Joshua15
English Standard Version
1The for the of the of according to their reached to the of , to the of at the .
2And their ran the of the , the that .
3It goes of the ascent of , along to , and of , by , to , to ,
4 to , goes by the of , and comes to its the . shall be your .
5And the is the , the of the . And the on the runs the of the the of the .
6And the to and along of . And the to the of the of .
7And the to the of , and so , toward , is the of , is the of the . And the along to the of and at .
8Then the by the of the of the of the ( that is, ). And the to the of the lies the of , on the , at the of the of .
9Then the the of the to the of the of , and from to the of . Then the to ( that is, ).
10And the of to , along to the of (that is, ), and to and by .
11The goes to the of the hill of , then the to and passes along to and goes to . Then the comes to an at the .
12And the was the with its . is the the of according to their .
13According to the of the Lord to , he to the of a the of , , that is, ( was the of ).
14And drove the of , and and , the of .
15And he against the of . Now the of was .
16And , and it, to him will I my as .
17And the of , the of , it. And he him his as .
18When she to him, she him to her for a . And she her , and to her, do you want?
19She to him, me a . you have me the of the , me also of . And he her the and the .
20 is the of the of the of according to their .
21The belonging to the of the of in the , toward the of , were , , ,
22 , , ,
23 , , ,
24 , , ,
25 , (that is, ),
26 , , ,
27 , , ,
28 , , ,
29 , , ,
30 , , ,
31 , , ,
32 , , , and : in , with their .
33And in the , , , ,
34 , , , ,
35 , , , ,
36 , , , : with their .
37 , , ,
38 , , ,
39 , , ,
40 , , ,
41 , , , and : with their .
42 , , ,
43 , , ,
44 , , and : with their .
45 , with its and its ;
46 to the , that were by the of , with their .
47 , its and its ; , its and its ; the of , and the with its .
48And in the , , , ,
49 , ( that is, ),
50 , , ,
51 , , and : with their .
52 , , ,
53 , , ,
54 , (that is, ), and : with their .
55 , , , ,
56 , , ,
57 , , and : with their .
58 , , ,
59 , , and : with their .
60 (that is, ), and : with their .
61In the , , , ,
62 , the City of , and : with their .
63But the , the of , the of , so the with the of at .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 15.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The borders of the lot of Judah. (1–12). Caleb's portion, His daughter's blessing. (13–19). The cities of Judah. (20–63).
vv1-12
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.
vv13-19
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.
vv20-63
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, Mic 5:2, except that it was thus honoured, was now so little as not to be accounted one of the cities.
Key Words
גּוֹרָל: properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)
מַטֶּה: a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
מִשְׁפָּחָה: a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
נֶגֶב: the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally, Egypt (as south to Palestine)
גְּבוּל: properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed
אֱדֹם: Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him
מִדְבָּר: a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
צִן: Tsin, a part of the Desert
Cross References
Joshua 15Directly corresponds to the southern border of Judah as originally detailed in Moses' boundary of the land.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel historical account of Caleb's conquest of Debir and Othniel winning Achsah as his wife.
Supported by JFB
Verbatim parallel record of Achsah requesting the blessing of the upper and nether springs.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Direct parallel recording Benjamin's similar failure to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The background covenant and commandment where Caleb originally petitioned Joshua for the inheritance of Hebron.
Supported by JFB
Beer-sheba is transferred from Judah's lot to Simeon's inheritance as noted in Joshua 19:2.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes Kirjath-arba (Hebron) as Caleb's portion given according to God's commandment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects Kirjath-arba (Hebron) to its ancient namesake Arba, the great man among the Anakim.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historic fulfillment where David finally conquers the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem.
Parallel account of David and Joab taking the Jebusite castle at Jerusalem.
Parallel boundary marker of Benjamin, tracing the Valley of Hinnom in reverse direction.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Records the fulfillment of Caleb taking Hebron and driving out the three sons of Anak.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the three Anakite chiefs—Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai—encountered during the original spying mission.
Supported by JFB
Hormah is later assigned to Simeon, illustrating that Judah's portion was later shared.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Ziklag is listed here for Judah but is later assigned to the tribe of Simeon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Ziklag, listed in Judah's cities, became a key royal city given to David.
Ain and Rimmon are also among the southern cities of Judah transferred to Simeon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Corresponds to the southern border definition 'river of Egypt' and the Great Sea.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Kirjath-sannah (Debir) with its earlier narrative context and naming in this chapter.
Supported by JFB
Mentions Maon and Carmel in Judah's highlands as the setting of Nabal's estate.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Kirjath-baal (Kirjath-jearim) as the place where the Ark of God was fetched.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Earlier mention in this chapter establishing that the border ran by the Jebusite city, Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Identifies Jebusi (Jerusalem) as belonging to Benjamin, explaining the joint tribal struggle.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical deterioration of the Valley of Hinnom (Topheth) under idolatry.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Thematic parallel of a leader offering his daughter in marriage as a reward for military valor.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Othniel as Caleb's younger brother who becomes Israel's first judge.
Supported by JFB
Several of these southern cities of Judah were resettled after the Babylonian exile.
Eshtaol and Zorah, listed in Judah's valley, are crucial in Samson's history.
Adullam and Azekah were re-inhabited by the children of Judah after the captivity.
Soco and Azekah are key defensive locations during David's battle with Goliath.
The famous cave of Adullam was located at this city in the lowlands.
Keilah, listed here in the lowland valley, is the site of David's battle against Philistines.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic wordplay on Achzib as a lie to the kings of Israel.
Supported by JFB
Lists Kirjath-jearim as one of the four original Gibeonite confederate cities.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Beth-arabah on the northern border of Judah, also listed here as a wilderness city.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Places En-gedi in the wilderness of Judah, where David fled from Saul.