The Borders of Judah's Territory
Study note
Judah's territory was the largest of any tribe, stretching from the wilderness of Zin near the border of Edom in the south to the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem in the north. The eastern border was the Dead Sea, and the western border was the Mediterranean Sea. The detailed border description traces a path through various landmarks, hills, springs, and towns. Many of these places were well known in ancient times. The Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, later became infamous as a place where children were sacrificed to false gods.
1 The tribe of Judah received their land, split by families. It stretched south all the way to the border of Edom. It reached the desert of Zin at the very southern edge. This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.
2 Their southern boundary began at the tip of the Dead Sea on its south end. And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:
3 It ran south of Scorpion Pass, crossed to Zin, and climbed south of Kadesh-barnea. It passed Hezron, went up to Addar, and curved around to Karka. And it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadesh-barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:
4 From there it continued to Azmon and followed the Brook of Egypt until it reached the Mediterranean Sea. That was the southern border. From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast.
5 The eastern border was the Dead Sea, running up to where the Jordan River empties into it. The northern border started at that same spot where the Jordan meets the Dead Sea. And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan:
6 The border climbed to Beth-hoglah, passed north of Beth-arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan, who was Reuben's son. And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:
7 Then the border went up from the Valley of Achor toward Debir. It turned north toward Gilgal, facing the Pass of Adummim on the south side of the valley. It went past the waters of En-shemesh and ended at En-rogel. And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at En-rogel:
8 The border then climbed through the Valley of Hinnom along the southern edge of the Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem). From there it went up to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:
9 From that hilltop it curved to the spring of Nephtoah. It went out to the cities near Mount Ephron and then bent toward Baalah (also called Kiriath-jearim). And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim:
10 From Baalah the border curved west to Mount Seir. It ran along the north side of Mount Jearim (also called Chesalon), went down to Beth-shemesh, and crossed over to Timnah. And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah:
11 The border continued to the north side of Ekron, then bent toward Shikkeron, passed Mount Baalah, and went to Jabneel. It ended at the Mediterranean Sea. And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
12 The western border was the sea coast. These were the borders around the land of Judah's families. And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.
Caleb Conquers Hebron and Debir
Study note
As part of Judah's inheritance, Caleb received the city of Hebron, also called Kiriath-arba. Caleb drove out the three Anakim giants: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. He then attacked the city of Debir, formerly called Kiriath-sepher. Caleb offered his daughter Achsah as a wife to whoever captured it. His nephew Othniel took the city and won Achsah's hand. Achsah then asked her father for springs of water in addition to the dry land he had given her, and Caleb granted her both the upper and lower springs. Othniel later became the first judge of Israel.
13 The Lord told Joshua to give Caleb son of Jephunneh a piece of land inside Judah's area. He gave him Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron). Arba was the father of Anak. And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
14 Caleb drove out the three descendants of Anak who lived in Hebron: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
15 From Hebron, Caleb marched against the people living in Debir, which used to be called Kiriath-sepher. And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher.
16 Caleb announced, "Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher will get my daughter Achsah as his wife." And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
17 Othniel, the son of Caleb's brother Kenaz, captured the city. So Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
18 When Achsah arrived to meet Othniel, she talked him into asking her father for some farmland. She climbed down from her donkey, and Caleb asked her, "What do you need?" And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?
19 She said, "Please give me a special gift. You settled me in the dry southern land, so give me some springs of water too." Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs. Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.
Cities of Judah in the South
Study note
This section lists the cities in the southernmost part of Judah's territory, near the border of Edom. The list includes twenty-nine cities and their surrounding villages. Many of these cities, like Beer-sheba and Ziklag, became important in later Bible stories. Beer-sheba was associated with Abraham and became known as the southernmost city of Israel, giving rise to the expression 'from Dan to Beer-sheba' to describe the whole land.
20 This was the land given to the tribe of Judah, divided out among their families. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
21 The cities in the far south of Judah's territory, near the Edomite border, were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (also known as Hazor), And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,
26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-palet,
28 Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah, And Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjothjah,
29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon -- twenty-nine cities altogether, plus their surrounding villages. And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:
Cities of Judah in the Foothills and Coast
Study note
These cities were in the Shephelah, the low rolling hills between the coastal plain and the central mountains. This region was important farmland and was often contested between the Israelites and the Philistines. The list includes cities in the Philistine territory like Ekron, Ashdod, and Gaza, though the Israelites did not fully control these areas for a long time. The Philistines remained powerful enemies for centuries.
33 In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim -- fourteen cities with their villages. And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:
37 Also Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad,
38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah -- sixteen cities with their villages. And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:
42 Also Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah -- nine cities with their villages. And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:
45 Also Ekron and the towns and villages around it. Ekron, with her towns and her villages:
46 From Ekron toward the sea, all the area beside Ashdod and its villages. From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:
47 It also included Ashdod with its towns and villages. It included Gaza with its towns and villages. It reached to the Brook of Egypt and the sea coast. Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:
Cities of Judah in the Hill Country
Study note
The hill country was the mountainous central region of Judah. This area included Hebron, Debir, and many other cities that formed the heartland of the tribe. The list is organized into several groups covering different parts of the hill country. The final group mentions cities in the wilderness near the Dead Sea, including En-gedi, which would later become a hiding place for David when he fled from King Saul.
48 Up in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (also known as Debir), And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir,
50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,
51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh -- eleven cities with their villages. And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:
52 Also Arab, Dumah, Eshan, Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, And Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah,
54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (also called Hebron), and Zior -- nine cities with their villages. And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:
55 Also Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah -- ten cities with their villages. Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:
58 Also Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor,
59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon -- six cities with their villages. And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:
60 Also Kiriath-baal (also called Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah -- two cities with their villages. Kirjath-baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:
61 Out in the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah,
62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi -- six cities with their villages. And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages.
The Jebusites Remain in Jerusalem
Study note
This final verse notes an important failure: the people of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites continued living there alongside the people of Judah. Jerusalem would not be fully conquered until David captured it hundreds of years later and made it his capital city.
63 But the people of Judah could never force out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites still live alongside Judah in Jerusalem today. As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.