Judah's land

1The clans of the Judah tribe were given land that went south along the border of Edom, and at its furthest point south it even reached the Zin Desert. 2Judah's southern border started at the south end of the Dead Sea. 3As it went west from there, it ran south of Scorpion Pass15.3 Scorpion Pass: Or “Akrabbim Pass”. to Zin, and then came up from the south to Kadesh-Barnea. It continued past Hezron up to Addar, turned towards Karka, 4and ran along to Azmon. After that, it followed the Egyptian Gorge and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was also Israel's southern border.

5Judah's eastern border ran the full length of the Dead Sea.

The northern border started at the northern end of the Dead Sea.15.5 at…Dead Sea: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. 6From there it went west up to Beth-Hoglah, continued north of Beth-Arabah, and went up to the Monument of Bohan,15.6 Monument of Bohan: Or “Bohan Rock”, possibly a natural rock formation. who belonged to the Reuben tribe. 7From there, it went to Trouble Valley15.7 Trouble Valley: Or “Achor Valley”. and Debir,15.7 Debir: Not the same town as in 10.38,39. then turned north and went to Gilgal,15.7 Gilgal: Not the same “Gilgal” as in 4.19. which is on the north side of the valley across from Adummim Pass. It continued on to Enshemesh, Enrogel, 8and up through Hinnom Valley on the land sloping south from Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem itself belonged to the Jebusites.

Next, the border went up to the top of the mountain on the west side of Hinnom Valley and at the north end of Rephaim Valley. 9At the top of the mountain it turned and went to Nephtoah Spring and then to the ruins15.9 ruins: Hebrew; one ancient translation “towns”. on Mount Ephron. From there, it went to Baalah, which is now called Kiriath-Jearim.

10From Baalah the northern border curved west to Mount Seir and then ran along the northern ridge of Mount Jearim, where Chesalon is. Then it went down to Beth-Shemesh15.10 Beth-Shemesh: Probably the same town as the Ir-Shemesh of 19.41-46. Two other towns were also named Beth-Shemesh (see 19.17-23 and 19.35-39). and over to Timnah. 11It continued along to the hillside north of Ekron, curved around to Shikkeron, and then went to Mount Baalah. After going to Jabneel, the border finally ended at the Mediterranean Sea, 12which was Judah's western border.

The clans of Judah lived within these borders.

Caleb's land

(Judges 1.12-15)

13Joshua gave Caleb some land among the people of Judah, as God had told him to do. Caleb's share was Hebron, which at that time was known as Arba's Town,15.13 Arba's Town: See the note at 14.15. because Arba was the famous ancestor of the Anakim.15.13 Anakim: See the note at 11.21.15.13,14: Jg 1.20.

14Caleb attacked Hebron and forced the three Anakim clans of15.14 clans of: Or “warriors”. Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai to leave. 15Next, Caleb started a war with the town of Debir, which at that time was called Kiriath-Sepher. 16He told his men, “The man who captures Kiriath-Sepher can marry my daughter Achsah.”

17Caleb's nephew Othniel15.17 Caleb's nephew Othniel: Hebrew “Othniel the son of Caleb's brother Kenaz”. captured Kiriath-Sepher, and Caleb let him marry Achsah. 18Straight after the wedding, Achsah started telling Othniel that he15.18 Achsah…Othniel…he: Hebrew; one manuscript of one ancient translation and two ancient translations of the parallel in Judges 1.14 “Othniel…Achsah…she”. ought to ask her father for a field. She went to see her father, and while she was getting down from15.18 getting down from: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What's bothering you?”

19She answered, “I need your help. The land you gave me is in the Southern Desert, so I really need some spring-fed ponds15.19 spring-fed ponds: Or “wells”. for a water supply.”

Caleb gave her a couple of small ponds, named Higher Pond and Lower Pond.15.19 small ponds…Pond…Pond: Or “wells…Well…Well”.

Towns in Judah's land

20The following is a list of the towns in each region given to the Judah clans:

21-32The first region was in the Southern Desert along the border with Edom, and it had the following twenty-nine towns with their surrounding villages:

Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Aradah,15.21-32 Aradah: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. Kedesh, Hazor of Ithnan,15.21-32 Hazor of Ithnan: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Hazor and Ithnan”. Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor-Hadattah, Kerioth-Hezron, which is also called Hazor, Amam, Shema, Moladah, Hazar-Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-Pelet, Hazar-Shual, Beersheba and its surrounding villages,15.21-32 its…villages: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Biziothiah”. Baalah, Iim, Ezem, Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, Lebaoth, Shilhim, and Enrimmon.15.21-32 Enrimmon: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Ain and Rimmon”.

33-36The second region was in the northern part of the lower foothills, and it had the following fourteen towns with their surrounding villages:

Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En-Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim.

37-41The third region was in the southern part of the lower foothills, and it had the following sixteen towns with their surrounding villages:

Zenan, Hadashah, Migdalgad, Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Cabbon, Lahmas,15.37-41 Lahmas: Most Hebrew manuscripts; many other Hebrew manuscripts and one manuscript of one ancient translation “Lahmam”. Chitlish, Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah.

42-44The fourth region was in the central part of the lower foothills, and it had the following nine towns with their surrounding villages:

Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah.

45-47The fifth region was along the Mediterranean coast, and it had the following towns with their surrounding settlements and villages:

Ekron and the towns between there and the coast, Ashdod and the larger towns nearby, Gaza, the towns from Gaza to the Egyptian Gorge, and the towns along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

48-51The sixth region was in the south-western part of the hill country, and it had the following eleven towns with their surrounding villages:

Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, Dannah, Kiriath-Sannah, which is now called Debir, Anab, Eshtemoh,15.48-51 Eshtemoh: Another spelling for the name Eshtemoa (see 21.9-19). Anim, Goshen, Holon, and Giloh.

52-54The seventh region was in the south-central part of Judah's hill country, and it had the following nine towns with their surrounding villages:

Arab, Dumah,15.52-54 Dumah: Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and one ancient translation “Rumah”. Eshan, Janim, Beth-Tappuah, Aphekah, Humtah, Kiriath-Arba, which is now called Hebron, and Zior.

55-57The eighth region was in the south-eastern part of the hill country, and it had the following ten towns with their surrounding villages:

Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel,15.55-57 Jezreel: Not the same Jezreel as in 19.17-23. Jokdeam,15.55-57 Jokdeam: Hebrew; one ancient translation “Jorkeam”. Zanoah, Kain, Gibeah,15.55-57 Gibeah: Not the same Gibeah as in 18.25-28. and Timnah.

58-59The ninth region was in the central part of Judah's hill country, and it had the following six towns with their surrounding villages:

Halhul, Beth-Zur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon.

The tenth region was in the north-central part of Judah's hill country, and it had the following eleven towns with their surrounding villages:

Tekoa, Ephrath, which is also called Bethlehem, Peor, Etam, Culon, Tatam, Shoresh, Kerem, Gallim, Bether, and Manahath.15.58,59 The tenth region…Manahath: One ancient translation; the Hebrew text does not have these words.

60The eleventh region was in the northern part of Judah's hill country, and it had the following two towns with their surrounding villages:

Rabbah, and Kiriath-Baal, which is also called Kiriath-Jearim.

61-62The twelfth region was in the desert along the Dead Sea, and it had the following six towns with their surrounding villages:

Beth-Arabah, Middin, Secacah, Nibshan, Salt Town, and En-Gedi.

The Jebusites

63The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem, and the people of the Judah tribe could not capture the city and get rid of them. That's why Jebusites still live in Jerusalem along with the people of Judah.15.63 Jebusites…Judah: Israel captured Jerusalem in King David's time, but even then the Jebusites were not forced to leave.15.63: Jg 1.21; 2 S 5.6; 1 Ch 11.4.