Joshua 15
15
1 The land allotted to the tribe of Judah by its clans reached to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin in the Negev far to the south.#tn Heb “The lot was to the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans to the border of Edom, the wilderness of Zin toward the south, southward.” 2 Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea,#tn Heb “Their southern border was from the end of the Salt Sea, from the tongue that faces to the south.”sn The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea (also in v. 5). 3 extended#tn Heb “went out.” south of the Scorpion Ascent,#tn Or “the Ascent of Scorpions” (עַקְרַבִּים [’aqrabbim] means “scorpions” in Hebrew). crossed to Zin, went up from the south to Kadesh Barnea, crossed to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka. 4 It then crossed to Azmon, extended to the Stream of Egypt,#tn Traditionally “the Brook of Egypt,” although a number of recent translations have “the Wadi of Egypt” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV). and ended at the sea. This was their#tn The translation follows the LXX at this point. The MT reads, “This will be your southern border.” southern border.
5 The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth#tn Heb “end.” of the Jordan River.#tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan,#tn Heb “the border on the northern side was from the tongue of the sea, from the end of the Jordan.” 6 went up to Beth Hoglah, crossed north of Beth Arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 7 It then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning northward to Gilgal (which is opposite the Pass#tn Or “ascent.” of Adummim south of the valley), crossed to the waters of En Shemesh and extended to En Rogel. 8 It then went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites on the south (that is, Jerusalem),#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. going up to the top of the hill opposite the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. 9 It then went from the top of the hill to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, extended to the cities of Mount Ephron, and went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). 10 It then turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, crossed to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is Kesalon), descended to Beth Shemesh, and crossed to Timnah. 11 It then extended to the slope of Ekron to the north, went toward Shikkeron, crossed to Mount Baalah, extended to Jabneel, and ended at the sea.
12 The western border was the Mediterranean Sea.#tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea. These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans.#tn Heb “this was the border of the sons of Judah round about, by their clans.”
13 Caleb son of Jephunneh was assigned Kiriath Arba (that is Hebron) within the tribe of Judah, according to the Lord’s instructions to Joshua. (Arba was the father of Anak.)#tn Heb “To Caleb son of Jephunneh he gave a portion in the midst of the sons of Judah according to the mouth [i.e., command] of the Lord to Joshua, Kiriath Arba (the father of Anak), it is Hebron.” 14 Caleb drove out#tn Or “dispossessed.” from there three Anakites – Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. 15 From there he attacked the people of Debir.#tn Heb “he went up against the inhabitants of Debir.” (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.) 16 Caleb said, “To the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher I will give my daughter Acsah as a wife.” 17 When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother,#tn “Caleb’s brother” may refer either to Othniel or to Kenaz. If Kenaz was the brother of Caleb, Othniel is Caleb’s nephew. captured it, Caleb#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Caleb) has been specified in the translation for clarity. gave Acsah his daughter to him as a wife.
18 One time Acsah#tn Heb “she”; the referent (Acsah) has been specified in the translation for clarity. came and charmed her father#tn Heb “him.” The referent of the pronoun could be Othniel, in which case the translation would be, “she incited him [Othniel] to ask her father for a field.” This is problematic, however, for Acsah, not Othniel, makes the request in v. 19. The LXX has “he [Othniel] urged her to ask her father for a field.” This appears to be an attempt to reconcile the apparent inconsistency and probably does not reflect the original text. If Caleb is understood as the referent of the pronoun, the problem disappears. For a fuller discussion of the issue, see P. G. Mosca, “Who Seduced Whom? A Note on Joshua 15:18//Judges 1:14,” CBQ 46 (1984): 18-22. This incident is also recorded in Judg 1:14. so that she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What would you like?” 19 She answered, “Please give me a special present.#tn Elsewhere this Hebrew word (בְּרָכָה, bÿrakhah) is often translated “blessing,” but here it refers to a gift (as in Gen 33:11; 1 Sam 25:27; 30:26; and 2 Kgs 5:15). Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water. So he gave her both upper and lower springs.
20 This is the land assigned to the tribe of Judah by its clans:#tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans.” 21 These cities were located at the southern extremity of Judah’s tribal land near the border of Edom:#tn Heb “and the cities were at the end of the tribe of the sons of Judah, at the border of Edom, to the south.” Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor,#map For location see Map1-D2; Map2-D3; Map3-A2; Map4-C1. Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshbon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual, Beer Sheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon – a total of twenty-nine cities and their towns.#tn The total number of names in the list is thirty-six, not twenty-nine. Perhaps (1) some of the names are alternatives (though the text appears to delineate clearly such alternative names here and elsewhere, see vv. 8, 9, 10, 13, 25b) or (2), more likely, later scribes added to a list originally numbering twenty-nine and failed to harmonize the concluding summary statement with the expanded list.
33 These cities were#tn The words “these cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons. in the lowlands:#tn Or “the foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.” Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim) – a total of fourteen cities and their towns.
37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah – a total of sixteen cities and their towns.
42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah – a total of nine cities and their towns.
45 Ekron and its surrounding towns#tn Heb “daughters.” and settlements; 46 from Ekron westward, all those in the vicinity of Ashdod and their towns; 47 Ashdod with its surrounding towns and settlements, and Gaza with its surrounding towns and settlements, as far as the Stream of Egypt#tn See the note on this place name in 15:4. and the border at the Mediterranean Sea.#tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.
48 These cities were#tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied in the translation for English stylistic reasons. in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh – a total of eleven cities and their towns.
52 Arab, Dumah,#tc Some Hebrew mss and some mss of the LXX read “Rumah” in place of “Dumah.” Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior – a total of nine cities and their towns.
55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah – a total of ten cities and their towns.
58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon – a total of six cities and their towns.
60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah – a total of two cities and their towns.
61 These cities were#tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons. in the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the city of Salt, and En Gedi – a total of six cities and their towns.
63 The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem.#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day.#sn The statement to this very day reflects the perspective of the author, who must have written prior to David’s conquest of the Jebusites (see 2 Sam 5:6-7).
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Joshua 15: NET
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Joshua 15
15
1 This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast. 2And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward: 3and it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadesh-barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa: 4from thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast. 5And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan: 6and the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben: 7and the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at En-rogel: 8and the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward: 9and the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim: 10and the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah: 11and the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea. 12And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.
13And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron. 14And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher. 16And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. 17And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. 18And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? 19Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.
20This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
21And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, 22and Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, 23and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, 24Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, 25and Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, 26Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, 27and Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-palet, 28and Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjothjah, 29Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, 30and Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, 31and Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah, 32and Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages: 33And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah, 34and Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam, 35Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah, 36and Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages: 37Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad, 38and Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, 39Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, 40and Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, 41and Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages: 42Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, 43and Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, 44and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages: 45Ekron, with her towns and her villages: 46from Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages: 47Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:
48And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, 49and Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir, 50and Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, 51and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages: 52Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, 53and Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah, 54and Humtah, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages: 55Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah, 56and Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, 57Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages: 58Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor, 59and Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages: 60Kirjath-baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages: 61in the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah, 62and Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages.
63As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
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