1 This then was the lot H1486 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 by their families; H4940 even to the border H1366 of Edom H123 the wilderness H4057 of Zin H6790 southward H5045 was the uttermost part H7097 of the south coast. H8486
2 And their south H5045 border H1366 was from the shore H7097 of the salt H4417 sea, H3220 from the bay H3956 that looketh H6437 southward: H5045
3 And it went out H3318 to the south side H5045 to Maalehacrabbim, H4610 and passed H5674 along to Zin, H6790 and ascended up H5927 on the south side H5045 unto Kadeshbarnea, H6947 and passed H5674 along to Hezron, H2696 and went up H5927 to Adar, H146 and fetched a compass H5437 to Karkaa: H7173
4 From thence it passed H5674 toward Azmon, H6111 and went out H3318 unto the river H5158 of Egypt; H4714 and the goings out H8444 of that coast H1366 were at the sea: H3220 this shall be your south H5045 coast. H1366
5 And the east H6924 border H1366 was the salt H4417 sea, H3220 even unto the end H7097 of Jordan. H3383 And their border H1366 in the north H6828 quarter H6285 was from the bay H3956 of the sea H3220 at the uttermost part H7097 of Jordan: H3383
6 And the border H1366 went up H5927 to Bethhogla, H1031 and passed H5674 along by the north H6828 of Betharabah; H1026 and the border H1366 went up H5927 to the stone H68 of Bohan H932 the son H1121 of Reuben: H7205
7 And the border H1366 went up H5927 toward Debir H1688 from the valley H6010 of Achor, H5911 and so northward, H6828 looking H6437 toward Gilgal, H1537 that is before H5227 the going up H4608 to Adummim, H131 which is on the south side H5045 of the river: H5158 and the border H1366 passed H5674 toward the waters H4325 of Enshemesh, H5885 and the goings out H8444 thereof were at Enrogel: H5883
8 And the border H1366 went up H5927 by the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom H2011 unto the south H5045 side H3802 of the Jebusite; H2983 the same is Jerusalem: H3389 and the border H1366 went up H5927 to the top H7218 of the mountain H2022 that lieth before H6440 the valley H1516 of Hinnom H2011 westward, H3220 which is at the end H7097 of the valley H6010 of the giants H7497 northward: H6828
9 And the border H1366 was drawn H8388 from the top H7218 of the hill H2022 unto the fountain H4599 of the water H4325 of Nephtoah, H5318 and went out H3318 to the cities H5892 of mount H2022 Ephron; H6085 and the border H1366 was drawn H8388 to Baalah, H1173 which is Kirjathjearim: H7157
10 And the border H1366 compassed H5437 from Baalah H1173 westward H3220 unto mount H2022 Seir, H8165 and passed H5674 along unto the side H3802 of mount H2022 Jearim, H3297 which is Chesalon, H3693 on the north side, H6828 and went down H3381 to Bethshemesh, H1053 and passed on H5674 to Timnah: H8553
11 And the border H1366 went out H3318 unto the side H3802 of Ekron H6138 northward: H6828 and the border H1366 was drawn H8388 to Shicron, H7942 and passed along H5674 to mount H2022 Baalah, H1173 and went out H3318 unto Jabneel; H2995 and the goings out H8444 of the border H1366 were at the sea. H3220
12 And the west H3220 border H1366 was to the great H1419 sea, H3220 and the coast H1366 thereof. This is the coast H1366 of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 round about H5439 according to their families. H4940
13 And unto Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh H3312 he gave H5414 a part H2506 among H8432 the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 according H413 to the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068 to Joshua, H3091 even the city H7151 of Arba H704 H7153 the father H1 of Anak, H6061 which city is Hebron. H2275
14 And Caleb H3612 drove H3423 thence the three H7969 sons H1121 of Anak, H6061 Sheshai, H8344 and Ahiman, H289 and Talmai, H8526 the children H3211 of Anak. H6061
15 And he went up H5927 thence to the inhabitants H3427 of Debir: H1688 and the name H8034 of Debir H1688 before H6440 was Kirjathsepher. H7158
16 And Caleb H3612 said, H559 He that smiteth H5221 Kirjathsepher, H7158 and taketh H3920 it, to him will I give H5414 Achsah H5915 my daughter H1323 to wife. H802
17 And Othniel H6274 the son H1121 of Kenaz, H7073 the brother H251 of Caleb, H3612 took H3920 it: and he gave H5414 him Achsah H5915 his daughter H1323 to wife. H802
18 And it came to pass, as she came H935 unto him, that she moved H5496 him to ask H7592 of her father H1 a field: H7704 and she lighted off H6795 her ass; H2543 and Caleb H3612 said H559 unto her, What wouldest thou?
19 Who answered, H559 Give H5414 me a blessing; H1293 for thou hast given H5414 me a south H5045 land; H776 give H5414 me also springs H1543 of water. H4325 And he gave H5414 her the upper H5942 springs, H1543 and the nether H8482 springs. H1543
20 This is the inheritance H5159 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 according to their families. H4940
21 And the uttermost H7097 cities H5892 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 toward the coast H1366 of Edom H123 southward H5045 were Kabzeel, H6909 and Eder, H5740 and Jagur, H3017
22 And Kinah, H7016 and Dimonah, H1776 and Adadah, H5735
23 And Kedesh, H6943 and Hazor, H2674 and Ithnan, H3497
24 Ziph, H2128 and Telem, H2928 and Bealoth, H1175
25 And Hazor, H2674 Hadattah, H2675 and Kerioth, H7152 and Hezron, H2696 which is Hazor, H2674
26 Amam, H538 and Shema, H8090 and Moladah, H4137
27 And Hazargaddah, H2693 and Heshmon, H2829 and Bethpalet, H1046
28 And Hazarshual, H2705 and Beersheba, H884 and Bizjothjah, H964
29 Baalah, H1173 and Iim, H5864 and Azem, H6107
30 And Eltolad, H513 and Chesil, H3686 and Hormah, H2767
31 And Ziklag, H6860 and Madmannah, H4089 and Sansannah, H5578
32 And Lebaoth, H3822 and Shilhim, H7978 and Ain, H5871 and Rimmon: H7417 all the cities H5892 are twenty H6242 and nine, H8672 with their villages: H2691
33 And in the valley, H8219 Eshtaol, H847 and Zoreah, H6881 and Ashnah, H823
34 And Zanoah, H2182 and Engannim, H5873 Tappuah, H8599 and Enam, H5879
35 Jarmuth, H3412 and Adullam, H5725 Socoh, H7755 and Azekah, H5825
36 And Sharaim, H8189 and Adithaim, H5723 and Gederah, H1449 and Gederothaim; H1453 fourteen H702 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
37 Zenan, H6799 and Hadashah, H2322 and Migdalgad, H4028
38 And Dilean, H1810 and Mizpeh, H4708 and Joktheel, H3371
39 Lachish, H3923 and Bozkath, H1218 and Eglon, H5700
40 And Cabbon, H3522 and Lahmam, H3903 and Kithlish, H3798
41 And Gederoth, H1450 Bethdagon, H1016 and Naamah, H5279 and Makkedah; H4719 sixteen H8337 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
42 Libnah, H3841 and Ether, H6281 and Ashan, H6228
43 And Jiphtah, H3316 and Ashnah, H823 and Nezib, H5334
44 And Keilah, H7084 and Achzib, H392 and Mareshah; H4762 nine H8672 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
45 Ekron, H6138 with her towns H1323 and her villages: H2691
46 From Ekron H6138 even unto the sea, H3220 all that lay near H3027 Ashdod, H795 with their villages: H2691
47 Ashdod H795 with her towns H1323 and her villages, H2691 Gaza H5804 with her towns H1323 and her villages, H2691 unto the river H5158 of Egypt, H4714 and the great H1419 H1366 sea, H3220 and the border H1366 thereof:
48 And in the mountains, H2022 Shamir, H8069 and Jattir, H3492 and Socoh, H7755
49 And Dannah, H1837 and Kirjathsannah, H7158 which is Debir, H1688
50 And Anab, H6024 and Eshtemoh, H851 and Anim, H6044
51 And Goshen, H1657 and Holon, H2473 and Giloh; H1542 eleven H259 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
52 Arab, H694 and Dumah, H1746 and Eshean, H824
53 And Janum, H3241 and Bethtappuah, H1054 and Aphekah, H664
54 And Humtah, H2547 and Kirjatharba, H7153 which is Hebron, H2275 and Zior; H6730 nine H8672 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
55 Maon, H4584 Carmel, H3760 and Ziph, H2128 and Juttah, H3194
56 And Jezreel, H3157 and Jokdeam, H3347 and Zanoah, H2182
57 Cain, H7014 Gibeah, H1390 and Timnah; H8553 ten H6235 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
58 Halhul, H2478 Bethzur, H1049 and Gedor, H1446
59 And Maarath, H4638 and Bethanoth, H1042 and Eltekon; H515 six H8337 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
60 Kirjathbaal, H7154 which is Kirjathjearim, H7157 and Rabbah; H7237 two H8147 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
61 In the wilderness, H4057 Betharabah, H1026 Middin, H4081 and Secacah, H5527
62 And Nibshan, H5044 and the city of Salt, H5898 and Engedi; H5872 six H8337 cities H5892 with their villages. H2691
63 As for the Jebusites H2983 the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 the children H1121 of Judah H3063 could H3201 H3201 not drive them out: H3423 but the Jebusites H2983 dwell H3427 with the children H1121 of Judah H3063 at Jerusalem H3389 unto this day. H3117
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Joshua 15
Commentary on Joshua 15 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 15
Though the land was not completely conquered, yet being (as was said in the close of the foregoing chapter) as rest from war for the present, and their armies all drawn out of the field to a general rendezvous at Gilgal, there they began to divide the land, though the work was afterwards perfected at Shiloh, ch. 18:1, etc. In this chapter we have the lot of the tribe of Judah, which in this, as in other things, had the precedency.
Jos 15:1-12
Judah and Joseph were the two sons of Jacob on whom Reuben's forfeited birth-right devolved. Judah had the dominion entailed on him, and Joseph the double portion, and therefore these two tribes were first seated, Judah in the southern part of the land of Canaan and Joseph in the northern part, and on them the other seven did attend, and had their respective lots as appurtenances to these two; the lots of Benjamin, Simeon, and Dan, were appendant to Judah, and those of Issachar and Zebulun, Naphtali and Asher, to Joseph. These two were first set up to be provided for, it should seem, before there was such an exact survey of the land as we find afterwards, ch. 18:9. It is probable that the most considerable parts of the northern and southern countries, and those that lay nearest to Gilgal, and which the people were best acquainted with, were first put into two portions, and the lot was cast upon them between these two principal tribes, of the one of which Joshua was, and of the other Caleb, who was the first commissioner in this writ of partition; and, by the decision of that lot, the southern country, of which we have an account in this chapter, fell to Judah, and the northern, of which we have an account in the two following chapters, to Joseph. And when this was done there was a more equal dividend (either in quantity or quality) of the remainder among the seven tribes. And this, probably, was intended in that general rule which was given concerning this partition (Num. 33:54), to the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less, and every man's inheritance shall be where his lot falleth; that is, "You shall appoint two greater portions which shall be determined by lot to those more numerous tribes of Judah and Joseph, and then the rest shall be less portions to be allotted to the less numerous tribes.' The former was done in Gilgal, the latter in Shiloh.
In these verses, we have the borders of the lot of Judah, which, as the rest, is said to be by their families, that is, with an eye to the number of their families. And it intimates that Joshua and Eleazar, and the rest of the commissioners, when they had by lot given each tribe its portion, did afterwards (it is probable by lot likewise) subdivide those larger portions, and assign to each family its inheritance, and then to each household, which would be better done by this supreme authority, and be apt to give less disgust than if it had been left to the inferior magistrates of each tribe to make that distribution. The borders of this tribe are here largely fixed, yet not unalterably, for a good deal of that which lies within these bounds was afterwards assigned to the lots of Simeon and Dan.
Jos 15:13-19
The historian seems pleased with every occasion to make mention of Caleb and to do him honour, because he had honoured God in following him fully. Observe,
From this story we learn,
Jos 15:20-63
We have here a list of the several cities that fell within the lot of the tribe of Judah, which are mentioned by name, that they might know their own, and both keep it and keep to it, and might neither through cowardice nor sloth lose the possession of what was their own.