Joshua 15

The borders of inheritance of the tribe of Juda , v.1, etc. and among the same , Kiriath-Arba the inheritance of Caleb , 13. Who drave out thence the three sons of Anak, 14. Caleb promiseth to give his daughter Achsa in marraige unto him that should smite Kiriath-Sepher , 16. which Othniel did, 17. She requesteth of her father some land for a Dowry, 18. which he granteth her , 19. Hereunto is added , a Catalogue or List of the Cities in the tribe of Juda , 20. The children of Judacould not drive out the Jebusites out of Jerusalem ,63.

1. And the lot for the tribe of the children of Juda according to their families , was : on the border of Edom , the wilderness of Zin Southward , was the utmost toward the South :

2. So their border [viz. the South-border]toward the South, was utmost of the salt-sea , from the tongue [It's thought , it was some arm or creek , which from the land did extend into the Salt-sea, in the form and shape of a Tongue ; as also Isa.11.15. or some nook of the Sea , like a Tongue entring into the land] that looketh toward the South .

3. And goeth out to the south , to the ascent of Alcrabbim [See Judg.1. v. 36. It seemeth that this place was so called , because there were so many Serpents and Scorpions : See Deuteronomy 8:15.] and passeth on to Zin [which seemeth to be the name of a place of note in those times , whereof the wilderness of Zin had its denomination] and ascendeth from the South unto Kardes-barnea ; and passeth through Hesron, and goeth up to Adar , and encompasseth Karkaa :

4. And passeth through unto Azmon , and cometh out at the brook of Egypt , [Oth. River, called Sichor : See Jos.13.3. Oth. Valley ; as also below v.7. and elsewhere]and the going out of this border shall be to the Sea : This shall be your border toward the south .

5. Now the border toward the east , shall be the Salt-sea, unto the utmost of Jordan : [viz. where it falleth into the Salt -sea] and the border on the side toward the north , shall be from the tongue of the sea , from the utmost of Jordan .

6. And this border shall go up unto Bethogla , and shall pass thorow from the north of Betharaba : and this border shall go up to the ston of Bohan the son of Reuben : [The tribe of Reuben had no land on that side of Jordan ; it seemeth , that that place had the name from Bohan a Reubenite , in regard of some memorable Act there done by him , or concerning him .]

7. Moreover, this border shall go up to Debir , from the valley of Achor , and shall look northward toward Gilgal , [Below chapter 18.17. called Geliloth] which is toward the ascent of Adummim, on the south of the brook : Then this border shall pass on to the water of Ensemes , and their goings out shall be at En-rogel. [Oth. at the fountain of Rogel ; i.e. the fountain of the Fuller .See 1 Kings 1:9.]

8. And this border shall go up through the valley of the son of Hinnom , on the side of the Jebusites , from the south , the same is Jerusalem : [Jerusalem is called Jebus , or the City of the Jebusites , because it was the Metropolis or chief City of the Jebusites , and was yet inhabited by them Judges 18:28. and 19.10.] and this border shall go up to the top of the Hill , that is before the valley of Hinnom westward , which is in the utmost of the valley of the Rephaites , toward the north.

9. Then shall this border reach from the height of the mountain , unto the water-fountain of Nephthoa , and go out to the cities of mount Ephron : Further this border shall reach to Baala , this is Kiriath-jearim .

10. Then this border shall turn about from Baala , toward the west , to mount Seir , [This mount lay in the land of Juda . There was another Seir in Edom , from whence this land had its name] and shall pass through on the side of mount Jearim , from the north : this is Chesalon , and it shall descend to Beth-semes , [i.e. the house of the Sun . ' T was a Cty situate in the tribe of Juda , 2 Kings 14:11. but given to the Levites for their habitation , Joshua 21:16. It must be distinguished from that Beth-seme which lieth in the tribe of Issachar , Joshua 19:22. Into this city was the Ark of the Covenant first brought , after it had been seven moneths in the Philistines country, 1 Samuel 6:12.] and pass thorow Timna .

11. Moreover , this border shall go out on the side of Ekron northward ; and his border shall reach unto Sichron , and pass over the mountain Baala , and go out to Jabneel : and the goings out of this border , shall be to the sea . [viz. To the Midland-sea , which v.12.is called the great Sea.]

12. Now the border toward the west , shall be unto the great sea , and the border ( thereof : ) This is the border of the children of Juda round about , according to their families .

13. But unto Caleb the son of Jephunne , be [viz. Josua] had given a part in the children of Juda , according to the mouth of the LORD [i.e. according to the command and express injunction of the Lord] unto Josua , the city of Arba [generally called Kiriath-Arba] ( the father of Anak ) which is Hebron .

14. And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak , Sefai , and Abiman , and Talmai , born ( or begotten ) of Anak.

15. And from thence he marched [viz. Caleb , unto whom this expedition is ascribed , the same being done in his behalf . Wherefore he also promiseth to give his daughter unto him that should smite Kiriath-Sepher , 16. Yet Josua and all Israel marched up with him , Joshua 10:36.] upwards to the inhabitants of Debir ( now the name of Debir was before , Kiriath-Sepher .)

16. And Caleb said , He that shall smite Kiriath-Sepher , and take it , unto him will I also give my daughter Achsa to wife . [ See a larger relation hereof , Judg.1.11.

17. Now Othniel the son of Kenaz , Calebs brother , [Oth. cousin , i.e. one of the posterity of Kenaz . See 1 Chron.4.13.] took it , and he gave him Achsa his daughter to wife .

18. And it came to pass , when she came ( to him , ) [viz. to Othniel her husband] that she set him on [viz. Othniel] to desire a field of her father ; and she lighted off the Ass : [viz. for to speak with reverence unto her father . See Gen. 24. the annot . on ver.64. and 1 Samuel 25:23.] then spake Caleb unto her , What ( ailest ) thou ?

19. And she said , Give me a blessing, [i.e. a gift , or present . See Gen. 33.v.11.] since thou hast given me a dry land , [Heb. properly South-land] give me also water wells : [Oth. water- fountains , or water-springs] then he gave her high water-wells, and low water-wells .

20. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Juda , according to their families .

21. Now the cities from the uttermost ( border )of the tribe of the children of Juda , unto the border of Edom toward the South , are Kebzeel , [Nehem. 11.15. it's called Jekabzeel] and Eder , and Jagur .

22. And Kina , and Dimona , [Oth . Called Dibon, Neh.11.25.] and Adada .

23. And Kedas, and Hazor, and Itnan .

24. Siph, and Telem , and Bealoth ,

25. And Hazor , Hadattha, and Kerioth ( Hezron , that is Hazor ). [This is the City Hazor , named in the beginning of this verse , and is called Hezron , to distinguish it from that Hazor which lay by Kades , whereof mention is made , v.23.]

26. Amam , and Sema , [Joshua 19:2. this City is called Seba] and Molada ,

27. And Hazar , Gadda, and Hesmon , and Bethpalet ,

28. And Hazar-Sual , and Beer-Seba , and Bizi-otheia ,

29. Baala , and Jim , and Azem ,

30. And Eltolad , and Chesil , and Horma . [See the annot. on Judges 1:17.]

31. And Ziklag , and Madmanna , and Sansanna ,

32. And Lebaoth , and Silhin , and Ain , and Rimmon : all these cities are nine and twenty , and their villages . [There be thirty six named , but because some of them fell to the Tribe of Simeon , as appeareth Jos.19.2. Therefore he reckoneth here but twenty nine , which remained unto the Tribe of Juda : Also some of them remained common to both the tribes , Juda and Simeon .]

33. In the low grounds are Esthaol , and Zora , and Asna ,

34. And Zamoah , and Engannim , Tappuah , and Enam,

35. Jarmuth , and Adullam , Secho, and Azeka ,

36. And Saaraim , and Adithaim , and Gedera , and Gederothaim : fourteen cities and their villages . [There are fifteen named , v. 33, 34 , 35 , 26. Some are of opinion , that Gedera and Gederothaim is one and the same city ; and so should the particle and , be as much as that is .]

37. Zenam , and Hadasa , and Migdal-gad ,

38. And Dilan , and Mizpe , and Joktsel , [See 2 Kings 14:7.]

39. Lachis , [See Jos. 10. on v. 31. and 2 Kings 14:19.] and Bozkath, and Eglon ,

40. And Chabbon , and Lachmas , and Chitalis ,

41. And Gederoth , Beth-dagon , and Nanma , and Makkeda : sixteen cities and their villages .

42. Libna , [See Joshua 10:29.] and Ether , and Asan ,

43. And Iphtah , and Asna , and Nezib ,

44. And Kehilah , and Achzib , and Maresa : nine cities and their villages .

45. Ekron , and her dependant places , [Heb. daughters ; i.e. the small towns resorting under it : so v. 47. and elsewhere] and her villages .

46. From Ekron , and unto the Sea : all that are on the side [Heb. on the hand] of Asdod , and her villages .

47. Asdod , her dependant places , and her villages : Gaza , her dependant places , and her villages , unto the river of Egypt : and the great Sea , [See Num.34. v.6.] and the border (thereof )

48. Now in the mountains : Samir , and Jatthir , and Socho .

49. And Danna , and Kiriath-sanna , the same is Debir ,

50. And Anab , and Estemo , and Anim ,

51. And Gosen , [See Jos.10. on v.41.] and Holon , and Gilo : eleven cities , and their villages .

52. Arab, and Duma , and Esan ,

53. And Janum , and Beth-Tappuah , and Apseka ,

54. And Humta , and Kiriath-Arba , the same is Hebron , and Zior : nine cities and their villages .

55. Maon , [Whereof the adjacent wilderness had its name : And david hid himself in it , when he fled from Saul : See 1 Sam . 23.25. It was a woody place , wherein were many caves . This was the place of Nabal the husband of Abigail his abode , 1 Samuel 25:2.] Carmel , and Ziph , and Jata ,

56. And Jezreel , and Jokdeam , and Zanoah.

57. Kain , Gibea , and Timna : ten cities and their villages .

58. Halhul , Beth-Zur , and Gedor ,

59. And Maarath , and Beth-Anoth , and Eltekon : six cities and their villages .

60. Kiriath-Baal , the same is Kiriath-Jearim , [i.e. Kiriath-Baal was otherwise called Kiriath- Jearim] and Rabba : two cities and their villages ,

61. In the wilderness ; Beth-Araba , Middin , and Sechacha ,

62. And Nibsan , and the Salt -city , [Some put the Hebrew words Ir-hamme lach in the Text , as the proper name of a City] and Engedi : six cities and their villages .

63. But the children of Juda could not drive the Jebusites , inhabitants of Jerusalem : [The cause hereof , see Judg. 2,20.] So the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Juda at Jerusalem , unto this day . [Understand here , the day or time wherein this book was written ; for afterwards the Jebusites were subdued and expelled thence by David , 2 Sam. 5.6. Also a part of this City was taken before by Juda , Judges 1:8.]