Joshua 19, The Inheritance of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan

As this chapter begins, there are still six more tribes that are to be assigned land under the authority of Joshua with the guidance of the high priest, Eleazar. The reporting on these last six tribes is somewhat shorter than the reports on other tribes. 

On the left, below, I have a map that attempts to show the possessions of the twelve tribes at the time of Joshua. On the right I have a map of modern Israel.  One notes that the land of the transjordan (east of Jordan) tribes is in modern Jordan and southwest Syria. The central cisjordan (west of Jordan) tribes fall across what is now the West Bank, territory controlled by Israel but claimed by Palestinians. The tribe of Dan appears twice, first at the lower right, against the Mediterranean Sea, but later much further north. (Maps were found here and here.)

Here is the description, in Joshua, of the distributions for five more tribes, Simeon, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Dan.

Joshua 19:1-9, Distribution for Simeon

The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon, clan by clan. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah. It included: Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen--thirteen towns and their villages;

Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan--four towns and their villages-- and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev). This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, clan by clan.

The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah's portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.

An adjustment is made since the distribution for Judah was so large.

(NIV footnotes: In verse 2 there is some confusion. The text could be "Beersheba, Sheba"; 1 Chronicles 4:28 does not list Sheba.)

Joshua 19:10-16, Distribution for Zebulun

The third lot came up for Zebulun, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid. Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam. It turned east from Sarid toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia. Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon and turned toward Neah.  There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.

Included were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah and Bethlehem. There were twelve towns and their villages. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun, clan by clan.

We have the boundaries and towns of Zebulun. The given count of twelve towns must include some of the border towns listed before verse 15.

Joshua 19:17-23, The distribution for Issachar

The fourth lot came out for Issachar, clan by clan. Their territory included: Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. The boundary touched Tabor, Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages.

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, clan by clan.

We have the boundaries and towns of Issachar.

Joshua 19:24-31, The distribution for Asher

The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher, clan by clan. Their territory included: Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, Allammelech, Amad and Mishal. 

On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath. It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left. It went to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the sea in the region of Aczib, Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, clan by clan.

Here we have the boundaries and towns of Asher.  

(NIV footnotes: The NIV translation "Abdon" in verse 28 follows some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Joshua 21:30); but most ancient Hebrew manuscripts have "Ebron".)

Joshua 19:32-39, The distribution for Naphtali

The sixth lot came out for Naphtali, clan by clan: Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim, passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan on the east.

The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages.

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, clan by clan.

Here we have the boundaries and towns of Naphtali. Note "the large tree" identified as a landmark! 

The tribes of Asher, Zebulun, Napthali and Issachar possess land in norther Canaan, between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. The tribe of Dan will later join them there. The map below is an insert from the leftmost map above.

Joshua 19:40-48, The distribution for Dan

The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan, clan by clan. The territory of their inheritance included: Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, Elon, Timnah, Ekron, Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,  Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,  Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.

(But the Danites had difficulty taking possession of their territory, so they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their forefather.)

These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, clan by clan.

We have the boundaries and towns of Dan.

Joshua 19:49-51, Joshua's portion

When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for--Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.

NIV footnotes: In verse 50, Timnath Serah is also known as Timnath Heres (see Judges 2:9.)  Heres may have been an ancient word for "sun" leftover from worship of the sun and one of the gods of nature.

First published June 16, 2023; updated June 16, 2026

Joshua 18, The Inheritance of Benjamin

As we divide up the land, there are still seven tribes waiting for their allotment. (I am reminded of a part of American history in which land was distributed -- the Oklahoma land rush of 1889.)

Joshua 18:1-7, Tribes told to map out the land

The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me. You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the house of Joseph in its territory on the north. After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the LORD our God.

The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it to them."

Joshua delegates the mapping of the land, having three men from each tribe survey the portions of Canaan which remain.

Joshua 18:8-10, Mappings and lots

As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, "Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD."

So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.

As the surveyors return, the land is apparently divided by lot (by random chance.) It is likely that the lots were really cast by Eleazar.

Joshua 18:11-20  Distributions for Benjamin

The lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph: On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the desert of Beth Aven. From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon. From the hill facing Beth Horon on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a town of the people of Judah. This was the western side.

The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim. It continued down the Hinnom Valley along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel. It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth, which faces the Pass of Adummim, and ran down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah and on down into the Arabah. It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea,at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary.

The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side. These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides.

As we divide up the land, finally there is the inheritance of the descendants of the youngest son of Jacob. Considerable detail is given for this small tribe.

Joshua 18:21-28, Cities of Benjamin

The tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, had the following cities: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba--twelve towns and their villages.

Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath--fourteen towns and their villages. 

This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.

We finalize the distribution for Benjamin by listing cities. The future Jerusalem is one of these towns. Jerusalem is barely within the region assigned to Benjamin and will, at times, be part of Judah. 

The first king of Israel, Saul, will come out of Benjamin. He will be buried in Zelah (2 Samuel 21:14.)

An old map (found here) attempts to draw the region of Benjamin.

First published June 15, 2023; updated June 15, 2026

Segulla, A Special Possession

The Hebrew language is rich with many words and concepts that do not carry over directly into English and so must be translated with a variety of English words or phrases. We will look at some of these as we go through the Old Testament. One special word, used by YHWH in Exodus, is segulla, a word that is repeated (in Greek) in the New Testament.

סְגֻלָּה

In Exodus 19:4-6, God tells Moses that Israel has been carried on eagles' wings out of Egypt and set aside as a "particular people", a "treasured possession." Carmen Imes, in her class on Exodus, focuses on the phrase "treasured possession." It is the Hebrew word segulla, appearing eight times in the Old Testament. It means a special personal treasure, maybe a favorite piece of jewelry. In the Old Testament, prior to the First Temple period, it appears as a description, by YHWH, of His special covenant people and is a sweet term of endearment. (Wealthy king Solomon, with too many wives, uses the word in Ecclesiastes 2:8 for material objects like gold and silver he has collected.) 

In the Septuagint the Hebrew word segulla is translated as the Greek peripoiesis. This Greek word, signifying God's love for the people of Israel, is then used in 1 Peter 2:9 to describe the followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus):

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The term segulla is affectionate. Sarah E. Fisher, in this blog on Hebrew words, recalls a letter from her mother in which her mother calls Sarah her segulla. (I recommend that article and Sarah's blog, hebrewwordlessons.com in general.) Ben Frostad, another follower of Yeshua, traces the Scripture's use of segulla here. 

The God who carried Israel on eagles' wings, who promised to make them a royal priesthood and a holy nation, continues that work through Messiah Yeshua. The beloved treasure of YHWH is His followers. As one of those treasures, I am trying to better understand this strange Old Testament, God's covenant with Israel!

First published June 4, 2023; updated June 14, 2026

Joshua 17, The Inheritance of Manasseh

We continue to divide up the land of Canaan. The tribes of Gad, Reuben and half of the tribe of Manasseh have been given land east of the Jordan.  After that, land was distributed to Judah and Ephraim. Now we move on to the distribution for the rest of Manasseh.

Joshua 17:1-6, The allotment for Manasseh

This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph's firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh's firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because the Makirites were great soldiers.

So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh--the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans. Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. 

They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers." So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the LORD's command.

Manasseh's share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

Makir was apparently the only son of Manasseh, according to Genesis 50:22-23. Madvig, in his commentary, says that Makir was sometimes the name given for those descendants of Manasseh who settled east of the Jordan.

Note, even in these very patriarchal times, there was an understanding that if one only had daughters, there still should be some type of inheritance for one's descendants.

Joshua 17:7-13, The allotment for Manasseh, continued

The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Micmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.)

Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the sea.  On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth). Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

(In verse 11, Naphoth by itself does not really make sense and is probably Naphoth Dor.  Naphoth Dor  means "the heights of Dor.")

Like other tribes, Manasseh, west of the Jordan, did not fully conquer the land. After some time they were able to control the land but the Canaanites remained in the land as servants.

Joshua 17:14-18, The people of Joseph challenged to extend their land

The people of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the LORD has blessed us abundantly."

"If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites."

The people of Joseph replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel."

But Joshua said to the house of Joseph--to Ephraim and Manasseh--"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

The Bronze Age has morphed into the Iron Age; those able to work with iron have power. Here the people of Joseph are intimidated by Canaanites with iron chariots.

Joshua reacts to the request for more land by telling the people of Ephraim to go forward and get the land.  One presumes that the Ephraimites were hoping to be given more land already conquered. Joshua's challenge confronts this.

First published June 14, 2023; updated June 13, 2026

Joshua 16, The Inheritance of Ephraim

After the conquest, the land is divided. We continue to record these divisions among the twelve tribes. After working through a long chapter of 62 verses, consisting mainly of Hebrew names, today we suddenly get a bit of a rest with a short chapter of only ten verses!

Joshua 16:1-4, The allotment for Joseph

The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan of Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the sea.

So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

(NIV footnotes, the literal Hebrew in verse 2 is "Bethel to Luz" but apparently Bethel is Luz. See Genesis 28:19 or Genesis 35:6 for example.)

Joshua 16: 5-10, The territory of Ephraim

This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon and continued to the sea. From Micmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, clan by clan.

It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.

They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.

Some Canaanites live in the region "to this day", a recognition that the land was not completely conquered. Eventually Gezer will be conquered by a king of Egypt and then given to Solomon as a bridal dowry, see 1 Kings 9:15-19.

This chapter, focusing on the inheritance of Ephraim, is much shorter than the previous chapter, which focused on the more important tribe of Judah.

Below, according to one website, is a map of the portions ascribed to the tribes Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph.

First published June 13, 2023; updated June 12, 2026

Joshua 15, The Inheritance of Judah

After conquering the land, we now divide it up, giving each of the twelve tribes their allotments.

Joshua 15:1-12, The allotment of Judah

The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south. Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea, crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. This is their southern boundary.

The eastern boundary is the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel. Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.  From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). Then it curved westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh and crossed to Timnah. It went to the northern slope of Ekron, turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah and reached Jabneel. The boundary ended at the sea.

The western boundary is the coastline of the Great Sea. These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

The Salt Sea is the Dead Sea; the Great Sea is the Mediterranean. The region for Judah seems quite large and is extensively described. The possessions of some of the other tribes will not be described this extensively.

Once again, we are reminded that the Old Testament writings were not written to us but to the ancient nation of Israel. The text attempts to emphasize the original distributions of the various tribes, a source of both history and pride for the Israelite living prior to the Babylonian captivity. (As Old Testament scholar John Walton says, "The Bible was written for us but not written to us.”)

Joshua 15:13-19, Caleb's daughter

In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah--Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)

From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites--Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai--descendants of Anak. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher."

Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage. One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?"  She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

Othniel is, like Caleb, a warrior. It is not clear if he is Caleb's brother or if Kenaz is Caleb's brother.  Since it was common in the Old Testament to include one's ancestry when introducing a character, it is likely that the Hebrew means "Othniel (son of Kenaz), Caleb's brother..." 

Caleb, as Acsah father, has the ancient Near East responsibility of finding a husband for Acsah. He offers his daughter to the warrior who conquers Kiriath Sepher and that prize is won by Othniel. So Acsah marries her uncle. Later Acsah asks for some special land, land that has a spring.

In verse 18 the ancient Hebrew texts seem to attribute the plan to Acsah. Some Septuagint manuscripts have Othniel urging Acsah to make the request, atttibuting the plan to Othniel. (If so, one might speculate on the reason for this Septuagint "correction.")

This story is retold as part of Judges 1:9-21.

Joshua 15:20-62, The inheritance of Judah

This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan: The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the boundary of Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), Amam, Shema, Moladah, Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,  Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,  Baalah, Iim, Ezem,  Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,  Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon--a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim) --fourteen towns and their villages.

Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah--sixteen towns and their villages.
  

Libnah, Ether, Ashan,  Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,  Keilah, Aczib and Mareshah--nine towns and their villages.

Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages; west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages;

Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.

In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon and Giloh--eleven towns and their villages.

Arab, Dumah, Eshan, Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,  Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior--nine towns and their villages.

 

Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, Kain, Gibeah and Timnah--ten towns and their villages. Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,  Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon--six towns and their villages.

Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah--two towns and their villages.

In the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,  Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi--six towns and their villages.

Whoever created the verse divisions (in the Middle Ages) goes crazy here, often dividing between triplets of names, so that verses are a short string of three (sometimes four) names. Again we note the considerable attention to the possession of Judah. We will not devote such attention to the other tribes.

Commentators note that in verses 21-32 there appear to be 36 named towns although the text gives the number as "29 towns and their villages."  Are some of the 36 names in that verse duplicates, that is, two names for the same town? Or are there  habitats that are not considered towns? Or is the "29" a scribal error. (As a mathematician, I tend to obsess about really counting things out....)

(NIV footnotes: Manuscripts vary in verse 36 --  Gederah (or Gederothaim) Or Gederah and Gederothaim)

Joshua 15:63, The Jebusites remain

Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

Some people, such as the Jebusites, were not assimilated in the campaigns of Joshua. This final verse in chapter 15, with the phrase "to this day the Jebusites live there", suggests that the author of the book of Joshua wrote prior to David's final conquest of Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 5:6-10, around 1000 BC.

First published June 12, 2023; updated June 11, 2026

Joshua 14, The Inheritance of Caleb

The land east of the Jordan has been given to the transjordan tribes Gad, Reuben and part of Manasseh. Now the land west of the Jordan is to be divided up.

Joshua 14:1-5, Assigned by lot

Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them. Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine-and-a-half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

    

Moses had granted the two-and-a-half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest for the sons of Joseph had become two tribes--Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.

    

So the Israelites divided the land, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The pattern followed in Joshua here follows earlier agreements with Moses. As reported earlier, the 2 1/2 tribes took over the area east of the Jordan. The remaining 8 1/2 tribes will receive land west of the Jordan. The Levites will be given lands spread out among all the tribes.

In the commissioning of Joshua (see Numbers 27: 18-23), Eleazar was to help Joshua make decisions. Presumably the assignments "by lot" included use of the Urim/Thummin on the priest's breastplate.

Joshua 14:6-12, Caleb's request

Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.

    

"So on that day Moses swore to me, `The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'

    

"Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!  I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

Caleb reminds Joshua of earlier promises, quoting an agreement from Deuteronomy 1:36.

Joshua 14:13-15, Joshua responds

Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.  (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) 

    

Then the land had rest from war.

Caleb gets an inheritance for his faithfulness. The land now has "rest".

The concept of rest, here the Hebrew word shaqat (שָׁקַט), will be a theme in the New Testament book of Hebrews. Joshua's rest is an edenic ideal, never quite achievable on earth for any length of time.  We will see this "rest" fall apart in the book of Judges.

First published June 10, 2023; updated June 10, 2026