Joshua 15:20-63

Towns of Judah

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20This is the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Judah.

21These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the border of Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

22Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

23Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

24Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

25Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),

26Amam, Shema, Moladah,

27Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,

28Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

29Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

30Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

31Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

32Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, along with their villages.

33These were in the foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

34Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

36Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—fourteen cities, along with their villages.

37Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,

38Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel,

39Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

40Cabbon, Lahmas, Chitlish,

41Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities, along with their villages.

42Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

43Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

44Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, along with their villages.

45Ekron, with its towns and villages;

46from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, along with their villages;

47Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, as far as the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.

48These were in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

49Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),

50Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

51Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities, along with their villages.

52Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

53Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,

54Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, along with their villages.

55Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

56Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

57Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities, along with their villages.

58Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,

59Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six cities, along with their villages.

60Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah—two cities, along with their villages.

61These were in the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,

62Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six cities, along with their villages.

63But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Judah's allotment is recorded through its towns and their surrounding villages. The list moves through the Negev, the foothills, the hill country, and the wilderness. It includes both larger centers and smaller settlements.

Beersheba and Ziklag appear in the southern list. Lachish and Eglon appear among the towns of the foothills, while Hebron and Debir are named in the hill country. The wilderness list includes the City of Salt and En-gedi. The different regions help us picture an inheritance extending across many places, rather than one settlement.

The repeated mention of villages matters too. The record includes communities around the named towns, where people would share in the life of the land.

The closing verse records a limit: Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem, and they remained there among Judah at the time of writing. An assigned territory and a fully occupied territory are not the same thing. The account preserves that unfinished reality alongside its detailed list.

Questions

1 Which regions organize Judah's towns?

AnswerThe list moves through the Negev, the foothills, the hill country, and the wilderness.

2 Which towns can you identify in the list?

AnswerExamples include Beersheba and Ziklag in the south, Lachish in the foothills, and Hebron in the hill country.

3 What does the closing verse say about Jerusalem?

AnswerJudah could not drive out its Jebusite inhabitants, who continued living there among the descendants of Judah.

4 What is included alongside the named towns?

AnswerTheir surrounding villages are included, showing that the allotment extends beyond the main settlements.

What This Means for Us

A long list can slow us down enough to notice places we would otherwise pass over. Judah's record includes villages as well as towns; the life of God's people is not confined to its best-known centers.

Remember the ordinary place where you have been given responsibilities. Pray for its people, learn a neighbor's name, and help with a need close at hand. Be honest about unfinished work there. Gratitude for what God gives can coexist with attention to what still needs doing.

Prayer

Lord, teach us to care about the real places where people live. Give us eyes for unsafe conditions, neglected needs, and excluded neighbors, and make our stewardship serve human flourishing. Amen.

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