Joshua 15:20-63
Caleb Gives His Daughter a Spring
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
The chapter continues with a long list of the cities belonging to Judah. The names move through the Negev, the lowland, the hill country, and the wilderness. A modern reader may not recognize every place, but the list insists that the inheritance has shape and boundaries.
The record gives the names of communities rather than reducing the territory to a single landmark. People will live, work, worship, and make decisions in these places. The promise of land is therefore connected to the ordinary life of families and neighbors.
The chapter remembers that Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. They remained there with Judah, as they do to the time of the writing. The sentence resists the urge to make the settlement account sound more complete than it was.
The earlier request for springs helps us read the list with human attention. Boundaries and city names matter because inheritance is meant to support life. A family that receives a place must also consider whether the place is safe, supplied, and open to faithful living.
How We Know
The evidence here is cumulative rather than dependent on one isolated line. Joshua records Israel's entry, settlement, and covenant life in continuity with Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Later books such as Judges and 1 Chronicles assume the people, land allotments, and places named here. Those internal cross-checks do not settle every archaeological question, but they show that Joshua 15:20-63 is part of a sustained historical and covenant record.
Questions
1 What does the long city list describe?
AnswerIt describes the towns and regions assigned to Judah across the Negev, lowland, hill country, and wilderness.
2 Why do the names matter in the record?
AnswerThey give the inheritance identifiable boundaries and connect God's promise to the ordinary places where families will live.
3 What happens with the Jebusites in Jerusalem?
AnswerJudah cannot drive them out, so the Jebusites remain living with Judah in Jerusalem at the time of writing.
4 What should an inheritance provide beyond a boundary?
AnswerIt should provide a livable place with resources, safety, and responsibilities that allow families and communities to flourish.
What This Means for Us
Lists of places can teach us to value the concrete conditions of human life. A household's concern for shelter, access, safety, and belonging is not a distraction from faith.
Do not celebrate an arrangement only because it looks complete on paper. Ask who can actually flourish within it, who remains excluded, and what practical change would make the shared space more livable.
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.