Joshua 20:2 “Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, like I instructed you through Moses,
Joshua 20:3 so that a person who kills someone unintentionally or accidentally may escape there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
Joshua 20:4 When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before the elders of that city, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.
Joshua 20:5 And if the avenger of blood chases him, they must not hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him because he killed his neighbor accidentally and did not hate him beforehand.
Joshua 20:6 He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to his city from which he escaped.”
Joshua 20:7 So they designated Kedesh in the hill country of Naphtali in Galilee, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (in other words, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
Joshua 20:8 Across the Jordan east of Jericho, they selected Bezer on the wilderness plateau from Reuben’s tribe, Ramoth in Gilead from Gad’s tribe, and Golan in Bashan from Manasseh’s tribe.
Joshua 20:9 These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and the foreign residents living among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may escape there and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood until he is tried before the assembly.
Joshua 20 quotes:
“God reminds Joshua of some unfinished business in the division of the land. God commands in Numbers that cities be set aside to protect those who face the threat of blood revenge (Num. 35:8—34), and Moses repeats that command in Deuteronomy (Deut. 19:1-13). Joshua 20 states that cities need to be set aside as places of “refuge,” “admittance,” or “inclusion” (the term does not appear in Deut. 19). The passage in Joshua lists three cities west of the Jordan from north to south (v. 7) and three cities east of the Jordan south to north (v. 8). The verses designate the cities as geographical regional centers of asylum. The lists also mention cities east of the Jordan by tribe. The cities of refuge are Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron in Canaan, and Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead, and Golan in Transjordan. These are designated as Levitical or priestly cities in Joshua 21. As religious centers they may provide asylum for those running for their lives.”
Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 103.
“The need for cities of refuge arose from the fact that it was the duty of the nearest relative of a man who had been killed to search out and kill the killer. But when it was clearly not a murder (intentional killing) but manslaughter (accidental killing), then the killer could seek asylum in one of the six cities of refuge, three on the west Side and three on the east side of the Jordan River.”
Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 254.
Joshua 19:1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of his descendants by their clans, but their inheritance was within the inheritance given to Judah’s descendants.
Joshua 19:2 Their inheritance included Beer-sheba (or Sheba), Moladah,
Joshua 19:3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,
Joshua 19:4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
Joshua 19:5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,
Joshua 19:6 Beth-lebaoth and Sharuhen – thirteen cities, with their settlements;
Joshua 19:7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan – four cities, with their settlements;
Joshua 19:8 and all the settlements surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah in the south). This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 19:9 The inheritance of Simeon’s descendants was within the territory of Judah’s descendants because the share for Judah’s descendants was too large. So, Simeon’s descendants received an inheritance within Judah’s portion.
Joshua 19:10 The third lot came up for Zebulun’s descendants by their clans. The territory of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid;
Joshua 19:11 their border went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam.
Joshua 19:12 From Sarid, it turned due east along the border of Chisloth-tabor, went to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.
Joshua 19:13 From there, it went due east to Gath-hepher and Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon, curving around to Neah.
Joshua 19:14 The border then circled Neah on the north to Hannathon and ended at Iphtah-el Valley,
Joshua 19:15 along with Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem – twelve cities, with their settlements.
Joshua 19:16 This was the inheritance of Zebulun’s descendants by their clans, these cities, with their settlements.
Joshua 19:17 The fourth lot came out for the tribe of Issachar’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 19:18 Their territory went to Jezreel, and included Chesulloth, Shunem,
Joshua 19:19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,
Joshua 19:20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,
Joshua 19:21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez.
Joshua 19:22 The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh and ended at the Jordan—sixteen cities with their settlements.
Joshua 19:23 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar’s descendants by their clans, the cities, with their settlements.
Joshua 19:24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 19:25 Their boundary included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,
Joshua 19:26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal and reached westward to Carmel and Shihor-libnath.
Joshua 19:27 It turned eastward to Beth-dagon, reached Zebulun and Iphtah-el Valley, north toward Beth-emek and Neiel, and went north to Cabul,
Joshua 19:28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.
Joshua 19:29 The boundary then turned to Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre; it turned back to Hosah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea, including Mahalab, Achzib,
Joshua 19:30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob – twenty-two cities, with their settlements.
Joshua 19:31 These cities with their settlements were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 19:32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 19:33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the oak in Zaanannim, including Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan.
Joshua 19:34 To the west, the boundary turned to Aznoth-tabor and went from there to Hukkok, reaching Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east.
Joshua 19:35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,
Joshua 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
Joshua 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
Joshua 19:38 Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh – nineteen cities, with their settlements.
Joshua 19:39 These were the inheritances of the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants by their clans, the cities with their settlements.
Joshua 19:40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 19:41 The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-Shemesh,
Joshua 19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,
Joshua 19:43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron,
Joshua 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,
Joshua 19:45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,
Joshua 19:46 Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the territory facing Joppa.
Joshua 19:47 When the territory of the descendants of Dan slipped out of their control, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and struck it down with the sword. So they took possession of it, lived there, and renamed Leshem after their ancestor Dan.
Joshua 19:48 These cities with their settlements were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 19:49 When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua, son of Nun, an inheritance among them.
Joshua 19:50 By Yahveh’s command, they gave him the city Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, which he requested. He rebuilt the city and lived in it.
Joshua 19:51 These were the portions that the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the family heads distributed to the Israelite tribes by lot at Shiloh in Yahveh’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So, they finished dividing up the land.
Joshua 19 quotes:
“Territorial descriptions in these chapters present tribal inheritances as recorded by at least the time of the book of Judges, which lists foreign populations living in tribal territories whom tribes must subjugate or in whose midst tribes must live. Judges 1:27-36 mentions unconquered populations in Canaan. By contrast, Joshua presents an ideal picture of tribal inheritances, including land not yet conquered. The lists in Joshua divide the land of Canaan and eliminate its gaps. Boundaries of the tribes coincide with those of Canaan.”
Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 100.
“The second assignment made was for the families of the tribe of Simeon. Its territory extended into the land assigned to the tribe of Judah. 2 It included Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, 3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen: thirteen cities, along with the towns around them.”
Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 240.
Joshua 18:1 The whole Israelite congregation assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land had been subdued before them,
Joshua 18:2 but seven tribes among the Israelites were left who had not divided up their inheritance.
Joshua 18:3 So Joshua asked the Israelites, “How long will you be lax about taking possession of the land that Yahveh, the God of your fathers, gave you?
Joshua 18:4 Appoint for yourselves three men from each tribe, and I will send them out. They are to go and survey the land, write a description of it for their inheritance, and return it to me.
Joshua 18:5 Then they are to divide it into seven portions. Judah is to remain in its territory in the south and Joseph’s family in their territory in the north.
Joshua 18:6 When you have written a description of the seven portions of land and brought it to me, I will cast lots for you here in front of Yahveh our God.
Joshua 18:7 But the Levites among you do not get a portion because their inheritance is the priesthood of Yahveh. Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have taken their inheritance beyond the Jordan to the east, which Moses Yahveh’s slave gave them.”
Joshua 18:8 As the men prepared to go, Joshua commanded them to write down a description of the land, saying, “Go and survey the land, write a description of it, and return to me. I will then cast lots for you here in Shiloh in front of Yahveh.”
Joshua 18:9 So the men left, went through the land and described it by towns in a document of seven sections. They returned to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.
Joshua 18:10 Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh in front of Yahveh where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.
Joshua 18:11 The lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans, and their allotted territory lay between Judah’s descendants and Joseph’s descendants.
Joshua 18:12 Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho on the north, through the hill country westward, and ended at the wilderness around Beth-aven.
Joshua 18:13 From there, the border went toward Luz, to the southern slope of Luz (that is, Bethel); it then went down by Ataroth-addar, over the hill south of Lower Beth-horon.
Joshua 18:14 On the west side, from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south, the border curved, turning southward, and ended at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the descendants of Judah. This was the west side of their border.
Joshua 18:15 The south side began at the edge of Kiriath-jearim, and the border extended westward; it went to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah.
Joshua 18:16 The border descended to the foot of the hill that faces Ben Hinnom Valley at the northern end of Rephaim Valley. It ran down Hinnom Valley toward the south Jebusite slope and went down to En-rogel.
Joshua 18:17 It curved northward and went to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth, which is opposite the Ascent of Adummim, and continued down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
Joshua 18:18 Then it went north to the slope opposite the Arabah and proceeded into the plains.
Joshua 18:19 The border continued to the north slope of Beth-hoglah and ended at the northern bay of the Dead Sea, at the southern end of the Jordan. This was the southern border.
Joshua 18:20 The Jordan formed the border on the east side. According to its surrounding borders, this was the inheritance of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 18:21 These were the cities of the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,
Joshua 18:22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
Joshua 18:23 Avvites, Parah, Ophrah,
Joshua 18:24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba– twelve cities, with their settlements;
Joshua 18:25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Joshua 18:26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,
Joshua 18:27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
Joshua 18:28 Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath—fourteen cities with their settlements—were the inheritances of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans.
Joshua 18 quotes:
“A narrative summary shifts the scene from Gilgal (Josh. 14:6) to a tribal assembly at Shiloh (Josh. 18:1), ten miles northeast of Bethel. The narrative mentions that the assembly set up the Tent of Meeting at that place. The Tent of Meeting at this time is more important than a permanent structure, for it is the symbol of the presence of God. Only later did the tribes house the ark of the covenant in a more permanent structure at Shiloh (1 Sam. 1-4). The Bible reports that Eli and his sons later ministered in a permanent shrine until the Philistines conquered Shiloh and captured the ark (1 Sam. 4:1-22).”
Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 97.
“Chapters 18 and 19 describe the territories west of the Jordan assigned to the remaining seven tribes: Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan.”
Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 231.
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
Joshua 17
Joshua 17:1 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn. Gilead and Bashan were given to Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh and the father of Gilead because he was a man of war.
Joshua 17:2 So the allotment was for the rest of Manasseh’s descendants by their clans, for the sons of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph, by their clans.
Joshua 17:3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
Joshua 17:4 They came in front of the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, “Yahveh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our male relatives.” So they gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with Yahveh’s instruction.
Joshua 17:5 As a result, ten tracts fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which are beyond the Jordan,
Joshua 17:6 because Manasseh’s daughters received an inheritance among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of Manasseh’s sons.
Joshua 17:7 The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem. It then went southward toward the inhabitants of En-tappuah.
Joshua 17:8 The region of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself on Manasseh’s border belonged to the descendants of Ephraim.
Joshua 17:9 From there, the border went down to the Brook of Kanah; south of the brook, cities belonged to Ephraim among Manasseh’s cities. Manasseh’s border was on the north side of the brook and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.
Joshua 17:10 Ephraim’s territory was to the south and Manasseh’s to the north, with the Sea as its border. They reached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
Joshua 17:11 Beth-shean, Ibleam, and the inhabitants of Dor with their surrounding villages; the inhabitants of En-dor, Taanach, and Megiddo – the three cities of Naphath – with their surrounding villages.
Joshua 17:12 The descendants of Manasseh were not able to possess these cities because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.
Joshua 17:13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they imposed forced labor on the Canaanites but did not completely drive them out.
Joshua 17:14 Joseph’s descendants said to Joshua, “Why did you give us only one tribal allotment as an inheritance? We have many people because Yahveh has been blessing us greatly.”
Joshua 17:15 “If you have so many people,” Joshua replied to them, “go to the forest and clear an area for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim because Ephraim’s hill country is too small for you.”
Joshua 17:16 But the descendants of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who inhabit the valley area have iron chariots, both at Beth-shean with its surrounding villages and in the Jezreel Valley.”
Joshua 17:17 So Joshua replied to Joseph’s family (that is, Ephraim and Manasseh), “You have many people and great strength. You will not have just one allotment,
Joshua 17:18 because the hill country will be yours also. It is a forest; clear it and its outlying areas will be yours. You can also drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and are strong.”
Joshua 17 quotes:
“Canaanites were determined to live in that region: Significant cities remained in the hands of the Canaanites in the Jezreel Valley: Megiddo, Taanach, Ibleam, Endor, and Beth Shan. The fortresses dominated passes that served as entrances to this fertile plain. These cities made it impossible for the tribes to unify their territory (see map 33, Beitzel, The Moody Atlas of Bible Lands, p. 103).”
Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 96.
“The information in this section is considerably easier to understand, and the translations do not differ so widely from one another. The section heading West Manasseh may be translated in the same manner suggested for the section heading at 16.5.”
Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 221.
Joshua 16:1 The allotment for the descendants of Joseph went from the Jordan at Jericho to the Waters of Jericho on the east, through the open country ascending from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.
Joshua 16:2 From Bethel, it went to Luz and proceeded to the border of the Archites by Ataroth.
Joshua 16:3 It then went down westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.
Joshua 16:4 So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, received their inheritance.
Joshua 16:5 This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar on the east to Upper Beth-horon.
Joshua 16:6 In the north, the border went westward from Michmethath; it turned eastward from Taanath-shiloh and passed it east of Janoah.
Joshua 16:7 From Janoah, it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, reached Jericho, and crossed the Jordan.
Joshua 16:8 From Tappuah the border went westward along the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans, together with
Joshua 16:9 the cities set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of the descendants of Manasseh – all these cities with their settlements.
Joshua 16:10 However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So, the Canaanites still live in Ephraim today, but they are forced laborers.
Joshua 16 quotes:
“After Judah receives its inheritance, the tribes of Joseph receive theirs. Now that the territory of the north has been separated from Judah, the allotment describes the boundaries of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Ephraim receives its territory first in compliance with the wishes of Jacob, who blessed Ephraim over Manasseh (Gen. 48:14, 19). Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh receive land west of the Jordan. The description of the southern border of Ephraim indicates the boundary list begins by separating the northern territory from Dan and Benjamin. That southern border of Ephraim moves east to west from Jericho to Bethel in the highlands and down to Gezer and the Mediterranean Sea (16:1—4).”
Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 92.
“Chapters 16 and 17 describe the territory on the west side of the Jordan given to the descendants of Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. The tribe of Ephraim’s territory was immediately north of Benjamin, and West Manasseh was north of Ephraim.
Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 215.
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