UNROLL
Dawn over the hill country of Judah: ridge behind ridge of terraced limestone hills with olive groves and vines, a small walled town on one ridge, and far to the east a pale haze over the Salt Sea.

The Book of

Joshua 15

Judah’s lot comes first: borders, more than a hundred towns, a fearless old man and a daughter who asks for springs.

63 verses≈ 6 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–5Crossing overInto the land
  2. 6–12Taking the landThe LORD fights for Israel
  3. 13–21Dividing the landAn inheritance for each tribeChapter 15
  4. 22–24Choose this dayServe the LORD

Judah’s Inheritance

Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:

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The far southern end of the Salt Sea at morning: white salt flats and shallow pale water, with bare, scorched cliffs and ravines rising toward the south-west.

The borders

Judah’s borders

  1. South

    From the Salt Sea’s southern bay

    Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea,

  2. Akrabbim, Zin, Kadesh-barnea

    proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka.

  3. Azmon to the Brook of Egypt

    It proceeded to Azmon, joined the Brook of Egypt, and ended at the Sea.

  4. The southern border

    This was their southern border.

  5. East

    The Salt Sea to the Jordan

    The eastern border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

  6. North

    Beth-hoglah to the Stone of Bohan

    The northern border started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan,

    went up to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.

  7. Achor, Debir, toward Gilgal

    Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to Gilgal, which faces the Ascent of Adummim south of the ravine.

  8. En-shemesh to En-rogel

    It continued along the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel.

  9. Below Jerusalem: Ben-hinnom

    From there the border went up the Valley of Ben-hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

  10. Nephtoah to Kiriath-jearim

    From the hilltop the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then bent around toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).

  11. Beth-shemesh, Ekron, to the sea

    The border curled westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), went down to Beth-shemesh, and crossed to Timnah.

    Then it went out to the northern slope of Ekron, curved toward Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went on to Jabneel, and ended at the Sea.

  12. West

    The Great Sea, and all around

    And the western border was the coastline of the Great Sea.

    These are the boundaries around the clans of the descendants of Judah.

Caleb’s Portion and Conquest

Seen from behind on a hillside path in the morning, old Caleb with his staff looks down at Hebron, a small walled town on a rounded hill among terraced vineyards, quiet and whole.

According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

0:20

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Caleb

One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field.

Caleb

When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”

Acsah

“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.”

So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.

Give me a blessing

Joshua 15:19

In the dry, stony southern hills at morning, a spring rises among rocks into a clear pool ringed with reeds and grass, a second pool lower down the valley, and a donkey with a woven saddle blanket drinks at the edge.

Reflect

Ask

Acsah got off her donkey, and her father asked, “What do you desire?” She did not hint. She said, “Give me a blessing,” and named what her dry land needed: “give me springs of water as well.” He gave her more than one. What do you need to bring to your Father plainly today? Write it down as simply as Acsah said it, and ask Him for it.

The Cities of Judah

This is the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Judah.

The northern Negev near Beersheba in late afternoon: broad, dry, rolling plains of pale earth with thin grass, a stone-lined well with a trough, flocks of sheep and goats, and a low town mound far off.

The towns

In the Negev

  1. The Negev

    Toward Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur

    These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the border of Edom:

    Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

  2. Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah

    Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

  3. Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan

    Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

  4. Ziph, Telem, Bealoth

    Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

  5. Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron

    Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),

  6. Amam, Shema, Moladah

    Amam, Shema, Moladah,

  7. Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet

    Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,

  8. Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah

    Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

  9. Baalah, Iim, Ezem

    Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

  10. Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah

    Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

  11. Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah

    Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

  12. Lebaoth to Rimmon: twenty-nine in all

    Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, along with their villages.

JudahDead SeaRiver of EgyptKadeshBeershebaHebronDebir (site uncertain)LachishEn-gediJerusalem

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Judah’s land

Judah’s south border ran from the southern bay of the Salt Sea past Kadesh-barnea to the Brook of Egypt and the sea. Its north border climbed from the mouth of the Jordan through the hills, just south of Jerusalem, and down to the sea. Its towns lay in four districts: the Negev around Beersheba, the foothills (Lachish), the hill country (Hebron, Debir) and the wilderness by the Salt Sea (En-gedi). Jerusalem itself stayed in Jebusite hands. Debir’s site is uncertain, and the Brook of Egypt is probably the Wadi el-Arish.

The low foothills of Judah in spring: rounded hills with olive groves and wheat, a broad green valley between them with a dry streambed of white stones, and a small town on a hill at its head.

The towns

In the foothills

  1. Fourteen towns

    Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah

    These were in the foothills:

    Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

  2. Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam

    Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

  3. Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah

    Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

  4. Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah

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

  5. Sixteen towns

    Zenan to Joktheel

    Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,

    Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel,

  6. Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon

    Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

  7. Cabbon to Makkedah

    Cabbon, Lahmas, Chitlish,

    Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities, along with their villages.

  8. Nine towns

    Libnah to Nezib

    Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

    Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

  9. Keilah, Achzib, Mareshah

    Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, along with their villages.

  10. The coast

    Ekron and its villages

    Ekron, with its towns and villages;

  11. From Ekron to the sea

    from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, along with their villages;

  12. Ashdod and Gaza, to the Brook

    Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, as far as the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.

Question

Quick question

Two small towns in the foothills list, Socoh and Azekah (15:35), would one day look down on one of the most famous fights in the Bible.

What happened in the valley between Socoh and Azekah?

Steep green hills cut into stone terraces with olive groves and a few vines, a small walled hill town on a ridge and a track winding up toward it.

The towns

In the hill country

  1. Eleven towns

    Shamir, Jattir, Socoh

    These were in the hill country:

    Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

  2. Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (Debir)

    Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),

  3. Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim

    Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

  4. Goshen, Holon, Giloh

    Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities, along with their villages.

  5. Nine towns

    Arab to Aphekah

    Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

    Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,

  6. Humtah, Hebron, Zior

    Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, along with their villages.

  7. Ten towns

    Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah

    Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

  8. Jezreel to Timnah

    Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

    Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities, along with their villages.

  9. Six towns

    Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor

    Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,

  10. Maarath, Beth-anoth, Eltekon

    Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six cities, along with their villages.

  11. Two towns

    Kiriath-jearim and Rabbah

    Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah—two cities, along with their villages.

These were in the wilderness:

Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,

Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six cities, along with their villages.

But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.

Pray

Not one corner unclaimed

Judah received a land full of towns, and one stronghold they “could not drive out.” Pray for what is still unfinished in you. Lord, You have given me everything in Christ. Where I have held back, give me faith to obey fully. Where I cannot yet see the victory, help me to trust You with it, as Caleb did. Amen.

You’ve experienced

Joshua 15

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A verse to carry with you

“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.

Joshua 15:19

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