Joshua15
New American Standard
1Now the lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families reached the border of Edom, southward to the wilderness of Zin at the extreme south.
2Their southern border was from the lower end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that turns to the south.
3Then it proceeded southward to the ascent of Akrabbim and continued to Zin, then went up by the south of Kadesh-barnea and continued to Hezron, and went up to Addar and turned to Karka.
4It continued to Azmon and proceeded to the brook of Egypt, and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your southern border.
5The eastern border was the Salt Sea, as far as the mouth of the Jordan. And the border of the north side was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.
6Then the border went up to Beth-hoglah, and continued on the north of Beth-arabah, and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
7And the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and turned northward toward Gilgal which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south of the valley; and the border continued to the waters of En-shemesh and it ended at En-rogel.
8Then the border went up the Valley of Ben-hinnom to the slope of the Jebusite on the south (that is, Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain which is opposite the Valley of Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the Valley of Rephaim toward the north.
9And from the top of the mountain the border turned to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah and proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, then the border turned to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).
10The border turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and continued to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is, Chesalon), and went down to Beth-shemesh and continued through Timnah.
11Then the border proceeded to the side of Ekron northward. And the border turned to Shikkeron and continued to Mount Baalah and proceeded to Jabneel, and the border ended at the sea.
12The western border was at the Great Sea, even its coastline. This is the border around the sons of Judah according to their families.
13Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, in accordance with the command of the Lord to Joshua, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron).
14And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
15Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir previously was Kiriath-sepher.
16And Caleb said, “The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as a wife.”
17Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.
18And it happened that when she came to him, she incited him to ask her father for a field. So she dismounted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”
19Then she said, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me springs of water also.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
20This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families.
21Now the cities at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah toward the border of Edom in the south were Kabzeel, Eder, and Jagur,
22Kinah, Dimonah, and Adadah,
23Kedesh, Hazor, and Ithnan,
24Ziph, Telem, and Bealoth,
25Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),
26Amam, Shema, and Moladah,
27Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, and Beth-pelet,
28Hazar-shual, Beersheba, and Biziothiah,
29Baalah, Iim, and Ezem,
30Eltolad, Chesil, and Hormah,
31Ziklag, Madmannah, and Sansannah,
32Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon; in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.
33In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah, and Ashnah,
34Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
36Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.
37Zenan, Hadashah, and Migdal-gad,
38Dilean, Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
39Lachish, Bozkath, and Eglon,
40Cabbon, Lahmas, and Chitlish,
41Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.
42Libnah, Ether, and Ashan,
43Iphtah, Ashnah, and Nezib,
44Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.
45Ekron, with its towns and its villages;
46from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.
47Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages, as far as the brook of Egypt and the Great Sea, even its coastline.
48In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, and Socoh,
49Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),
50Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
51Goshen, Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.
52Arab, Dumah, and Eshan,
53Janum, Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah,
54Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.
55Maon, Carmel, Ziph, and Juttah,
56Jezreel, Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
57Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.
58Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor,
59Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.
60Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.
61In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah,
62Nibshan, the City of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.
63Now as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.
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.