is about the distribution of land among the 12 tribes of Israel as they enter the promised land, highlighting the importance of God’s promises being fulfilled and the faithfulness of God in keeping his covenant with his people.
1 These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit.
2 Their inheritance was by lot, just as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes.
3 For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
4 For the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their substance.
5 As the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel did. And they divided the land.
6 Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me.
7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.
8 But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God.
9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’
10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.
11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.
12 So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day; for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.
13 Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.
15 Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war.
1 The allotment for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans reached southward to the boundary of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin at the farthest south.
2 And their south boundary ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.
3 Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.
4 From there it passes along to Azmon, and goes out by the Brook of Egypt, and the border ends at the sea.
5 And the east boundary is the Salt Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.
6 Then the boundary goes up to Beth-hoglah, and passes along north of Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
7 And the boundary goes up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. Then the boundary passes along to the waters of En-shemesh and ends at En-rogel.
8 Then the boundary goes up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
9 Then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and continues to the cities of Mount Ephron. And the boundary bends to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).
10 And the boundary circles west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passes along to the northern shoulder of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and goes down to Beth-shemesh and passes along by Timnah.
11 From the Negeb, it extended eastward to the entrance of Debir, and then continued to the waters of En-shemesh, and on to En-rogel.
12 The west boundary was the Great Sea with its coastline. This is the boundary around the people of Judah according to their clans.
13 According to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).
14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak.
15 And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. The name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.
16 And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.”
17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
18 And when she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”
19 She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans.
21 Now the cities at the extremity of the tribe of the people of Judah toward the border of Edom in the Negeb were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
22 And the cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme south, toward the boundary of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
23 But Kiriath-arba (Arba was the father of Anak) the same is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its pasturelands around it.
24 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the Brook of Egypt, and the Great Sea with its coastline.
25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),
26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,
27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,
28 Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,
30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
31 In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.
33 In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
34 Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah;
35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.
38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
12 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities and their villages.
40 And Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.
41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities with their villages.
42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
43 And Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.
44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages.
45 Ekron, with its towns and its villages;
46 from Ekron to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.
47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the Brook of Egypt, and the Great Sea with its coastline.
48 And in the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon, six cities with their villages;
60 Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.
51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages.
52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,
54 Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages.
55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah
57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages.
58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,
59 Maarath, Bethanoth, and Eltekon, six cities with their villages;
60 Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.
61 In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,
62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and Engedi: six cities with their villages.
63 But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
1 The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel.
2 Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.
3 Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.
4 So the people of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.
5 The territory of the people of Ephraim by their clans was as follows: the boundary of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar as far as Upper Beth-horon,
6 Then the boundary goes westward to the sea, past Aznoth-tabor, and from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun at the south and Asher on the west, and Judah on the east at the Jordan.
7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, and touched Jericho, ending at the Jordan.
8 The border went down to the brook Kanah, south of the brook. These cities, to the south of the brook, among the cities of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea,
9 Then the boundary goes down to the brook Kanah. These cities to the south of the brook among the cities of Manasseh are the lot of Ephraim, and all the cities with their villages.
10 However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.
1 Then allotment was made to the people of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war.
2 allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh by their clans, for the people of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph, by their clans.
3 Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters, and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
4 They approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers.” So according to the mouth of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
5 Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan,
6 because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the people of Manasseh.
7 The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Michmethath, which is east of Shechem. Then the boundary goes along southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah.
8 The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the people of Ephraim.
9 Then the boundary goes down to the brook Kanah. These cities to the south of the brook among the cities of Manasseh are the portion of Manasseh’s sons, and the boundary of Manasseh is on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea.
10 However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.
11 In Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages, and Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; the third is Naphath.
12 Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.
13 Yet it did not drive out the people of Geshur and the people of Maacah, so the Geshurites and the Maacathites dwell among the Israelites to this day.
14 Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?”
15 And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”
16 Then the people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only,
18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”
1 Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
2 There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned.
3 So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?
4 Appoint three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. They shall write a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me.
5 And they shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north.
6 You shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God.
7 The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their heritage. And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.”
8 So the men arose and went, and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, “Go up and down in the land and write a description and return to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.”
9 The men went and passed up and down in the land and set in writing a description of it in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.
10 Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. So there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion.
11 Then the lot of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to its clans came up, and the territory allotted to it fell between the people of Judah and the people of Joseph.
12 Then their boundary goes along on the western side southward, from the Great Sea.
13 The boundary goes down to the edge of the mountain that overlooks the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim. And it then goes down the Valley of Hinnom, south of the shoulder of the Jebusites, and downward to En-rogel.
14 Then the boundary goes in another direction, turning on the western side southward from the mountain that lies to the south, opposite Beth-horon, and it ends at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the people of Judah. This forms the western side.
15 And the south side was from the edge of Kiriath-jearim. And the boundary goes on westward to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.
16 Then the boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that overlooks the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim. And it then goes down the Valley of Hinnom, south of the shoulder of the Jebusites, and downward to En-rogel.
17 Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.
18 Then the boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that overlooks the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim. And it then goes down the Valley of Hinnom, south of the shoulder of the Jebusites, and downward to En-rogel.
19 The boundary passes on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-hoglah. Then the boundary ends at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this is the southern border.
20 The Jordan forms its boundary on the eastern side. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin, according to their clans, boundary by boundary all around.
21 Now the cities of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to their clans were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,
22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba: twelve cities with their villages.
25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
26 In Mizpeh, Chephar-haammoni, Ophni,
27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
28 Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities with their villages.
1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans. And their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah.
2 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah,
3 Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.
4 Elath, Esion Geber,
5 Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali
6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities with their villages.
7 Ain, Remmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities with their villages—
8 The inheritance of the people of Israel passed beyond the Jordan to the east of Jericho, in the direction of the sunrise.
9 The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.
10 The third lot came up for the people of Zebulun, according to their clans. And the territory of their inheritance reached as far as Sarid.
11 Then their boundary goes up westward and on to Mareal and touches Dabbesheth, then the brook that is east of Jokneam.
12 Yet their boundary on the north side was from the Jordan.
13 And from there it passes along on the east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and goes to Rimmon, stretching to Neah.
14 Then the boundary turns it on the north to Hannathon, and it ends at the Valley of Iphtahel;
15 Included also were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Zebulun according to their clans—these cities with their villages.
17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the people of Issachar, according to their clans.
18 Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
19 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans. And their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah.
20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans.
21 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to its clans, boundary by boundary all around.
22 The boundary also touches Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and its boundary ends at the Jordan—sixteen cities with their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Issachar according to their clans—the cities with their villages.
24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its clans.
25 Their boundary was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,
26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west it touches Carmel and Shihor-libnath,
27 And it turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and went from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun at the south and Asher on the west and Judah on the east at the Jordan.
28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Sidon the Great.
29 And then the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre. Then the boundary turns to Hosah, and it ends at the sea; Mahalab, Achzib,
30 Ummah also, and Aphek and Rehob—twenty-two cities with their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans—these cities with their villages.
32 The sixth lot came out for the people of Naphtali, for the people of Naphtali, according to their clans.
33 Their boundary was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan.
34 Then the boundary turns westward to Aznoth-tabor and goes from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun at the south and Asher on the west and Judah on the east at the Jordan.
35 The fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth
36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
38 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans, these cities with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Naphtali, according to their clans—the cities with their villages.
40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans.
41 The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh,
42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,
43 When the boundary of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor.
44 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans—these cities with their villages.
45 When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun.
46 Me-jarkon and Rakkon with the territory over against Joppa.
47 When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans, these cities with their villages.
49 When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun.
50 According to the commandment of the Lord they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.
51 These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
1 Then the Lord said to Joshua,
2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,
3 that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them.
5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past.
6 And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.
7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
8 And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.
1 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel.
2 And they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, “The Lord commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, along with their pasturelands for our livestock.”
3 So by command of the Lord the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance.
4 And the lot came out for the clans of the Kohathites. So those Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, thirteen cities.
5 And the rest of the Kohathites received by lot from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
6 And the rest of the Kohathites received by lot from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
7 The sons of Merari according to their clans received twelve cities as their inheritance.
8 And the people of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
9 And they gave out from the tribe of the people of Judah and the tribe of the people of Simeon these cities mentioned by name,
10 which the people of Aaron, of the clans of the Kohathites who were of the people of Levi, had, for the lot fell to them.
11 They gave them Kiriath-arba (Arba being the father of Anak), that is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with the pasturelands around it.
12 But the fields of the city and its villages had been given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.
13 And to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasturelands, Libnah with its pasturelands,
14 And Jattir with its pasturelands, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands,
15 And the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the people of Israel were in all forty-eight cities with their pasturelands.
16 Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands,
17 Then out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasturelands, Geba with its pasturelands,
18 Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands—four cities.
19 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the people of Israel were forty-eight in all, with their pasturelands.
20 and out of the tribe of the people of Ephraim, Kibzaim with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim with its pasturelands,
21 Then they gave Hebron to the descendants of Aaron the priest as a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah with its pasturelands,
22 And Kibzaim with its pasturelands, Beth-horon with its pasturelands, four cities.
23 Out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands,
24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah the son of Ammihud, Sherebiah the son of Bunni,
25 And from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its pasturelands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands—two cities.
26 All that the Levites left in return for their cities was their common land, as the possession of their cities.
27 And to the Gershonites, one of the clans of the Levites, were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands—two cities.
28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands,
29 Jarmuth with its pasturelands, En-gannim with its pasturelands, and Beth-horon with its pasturelands.
30 And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasturelands, and Bileam with its pasturelands, for the rest of the clans of the Kohathites.
31 These were the cities designated for all the people of the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.
32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, Hammoth-dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands.
33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their clans were thirteen cities with their pasturelands.
34 And to the rest of the Levites, the Merarite clans were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands,
35 Jarmuth with its pasturelands, En-gannim with its pasturelands,
36 All these were cities with their pasturelands.
37 Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands—four cities.
38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim with its pasturelands,
39 Heshbon with its pasturelands, Jazer with its pasturelands—four cities in all.
40 All these cities with their pasturelands totaled forty-eight cities.
41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the people of Israel were forty-eight in all, with their pasturelands.
42 These cities each had its surrounding pasturelands. So it was with all these cities.
43 Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there.
44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands.
45 Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
Setting the Scene for Joshua 14-21
In the book of Joshua chapters 14-21, we find the Israelites finally entering the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Joshua, the successor of Moses, leads the Israelites across the Jordan River into Canaan. The scene is set in various locations throughout the land as the Israelites begin to conquer and divide the territory among the twelve tribes of Israel.
Joshua, Caleb, and the leaders of the tribes are gathered together to allocate the land that God had promised to their ancestors. The atmosphere is one of anticipation and excitement as they witness the fulfillment of God’s promise to give them this land. The leaders recount the victories and challenges they faced in battle as they took possession of the different regions, from Jericho to Ai to Hebron.
The surroundings are diverse, ranging from lush valleys to rugged mountains, each holding its own significance in the history of the Israelites. The scene is filled with a sense of unity and gratitude as the tribes come together to celebrate the victories and blessings bestowed upon them by God. It is a pivotal moment in their journey as they establish their presence in the land flowing with milk and honey.
What is Joshua 14-21 about?
This verse holds great significance in the Bible, as it illustrates the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham to give his descendants the land of Canaan. It showcases the unwavering faith of the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua as they trust in God’s plan and take decisive action to conquer the land. Through this conquest, the Israelites not only establish a physical presence in Canaan but also reaffirm their spiritual connection to God and their heritage. We can ponder on the themes of faith, obedience, and perseverance as we reflect on this verse. Joshua’s role as a strong and faithful leader reminds us of the importance of trusting in God’s promises and following His guidance even when faced with challenges. This verse teaches us that with faith, determination, and reliance on God, we can overcome obstacles and fulfill the promises He has made to us. It also serves as a powerful reminder that God’s promises are always fulfilled in His perfect timing, encouraging us to trust in His plan for our lives and to be courageous in stepping into the territories He has prepared for us.
Understanding what Joshua 14-21 really means
The Book of Joshua recounts the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan and the division of the land among the tribes. In Joshua 14:6-15, we delve into Caleb’s plea for the inheritance of Hebron, shedding light on his unwavering faith and patience amidst God’s promises. The key figures in this narrative are Caleb, Joshua, and the Israelites.
Caleb’s poignant reminder to Joshua about God’s pledge through Moses at Kadesh Barnea underscores his steadfast belief in God’s word and his enduring patience. Recalling his mission to spy out the land at forty years old, Caleb emphasizes his longstanding dedication to the Lord. His proclamation of following God wholeheartedly serves as a beacon of unwavering faith for believers.
The promise of inheritance bestowed upon Caleb by Moses, due to his wholehearted devotion to God, exemplifies the reward of resolute faith. Caleb’s acknowledgment of God’s faithfulness in preserving him for forty-five years in the wilderness reinforces the theme of divine constancy. At eighty-five years old, Caleb’s vigor and readiness for battle mirror God’s sustaining power in his life.
Caleb’s plea for the hill country of Hebron, grounded in God’s assurance, showcases his unwavering confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness. This narrative intertwines with other biblical accounts like Numbers 13-14, highlighting Caleb’s positive report amidst the spying mission, and Deuteronomy 1:34-36, emphasizing God’s promise to Caleb for his faithfulness.
Caleb’s story resonates with contemporary believers, emphasizing the significance of faith and patience in God’s promises. His wholehearted devotion serves as a model for present-day followers, illustrating that complete dedication to God yields abundant rewards. Furthermore, Caleb’s vitality at an advanced age serves as a testament to God’s ability to sustain us physically and spiritually, irrespective of our age.
Reflecting on Caleb’s journey prompts introspection regarding our own faith and patience in God’s promises. Are we, like Caleb, holding onto God’s assurances with unwavering faith and patience? Let us strive to emulate Caleb’s wholehearted commitment to God and entrust ourselves to His perfect timing. Just as Caleb’s faith was rewarded, may we too experience the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives, inspiring others to trust in His faithfulness.
What does it mean to fully trust God’s promises?
To fully trust God’s promises means to have unwavering confidence and belief in the assurances He has given, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill what He has said. It involves placing complete reliance on God’s word without doubt or hesitation, no matter the circumstances or challenges that may arise. Fully trusting His promises requires surrendering control and placing one’s faith in His sovereignty and goodness, regardless of what may be seen or understood in the present moment.
When we fully trust God’s promises, we are committing ourselves to a firm belief in His faithfulness and ability to provide for our needs and fulfill His plans in our lives. It involves living in a state of expectancy and hope, knowing that God is true to His word and will bring about His promises in His perfect timing. This kind of trust enables us to rest in God’s peace and confidently move forward, knowing that He is working all things for our good according to His purposes.
Application
Just as Caleb fearlessly claimed his rightful inheritance, it’s time for you to stand firm in your faith and grasp the promises meant for you. Don’t let the challenges deter you; instead, be like Caleb and embrace God’s commitments to you with unwavering confidence. Will you choose to step out in faith today and seize the divine blessings meant for you?
Reverend Michael Johnson is an experienced Church Minister with a profound expertise in spirituality and guidance. With a serene presence and a compassionate heart, he has faithfully served his congregation for over 20 years, leading them on a spiritual journey towards inner peace and enlightenment. Reverend Johnson’s extensive knowledge of religious philosophies and profound understanding of human nature have made him a trusted confidant and mentor to many, as he seamlessly weaves his profound wisdom into life teachings. Reverend Johnson’s calming demeanor and empathetic nature continue to uplift and heal souls, nurturing a sense of unity and tranquility within his community.