26
• 11. 15:7 ch. 18:17
• 12. 15:7 ch. 18:17
• 13. 15:7 ch. 18:16; 2 Sam. 17:17; 1 Kgs. 1:9
• 14. 15:8 ch. 18:16; 2 Kgs. 23:10
• 15. 15:8 ver. 63; ch. 18:28; [Judg. 19:10; 1 Chr. 11:4]
• 16. 15:8 ch. 18:16; See ch. 12:4
• 17. 15:9 ch. 18:15
• 18. 15:9 ver. 60; 1 Chr. 13:6