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The lot fell for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families, reaching to the border of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the farthest south.
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Their southern border began from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward;
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then it went out south of the ascent of Akrabbim, passed on to Zin, went up south of Kadesh-barnea, passed on to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka;
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then it passed on to Azmon and went out at the brook of Egypt, and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your southern border.
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The east border was the Salt Sea, as far as the mouth of the Jordan. And the border on the north side began from the bay at the mouth of the Jordan:
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and the border went up to Beth-hoglah, passed north of Beth-arabah, and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben;
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then from the valley of Achor the border went up to Debir, and turned northward to Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, on the south side of the brook. Then the border continued to the spring of En-shemesh and went out to En-rogel.
8
Then the border went up by the valley of Ben-hinnom, south of the slope of the Jebusite city, that is, Jerusalem; then the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom on the west, at the farthest end of the valley of Rephaim northward.
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Then the border turned from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of Mount Ephron; and the border turned to Baalah, that is, Kiriath-jearim.
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Then the border turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, passed along to the north side of Mount Jearim, that is, Chesalon, and went down to Beth-shemesh and passed on to Timnah.
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Then the border went out to the north side of Ekron; and the border turned to Shicron, passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel, and the border ended at the sea.
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The west border was the Great Sea and its coast. This is the border of the children of Judah all around according to their families.
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But to Caleb the son of Jephunneh Joshua gave a portion among the children of Judah, according to the command of the LORD to him: Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak.
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And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
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From there he went up against the inhabitants of Debir. Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.
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And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.”
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And Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; and Caleb gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
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And it came to pass, when she came, that she urged her husband to ask her father for a field. Then she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”
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He answered, “Give me a blessing; you have given me land that is dry, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
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This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
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The cities of the tribe of the children of Judah at the farthest border, toward the border of Edom in the South Country, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
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Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,
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Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
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Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,
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Hazor-Hadattah, Kerioth-Hezron, that is Hazor;
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Amam, Shema, Moladah,
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Hazar-Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-Pelet,
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Hazar-Shual, Beersheba and its villages,
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Baalah, Iim, Ezem,
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Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
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Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
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Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon; all together twenty-nine cities with their villages.
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In the Hill Country: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
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Zanoah, En-Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
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Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
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Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.
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Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-Gad,
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Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
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Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
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Cabbon, Lahmas, Chitlish,
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Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.
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Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
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Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
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Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.
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Ekron, with its towns and its villages.
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From Ekron to the sea, all that were beside Ashdod, with their villages,
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Ashdod, with its towns and its villages, Gaza, with its towns and its villages, as far as the brook of Egypt, the Great Sea, and its coast.
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In the Hill Country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
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Dannah, Kiriath-Sannah, that is Debir;
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Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
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Goshen, Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages;
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Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
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Janum, Beth-Tappuah, Aphekah,
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Humtah, Kiriath-Arba, that is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages.
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Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
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Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
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Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.
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Halhul, Beth-Zur, Gedor,
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Maarath, Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.
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Kiriath-Baal, that is Kiriath-Jearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.
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In the wilderness: Beth-Arabah, Middin, Secacah,
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Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-Gedi; six cities with their villages.
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But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive out. So the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.
🗺️🏞️🏰 Summary of Joshua 15 – The Territory of Judah and the True Hero
Joshua 15 explains in detail the inheritance territory of the tribe of Judah, one of Israel’s largest tribes. This chapter also tells how Caleb conquered Hebron and its surrounding area, including the Anakim (giants). It also encourages the next generation to take up the fight, as shown by Othniel, his nephew, who became a hero of the future.
📌 1. Boundaries of the Tribe of Judah (verses 1–12)
- Judah received the southernmost territory, bordering:
South: the wilderness of Edom
West: the Great Sea (the Mediterranean Sea)
East: the Salt Sea (the Dead Sea)
North: approaching Jerusalem
- This was a broad and strategic territory, including valleys, mountains, and wilderness.
🎯 The Lord gives an inheritance according to the capacity and role of each tribe.
📌 2. Caleb Conquers Hebron and the Anakites (verses 13–14)
- Caleb received Hebron, as had been promised (see Joshua 14).
- He drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai — descendants of the giants who had once made Israel afraid (Numbers 13).
🎯 Caleb showed that faith and courage can overcome the fears of the past.
📌 3. Othniel Conquers Debir and Receives Achsah (verses 15–19)
- Caleb offered his daughter Achsah as a wife to whoever would conquer the city of Debir.
- Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, did so and married Achsah.
- Achsah then asked Caleb for springs of water — and was given upper and lower springs.
🎯 Spiritual heroes arise from a generation that believes and dares to act.
🎯 Achsah teaches the importance of wisdom and courage in asking for greater blessing.
📌 4. List of the Cities of the Tribe of Judah (verses 20–63)
- There are more than 100 cities mentioned — divided into:
Hill country
Lowland
The Negeb wilderness
- But there is one important note:
“But the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem could not be driven out by the people of Judah…” (verse 63)
🎯 They won much, but there were still areas not yet fully conquered.
📖 Main Lessons
- The Lord divided the inheritance fairly and strategically.
- Great victories require courage to face the “giants” of the past.
- Faith must be carried on by the next generation, who also believe and act.
- To ask boldly for more from God is not greed — it is faith.
- We must keep perfecting victory — do not be satisfied with halfway.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“…by faith they conquered kingdoms, quenched fire, escaped the edge of the sword…”
“What you have heard from me… entrust to faithful people who will also be able to teach others.”
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…”
🎯 Like Caleb and Othniel, we are called to be heroes of faith in our generation, and to bless our descendants spiritually and practically.
“Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak…” – Joshua 15:14
“Whoever conquers Debir, I will give him Achsah as wife…” – Joshua 15:16
“But the Jebusites… could not be driven out.” – Joshua 15:63
