# Joshua 15 📖: The Allotment for Judah [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Joshua Overview]] | [[Joshua 14]] | [[Joshua 16]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) [[#Verse 01.]] The land allotted to the tribe of Judah by its clans reached to the border of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin in the Negev far to the south. [[#Verse 02.]] Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea,  [[#Verse 03.]] extended south of the Scorpion Ascent, crossed to Zin, went up from the south to Kadesh Barnea, crossed to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka.  [[#Verse 04.]] It then crossed to Azmon, extended to the Stream of Egypt, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was their southern border. [[#Verse 05.]] The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth of the Jordan River. The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan,  [[#Verse 06.]] went up to Beth Hoglah, crossed north of Beth Arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. [[#Verse 07.]] It then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning northward to Gilgal (which is opposite the Pass of Adummim south of the valley), crossed to the waters of En Shemesh and extended to En Rogel.  [[#Verse 08.]] It then went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites on the south (that is, Jerusalem), going up to the top of the hill opposite the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the Valley of the Rephaites to the north.  [[#Verse 09.]] It then went from the top of the hill to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, extended to the cities of Mount Ephron, and went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim).  [[#Verse 10.]] It then turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, crossed to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is Kesalon), descended to Beth Shemesh, and crossed to Timnah. [[#Verse 11.]] It then extended to the slope of Ekron to the north, went toward Shikkeron, crossed to Mount Baalah, extended to Jabneel, and ended at the sea. [[#Verse 12.]] The western border was the Mediterranean Sea. These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans. [[#Verse 13.]] Caleb son of Jephunneh was assigned Kiriath Arba (that is Hebron) within the tribe of Judah, according to the Lord’s instructions to Joshua. (Arba was the father of Anak.)  [[#Verse 14.]] Caleb drove out from there three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak.  [[#Verse 15.]] From there he attacked the people of Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.)  [[#Verse 16.]] Caleb said, “To the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher I will give my daughter Achsah as a wife.”  [[#Verse 17.]] When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, captured it, Caleb gave Achsah his daughter to him as a wife. [[#Verse 18.]] One time Achsah came and charmed her father so that she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What would you like?”  [[#Verse 19.]] She answered, “Please give me a special present. Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water.” So he gave her both the upper and lower springs. [[#Verse 20.]] This is the land assigned to the tribe of Judah by its clans:  [[#Verse 21.]] These cities were located at the southern extremity of Judah’s tribal land near the border of Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,  [[#Verse 22.]] Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,  [[#Verse 23.]] Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,  [[#Verse 24.]] Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,  [[#Verse 25.]] Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),  [[#Verse 26.]] Amam, Shema, Moladah,  [[#Verse 27.]] Hazar Gaddah, Heshbon, Beth Pelet,  [[#Verse 28.]] Hazar Shual, Beer Sheba, Biziothiah,  [[#Verse 29.]] Baalah, Iim, Ezem,  [[#Verse 30.]] Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,  [[#Verse 31.]] Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,  [[#Verse 32.]] Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—a total of twenty-nine cities and their towns. [[#Verse 33.]] These cities were in the foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,  [[#Verse 34.]] Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, [[#Verse 34.]] Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,  [[#Verse 35.]] Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,  [[#Verse 36.]] Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—a total of fourteen cities and their towns. [[#Verse 37.]] Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,  [[#Verse 38.]] Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,  [[#Verse 39.]] Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,  [[#Verse 40.]] Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,  [[#Verse 41.]] Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—a total of sixteen cities and their towns. [[#Verse 42.]] Libnah, Ether, Ashan,  [[#Verse 43.]] Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,  [[#Verse 44.]] Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—a total of nine cities and their towns. [[#Verse 45.]] Ekron and its surrounding towns and settlements;  [[#Verse 46.]] from Ekron westward, all those in the vicinity of Ashdod and their towns;  [[#Verse 47.]] Ashdod with its surrounding towns and settlements, and Gaza with its surrounding towns and settlements, as far as the Stream of Egypt and the border at the Mediterranean Sea. [[#Verse 48.]] These cities were in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,  [[#Verse 49.]] Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), [[#Verse 50.]] Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,  [[#Verse 51.]] Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—a total of eleven cities and their towns. [[#Verse 52.]] Arab, Dumah, Eshan, [[#Verse 53.]] Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, [[#Verse 54.]] Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—a total of nine cities and their towns. [[#Verse 55.]] Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,  [[#Verse 56.]] Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,  [[#Verse 57.]] Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—a total of ten cities and their towns. [[#Verse 58.]] Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,  [[#Verse 59.]] Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon—a total of six cities and their towns. [[#Verse 60.]] Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah—a total of two cities and their towns. [[#Verse 61.]] These cities were in the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,  [[#Verse 62.]] Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi—a total of six cities and their towns. [[#Verse 63.]] The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. ###### Verse 28. ###### Verse 29. ###### Verse 30. ###### Verse 31. ###### Verse 32. ###### Verse 33. ###### Verse 34. ###### Verse 35. ###### Verse 36. ###### Verse 37. ###### Verse 38. ###### Verse 39. ###### Verse 40. ###### Verse 41. ###### Verse 42. ###### Verse 43. ###### Verse 44. ###### Verse 45. ###### Verse 46. ###### Verse 47. ###### Verse 48. ###### Verse 49. ###### Verse 50. ###### Verse 51. ###### Verse 52. ###### Verse 53. ###### Verse 54. ###### Verse 55. ###### Verse 56. ###### Verse 57. ###### Verse 58. ###### Verse 59. ###### Verse 60. ###### Verse 61. ###### Verse 62. ###### Verse 63. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Judah's southern border reached to the Wadi of Egypt (15:4), usually identified with Wadi el-Arish. 2. The northern border ran along the Valley of Ben Hinnom, south of the Jebusite city (15:8). Its name later became *Gehenna*, a word for hell. 3. Achsah's husband Othniel became Israel's first judge (Judges 3:9-11). 4. Kiriath Sepher, later called Debir (15:15), means "city of the book" or "city of the scroll." 5. The three sons of Anak were Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai (15:14; Numbers 13:22). 6. Judah's town list includes more than a hundred towns grouped by region (15:21-62). 7. En Gedi (15:62) is an oasis near the Dead Sea where David later hid from Saul (1 Samuel 24:1). 8. The Dead Sea, called the Salt Sea, formed Judah's eastern border (15:5). 9. The Greek Septuagint includes an extra list of towns after 15:59, including Bethlehem and Tekoa, which is not in the Hebrew text. 10. The story of Achsah is repeated in Judges 1:12-15. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Judah received its inheritance first (15:1), and from this tribe God brought King David and finally Jesus, the King who conquers what Judah could not, as Jerusalem itself shows (15:63). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Achsah boldly asked her father for springs of water (15:18-19). What does this teach about asking our Father for good gifts (Luke 11:13)? 2. Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak in his old age (15:14). What does mature faith look like? 3. Judah could not drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem (15:63). What strongholds remain in your life that only God can remove? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 14: Caleb drives out the three sons of Anak from Hebron. - 📖 verses 18-19: Achsah asks her father for a blessing, and Caleb gives her the upper and lower springs. - 📖 verse 63: Judah cannot drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Revelation 05#Verse 05.|Revelation 5:5]] - The Lion of the tribe of Judah. - 🔗 [[Judges 01#Verse 12.|Judges 1:12-15]] - Achsah asks for springs. - 🔗 [[Judges 03#Verse 09.|Judges 3:9-11]] - Othniel delivers Israel. - 🔗 [[2 Samuel 05#Verse 06.|2 Samuel 5:6-9]] - David captures Jerusalem. - 🔗 [[Luke 11#Verse 09.|Luke 11:9-13]] - Ask, and it will be given. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Joshua 15 - SOAP|Willing to Invest in the Next Generation]] ## 📂 Internal Notes