Joshua 15

1 And the borders of the tribe of Juda according to their families were from the borders of Idumea from the wilderness of sin, as far as Cades southward.
2 And their borders were from the south as far as a part of the salt sea from the high country that extends southward.
3 And they proceed before the ascent of Acrabin, and go out round Sena, and go up from the south to Cades Barne; and go out to Asoron, and proceed up to Sarada, and go out by the way that is west of Cades.
4 And they go out to Selmona, and issue at the valley of Egypt; and the termination of its boundaries shall be at the sea: these are their boundaries southward.
5 And their boundaries eastward all the salt sea as far as Jordan; and their borders from the north, and from the border of the sea, and from part of Jordan—
6 the borders go up to Baethaglaam, and they go along from the north to Baetharaba, and the borders go on up to the stone of Baeon the son of Ruben.
7 And the borders continue on to the fourth part of the valley of Achor, and go down to Galgal, which is before the approach of Adammin, which is southward in the valley, and terminate at the water of the fountain of the sun; and their going forth shall be the fountain of Rogel.
8 And the borders go up to the valley of Ennom, behind Jebus southward; this is Jerusalem: and the borders terminate at the top of the mountain, which is before the valley of Ennom toward the sea, which is by the side of the land of Raphain northward.
9 And the border from the top of the mountain terminates at the fountain of the water of Naphtho, and terminates at mount Ephron; and the border will lead to Baal; this is the city of Jarim.
10 And the border will go round from Baal to the sea, and will go on to the mount of Assar behind the city of Jarin northwards; this is Chaslon: and it will come down to the city of Sun, and will go on to the south.
11 And the border terminates behind Accaron northward, and the borders will terminate at Socchoth, and the borders will go on to the south, and will terminate at Lebna, and the issue of the borders will be at the sea; and their borders toward the sea, the great sea shall be the boundary.
12 These the borders of the children of Juda round about according to their families.
13 And to Chaleb the son of Jephone he gave a portion in the midst of the children of Juda by the command of God; and Joshua gave him the city of Arboc the metropolis of Enac; this is Chebron.
14 And Chaleb the son of Jephone destroyed thence the three sons of Enac, Susi, and Tholami, and Achima.
15 And Chaleb went up thence to the inhabitants of Dabir; and the name of Dabir before was the city of Letters.
16 And Chaleb said, Whosoever shall take and destroy the city of Letters, and master it, to him will I give my daughter Ascha to wife.
17 And Gothoniel the son of Chenez the brother of Chaleb took it; and he gave him Ascha his daughter to wife.
18 And it came to pass as she went out that she counselled him, saying, I will ask of my father a field; and she cried from off her ass; and Chaleb said to her, What is it?
19 And she said to him, Give me a blessing, for thou hast set me in the land of Nageb; give me Botthanis: and he gave her Gonaethla the upper, and Gonaethla the lower.
20 This the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Juda.
21 And their cities were cities belonging to the tribe of the children of Juda on the borders of Edom by the wilderness, and Baeseleel, and Ara, and Asor,
22 and Icam, and Regma, and Aruel,
23 and Cades, and Asorionain, and Maenam,
24 and Balmaenan, and their villages,
25 and the cities of Aseron, this Asor,
26 and Sen, and Salmaa, and Molada,
27 and Seri, and Baephalath,
28 and Cholaseola, and Beersabee; and their villages, and their hamlets,
29 Bala and Bacoc, and Asom,
30 and Elboudad, and Baethel, and Herma,
31 and Sekelac, and Macharim, and Sethennac,
32 and Labos, and Sale, and Eromoth; twenty-nine cities, and their villages.
33 In the plain country Astaol, and Raa, and Assa,
34 and Ramen, and Tano, and Iluthoth, and Maeani,
35 and Jermuth, and Odollam, and Membra, and Saocho, and Jazeca.
36 And Sacarim and Gadera, and its villages; fourteen cities, and their villages;
37 Senna, and Adasan, and Magadalgad,
38 and Dalad, and Maspha, and Jachareel,
39 and Basedoth, and Ideadalea;
40 and Chabra, and Maches, and Maachos,
41 and Geddor, and Bagadiel, and Noman, and Machedan: sixteen cities, and their villages;
42 Lebna, and Ithac, and Anoch,
43 and Jana, and Nasib,
44 and Keilam, and Akiezi, and Kezib, and Bathesar, and Aelom: ten cities, and their villages;
45 Accaron and her villages, and their hamlets:
46 from Accaron, Gemna, and all the cities that are near Asedoth; and their villages.
47 Asiedoth, and her villages, and her hamlets; Gaza, and its villages and its hamlets as far as the river of Egypt, and the great sea is the boundary.
48 And in the hill country Samir, and Jether, and Socha,
49 and Renna and the city of Letters, this Dabir;
50 and Anon, and Es, and Man, and Aesam,
51 and Gosom, and Chalu, and Channa, and Gelom: eleven cities, and their villages;
52 Aerem, and Remna, and Soma,
53 and Jemain, and Baethachu, and Phacua,
54 and Euma, and the city Arboc, this is Chebron, and Soraith: nine cities and their villages:
55 Maor, and Chermel, and Ozib, and Itan,
56 and Jariel, and Aricam, and Zacanaim,
57 and Gabaa, and Thamnatha; nine cities, and their villages;
58 Aelua, and Bethsur, and Geddon,
59 and Magaroth, and Baethanam, and Thecum; six cities, and their villages; Theco, and Ephratha, this is Baethleem, and Phagor, and Aetan, and Culon, and Tatam, and Thobes, and Carem, and Galem, and Thether, and Manocho: eleven cities, and their villages,
60 Cariathbaal, this the city of Jarim, and Sotheba: two cities, and their villages:
61 and Baddargeis, and Tharabaam, and Aenon;
62 and Aeochioza, and Naphlazon, and the cities of Sadon, and Ancades; seven cities, and their villages.
63 And the Jebusite dwelt in Jerusalem, and the children of Juda could not destroy them; and the Jebusites dwelt in Jerusalem to this day.

Joshua 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

The borders of the lot of Judah. (1-12) Caleb's portion, His daughter's blessing. (13-19) The cities of Judah. (20-63)

Verses 1-12 Joshua allotted to Judah, Ephraim, and the half of Manasseh, their inheritances before they left Gilgal. Afterwards removing to Shiloh, another survey was made, and the other tribes had their portion assigned. In due time all God's people are settled.

Verses 13-19 Achsah obtained some land by Caleb's free grant. He gave her a south land. Land indeed, but a south land, dry and apt to be parched. She obtained more, on her request, and he gave the upper and the nether springs. Those who understand it but of one field, watered both with the rain of heaven, and the springs that issued out of the earth, countenance the allusion commonly made to this, when we pray for spiritual and heavenly blessings which relate to our souls, as blessings of the upper springs, and those which relate to the body and the life that now is, as blessings of the nether springs. All the blessings, both of the upper and the nether springs, belong to the children of God. As related to Christ, they have them freely given of the Father, for the lot of their inheritance.

Verses 20-63 Here is a list of the cities of Judah. But we do not here find Bethlehem, afterwards the city of David, and ennobled by the birth of our Lord Jesus in it. That city, which, at the best, was but little among the thousands of Judah, ( Micah 5:2 ) , except that it was thus honoured, was now so little as not to be accounted one of the cities.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. neck.
  • [b]. So the Greek. There seems to be a reading of the word ???? as if part of ???.
  • [c]. 15.15
  • [d]. What has thou to say? or of what hast thou need?

Chapter Summary

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.

Joshua 15 Commentaries

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.