Joshua 15:20-63

The Cities of Judah

20 This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Judah according to their families:

21 the cities belonging to the tribe of the descendants of Judah to the far south, to [the] border of Edom to the south, were 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, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,

31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon; [in] all, twenty-nine cities and their villages.

33 In the Shephelah: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities and their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,

38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

40 Cabbon, Lahma, Kitlish,

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

42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

43 Jephthah, Ashnah, Nezib,

44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah; nine cities and their villages.

45 Ekron, its towns and villages;

46 from Ekron to the sea, and all that {were near} Ashdod and their villages.

47 Ashdod, its towns and villages; Gaza, its towns and villages, up to the wadi of Egypt and the Great Sea and its coast.

48 And in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

49 Dannah, Kiriath Sanna (that [is], Debir),

50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

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

52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,

54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that [is], Hebron), and Zior; nine cities and their villages.

55 Moan, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

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

58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,

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

60 Kiriath Baal (that [is], Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah; two cities and their villages.

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

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

63 But the descendants of Judah were unable to drive out the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live with the descendants of Judah in Jerusalem 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 "sons"
• [b]. Or "sons"
• [c]. Or "lowlands"; a geographical region on the western edge of the hills of Judea
• [d]. Literally "[were] on the hand of"
• [e]. A valley that is dry most of the year, but contains a stream during the rainy season
• [f]. That is, the Mediterranean
• [g]. Literally "border"
• [h]. Or "the city of Arba"
• [i]. Or "sons"
• [j]. Or "sons"