Joshua15

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.

The Boundaries of Judah's Inheritance

The lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was to the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the uttermost part of the south.

Their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looks southward;

and it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up by the south of Kadesh Barnea, and passed along by Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned about to Karka;

and it passed along to Azmon, went out at the brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your south border.

The east border was the Salt Sea, even to the end of the Jordan. The border of the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the end of the Jordan.

The border went up to Beth Hoglah, and passed along by the north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.

The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. The border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and ended at En Rogel.

The border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite southward (the same is Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the farthest part of the valley of Rephaim northward.

The border extended from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of Mount Ephron; and the border extended to Baalah (the same is Kiriath Jearim);

and the border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (the same is Chesalon), and went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed along by Timnah;

and the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

The west border was to the shore of the great sea. This is the border of the children of Judah according to their families.

Caleb's Inheritance and Conquest

To Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (the same is Hebron).

Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

He went up against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher.

Caleb said, “He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.”

Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.

When she came, she had him ask her father for a field. She got off of her donkey, and Caleb said, “What do you want?”

She said, “Give me a blessing. Because you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water.” He gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

List of Cities in Judah's Territory

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

The farthest cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (the same is Hazor),

Amam, Shema, Moladah,

Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,

Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. All the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.

In the lowland, Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim); fourteen cities with their villages.

Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,

Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,

Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.

Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.

Ekron, with its towns and its villages;

from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.

Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea with its coastline.

In the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (which is Debir),

Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

Goshen, Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.

Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,

Humtah, Kiriath Arba (the same is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Jutah,

Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.

Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,

Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.

Kiriath Baal (the same is Kiriath Jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.

In the wilderness, Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,

Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi; six cities with their villages.

Failure to Drive Out the Jebusites

As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah couldn’t drive them out; but the Jebusites live with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

Study Notes for Joshua 15

Verse 1

Judah, the largest and most powerful tribe, received the largest territory, extending from the Dead Sea west to the Mediterranean and south toward Edom.

Verse 4

The 'river of Egypt' is generally identified as the Wadi el-Arish, a seasonal stream that formed the traditional southwestern boundary line between Canaan and Egypt.

Verse 7

The Valley of Achor ('trouble') was the site where Achan was executed for sin (Joshua 7). Its inclusion here signifies that even places of past judgment are now integrated into the Promised Land inheritance.

Verse 8

This verse locates the Jebusite city (Jerusalem) within Judah’s northern border, setting the stage for the conflict described in the final verse (v. 63).

Verse 13

Caleb received Hebron as his special inheritance, a promise given to him by God through Moses for his faithfulness during the original spying mission forty years earlier (Numbers 14:24).

Verse 14

Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak, giants whose fearsome stature had caused the rest of the spies to lose faith. This conquest demonstrates Caleb’s reliance on God’s strength.

Verse 17

Othniel, Caleb's nephew, successfully took Debir. He later became the first Judge of Israel, demonstrating that future leadership arose from those who actively participated in the conquest (Judges 3:9-11).

Verse 19

Achsah’s request for springs of water was vital in the arid highlands of Judah. Caleb’s generous gift of both upper and lower springs ensured the lasting fertility and prosperity of their land.

Verse 28

Beersheba was a significant ancient city, often cited as the southern limit of Israelite settlement, defining the entire nation's territory ('from Dan to Beersheba').

Verse 47

The inclusion of Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashdod) indicates that while these territories were allotted to Judah, they were not yet fully conquered or possessed at this time, foreshadowing ongoing conflict.

Verse 49

Kirjathsannah is the ancient name for Debir, the city conquered by Othniel (v. 15). This confirms its location within the mountainous region of Judah.

Verse 54

Kirjatharba ('city of Arba') is the ancient name for Hebron, linking the city back to the Anakim whom Caleb drove out.

Verse 63

This concluding statement records the first significant failure of the conquest narrative in Judah. The inability to expel the Jebusites meant Jerusalem remained unconquered until the time of King David centuries later (2 Samuel 5).

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Joshua15

The Boundaries of Judah's Inheritance

Caleb's Inheritance and Conquest

List of Cities in Judah's Territory

Failure to Drive Out the Jebusites

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