Josué (NAB) 10
10 1 Now Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, heard that, in the capture and destruction of Ai, Joshua had done to that city and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king. He heard also that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made their peace with Israel, remaining among them,2 and that there was great fear abroad, because Gibeon was large enough for a royal city, larger even than the city of Ai, and all its men were brave.3 So Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, sent for Hoham, king of Hebron, Piram, king of Jarmuth, Japhia, king of Lachish, and Debir, king of Eglon,4 to come to his aid for an attack on Gibeon, since it had concluded peace with Joshua and the Israelites.5 The five Amorite kings, of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon, united all their forces and marched against Gibeon, where they took up siege positions. 6 Thereupon, the men of Gibeon sent an appeal to Joshua in his camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up here quickly and save us. Help us, because all the Amorite kings of the mountain country have joined forces against us."
7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his picked troops and the rest of his soldiers.8 Meanwhile the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your power. Not one of them will be able to withstand you."9 And when Joshua made his surprise attack upon them after an all-night march from Gilgal,10 the LORD threw them into disorder before him. The Israelites inflicted a great slaughter on them at Gibeon and pursued them down the Beth-horon slope, harrassing them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.11 While they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon, the LORD hurled great stones from the sky above them all the way to Azekah, killing many. More died from these hailstones than the Israelites slew with the sword. 12 On this day, when the LORD delivered up the Amorites to the Israelites, Joshua prayed to the LORD, and said in the presence of Israel: Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the valley of Aijalon!13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, while the nation took vengeance on its foes. Is this not recorded in the Book of Jashar? The sun halted in the middle of the sky; not for a whole day did it resume its swift course. 14 Never before or since was there a day like this, when the LORD obeyed the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.
15 (Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.)
16 Meanwhile the five kings who had fled, hid in a cave at Makkedah.17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been discovered hiding in a cave at Makkedah,18 he said, "Roll large stones to the mouth of the cave and post men over it to guard them.19 But do not remain there yourselves. Pursue your enemies, and harry them in the rear. Do not allow them to escape to their cities, for the LORD, your God, has delivered them into your power."20 Once Joshua and the Israelites had finally inflicted the last blows in this very great slaughter, and the survivors had escaped from them into the fortified cities,21 all the army returned safely to Joshua and the camp at Makkedah, no man uttering a sound against the Israelites.22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring out those five kings to me."23 Obediently, they brought out to him from the cave the five kings, of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon.24 When they had done so, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of the soldiers who had marched with him, "Come forward and put your feet on the necks of these kings." They came forward and put their feet upon their necks.25 Then Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or dismayed, be firm and steadfast. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies against whom you fight."26 Thereupon Joshua struck and killed them, and hanged them on five trees, where they remained hanging until evening.27 At sunset they were removed from the trees at the command of Joshua and cast into the cave where they had hidden; over the mouth of the cave large stones were placed, which remain until this very day.
28 Makkedah, too, Joshua captured and put to the sword at that time. He fulfilled the doom on the city, on its king, and on every person in it, leaving no survivors. Thus he did to the king of Makkedah what he had done to the king of Jericho.29 Joshua then passed on with all Israel from Makkedah to Libnah, which he attacked.30 Libnah also, with its king, the LORD delivered into the power of Israel. He put it to the sword with every person there, leaving no survivors. Thus he did to its king what he had done to the king of Jericho.31 Joshua next passed on with all Israel from Libnah to Lachish, where they set up a camp during the attack.32 The LORD delivered Lachish into the power of Israel, so that on the second day Joshua captured it and put it to the sword with every person in it, just as he had done to Libnah.33 At that time Horam, king of Gezer, came up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his people, leaving him no survivors.34 From Lachish, Joshua passed on with all Israel to Eglon; encamping near it, they attacked it35 and captured it the same day, putting it to the sword. He fulfilled the doom that day on every person in it, just as he had done at Lachish.36 From Eglon, Joshua went up with all Israel to Hebron, which they attacked37 and captured. They put it to the sword with its king, all its towns, and every person there, leaving no survivors, just as Joshua had done to Eglon. He fulfilled the doom on it and on every person there.38 Then Joshua and all Israel turned back to Debir and attacked it,39 capturing it with its king and all its towns. They put them to the sword and fulfilled the doom on every person there, leaving no survivors. Thus was done to Debir and its king what had been done to Hebron, as well as to Libnah and its king.40 Joshua conquered the entire country; the mountain regions, the Negeb, the foothills, and the mountain slopes, with all their kings. He left no survivors, but fulfilled the doom on all who lived there, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.41 Joshua conquered from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen to Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their lands Joshua captured in a single campaign, for the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.43 Thereupon Joshua with all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.
11 1 When Jabin, king of Hazor, learned of this, he sent a message to Jobab, king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the northern kings in the mountain regions and in the Arabah near Chinneroth, in the foothills, and in Naphath-dor to the west.3 These were Canaanites to the east and west, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the mountain regions, and Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah.4 They came out with all their troops, an army numerous as the sands on the seashore, and with a multitude of horses and chariots.5 All these kings joined forces and marched to the waters of Merom, where they encamped together to fight against Israel. 6 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for by this time tomorrow I will stretch them slain before Israel. You must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."
7 Joshua with his whole army came upon them at the waters of Merom in a surprise attack.8 The LORD delivered them into the power of the Israelites, who defeated them and pursued them to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth-maim, and eastward to the valley of Mizpeh. They struck them all down, leaving no survivors.9 Joshua did to them as the LORD had commanded: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.
10 At that time Joshua, turning back, captured Hazor and slew its king with the sword; for Hazor formerly was the chief of all those kingdoms.11 He also fulfilled the doom by putting every person there to the sword, till none was left alive. Hazor itself he burned.12 Joshua thus captured all those kings with their cities and put them to the sword, fulfilling the doom on them, as Moses, the servant of the LORD, had commanded.13 However, Israel did not destroy by fire any of the cities built on raised sites, except Hazor, which Joshua burned.14 The Israelites took all the spoil and livestock of these cities as their booty; but the people they put to the sword, until they had exterminated the last of them, leaving none alive.
15 As the LORD had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua acted accordingly. He left nothing undone that the LORD had commanded Moses should be done.
16 So Joshua captured all this land: the mountain regions, the entire Negeb, all the land of Goshen, the foothills, the Arabah, as well as the mountain regions and foothills of Israel,17 from Mount Halak that rises toward Seir as far as Baal-gad in the Lebanon valley at the foot of Mount Hermon. All their kings he captured and put to death.18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time.19 With the exception of the Hivites who lived in Gibeon, no city made peace with the Israelites; all were taken in battle.20 For it was the design of the LORD to encourage them to wage war against Israel, that they might be doomed to destruction and thus receive no mercy, but be exterminated, as the LORD had commanded Moses.21 At that time Joshua penetrated the mountain regions and exterminated the Anakim in Hebron, Debir, Anab, the entire mountain region of Judah, and the entire mountain region of Israel. Joshua fulfilled the doom on them and on their cities, 22 so that no Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites. However, some survived in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.23 Thus Joshua captured the whole country, just as the LORD had foretold to Moses. Joshua gave it to Israel as their heritage, apportioning it among the tribes. And the land enjoyed peace.
12 1 The kings of the land east of the Jordan, from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern section of the Arabah, whom the Israelites conquered and whose lands they occupied, were: 2 First, Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. His domain extended from Aroer, which is on the bank of the Wadi Arnon, to include the wadi itself, and the land northward through half of Gilead to the Wadi Jabbok,3 as well as the Arabah from the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth, as far south as the eastern side of the Salt Sea of the Arabah in the direction of Beth-jeshimoth, to a point under the slopes of Pisgah.4 Secondly, Og, king of Bashan, a survivor of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei.5 He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, and all Bashan as far as the boundary of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and over half of Gilead as far as the territory of Sihon, king of Heshbon.6 After Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites conquered them, he assigned their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, as their property.
7 This is a list of the kings whom Joshua and the Israelites conquered west of the Jordan and whose land, from Baal-gad in the Lebanon valley to Mount Halak which rises toward Seir, Joshua apportioned to the tribes of Israel.8 It included the mountain regions and foothills, the Arabah, the slopes, the desert, and the Negeb, belonging to the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.9 They were the kings of Jericho, Ai (which is near Bethel),10 Jerusalem, Hebron,11 Jarmuth, Lachish,12 Eglon, Gezer,13 Debir, Geder,14 Hormah, Arad,15 Libnah, Adullam,16 Makkedah, Bethel,17 Tappuah, Hepher,18 Aphek, Lasharon,19 Madon, Hazor,20 Shimron, Achshaph,21 Taanach, Megiddo,22 Kedesh, Jokneam (at Carmel),23 and Dor (in Naphath-dor), the foreign king at Gilgal,24 and the king of Tirzah: thirty-one kings in all.
13 1 When Joshua was old and advanced in years, the LORD said to him: "Though now you are old and advanced in years, a very large part of the land still remains to be conquered.2 This additional land includes all Geshur and all the districts of the Philistines 3 (from the stream adjoining Egypt to the boundary of Ekron in the north is reckoned Canaanite territory, though held by the five lords of the Philistines in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron); also where the Avvim are in the south;4 all the land of the Canaanites from Mearah of the Sidonians to Aphek, and the boundaries of the Amorites;5 and the Gebalite territory; and all the Lebanon on the east, from Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon to Labo in the land of Hamath.6 At the advance of the Israelites I will drive out all the Sidonian inhabitants of the mountain regions between Lebanon and Misrephoth-maim; at least include these areas in the division of the Israelite heritage, just as I have commanded you.7 Now, therefore, apportion among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh the land which is to be their heritage."
8 Now the other half of the tribe of Manasseh as well as the Reubenites and Gadites, had received their heritage which Moses, the servant of the LORD, had given them east of the Jordan:9 from Aroer on the bank of the Wadi Arnon and the city in the wadi itself, through the tableland of Medeba and Dibon,10 with the rest of the cities of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the boundary of the Ammonites;11 also Gilead and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah,12 the entire kingdom in Bashan of Og, a survivor of the Rephaim, who reigned at Ashtaroth and Edrei. Though Moses conquered and occupied these territories,13 the Israelites did not dislodge the Geshurites and Maacathites, so that Geshur and Maacath survive in the midst of Israel to this day.14 However, to the tribe of Levi Moses assigned no heritage since, as the LORD had promised them, the LORD, the God of Israel, is their heritage.
15 What Moses gave to the Reubenite clans:16 Their territory reached from Aroer, on the bank of the Wadi Arnon, and the city in the wadi itself, through the tableland about Medeba,17 to include Heshbon and all its towns which are on the tableland, Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the knoll within the valley,20 Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth-jeshimoth,21 and the other cities of the tableland and, generally, of the kingdom of Sihon. This Amorite king, who reigned in Heshbon, Moses had killed, with his vassals, the princes of Midian, who were settled in the land: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba;22 and among their slain followers the Israelites put to the sword also the soothsayer Balaam, son of Beor.23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These cities and their villages were the heritage of the clans of the Reubenites.
24 What Moses gave to the Gadite clans:25 Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, toward Rabbah (that is,26 from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the boundary of Lodebar);27 and in the Jordan valley: Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, Zaphon, the other part of the kingdom of Sihon, king of Heshbon, with the bank of the Jordan to the southeastern tip of the Sea of Chinnereth.28 These cities and their villages were the heritage of the clans of the Gadites.
29 What Moses gave to the clans of the half-tribe of Manasseh:30 Their territory included Mahanaim, all of Bashan, the entire kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which are sixty cities in Bashan.31 Half of Gilead, with Ashtaroth and Edrei, once the royal cities of Og in Bashan, fell to the descendants of Machir, son of Manasseh, for half the clans descended from Machir.32 These are the portions which Moses gave when he was in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho.33 However, Moses gave no heritage to the tribe of Levi, since the LORD himself, the God of Israel, is their heritage, as he promised.
14 1 Here follow the portions which the Israelites received in the land of Canaan. Eleazar the priest, Joshua, son of Nun, and the heads of families in the tribes of the Israelites determined2 their heritage by lot, in accordance with the instructions the LORD had given through Moses concerning the remaining nine and a half tribes.3 For to two and a half tribes Moses had already given a heritage beyond the Jordan; and though the Levites were given no heritage among the tribes,4 the descendants of Joseph formed two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites themselves received no share of the land except cities to live in, with their pasture lands for the cattle and flocks.5 Thus, in apportioning the land, did the Israelites carry out the instructions of the LORD to Moses.
6 When the Judahites came up to Joshua in Gilgal, the Kenizzite Caleb, son of Jephunneh, said to him: "You know what the LORD said to the man of God, Moses, about you and me in Kadesh-barnea.7 I was forty years old when the servant of the LORD, Moses, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to reconnoiter the land; and I brought back to him a conscientious report.8 My fellow scouts who went up with me discouraged the people, but I was completely loyal to the LORD, my God.9 On that occasion Moses swore this oath, 'The land where you have set foot shall become your heritage and that of your descendants forever, because you have been completely loyal to the LORD, my God.'10 Now, as he promised, the LORD has preserved me while Israel was journeying through the desert, for the forty-five years since the LORD spoke thus to Moses; and although I am now eighty-five years old,11 I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me forth, with no less vigor whether for war or for ordinary tasks.12 Give me, therefore, this mountain region which the LORD promised me that day, as you yourself heard. True, the Anakim are there, with large fortified cities, but if the LORD is with me I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD promised."13 Joshua blessed Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and gave him Hebron as his heritage.14 Therefore Hebron remains the heritage of the Kenizzite Caleb, son of Jephunneh, to the present day, because he was completely loyal to the LORD, the God of Israel.15 Hebron was formerly called Kiriath-arba, for Arba, the greatest among the Anakim. And the land enjoyed peace.
15 1 The lot for the clans of the Judahite tribe fell in the extreme south toward the boundary of Edom, the desert of Zin in the Negeb.2 The boundary there ran from the bay that forms the southern end of the Salt Sea,3 southward below the pass of Akrabbim, across through Zin, up to a point south of Kadesh-barnea, across to Hezron, and up to Addar; from there, looping around Karka,4 it crossed to Azmon and then joined the Wadi of Egypt before coming out at the sea. (This is your southern boundary.)5 The eastern boundary was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.6 The northern boundary climbed from the bay where the Jordan meets the sea, up to Beth-hoglah, and ran north of Beth-arabah, up to Eben-Bohan-ben-Reuben.7 Thence it climbed to Debir, north of the vale of Achor, in the direction of the Gilgal that faces the pass of Adummim, on the south side of the wadi; from there it crossed to the waters of En-shemesh and emerged at En-rogel.8 Climbing again to the Valley of Ben-hinnom on the southern flank of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem), the boundary rose to the top of the mountain at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim, which bounds the Valley of Hinnom on the west. 9 From the top of the mountain it ran to the fountain of waters of Nephtoah, extended to the cities of Mount Ephron, and continued to Baalah, or Kiriath-jearim.10 From Baalah the boundary curved westward to Mount Seir and passed north of the ridge of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon); thence it descended to Beth-shemesh, and ran across to Timnah.11 It then extended along the northern flank of Ekron, continued through Shikkeron, and across to Mount Baalah, thence to include Jabneel, before it came out at the sea.12 The western boundary was the Great Sea and its coast. This was the complete boundary of the clans of the Judahites.
13 As the LORD had commanded, Joshua gave Caleb, son of Jephunneh, a portion among the Judahites, namely, Kiriath-arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron.14 And Caleb drove out from there the three Anakim, the descendants of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai.15 From there he marched up against the inhabitants of Debir, which was formerly called Kiriath-sepher.16 Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Achsah in marriage to the one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it."17 Othniel, son of Caleb's brother Kenaz, captured it, and so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage. 18 On the day of her marriage to Othniel, she induced him to ask her father for some land. Then, as she alighted from the ass, Caleb asked her, "What is troubling you?"19 She answered, "Give me an additional gift! Since you have assigned to me land in the Negeb, give me also pools of water." So he gave her the upper and the lower pools.
20 This is the heritage of the clans of the tribe of Judahites:
21 The cities of the tribe of the Judahites in the extreme southern district toward Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,23 Kedesh, Hazor and Ithnan;24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,25 Hazor-hadattah, and Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor);26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,28 Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba and Biziothiah;29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,32 Lebaoth, Shilhim and En-rimmon; a total of twenty-nine cities with their villages.33 In the foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, Engannim, Tappuah, Enam,35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities and their villages.37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel,39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah and Makkedah; sixteen cities and their villages.42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,44 Keilah, Achzib and Mareshah; nine cities and their villages.45 Ekron and its towns and villages;46 from Ekron to the sea, all the towns that lie alongside Ashdod, and their villages;47 Ashdod and its towns and villages; Gaza and its towns and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coast of the Great Sea.48 In the mountain regions: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,51 Goshen, Holon and Giloh; eleven cities and their villages.52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan,53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities and their villages.55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,57 Kain, Gibbeah and Timnah; ten cities and their villages.58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,59 Maarath, Beth-anoth and Eltekon; six cities and their villages. Tekoa, Ephrathah (that is, Bethlehem), Peor, Etam, Kulom, Tatam, Zores, Karim, Gallim, Bether and Manoko; eleven cities and their villages.60 Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah; two cities and their villages.61 In the desert: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, Ir-hamelah and En-gedi; six cities and their villages.63 (But the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem the Judahites could not drive out; so the Jebusites dwell in Jerusalem beside the Judahites to the present day.)
16 1 The lot that fell to the Josephites extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho east of the desert; then the boundary went up from Jericho to the heights at Bethel. 2 Leaving Bethel for Luz, it crossed the ridge to the border of the Archites at Ataroth,3 and descended westward to the border of the Japhletites, to that of the Lower Beth-horon, and to Gezer, ending thence at the sea.4 Within the heritage of Manasseh and Ephraim, sons of Joseph,
5 the dividing line for the heritage of the clans of the Ephraimites ran from east of Ataroth-addar to Upper Bethhoron 6 and thence to the sea. From Michmethath on the north, their boundary curved eastward around Taanath-shiloh, and continued east of it to Janoah;7 from there it descended to Ataroth and Naarah, and skirting Jericho, it ended at the Jordan.8 From Tappuah the boundary ran westward to the Wadi Kanah and ended at the sea. This was the heritage of the clans of the Ephraimites,9 including the villages that belonged to each city set aside for the Ephraimites within the territory of the Manassehites.10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, who live on within Ephraim to the present day, though they have been impressed as laborers.
17 1 Now as for the lot that fell to the tribe of Manasseh as the first-born of Joseph: since his eldest son, Machir, the father of Gilead, was a warrior, who had already obtained Gilead and Bashan,2 the allotment was now made to the other descendants of Manasseh, the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida, the other male children of Manasseh, son of Joseph.3 Furthermore, Zelophehad, son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had had no sons, but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.4 These presented themselves to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua, son of Nun, and to the princes, saying, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us a heritage among our kinsmen." So in obedience to the command of the LORD a heritage was given to each of them among their father's kinsmen.5 Thus ten shares fell to Manasseh apart from the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan,6 since these female descendants of Manasseh received each a portion among his sons. The land of Gilead fell to the rest of the Manassehites.
7 Manasseh bordered on Asher. From Michmethath near Shechem, another boundary ran southward to include the natives of En-Tappuah, 8 because the district of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, although Tappuah itself was an Ephraimite city on the border of Manasseh.9 This same boundary continued down to the Wadi Kanah. The cities that belonged to Ephraim from among the cities in Manasseh were those to the south of that wadi; thus the territory of Manasseh ran north of the wadi and ended at the sea.10 The land on the south belonged to Ephraim and that on the north to Manasseh; with the sea as their common boundary, they reached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.11 Moreover, in Issachar and in Asher Manasseh was awarded Beth-shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, Dor and its towns and the natives there, Endor and its towns and natives, Taanach and its towns and natives, and Megiddo and its towns and natives (the third is Naphath-dor).12 Since the Manassehites could not conquer these cities, the Canaanites persisted in this region.13 When the Israelites grew stronger they impressed the Canaanites as laborers, but they did not drive them out.
14 The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one lot and one share as our heritage? Our people are too many, because of the extent to which the LORD has blessed us."15 Joshua answered them, "If you are too many, go up to the forest and clear out a place for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaim, since the mountain regions of Ephraim are so narrow."16 For the Josephites said, "Our mountain regions are not enough for us; on the other hand, the Canaanites living in the valley region all have iron chariots, in particular those in Beth-shean and its towns, and those in the valley of Jezreel."17 Joshua therefore said to Ephraim and Manasseh, the house of Joseph, "You are a numerous people and very strong. You shall have not merely one share,18 for the mountain region which is now forest shall be yours when you clear it. Its adjacent land shall also be yours if, despite their strength and iron chariots, you drive out the Canaanites."
18 1 After they had subdued the land, the whole community of the Israelites assembled at Shiloh, where they set up the meeting tent.
2 Seven tribes among the Israelites had not yet received their heritage.3 Joshua therefore said to the Israelites, "How much longer will you put off taking steps to possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?4 Choose three men from each of your tribes; I will commission them to begin a survey of the land, which they shall describe for purposes of inheritance. When they return to me5 you shall divide it into seven parts. Judah is to retain its territory in the south, and the house of Joseph its territory in the north.6 You shall bring here to me the description of the land in seven sections. I will then cast lots for you here before the LORD, our God.7 For the Levites have no share among you, because the priesthood of the LORD is their heritage; while Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received the heritage east of the Jordan which Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave them."8 When those who were to map out the land were ready for the journey, Joshua instructed them to survey the land, prepare a description of it, and return to him; then he would cast lots for them there before the LORD in Shiloh.9 So they went through the land, listed its cities in writing in seven sections, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.10 Joshua then divided up the land for the Israelites into their separate shares, casting lots for them before the LORD in Shiloh.
11 One lot fell to the clans of the tribe of Benjaminites. The territory allotted them lay between the descendants of Judah and those of Joseph.12 Their northern boundary began at the Jordan and went over the northern flank of Jericho, up westward into the mountains, till it reached the desert of Beth-aven. 13 From there it crossed over to the southern flank of Luz (that is, Bethel). Then it ran down to Ataroth-addar, on the mountaintop south of Lower Beth-horon.14 For the western border, the boundary line swung south from the mountaintop opposite Bethhoron till it reached Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), which city belonged to the Judahites. This was the western boundary.15 The southern boundary began at the limits of Kiriath-jearim and projected to the spring at Nephtoah.16 It went down to the edge of the mountain on the north of the Valley of Rephaim, where it faces the Valley of Ben-hinnom; and continuing down the Valley of Hinnom along the southern flank of the Jebusites, reached En-rogel.17 Inclining to the north, it extended to En-shemesh, and thence to Geliloth, opposite the pass of Adummim. Then it dropped to Eben-Bohan-ben-Reuben,18 across the northern flank of the Arabah overlook, down into the Aarabah.19 From there the boundary continued across the northern flank of Beth-hoglah and extended to the northern tip of the Salt Sea, at the southern end of the Jordan. This was the southern boundary.20 The Jordan bounded it on the east. This was how the heritage of the clans of the Benjaminites was bounded on all sides.21 Now the cities belonging to the clans of the tribe of the Benjaminites were: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni and Geba; twelve cities and their villages.25 Also Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,28 Zela, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath; fourteen cities and their villages. This was the heritage of the clans of Benjaminites.
Josué (NAB) 10