Joshua 15

King James Version

Full text for Joshua Chapter 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 Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:

4[From 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 Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; 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 Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:

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] Kirjathjearim:

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 Bethshemesh, 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.

13¶ And 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] Kirjathsepher.

16And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, 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.

20¶ This [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 Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,

28And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, 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:

33[And] in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

34And Zanoah, and Engannim, 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 Migdalgad,

38And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,

39Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,

40And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,

41And Gederoth, Bethdagon, 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 Kirjathsannah, 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 Bethtappuah, and Aphekah,

54And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, 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, Bethzur, and Gedor,

59And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:

60Kirjathbaal, which [is] Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:

61In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,

62And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Joshua chapter 15 details the extensive territorial inheritance allotted to the tribe of Judah by lot, outlining its precise boundaries from the wilderness of Zin to the Great Sea. It also records Caleb's specific inheritance of Hebron and his successful expulsion of the Anakims from that region. The chapter concludes with a comprehensive list of cities within Judah's territory, noting that the Jebusites inhabiting Jerusalem were not fully driven out by the children of Judah.

Medium Summary

The fifteenth chapter of Joshua meticulously describes the boundaries of the inheritance given to the tribe of Judah, beginning with its southern border stretching from the Salt Sea to the River of Egypt. It then delineates the eastern border along the Salt Sea, the northern border extending towards Jerusalem and Kirjathjearim, and the western border along the Great Sea. A significant portion of the chapter is dedicated to Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who received Hebron as his inheritance according to the Lord's command, and successfully drove out the three sons of Anak. Furthermore, Caleb offered his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever would conquer Kirjathsepher (Debir), which Othniel accomplished. Achsah subsequently requested and received upper and nether springs from her father. The chapter concludes with a detailed enumeration of the numerous cities and their villages within Judah's diverse regions, from the south to the mountains and wilderness, finally noting that the Jebusites of Jerusalem continued to dwell among the children of Judah.

Long Summary

Joshua chapter 15 commences by defining the vast territorial inheritance of the tribe of Judah by their families, establishing its southernmost boundary from the wilderness of Zin to the River of Egypt and the Great Sea. The eastern border is delineated by the Salt Sea and the Jordan, while the northern border extends from the bay of the Jordan, passing through significant landmarks like Bethhogla, the stone of Bohan, the valley of Achor, and reaching the valley of Hinnom, encompassing Jerusalem. This northern line then proceeds westward to Kirjathjearim, Bethshemesh, and Timnah, finally reaching the side of Ekron and Jabneel before concluding at the Great Sea, which forms the entire western border. A distinct section of the chapter focuses on Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who, by divine command, received Hebron, the city of Arba, as his personal inheritance within Judah's lot. Caleb valiantly drove out the three sons of Anak—Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai—from Hebron. He then offered his daughter Achsah as a wife to the man who would conquer Kirjathsepher, also known as Debir. Othniel, Caleb's brother's son, successfully took the city and married Achsah. Upon her marriage, Achsah requested and was granted both upper and nether springs of water from her father, Caleb. The chapter then provides an extensive and detailed catalog of all the cities belonging to the tribe of Judah, categorized by their geographical regions: the uttermost cities toward Edom, cities in the valley, cities in the mountains, and cities in the wilderness. This comprehensive list highlights the numerous settlements within Judah's inheritance. The chapter concludes with a notable observation that the children of Judah were unable to drive out the Jebusite inhabitants of Jerusalem, who consequently continued to dwell with them in the city.

Core Concepts

  • Judah's InheritanceThis chapter primarily details the specific land allotted to the tribe of Judah by lot, outlining its extensive and precisely defined boundaries across all four cardinal directions.
  • Geographical DelineationThe text provides a meticulous, verse-by-verse description of Judah's borders, naming numerous landmarks, bodies of water, and specific locations to mark the extent of their territory.
  • Caleb's PortionCaleb the son of Jephunneh is granted Hebron as his personal inheritance, a special provision according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, recognizing his faithfulness.
  • Conquest and ExpulsionCaleb demonstrates his leadership by driving out the Anakims from Hebron and later offering his daughter in marriage to whoever would conquer Debir, which Othniel successfully achieves.
  • Achsah's RequestCaleb's daughter, Achsah, upon her marriage, wisely requests and receives additional land and essential springs of water from her father, highlighting the importance of resources.
  • Unconquered PeoplesThe chapter concludes with the significant detail that the children of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem, indicating a persistent challenge in fully possessing the land.
  • City EnumerationA substantial portion of the chapter is dedicated to listing the numerous cities and their villages within Judah's inheritance, categorized by their location within the assigned territory.