Joshua 15

1 Now the allotment [portion, inheritance] for the clans [families, tribes] of the tribe [a tribe of Israel] of Judah [praise, descendant of Jacob] extended to the border [boundary, limit] of Edom [twin brother of Jacob, region], to the Wilderness [desert, barren land] of Zin [desert region near the Dead Sea] at the extreme [farthest, utmost] southern [Negeb, south country] boundary [edge, brink]: word study 2 Their southern [Negeb, south country] border started at the bay [inlet, shore] on the southern [facing southward] tip of the Salt [pulverized] Sea [large body of water, Mediterranean], word study 3 proceeded [toward the southern district] south of the Ascent [the ascent of scorpions, Akrabbim] of Akrabbim, continued on [passed along, went out] to Zin [a desert region], went over [passed, crossed] to the south [Negeb, the southern country] of Kadesh-barnea [an important stop in the southern desert], ran past [passed along, went by] Hezron [a place in southern Judah, surrounded by a wall] up to Addar [a place in Palestine], and curved [turned, surrounded] toward Karka [a place in Palestine, meaning flat area]. word study 4 It proceeded [passed along, went out] to Azmon [a place of strength], joined [reached, went out to] the Brook [river, stream] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], and ended [went out, reached] at the Sea [the Mediterranean, the western sea]. This was their southern [Negeb, south country] border [boundary, limit]. word study 5 The eastern [front, or the direction of the rising sun] border was the Salt [seasoning, or the sea’s mineral-rich water] Sea as far as [till, or up to the point of] the mouth of the Jordan [the river that flows from Lebanon to the Dead Sea]. The northern [Zaphon, or the direction of the north wind] border started from the bay [inlet, or the curved shoreline] of the sea at the mouth [end, or the terminal point] of the Jordan [the river that marks the eastern border of the Promised Land], word study 6 went up [ascended, rose] to Beth-hoglah [house of the partridge, a place in Benjamin], proceeded [passed along, went] north [toward the north, in a northerly direction] of Beth-arabah [house of the desert valley, a place in Judah or Benjamin], and went up [ascended, rose] to the Stone [rock, monument] of Bohan [thumb, a Reubenite] son [descendant, offspring] of Reuben [the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah]. word study 7 Then the border [boundary, territorial limit] went up to Debir [a city in southern Judah] from the Valley [lowland area, plain] of Achor [trouble, calamity], turning [facing, directing] north [toward the northern region] to Gilgal [a wheel, rolling], which faces [is opposite, looks toward] the Ascent [upward slope, incline] of Adummim [ruddy one, quieted ones] south [in the southern direction, toward the Negeb] of the ravine [deep, narrow valley, brook]. It continued [passed, went on] along the waters [source of refreshment, liquid] of En-shemesh [fountain of the sun, sunny spring] and came out [ended, terminated] at En-rogel [fount of the fuller, fulling mill]. word study 8 From there the border [boundary, territorial limit] went up the Valley [lowland, gorge] of Hinnom [the valley of lamentation] along the southern [Negeb, south country] slope of the Jebusites [inhabitants of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem] (that is, Jerusalem [the city of peace]) and ascended [to rise, go up] to the top of the hill [mountain, high point] that faces [is opposite, lies before] the Valley of Hinnom on the west [the direction of the setting sun], at the northern [Zaphon, the direction of the north wind] end [border, edge] of the Valley of Rephaim [the valley of the giants, a group of large and powerful people]. word study 9 From the hilltop [the top of the mountain, the highest point] the border [boundary, limit] curved to the spring [fountain, source] of the Waters [liquid, refreshment] of Nephtoah [a place in Palestine with a spring], proceeded to the cities [towns, settlements] of Mount Ephron [a mountain or hill, a spiritual high point], and then bent around toward Baalah [mistress, a place in Palestine] (that is, Kiriath-jearim [city of forests, a place in Palestine on the borders of Judah and Benjamin]). word study 10 The border curled [turned, compassed] westward from Baalah [mistress, a place in Palestine] to Mount Seir [a mountain in Idumaea, hairy or shaggy], ran along the northern [north side, Zaphon] slope of Mount Jearim [forests, a hill on Judah’s northern border] (that is, Chesalon [hopes, a town in Palestine]), went down [descended, to a lower place] to Beth-shemesh [house of the sun, a town in ancient Palestine], and crossed [passed over, transitioned] to Timnah [portion, a town in the hill country of Judah]. word study 11 Then it went out [to the hill north of] to the northern slope [side, region] of Ekron [a major Philistine city], curved [bent, extended] toward Shikkeron [a landmark on Judah’s northwestern border], proceeded [passed along, went on] to Mount Baalah [a high place, a mountain], went on [extended, passed] to Jabneel [a town in upper Galilee, meaning God causes to build], and ended [terminated, came to a close] at the Sea [the Mediterranean, the western sea]. word study 12 And the western [coastline of the Mediterranean] border [boundary, limit] was the coastline [shore, edge] of the Great [large, vast] Sea [Mediterranean, large body of water]. These are the boundaries [borders, limits] around [surrounding, encompassing] the clans [families, tribes] of the descendants [sons, children] of Judah [the tribe of Judah, the son of Jacob]. word study 13 According to the LORD’s [Yehovah, the covenant God] command [instruction, divine direction] to him, Joshua [leader, successor of Moses] gave Caleb [faithful follower, devoted servant] son of Jephunneh [a man of discernment] a portion [inheritance, allotted share] among the sons of Judah [the tribe of praise, descendants of Judah]—Kiriath-arba [the city of Arba, early name of Hebron], that is, Hebron [a place of fellowship, city of refuge]. (Arba [the father of Anak, a mighty Canaanite] was the forefather [ancestor, patriarch] of Anak [a giant, a powerful warrior].) word study 14 And Caleb [a faithful Israelite] drove out from there [that place, thence] the three [a trio, thrice] sons of Anak [a giant, a Canaanite]—the descendants [born, offspring] of Sheshai [a giant, a son of Anak], Ahiman [a powerful man], and Talmai [a Canaanite, a son of Anak], the children [sons, descendants] of Anak [the ancestor of a tribe of giants]. word study 15 From there [at that point in time, thence] he marched [went up, ascended] against the inhabitants [dwellers, people] of Debir [city of the book] (formerly known as [previously called] Kiriath-sepher [city of letters, Kirjath-sannah]). word study 16 And Caleb [a faithful Israelite leader] said, “To the man who strikes down [smiteth, overcomes] Kiriath-sepher [the city of the book, Debir] and captures [taketh, seizes] it, I will give [bestow, grant] my daughter Acsah [a woman of Judah, my child] in marriage [to wife, as a partner].” word study 17 So Othniel [son of Kenaz, a hunter] son of Caleb’s brother [male sibling or close relative] Kenaz captured [to seize or take control] the city, and Caleb gave his daughter [female child or woman] Acsah [her name means ankle or foot] to him in marriage [as a wife, to be his female partner]. word study 18 One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged [incited, stimulated] him to ask [request, inquire of] her father [parent, ancestor] for a field [land, territory]. When she got off [descended from] her donkey [ass, male donkey], Caleb [a faithful Israelite] asked her, “What [how, in what way] do you desire [wish, long for]?” word study 19 “Give me a blessing [a gift from God, bringing prosperity and praise],” she answered. “Since you have given me land [a country, territory, or region] in the Negev [the southern district of Judah, a dry and barren land], give me springs of water [a source of refreshment] as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper [higher, elevated] and lower [lowermost, the lowest parts] springs. word study 20 This [specific, particular] is the inheritance [heritage, allotted land] of the clans [families, tribes] of the tribe [nation, people] of Judah [the son of Jacob, a region in Israel]. word study 21 These were the southernmost [farthest, most remote] cities [towns, settlements] of the tribe [family, descendants] of Judah [praise, the son of Jacob] in the Negev [south country, desert area] toward [in the direction of, facing] the border [boundary, limit] of Edom [the region of Esau’s descendants]: Kabzeel [God gathers], Eder [flock, fold], Jagur [he sojourns, a place of temporary stay], word study 22 Kinah [a place of lamentation], Dimonah [meaning river bed or silence], Adadah [possibly named for its festivals or location on a boundary], word study 23 Kedesh [a holy place, city of refuge], Hazor [a major Canaanite stronghold], Ithnan [meaning ‘hire’ or ‘payment’], word study 24 Ziph [a Judahite, son of Jehallelel], Telem [meaning oppression], Bealoth [mistresses, a town in south Judah, also known as Baalath-beer], word study 25 Hazor-hadattah [new Hazor], Kerioth-hezron [cities of Hezron, or Kiriathaim] (that is, Hazor [a major Canaanite stronghold, surrounded by a wall]), word study 26 Amam [their mother, a city in Judah], Shema [a place near Edom], Moladah [meaning birth or race, a town in southern Canaan], word study 27 Hazar-gaddah [village of good fortune], Heshmon [rich soil], Beth-pelet [house of escape, refuge], word study 28 Hazar-shual [jackal village, a town in southern Judah], Beersheba [well of the sevenfold oath], Biziothiah [a town of contempt or shame, near Beersheba], word study 29 Baalah [mistress, or Kiriath-jearim], Iim [ruins, or a place of old destruction], Ezem [a city in Judah, or a place of strength], word study 30 Eltolad [God’s generations, a city in southern Judah], Chesil [a place of foolishness, in southern Judah], Hormah [devotion, a town of consecration], word study 31 Ziklag [a town in southern Judah], Madmannah [meaning dunghill], Sansannah [palm branch, a place in southern Judah], word study 32 Lebaoth [a city of witness], Shilhim [fountains, a place of abundance], Ain [a place of spring], and Rimmon [a city dedicated to the Syrian deity]—twenty-nine [a total count] cities [towns, villages, or settlements] in all, along with their [surrounding, adjacent] villages [small settlements, unwalled towns]. word study 33 These were in the [lowland, valley, Shephelah] foothills: Eshtaol [a city of entreaty], Zorah [where Samson grew up], Ashnah [meaning ‘I will cause change’], word study 34 Zanoah [a city cast off], En-gannim [fountain of the garden], Tappuah [the apple city], Enam [double spring], word study 35 Jarmuth [a city of heights], Adullam [in the lowlands of Judah], Socoh [in the valley, a low place], Azekah [dug over, possibly a fortified city], word study 36 Shaaraim [a town of double gates], Adithaim [meaning double ornament], and Gederah [a place of walls] (or Gederothaim)—fourteen [ten and four] cities [towns with walls or watchmen], along with their villages [small settlements, court yards]. word study 37 Zenan [a pointed place], Hadashah [new, renewed], Migdal-gad [tower of fortune, a secure city], word study 38 Dilan [Dilean, a city of gourds], Mizpeh [a watchtower, a place of observation], Joktheel [a stronghold of Edom, also known as Selah or Petra], word study 39 Lachish [a city in Palestine], Bozkath, Eglon [a king of Moab, a city in Judah], word study 40 Cabbon [the builder, a town in Judah], Lahmas [Lahmam, a place for storing provisions], Chitlish [Kithlish, a lowland town], word study 41 Gederoth [a walled town], Beth-dagon [house of Dagon, a place of idolatry], Naamah [a woman’s name], and Makkedah [place of shepherds, a site of spiritual leadership]—sixteen [six + ten] cities [towns with walls, places of community], along with their villages [small settlements, surrounding areas]. word study 42 Libnah [a city in Palestine], Ether [in the lowlands of Judah], Ashan [a city in ancient Palestine], word study 43 Iphtah [Jiphtah, a judge of Israel], Ashnah [a town of Judah, meaning ‘I will cause change’], Nezib [a garrison or pillar, a city in Judah near Philistia], word study 44 Keilah [a fortified city], Achzib [a place of deceit], and Mareshah [a city in the lowlands]—nine cities [towns with walls], along with their villages [surrounding settlements, unwalled places]. word study 45 Ekron [a major Philistine city], with its [daughter] towns [villages, unwalled places] and villages [surrounding settlements, courts]; word study 46 from Ekron [a major Philistine city] to the sea [the Mediterranean, a large body of water], all [everything, the entirety] the cities [towns, settlements] near [by the side of, adjacent to] Ashdod [a powerful Philistine city], along with [including, together with] their villages [small settlements, unwalled places]; word study 47 Ashdod [a powerful Philistine city], with its towns [surrounding villages] and villages [small settlements]; Gaza [Azzah, the strong city], with its towns [daughter-towns] and villages [unwalled places], as far as [till, unto] the Brook [river, stream] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and the coastline [border, limit] of the Great [large, expansive] Sea [the Mediterranean, a large body of water]. word study 48 These were in the [mountainous] hill country [of Judah]: Shamir [a place in Palestine], Jattir [in the mountains], Socoh [a town in the lowlands], word study 49 Dannah [judgement, God’s verdict], Kiriath-sannah [city of the book] (that is, Debir [an Amoritish king’s name, a town in Judah]), word study 50 Anab [a city of fruit, in southern Judah], Eshtemoh [I will make myself heard, a Levitical city], Anim [a town of fountains, in southern Judah], word study 51 Goshen [a region in Palestine], Holon [a city in Moab], and Giloh [a city in the mountains of Judah]—eleven [one plus ten] cities [towns with walls or watchmen], along with their villages [small settlements, unwalled places]. word study 52 Arab [a place of ambush], Dumah [and Ruma, a region of silence], Eshan [Eshean, a city in Judah], word study 53 Janim [a place of rest, possibly near Hebron], Beth-tappuah [house of the apple, a town of abundance], Aphekah [enclosure, a city near Hebron], word study 54 Humtah [a place of lizards], Kiriath-arba [the city of Arba, or city of the four] (that is, Hebron [a place of fellowship, a city in Palestine]), and Zior [a town of smallness]—nine cities, along with their villages [small settlements, or unwalled towns]. word study 55 Maon [a city in Palestine], Carmel [a fruitful hill], Ziph [a Judahite town, meaning battlement], Juttah [a town in the mountains of Judah, meaning stretched out], word study 56 Jezreel [God sows, a city of growth], Jokdeam [in the southern mountains], Zanoah [cast off, a city in Judah], word study 57 Kain [Cain, a place of Kenite origin], Gibeah [a city of Benjamin], and Timnah [a town in Judah, meaning portion]—ten cities [excitement, a place with a wall], along with their villages [surrounding settlements, court yards]. word study 58 Halhul [a town of trembling], Beth-zur [house of the rock], Gedor [a place of wall or enclosure], word study 59 Maarath [a place of barrenness], Beth-anoth [house of responses or afflictions], and Eltekon [God is straight]—six [a number of completion or perfection] cities, along with their villages [small settlements or unwalled places]. word study 60 Kiriath-baal [city of Baal, a place of false worship] (that is, Kiriath-jearim [city of forests, a place of spiritual growth]), and Rabbah [a great city, a center of influence]—two [a pair, a dual witness] cities, along with their villages [surrounding towns, communities]. word study 61 These were in the [desert, waste land] wilderness: Beth-arabah [house of the desert valley], Middin [meaning measures], Secacah [near the Dead Sea], word study 62 Nibshan [a place of soft soil], the City of Salt [a location near Palestine], and En-gedi [fount of the kid, a town on the western shore of the Dead Sea]—six [the number of completion] cities, along with their villages [small settlements surrounded by walls, court areas]. word study 63 But the descendants [sons, offspring] of Judah could not drive out [expel, dispossess] the Jebusites [inhabitants of Jebus, a Canaanite tribe] living in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah]. So to this day [until now, as far as this point in time] the Jebusites live [dwell, remain] there among [with, in the midst of] the descendants [sons, people] of Judah. word study