Boundaries and Towns of Judah
Joshua 15:1-63
Jos.15.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגורל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- למטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- למשפחתם: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs,PRON,3,pl
- אל: NEG
- גבול: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- אדום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מדבר: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- צן: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- נגבה: NOUN,prop,f,sg
- מקצה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תימן: NOUN,prop,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 34:4-5 (verbal): Gives the southern boundary of the land including the wilderness of Zin and the south near Kadesh—language and geographic markers parallel to Joshua 15:1.
- Numbers 20:1 (allusion): Places Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin (Miriam's death), linking the same geographic locale named in Joshua 15:1.
- Deuteronomy 2:1-8 (thematic): Recalls Israel's route and the LORD's directions concerning Mount Seir/Edom as a separate possession, providing wider context for Judah's border toward Edom.
- Joshua 15:2-4 (structural): Immediate continuation of Joshua 15:1 that spells out Judah's southern and eastern borders and specific landmarks begun in v.1.
- 1 Chronicles 4:39-43 (thematic): Describes settlement and villages in the southern/wilderness regions adjacent to Judah, echoing the theme of habitation and borders in the Negeb/Zin area.
Alternative generated candidates
- The lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah, by their clans, reached to the border of Edom: the wilderness of Zin to the south, to the farthest limit of the south.
- The lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans reached to the border of Edom—the wilderness of Zin toward the south, to the uttermost end of the south.
Jos.15.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- גבול: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- נגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מקצה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ים: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- המלח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מן: PREP
- הלשן: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הפנה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- נגבה: ADV
Parallels
- Josh.15.1 (structural): Immediate context: verse 15:1 introduces the allotment of Judah; 15:2 begins the specific description of Judah’s southern border.
- Numbers 34:3-5 (verbal): The divine survey of the Promised Land gives the southern boundary using the same regional markers (wilderness/Negeb and the Salt Sea/Dead Sea); wording and limit-setting tradition parallel Joshua’s boundary description.
- Numbers 34:4 (verbal): Explicitly names the Salt Sea (Dead Sea) as a territorial limit (“and your east border shall be the salt sea”), echoing Joshua 15:2’s reference to the sea as the southern border landmark.
- Ezekiel 47:18-20 (thematic): Prophetic re‑allocation of Israel’s borders employs similar major geographic markers (Mediterranean, the river of Egypt, Dead Sea region), reflecting the same border schema and territorial ideology found in Joshua 15:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- Their southern boundary was the Salt Sea at its southernmost inlet, from the tongue that turns to the south.
- Their southern boundary ran from the end of the Dead Sea, from the tongue of land that turns to the south.
Jos.15.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- מנגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למעלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עקרבים: NOUN,m,pl,const
- ועבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- צנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- מנגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לקדש: PREP
- ברנע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- חצרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- אדרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ונסב: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,pl
- הקרקעה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Joshua 15:2 (structural): Immediate context — continues the same detailed description of Judah’s southern boundary beginning at the wilderness of Zin and naming the same sequence of landmarks.
- Numbers 34:4 (verbal): Near-verbatim boundary language — names Maʽaleh-acrabbim (Ascent of Scorpions) and Kadesh‑barnea as points on Israel’s southern border.
- Numbers 33:36–37 (allusion): Itinerary tradition — part of the older list of Israel’s stages of travel that includes Kadesh‑barnea and neighboring places, aligning with the route-language in Joshua 15:3.
- Numbers 13:26 (thematic): Focus on Kadesh‑barnea — reports the spies’ arrival there and highlights Kadesh‑barnea’s role as a major landmark in Israel’s wanderings and tribal boundaries.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it went out from there southward to Maaleh‑Akkrabbim, passed along to Zin, and went up from the south to Kadesh‑Barnea; it passed on to Hazar‑addar, went up to Addar, and encircled Karkaath.
- It went out southward to the ascent of Akrabbim, passed to Zin, and rose from the south to Kadesh‑barnea; it passed to Hazar‑addar, went up to Azmon, and turned from there toward the brook.
Jos.15.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ועבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עצמונה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- נחל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- תצאות: NOUN,f,pl,const
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ימה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- גבול: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- נגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 34:5-6 (verbal): Gives the national boundary language for the western/southern border—mentions the 'stream/river of Egypt' and the sea as the western limit, echoing Josh 15:4's geographic wording.
- Joshua 13:3 (structural): Part of Joshua's broader territorial listings; describes the same coastal/western extent of the land toward the great sea, framing the allotments that Josh 15:4 specifies for Judah.
- Exodus 23:31 (thematic): God's promise to set Israel's bounds 'from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines,' thematically comparable to the delimitation of tribal borders in Josh 15:4.
- Deuteronomy 11:24 (thematic): A promise of possession tied to territorial limits ('every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours'), paralleling the allotment/possession motif underlying Josh 15:4.
- Numbers 34:7 (verbal): Alongside 34:5-6, 34:7 further specifies southern/western border markers (the Salt Sea/the sea), reinforcing the same boundary schema reflected in Josh 15:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- It passed to Azmon and came out at the Wadi of Egypt; and the ends of the border were at the sea. This shall be your southern boundary.
- It passed to Azmon and the border went out to the Brook of Egypt; and the outer limit of the border was the sea. This shall be your southern boundary.
Jos.15.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וגבול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קדמה: ADV
- ים: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- המלח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- עד: PREP
- קצה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הירדן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וגבול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפאת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צפונה: ADV
- מלשון: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הים: NOUN,m,sg,abs,def
- מקצה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הירדן: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 34:12 (verbal): Gives the east border as the 'salt sea' (Dead Sea) and names the end of the Jordan — language very close to Joshua 15:5's description of the eastern boundary.
- Joshua 15:4 (structural): Immediate neighboring verse in the same allotment section; together with 15:5 it forms the contiguous description of Judah's borders to the Dead Sea and the Jordan.
- Joshua 17:11 (thematic): Describes territorial boundaries running 'from the Jordan to the sea' for another tribal allotment, echoing the use of the Jordan and the Dead Sea as principal boundary markers.
- Ezekiel 47:18 (thematic): A prophetic passage that maps Israel's borders and likewise employs the Dead Sea ('salt sea') and the Jordan's mouth as geographic reference points, reflecting the same boundary motifs found in Joshua 15:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the east border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan; and the north border was from the mouth of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.
- And the boundary on the east was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan; and the boundary on the north was from the mouth of the sea to the mouth of the Jordan.
Jos.15.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חגלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מצפון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cns
- הערבה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אבן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בהן: PREP+PRON,3,f,pl
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ראובן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15.5 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same Judahite boundary description; 15:5–6 form a single run of place‑names (Beth‑Hoglah, Beth‑Arabah, etc.).
- Josh.15.7 (structural): Follows on the same boundary list for Judah, continuing from the stone of Bohan to further southern landmarks (Azmon and the Brook/river of Egypt), showing the contiguous border itinerary.
- Num.34:4–5 (thematic): Gives the national southern boundary of the land of Canaan using similar topographical/legal boundary practice (ascent/valley/river markers); thematically parallels Joshua’s tribal border descriptions and use of place‑names and landmarks to delimit territory.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the border went up to Beth‑hoglah and passed north of Beth‑aravah; the border went up to the stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
- The border went up to Beth‑hoglah and passed north of Beth‑arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan, son of Reuben.
Jos.15.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- דברה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מעמק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עכור: ADJ,m,sg
- וצפונה: CONJ+ADV
- פנה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- הגלגל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נכח: PREP
- למעלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אדמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מנגב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לנחל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- עין: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- שמש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- תצאתיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אל: NEG
- עין: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- רגל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15.6 (structural): Immediate preceding verse in the same boundary passage; continues the geographic sequence that leads into 15:7 (same region and landmarks).
- Josh.15.8 (verbal): Follows 15:7 and continues listing border points (mentions En-shemesh and En-rogel); shares the same place-names and border sequence as 15:7.
- Josh.7:24-26 (verbal): Mentions the Valley of Achor (עמק עכור), the same geographic feature named in 15:7, in the narrative of Achan’s sin and punishment.
- Hos.2:15 (allusion): Prophetic reuse of 'Valley of Achor' as a symbolic place ('door of hope'/'trouble'), echoing the place-name and its theological resonance found in Joshua 15:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the border went up from the valley of the son of Hinnom to the northern slope and turned toward the hill that stands before the ascent of Adummim, which looks toward the south of the brook; and the border passed to the waters of En‑Shammayim, and its ends were at En‑rogel.
- And the border went up from the Valley of Achor to the north and turned toward the Gilgal that is before Adummim, from the Negev to the brook; it passed to the waters of En‑Shemesh, and its outgoing point was at En‑Rogel.
Jos.15.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- גי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- כתף: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- היבוסי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- מנגב: PREP
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- ראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- גי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ימה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בקצה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רפאים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- צפנה: ADV
Parallels
- Josh.15:63 (verbal): Same chapter's note that the Jebusites (residents of Jebus/Jerusalem) continued to dwell in Jerusalem within Judah -- echoes the identification of the border reaching Jebus.
- 2 Sam.5:6-9 (allusion): David's capture of Jebus (Jerusalem) from the Jebusites and naming of the stronghold/City of David ties historically to the Jebusite city named in Joshua's boundary description.
- 2 Sam.5:18-22 (thematic): These verses describe Philistine encounters in the valley of Rephaim near Jerusalem; Joshua 15:8 likewise locates the Judean border at the edge/top of the valley of Rephaim, linking the same geographic feature.
- Jer.7:31 (thematic): Jeremiah's reference to Topheth/child sacrifice in the valley of Ben‑Hinnom (Gehenna) uses the same Ben‑Hinnom valley that Joshua 15:8 names in defining Jerusalem's border.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the border went up the valley of Ben‑Hinnom to the shoulder of the Jebusite on the south (that is, Jerusalem). And the border went up to the top of the hill that lies before the valley of Rephaim on the west.
- It went up to the Valley of Ben‑Hinnom to the shoulder of the Jebusite toward the north (that is, Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Ben‑Hinnom, to the west, to the mouth of the Valley of Rephaim on the north.
Jos.15.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מראש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- מעין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- נפתוח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- ערי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- עפרון: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ותאר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בעלה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- יערים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:10 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same boundary description for Judah—same formula “and the border went up” listing adjoining heights and towns.
- 1 Chronicles 13:6 (verbal): Identifies Baale of Judah as Kiriath‑jearim (the same town named in Josh. 15:9), connecting the place‑name across narrations.
- 1 Samuel 7:1 (thematic): Mentions the men of Kiriath‑jearim bringing up the ark to the house of Abinadab—uses the same town as a geographical landmark and cultic site.
- 2 Samuel 6:2 (allusion): Relates David’s retrieval of the ark from Baale of Judah/Kiriath‑jearim to Jerusalem, thematically linking the town named in Joshua’s border list with later national events.
Alternative generated candidates
- And from the top of the hill it went to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah and came out at the cities of the hill country of Ephron; then the border encircled the hill country toward Baalah, that is, Kiriath‑jearim.
- The boundary extended from the head of the hill to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah and went out to the cities of the hill of Ephron; the border went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath‑jearim).
Jos.15.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ונסב: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,pl
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מבעלה: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ימה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- שעיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועבר: CONJ,VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- כתף: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יערים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מצפונה: PREP,NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- כסלון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועבר: CONJ,VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- תמנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 2:4-5 (allusion): Refers to Mount Seir as the domain of Esau/Edom and instructs Israel not to harass Edom — thematically explains Mount Seir as a boundary/possession referenced in Josh 15:10.
- Genesis 36:8 (verbal): States that Esau dwelt in Mount Seir (Esau = Edom), linking the place-name Mount Seir in Joshua’s boundary description to Edom’s territory.
- Joshua 15:9 (structural): Immediate neighboring verse in Joshua’s boundary account; continues the same sequence of places and helps situate the turning point of the border described in 15:10.
- Joshua 15:11 (structural): Follows 15:10 in the same territorial listing (mentions Beth-shemesh/Timnah region); provides further local detail and continuity for the border route given in 15:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the border turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir and passed from the shoulder of the hill country of the Jebusites northward (that is to Kislon). Then it went down to Beth‑shemesh and passed on to Timnah.
- From Baalah it turned westward to Mount Seir and passed along to the shoulder of the hill of the forest on the north (that is, Kessalon); it went down to Beth‑shemesh and passed to Timnah.
Jos.15.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- כתף: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עקרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צפונה: ADV
- ותאר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שכרונה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ועבר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הבעלה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- יבנאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- תצאות: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ימה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:1-12 (structural): Immediate context: the contiguous, detailed list of Judah’s western/southern border points that includes the same sequence of place‑names and the closing phrase about the coast reaching the sea.
- Numbers 34:4-5 (verbal): Another Old Testament boundary list that specifies the western border 'unto the great sea'—paralleling Joshua’s concluding note that the border 'went out to the sea'.
- Joshua 1:4 (thematic): A broader statement of the Promised Land’s boundaries ('from the wilderness and this Lebanon... unto the great sea') that frames the same concern with territorial limits and coastal extent found in Joshua 15:11.
- Deuteronomy 11:24 (thematic): A promise about the extent of Israel’s inheritance ('every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread') which thematically undergirds the chapter’s precise allotment and border descriptions in Joshua 15.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the border went out to the shoulder of Ekron northward; the border turned to Shikron and passed along to Mount Baalah, went out to Jabneel, and its ends were at the sea.
- It went out to the shoulder of Ekron toward the north; the border encompassed Shikrona, passed by the hill of Baalah, and went out to Jabneel; the outward boundary was the sea.
Jos.15.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וגבול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ים: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- הימה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הגדול: ADJ,m,sg,def
- וגבול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- גבול: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- סביב: ADV
- למשפחתם: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs,PRON,3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 15:1 (structural): Introduces the allotment of Judah 'to their families' (לפי משפחותם), the same distributional/territorial formula framing Joshua 15:12's boundary statement.
- Numbers 34:5 (verbal): Gives the southern border 'unto the uttermost sea' (the sea as the boundary), parallel language specifying the land's border reaching the sea.
- Joshua 15:47 (verbal): Lists towns 'in the coast of the sea' within Judah's inheritance, another statement marking Judah's western/coastal limits toward the Great Sea.
- Judges 1:18–19 (thematic): Describes Judah's campaigns and acquisition of coastal towns (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron) and interactions at the sea—themewise parallel about Judah's territorial reach to the seaside.
Alternative generated candidates
- This was the western boundary: the great sea; and this was the boundary of the sons of Judah around by their families.
- And to the west was the Great Sea; thus was the boundary of the sons of Judah around according to their clans.
Jos.15.13 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ולכלב: CONJ+PREP,NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יפנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- חלק: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- בתוך: PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- אל: NEG
- פי: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ליהושע: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ארבע: NUM,card,f
- אבי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הענק: NOUN,m,sg,def
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- חברון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 14:13 (verbal): Nearly identical statement: Caleb son of Jephunneh is given Hebron/Kiriath‑arba as his inheritance — the grant is repeated with the same language.
- Joshua 14:6-15 (structural): Extended parallel narrative: Caleb's request to Joshua for Hebron, his reminder of God's promise, and the formal bestowal of the land.
- Numbers 14:24 (thematic): Divine promise to Caleb because he had a different spirit and followed the LORD fully — the theological basis for his receiving Hebron.
- Judges 1:10-11 (structural): Account of Judah's capture of Hebron and Caleb driving out the sons of Anak — echoes the territorial possession and conquest tied to Caleb's inheritance.
- Deuteronomy 1:36 (allusion): Earlier divine exception for Caleb (he shall enter the land) — prelude to the promise and later allotment of Hebron.
Alternative generated candidates
- And to Caleb son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the word of the LORD to Joshua: Kiriath‑arba, the father of Anak, that is Hebron.
- And to Caleb son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the sons of Judah, by the command of the LORD to Joshua: Kiriath‑arba, the father of the Anakim, which is Hebron.
Jos.15.14 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וירש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,pref_vav
- משם: PREP
- כלב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- שלושה: NUM,m,pl,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- הענק: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- ששי: ADJ,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- אחימן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- תלמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ילידי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- הענק: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 13:22 (verbal): The spies 'went to Hebron' and report seeing 'the descendants of Anak' and the names Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai — the same figures named here.
- Judges 1:10 (verbal): A near‑verbatim tradition: 'Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from Hebron: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai,' repeating Joshua's wording.
- Joshua 11:21-22 (thematic): Describes Joshua's campaign removing the Anakim from the hill country, providing the broader conquest context for Caleb's expulsion of the Anakim.
- Joshua 14:12 (allusion): Caleb's plea for Hebron explicitly refers to the presence of the Anakim there and his desire to possess the mountain — background to his later driving them out.
- Deuteronomy 1:28 (thematic): The spies' report that 'the sons of Anak' were in the land reflects the same tradition of fear and the presence of the Anakim that Caleb later confronts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Caleb drove out from there three sons of Anak—Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai—descendants of Anak.
- From there Caleb drove out three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
Jos.15.15 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משם: PREP
- אל: NEG
- ישבי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפנים: PREP
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 1:11-15 (verbal): Direct parallel account naming Debir as Kiriath‑sepher; repeats the same tradition and recounts Othniel’s capture of the city and the offer of Achsah.
- Joshua 15:16-19 (verbal): Immediate continuation in the same chapter: the narrative about Othniel capturing Debir (Kiriath‑sepher) and marrying Achsah repeats and expands the detail in vv.16–19.
- Joshua 10:38 (thematic): Part of Joshua’s list of southern conquests; includes the capture of towns in the hill country (contextual parallel showing the conquest tradition that includes Debir/Kiriath‑sepher).
Alternative generated candidates
- And from there he went up to the inhabitants of Debir; formerly the name of Debir was Kiriath‑sepher.
- From there he went up against the inhabitants of Debir; formerly Debir was called Kiriath‑sepher.
Jos.15.16 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כלב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יכה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולכדה: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg,obj:3f
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עכסה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,1cs
- לאשה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 1:12–13 (quotation): Direct parallel account: Caleb offers his daughter Achsah as a reward to whoever captures Kiriath‑sepher (Debir); Othniel son of Kenaz takes the city and marries her—nearly identical wording and action.
- Joshua 15:17 (structural): Immediate continuation in Joshua: records that Othniel captured Kiriath‑sepher and Caleb gave him Achsah, completing the event promised in v.16.
- Judges 1:14–15 (verbal): Follow‑up to the same episode in Judges: after marriage Achsah requests and receives springs of water—an element of the narrative tied to the marriage reward first offered in v.16.
- Joshua 14:6–15 (thematic): Thematic parallel in which Caleb claims his inheritance for faithful service and conquest; both passages highlight Caleb’s granting/receiving of land and rewards for military achievement and faithfulness.
- Judges 3:9–11 (allusion): Othniel (identified as Kenaz’s son in Judges) later appears as Israel’s deliverer/judge; this ties the husband of Achsah (the victor of Kiriath‑sepher) to the later tradition of Othniel the judge.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Caleb said, “Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath‑sepher, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.”
- And Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kiriath‑sepher and captures it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as a wife.”
Jos.15.17 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וילכדה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עתניאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קנז: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- כלב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עכסה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- לאשה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 1:12-13 (quotation): Repeats the same episode: Othniel son of Kenaz takes the city (Kiriath-sepher) and Caleb gives him his daughter Achsah in marriage, effectively the same narrative as Joshua 15:17.
- Judges 1:14-15 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the Judges account: Achsah asks her father for springs of water and Caleb grants both upper and lower springs—details tied to the marriage of Achsah to Othniel.
- Judges 3:9-11 (allusion): Refers to Othniel son of Kenaz (Caleb’s younger brother) in his later role as Israel’s first judge, linking the marital/genealogical note in Josh 15:17 to his subsequent leadership.
- 1 Chronicles 4:14-15 (structural): Genealogical listing that connects Kenaz and his descendants (including Othniel), corroborating the family relationship between Othniel and Caleb noted in Joshua 15:17.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it; and he gave Achsah his daughter to him for a wife.
- Othniel son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
Jos.15.18 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בבואה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותסיתהו: VERB,hiph,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- לשאול: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- מאת: PREP
- אביה: NOUN,m,sg,suff
- שדה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותצנח: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- מעל: PREP
- החמור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- כלב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מה: PRON,int
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Judges 1:12-15 (quotation): Direct retelling of the same episode: Othniel (son of Kenaz) takes Debir, is given Achsah in marriage, and she urges him to ask her father for a field (same actions and dialogue).
- Josh.15:19 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: after she dismounts and Caleb asks 'What wilt thou?', she requests springs and Caleb grants her the upper and lower springs—completes the episode begun in 15:18.
- Josh.14:6-15 (thematic): Caleb’s earlier request for and receipt of his inheritance (Hebron) highlights his land-grant status and character of petitioning for territory, providing background to Caleb’s interaction with his daughter here.
- Judges 3:9-11 (allusion): Mentions Othniel son of Kenaz as Israel’s deliverer/judge; connects the same Othniel who won Debir and married Achsah, linking the marital/territorial episode in Joshua/Judges 1 to his later role.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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?”
- When she came, she urged him to ask her father for a field; she dismounted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”
Jos.15.19 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- תנה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ברכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הנגב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- נתתני: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ונתתה: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- גלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- מים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- גלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- עליות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- גלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- תחתיות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:16-18 (structural): Immediate context: the preceding verses record Othniel's capture of Debir and Caleb giving his daughter Achsah in marriage—setting up her request for 'springs of water' and the gift of the upper and lower springs (the same episode continued into v.19).
- Judges 1:12-15 (quotation): A near-parallel retelling of the same episode: Othniel captures Debir, receives Achsah as wife, and she asks her father for springs of water; he grants her the upper and lower springs (verbal and narrative overlap).
- Judges 3:9-11 (allusion): Refers to Othniel son of Kenaz as Israel's deliverer and judge; alludes to the same figure who in Joshua/Judges 1 receives Achsah—connecting the marriage/springs episode to Othniel's later role in Israel's history.
Alternative generated candidates
- She said, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
- She said, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water.” He gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
Jos.15.20 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- נחלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- מטה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- למשפחתם: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs,PRON,3,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 26:52-56 (structural): Prescribes the procedure for assigning the land by lot to the tribes of Israel—background legal/administrative framework for statements like 'this is the lot of the tribe of Judah.'
- Judges 1:2-4 (thematic): Narrates Judah's leading role in the conquest and the receiving of territory, thematically parallel to Joshua's allocation of the inheritance to Judah and its families.
- 1 Chronicles 2:1-4 (verbal): Lists the sons and clans of Judah, paralleling Joshua's formulaic reference to the tribe of Judah 'according to their families' (mispachot) and the internal family divisions receiving inheritance.
- Genesis 49:8-12 (thematic): Jacob's blessing of Judah as preeminent and destined for leadership/possession anticipates Judah's territorial inheritance and undergirds passages allocating land to the tribe.
Alternative generated candidates
- This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their clans.
- This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans.
Jos.15.21 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- הערים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- מקצה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- אל: NEG
- גבול: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- אדום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנגבה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קבצאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועדר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויגור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:1-63 (structural): The verse is part of this larger chapter-long allotment listing the towns and borders of Judah; the chapter repeats and contextualizes the same Negeb towns named in v.21.
- Joshua 19:2-9 (thematic): The allotment of Simeon lists towns located 'in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Judah' in the Negeb, illustrating overlapping southern settlements and echoing the same regional place‑names and border dynamics.
- Numbers 34:3-5 (thematic): Gives the southern boundary of the land toward the wilderness of Zin and the border of Edom—paralleling Josh 15:21's reference to Judah's towns 'to the border of Edom in the Negeb'.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-31 (allusion): Lists clans and settlements whose territory extends 'to the border of Edom in the Negeb,' echoing the same geographic phrasing and southern settlement pattern found in Josh 15:21.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the cities of the Negeb belonging to the tribe of the sons of Judah, toward the border of Edom, were: Kabzeel, Eder, and Jagur,
- The cities at the far south of the tribe of Judah toward the border of Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, and Jagur.
Jos.15.22 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וקינה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ודימונה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועדעדה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21-32 (verbal): Immediate context: verse 22 is part of this contiguous list of towns in the allotment of Judah (the towns Kinah/ Qînah, Dimonah, Adadah appear in this sequence).
- Judges 1:11-15 (thematic): Judges 1 narrates Judah's conquest and settlement of southern towns in the Negev and foothills, paralleling the same territorial and settlement material found in Joshua 15.
- Joshua 19:1-9 (structural): Joshua 19 records the allotment to Simeon within the territory of Judah; the city lists here cover the Negeb/ southern region and structurally parallel the town lists of Joshua 15 (overlap in regional settlement patterns).
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-31 (allusion): Chronicles preserves later genealogical and local lists naming towns of southern Judah/Negeb; these echo the town‑list tradition found in Joshua 15 and reflect the same regional toponymy.
Alternative generated candidates
- Kinah, Dimonah, and Adadah,
- Kina, Dimonah, and Adadah.
Jos.15.23 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וקדש: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחצור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויתנן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 11:10–11 (verbal): Hazor appears here as the major Canaanite city captured and burned by Joshua — the same place-name (חצור) that occurs in the town-list of Joshua 15:23.
- Numbers 13:26 (verbal): The spies return to Kadesh (Kadesh‑barnea) and report on the land — the same Kadesh (קדש) named in Joshua 15's list of Judahite localities.
- Deuteronomy 1:46 (thematic): Records the Israelites' encampment at Kadesh during the wilderness wanderings; thematically connects to the place-name Kadesh in Joshua 15, which figures in territorial and historical memory.
- Judges 1:1–2:2 (structural): Judges 1 contains a parallel tradition of conquest and the distribution of towns in Judah and surrounding regions; structurally comparable to Joshua 15's catalogue of towns (including names like Kadesh/Hazor) in the allotment material.
Alternative generated candidates
- Kedesh, Hazor, and Ithnan,
- Kedesh, Hazor, and Yitnan.
Jos.15.24 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- זיף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וטלם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובעלות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:23 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same territorial list of Judah — Joshua 15:23–24 are contiguous entries naming towns in the hill country (contextual continuation of the place-list).
- 1 Samuel 23:19 (verbal): Mentions Ziph (the Ziphites) as a locality where David took refuge; the same place-name from the Joshua town-list appears in narratives of the monarchy period.
- 1 Samuel 26:3 (verbal): Refers to the wilderness of Ziph in the account of Saul's pursuit of David, showing Ziph's continued geographic and narrative significance after the conquest period.
- Psalm 54:1 (superscription) (allusion): The psalm’s heading alludes to the Ziphites’ betrayal of David to Saul (‘When the Ziphims came…’), echoing the place-name found in Joshua 15:24 and linking the town to later historical events.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ziph, Telem, and Bealoth,
- Ziph, Telem, and Bealoth.
Jos.15.25 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וחצור: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חדתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וקריות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- חצרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- חצור: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:20-32 (structural): Contextual parallel — this whole section lists the towns and villages of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah; v.25 is one entry in this contiguous catalog of place-names.
- Judges 1:10-20 (thematic): Parallel account of Judah’s possession and settlement of towns (including Hebron/Kiriath names); relates to the same regional allotments and city-names in the hill country of Judah.
- Joshua 11:1 (verbal): Uses the place-name Hazor — demonstrates the recurrence of the name ‘Hazor’ in the biblical tradition (though Joshua 11 refers to the major northern Hazor, while Josh.15:25 refers to a southern Hazor/Hazar‑hadattah).
- Matthew 10:4 (verbal): New Testament occurrence of the name form ‘Iscariot’ (Judas Iscariot); traditionally understood as ‘Ish‑Kerioth’ — 'man of Kerioth' — linking the town-name Kerioth (Kerioth‑hezron) in Josh.15:25 to the designation of Judas in the Gospels.
Alternative generated candidates
- Hazor‑hadattah and Kerioth‑hepher—that is Hazor,
- Hazor‑hadattah and Kerioth‑hezron (that is, Hazor).
Jos.15.26 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אמם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ושמע: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- ומולדה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21-32 (structural): Part of the same contiguous catalogue of towns in the Shephelah and Negev; ʻAmam, Shema and Moladah occur within this extended list of Judah’s southern settlements.
- Judges 1:11-15 (thematic): Narrative report of Judah’s campaigns and settlement in the southern hill country and Negev — thematically parallel as an account of the conquest and occupation of many of the same Judaean towns and districts.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-32 (verbal): Chronicles preserves later genealogical/regional lists that echo the place‑names of southern Judah/Negev; several towns from Joshua’s list (including Moladah and neighboring settlements) reappear in these listings.
- Nehemiah 11:25-30 (thematic): Post‑exilic roster of inhabitants and towns in Judah’s territory that preserves many of the ancient place‑names found in Joshua 15, illustrating continuity of settlement names such as those in the Negev.
Alternative generated candidates
- Amam, Shema, and Moladah,
- Amam, Shema, and Moladah.
Jos.15.27 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וחצר: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גדה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וחשמון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- פלט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:20-32 (verbal): Immediate context: the extended catalogue of towns in the Shephelah and Negev of Judah; Joshua 15:27 is one entry in this contiguous list and shares wording and place‑name formulae with these verses.
- Joshua 15:28-32 (verbal): A direct continuation of the same city‑list for southern Judah; these verses repeat the same genre and administrative ordering of place names that frames v.27.
- Joshua 15:43-47 (structural): Later in the chapter another grouped list of towns in Judah (the southern lowlands and Negev) shows the same organizational pattern of clustered place‑names and territorial assignment as in v.27.
- Joshua 19:1-9 (thematic): The allotment of Simeon (Joshua 19) is described as lying within Judah’s territory; thematically this passage parallels Joshua 15’s city lists by showing overlapping settlements and the reuse of southern Judah place‑names in a neighbouring tribal allotment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Hazar‑gad, Heshmon, and Beth‑palet,
- Hazar‑gad, Heshmon, and Beth‑paleth.
Jos.15.28 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וחצר: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שועל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובאר: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שבע: NUM,card
- ובזיותיה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.19:2 (verbal): Repeats many of the same southern place-names (Beersheba, Hazar‑Shual, etc.) in the allotment lists; the towns occur again in the listing of Simeon’s inheritance within Judah.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28–31 (structural): Later genealogical/topographical summary of the tribes (Simeon among the territory of Judah) that lists settlements in the southern Negev, reflecting the same territorial reality as Joshua 15’s town lists.
- Genesis 21:31 (thematic): Earliest tradition associating Beersheba with covenantal acts (Abraham’s treaty with Abimelech) — connects the town named in Joshua 15:28 to its wider historical and cultic significance.
- Genesis 26:23–25 (thematic): Isaac’s sojourn and altar/well at Beersheba (and naming of the place) — another foundational tradition that explains the continued prominence of Beersheba in territorial lists like Joshua 15:28.
Alternative generated candidates
- Hazar‑susah, Beersheba, and its villages,
- Hazar‑shual, Beersheba and its villages.
Jos.15.29 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- בעלה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועיים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ועצם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,pref:wa
Parallels
- Josh.15:28-30 (structural): Immediate context — the surrounding verses continue the same alphabetical/territorial catalog of towns in the Shephelah/Negev of Judah and include the same cluster of place‑names as v.29.
- Judges 1:11-15 (thematic): Post‑conquest settlement lists for Judah — recounts Judah's capture/settlement of towns in the same southern/Shephelah region and parallels the territorial catalogue found in Joshua 15.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-31 (thematic): Later genealogical/territorial summary that lists villages in the southern Negev/Shephelah area; provides a parallel tradition of southern town‑lists that overlaps the geographic scope of Joshua 15.
- Nehemiah 11:25-30 (thematic): Post‑exilic register of inhabitants and towns of Judah — preserves a list of settlements in the same broader region, reflecting continuity with the pre‑exilic city lists in Joshua 15.
Alternative generated candidates
- Baalah, Iim, and Ezem,
- Baalah, Iim, and Ezem.
Jos.15.30 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואלתולד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכסיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחרמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15:29 (verbal): Immediately preceding verse in the same catalogue of towns in the hill-country of Judah; shares the same sequence and vocabulary (part of the contiguous city-list).
- Josh.15:31 (verbal): Follows v.30 and continues the same verbal enumeration of Judahite towns; part of the continuous list of settlements in Joshua 15.
- Josh.15:32 (structural): Continues the cluster of city-names enumerating the towns of the hill country of Judah; structurally parallel as part of the extended municipal catalogue in Joshua 15.
Alternative generated candidates
- Eltolad, Chesil, and Hormah,
- Tolad, Chesil, and Hormah.
Jos.15.31 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וצקלג: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומדמנה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וסנסנה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:20-32 (structural): Immediate context — the larger list of towns in the southern lowland and Negev of Judah of which 'Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah' are a part; shows the verse as part of the territorial catalogue for Judah.
- 1 Samuel 27:6 (verbal): Mentions Ziklag by name as the town given to David by Achish king of Gath — connects to Josh 15:31’s listing of Ziklag in Judah’s territory and its later history.
- 1 Samuel 30:1–6 (verbal): Describes the Amalekite attack on and burning of Ziklag and David’s crisis there — thematically linked because Josh 15:31 identifies Ziklag as an inhabited town later significant in David’s narrative.
- Joshua 19:1–9 (thematic): The allotment of the tribe of Simeon, which was given territory within the boundaries of Judah; thematically parallels Joshua 15’s city lists and the overlap/administrative relationships between tribal allotments in the south.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ziklag, Madmannah, and Sansannah,
- Ziklag, Madmannah, and Sansannah.
Jos.15.32 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ולבאות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ושלחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ועין: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ורמון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עשרים: NUM,card,pl
- ותשע: NUM
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Josh.15:27 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same chapter: part of the contiguous catalogue of towns in Judah’s allotment—same genre and many shared place-names and formulaic wording.
- Josh.15:30 (verbal): Another nearby verse in the Judah-town list; repeats the catalogue structure and includes adjoining settlements that together form the full list of twenty-nine towns and their villages.
- Judg.1:11-15 (thematic): Judges 1 records the later conquest and settlement of towns in Judah’s territory; thematically parallel as a second textual tradition describing occupation of many of the same towns/region (overlap with place-names and settlement history).
- Josh.21:11-12 (structural): Lists Levitical cities allotted within Judah’s territory. Structurally parallel because it reuses the geographic framework of Joshua 15 and preserves some of the same place‑names (showing overlap between tribal allotment lists and priestly city lists).
Alternative generated candidates
- Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty‑nine cities with their villages.
- Libnah, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—these cities in all twenty‑nine with their villages.
Jos.15.33 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- בשפלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשתאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וצרעה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואשנה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15:32 (structural): Immediate neighboring verse in the same chapter — part of the contiguous list of towns in the Shephelah allotted to Judah (the verse is part of the same geographic/administrative catalog).
- Judg.13:2 (allusion): Names Zorah (צָרְעָה) as the hometown of Manoah’s wife and the birthplace/home of Samson, linking the town in Joshua’s allotment to later narrative significance.
- Judg.16:31 (allusion): Reports that Samson was buried in the tomb of his father Manoah in Zorah, further tying the town named in Joshua’s town-list to Israel’s heroic tradition and burial customs.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah, and Ashnah,
- In the Shephelah: Eshtaol, Zorah, and Ashnah.
Jos.15.34 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וזנוח: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ועין: CONJ+NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- גנים: NOUN,prop,m,pl,abs
- תפוח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והעינם: CONJ+NOUN,prop,f,pl,def
Parallels
- Joshua 15:32-36 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter — this verse is part of the larger catalogue of towns in the Shephelah and southern hill country of Judah that runs through Joshua 15.
- Joshua 17:8 (verbal): Tappuah appears here as well (boundary/settlement in the hill country/lowlands); the same place-name is used elsewhere in Joshua in connection with tribal allotments.
- 1 Samuel 24:1-3 (verbal): En-gedi (a place-name in Josh. 15 lists) recurs as the wilderness/settlement where David hides from Saul, showing the same geographical name later in narrative history.
- Judges 1:8-35 (thematic): Judges 1 contains the parallel account of early Israelite operations in Judah and adjacent regions and lists many of the same towns/territorial struggles, providing a thematic cross-reference to the conquest and settlement material in Joshua 15.
Alternative generated candidates
- Zanoach, En‑gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
- Zanoah, En‑gannim, Tappuah, and Enam.
Jos.15.35 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ירמות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועדלם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שוכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועזקה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.10.3 (verbal): Jarmuth/Jarmuth appears among the five Amorite kings (Joshua 10:3); same place-name (Yarmuth/Jarmuth) as the town listed in Joshua 15:35.
- 1 Sam.17:1–3 (verbal): Socoh and Azekah are mentioned together as the landmarks between which the Philistine army camped (the valley of Elah); the same pair of towns occurs in Joshua 15:35, confirming their geographic association.
- 1 Sam.22:1 (verbal): Adullam appears later as the site of David’s refuge (the cave of Adullam); this reuses the place-name listed among Judah’s towns in Joshua 15:35, showing its continued prominence.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jarmuth, Adithaim, Socho, and Azekah,
- Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah.
Jos.15.36 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ושערים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ועדיתים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והגדרה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וגדרתים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ארבע: NUM,card,f
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 15:29 (structural): Nearby verse in the same chapter — part of the contiguous list of towns in the territory of Judah; shares the same cataloging function and local toponymy.
- Joshua 15:41 (structural): Another verse in the Judah city-list that repeats the formula of naming towns followed by 'and their villages' (or suburbs); shows the same compositional pattern for allotment lists.
- Judges 1:11 (thematic): Early Judges account of Judah's conquests and city-captures (e.g., Debir/Kiriath-sepher) overlaps with places found in Joshua's city lists; both traditions preserve the same southern toponyms and settlement information.
- Joshua 21:11 (verbal): Part of the list of Levitical towns ('and their suburbs' / חצריהם) given in Joshua 21; uses the same language and administrative concern for towns and their surrounding hamlets/suburbs.
Alternative generated candidates
- Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim—fourteen cities with their villages.
- Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim—fourteen cities with their villages.
Jos.15.37 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- צנן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחדשה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומגדל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גד: NOUN,prop,m,sg
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21-41 (structural): Joshua 15:37 is part of this extended catalogue of towns in the Shephelah and southern Judah; the verse’s names occur within this contiguous list of allotted cities.
- Judges 1:20-28 (thematic): Judges 1 recounts Judah’s conquests and settlement and contains overlapping city‑lists for the same region, functioning as a parallel tradition to Joshua’s territorial catalogue.
- Numbers 34:1-12 (thematic): Numbers 34 sets out the boundaries and allotment scheme for the land of Canaan—the legal/administrative framework that underlies the tribal and city lists given later in Joshua 15.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-33 (verbal): Chronicles preserves lists of towns in the southern/Shephelah region that reflect many of the same settlement names and regional traditions found in Joshua 15, showing continued attestation of these place‑names.
Alternative generated candidates
- Zaanan, Hadashah, and Migdal‑gad,
- Zin, Hadashah, and Migdal‑gad.
Jos.15.38 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ודלען: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והמצפה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויקתאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21-62 (structural): Verse 38 is part of this extended administrative/topographical catalogue of towns in the allotment of Judah; the surrounding verses form the full list with which this verse corresponds.
- Judges 1:11-15 (thematic): Judges recounts Judah's early conquest and settlement and lists towns in the same region—overlapping place‑names and the theme of occupation and territorial control reflect the same tradition as Joshua's town‑list.
- Joshua 21:11-12 (structural): Joshua 21 assigns Levitical cities within the territory of Judah; this later administrative listing reuses many of the same Judahite localities mentioned in Joshua 15, showing continuity in town‑nomenclature and territorial organization.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-34 (thematic): Chronicles records settlements and clan‑based villages in southern Judah/Negev with similar toponyms and settlement patterns, paralleling the settlement/topographical interest of Joshua 15's list.
- Judges 20:1 (verbal): This verse mentions Mizpah (מִצְפָּה), the same place‑name found in Josh 15:38; the recurrence of Mizpah in different narrative contexts illustrates how specific place‑names function as verbal anchors across texts.
Alternative generated candidates
- Dilean, Mizpah, and Joktheel,
- Dilean, Mizpeh, and Joktheel.
Jos.15.39 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- לכיש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ובצקת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועגלון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 10:3 (verbal): Names southern Canaanite rulers including Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon — the same place-names (Lachish, Eglon) that appear in Joshua 15:39.
- Joshua 10:31–32 (verbal): Narrative account of Joshua’s capture of Lachish — repeats the town-name Lachish from the list in Joshua 15:39.
- 1 Samuel 17:2 (verbal): Mentions Azekah as a geographic marker (Philistine encampment between Socoh and Azekah) — the same Azekah named in Joshua 15:39.
- 2 Kings 18:17 (allusion): Describes the Assyrian envoy Rabshakeh coming from Lachish — attests to Lachish’s continued importance and echoes the town-name in Joshua 15:39.
- Judges 3:12 (allusion): Uses the name Eglon for a Moabite king (not the town) — echoes the same Hebrew name Eglon found among Judah’s towns in Joshua 15:39.
Alternative generated candidates
- Lachish, Bozkath, and Eglon,
- Lachish, Bozkath, and Eglon.
Jos.15.40 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וכבון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולחמס: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכתליש: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:22-32 (structural): Part of the same contiguous catalogue of towns in the lowland/Shephelah of Judah; 15:40 is one item in this larger list.
- Joshua 15:41-47 (structural): Immediate continuation of the Judah town-list that contains 15:40, showing the broader cluster of place-names in the same territorial summary.
- Judges 1:1-20 (thematic): Early Judges chapter retells Israelite settlement and lists towns in Judah's territory (conquests and occupants), paralleling Joshua's inventory of southern towns.
- 1 Chronicles 4:21-23 (thematic): Chronicles gives genealogical and territorial notices of southern clans and their villages; it functions as a parallel catalogue to Joshua’s lists of towns in the Negeb/Shephelah.
Alternative generated candidates
- Cabbon, Lahmas, and Chitlish,
- Kebon, Lachmas, and Kithlish.
Jos.15.41 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וגדרות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דגון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונעמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומקדה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- שש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21-62 (structural): The verse is part of this extended catalog of towns and villages comprising the allotment of Judah; the surrounding verses list the other cities of the same territorial block.
- Joshua 10:28 (verbal): Earlier conquest narrative: Joshua 'took Makkedah' (מַקֵּדָה), the same town named here among Judah's allotted cities — a direct verbal and narrative link between conquest and settlement.
- Judges 1:8-21 (thematic): Judges 1 recounts the conquest and settlement of Judah (and Caleb), including capture of towns and the mixed success in driving out inhabitants; thematically parallels the later census-like listing of towns in Joshua 15.
- Joshua 19:1-9 (structural): Another tribal allotment list (Simeon) that parallels Joshua 15 in genre and function — systematic enumeration of towns and their villages for a tribal territory.
Alternative generated candidates
- Gederoth‑baal, Beth‑dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities with their villages.
- Gederoth, Beth‑dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities with their villages.
Jos.15.42 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- לבנה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- ועתר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועשן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:1-62 (structural): The verse is part of this larger catalogue—Joshua 15 is the full allotment list for Judah, of which Levnah (לבנה), Ether (עתר) and Ashan (עשן) are members; the chapter provides the full structural context for the verse.
- Joshua 15:41 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same sequence of place‑names listing towns of the Shephelah and Judah; these neighboring verses contain closely related or adjacent toponyms in the same list.
- Judges 1:11-15 (thematic): Judges 1 gives post‑conquest accounts and lists of towns in Judah/its borderlands. It parallels Joshua’s town lists thematically as an account of territorial control and place‑names in the same region.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-31 (thematic): 1 Chronicles preserves genealogical and territorial lists that often echo Joshua’s place‑names. These verses list towns in the southern territory and reflect the same regional cataloguing of settlements.
Alternative generated candidates
- Libnah, Ether, and Ashan,
- Lebnah, Ater, and Ashan.
Jos.15.43 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויפתח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ואשנה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ונציב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15:42-47 (structural): Immediate context: the surrounding verses in Josh.15 continue the catalogue of towns in the Shephelah/lowland of Judah (including Ashnah and neighboring sites), showing this verse is part of the local toponymic list.
- Judges 1:8-15 (thematic): Judges 1 recounts the conquest and settlement of Judah and repeats many of the same thematic elements (capture and possession of towns) and some overlapping place-names found in Joshua’s allotment lists.
- Joshua 21:11-12 (structural): Joshua 21 records the Levitical cities within the territory of Judah; several towns listed there overlap geographically with the towns enumerated in Josh.15, showing a later distributional use of the same place‑names.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-32 (thematic): 1 Chronicles contains genealogical and territorial notes that repeat and preserve lists of towns in southern Judah; these lists correspond to the same regional settlement pattern reflected in Josh.15’s catalogue.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jiphtah, Ashnah, and Nezib,
- Jiphtah, Ashnah, and Netziv.
Jos.15.44 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וקעילה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואכזיב: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומראשה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- תשע: NUM,card
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Josh.15.43 (structural): Immediate neighboring verse in the same city-list of Judah's hill country; continues the catalog of towns and villages, showing the same topographical/administrative context.
- Josh.15.45 (structural): Follows verse 44 in the same chapter's city-list (naming Mareshah and the nine towns with their villages); another entry in the contiguous roster of Judah's settlements.
- 1 Sam.23.1-5 (verbal): Narrative passage that explicitly mentions Keilah (Qeilah), the same town named in Josh 15:44; a verbal/locational parallel linking the place to later narrative events (David's movements).
- 2 Chron.11.8 (structural): Lists Mareshah among the towns built or fortified by Rehoboam; a parallel reference to the same settlement in a later biblical administrative/topographical context.
Alternative generated candidates
- Keilah, Achzib, and Maresha—nine cities with their villages.
- Keilah, Achzib, and Maresha—nine cities with their villages.
Jos.15.45 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- עקרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובנתיה: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,poss3ms
- וחצריה: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,poss3ms
Parallels
- Joshua 15:43 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter — part of the contiguous catalogue of towns in Judah’s lowland, repeating the town-name formula (town and its daughters/hamlets).
- Joshua 15:46 (structural): Continuation of the same allotment list ('from Ekron to the sea') — same list‑style context and geographic sweep as v.45.
- Judges 1:18 (verbal): Mentions Ekron together with other Philistine coastal cities ('Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron') — a related enumeration of the same city in a conquest/territorial context.
- 1 Samuel 5:11 (allusion): Refers to the people of Ekron reacting to the ark‑plague; connects thematically to the city named in Joshua 15:45 and to Ekron’s identity and status among Philistine towns.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ekron and its towns and its villages,
- Ekron and its towns and its villages.
Jos.15.46 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- מעקרון: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וימה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- יד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשדוד: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Judges 1:18 (verbal): Lists the same Philistine cities and their coasts (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron), closely matching Joshua's catalogue of coastal towns and villages.
- Joshua 13:2–3 (structural): Within the same book; gives the territorial bounds and names of Philistine cities (including Ekron, the seacoast, Ashdod), paralleling Joshua 15's allotment/listing of towns.
- 1 Samuel 6:17 (verbal): Enumerates the five Philistine cities (Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron) in the context of the ark story—verbal overlap with Joshua's listing of Ekron and Ashdod and their villages.
- Jeremiah 25:20 (verbal): Prophetic oracle that names Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod—verbal/thematic parallel in naming the same coastal Philistine towns.
Alternative generated candidates
- from Ekron to the sea—all that lie by the side of Ashdod and their villages,
- From Ekron, to the sea, all that is beside Ashdod and its villages.
Jos.15.47 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אשדוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנותיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs,pr:3fs
- וחצריה: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,pr:3fs
- עזה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בנותיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs,pr:3fs
- וחצריה: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,pr:3fs
- עד: PREP
- נחל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- והים: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- הגדול: ADJ,m,sg,def
- וגבול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 1:18 (verbal): Names the same Philistine cities—Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron—and uses similar language about taking the city with its territory/villages, paralleling Joshua's listing of Ashdod and Gaza and their villages.
- 1 Samuel 6:17 (verbal): Lists the five principal Philistine city-states (Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron), showing the same canonical grouping of coastal cities found in Joshua 15:47.
- Zephaniah 2:4-7 (thematic): Prophetic oracle against the Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron), echoing the focus on these coastal towns and their fate—an extended theological reflection on the same regional entities named in Joshua.
- Ezekiel 25:15-17 (allusion): Divine judgment pronounced upon Philistine cities (including Ashdod and Gaza); thematically parallels Joshua's attention to these cities as distinct territorial and political units on Israel's border.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ashdod and its towns and their villages, Gaza and its towns and their villages, to the Brook of Egypt and the Great Sea—this shall be the boundary.
- Ashdod and its daughters and its villages; Gaza and its daughters and its villages, even to the Brook of Egypt and the Great Sea—this is the boundary.
Jos.15.48 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ובהר: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויתיר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושוכה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:49 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the same city-list in Judah’s hill country; repeats the toponymic cataloging and neighboring settlements.
- Joshua 15:21-62 (structural): The larger block of Joshua 15 contains the full allotment lists for Judah (including the hill-country towns); Josh.15.48 is one entry in this structural catalog of towns.
- Judges 10:1 (verbal): Mentions a place called Shamir (Tola dwelt in Shamir of Mount Ephraim); the same place-name appears here, showing recurring toponymy in Israelite records (though likely a different locality).
- Judges 1:8-10 (thematic): Describes Judah’s military activity and settlement of towns after the conquest—parallels the theme of allotment and occupation of hill-country towns found in Joshua 15’s lists.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, and Socoh,
- In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, and Socoh.
Jos.15.49 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ודנה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וקרית: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- סנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:15 (verbal): Earler in the same chapter Kiriath‑sepher is explicitly identified as Debir and appears in the story of Othniel — same place-name/identification.
- Judges 1:11-15 (verbal): Narrative account of Othniel capturing Kiriath‑sepher (called Debir) and receiving Achsah — the same city-name and tradition as in Joshua 15:49.
- Joshua 15:1-63 (structural): Joshua 15:49 is one entry in the extended catalogue of towns comprising the allotment of Judah; the surrounding verses form the larger structural context for this place-name.
Alternative generated candidates
- Dannah and Kirjath‑sannah (that is Debir),
- Dannah and Kiriath‑sannah (that is Debir).
Jos.15.50 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וענב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואשתמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וענים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15.49 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same municipal list — verse 49–50 are consecutive entries in the catalogue of towns in the hill country of Judah (the verse continues the list including Anab/Anav, Eshtemoa, Anim).
- Josh.15.14 (verbal): Same chapter refers back to the Anakim/Anab connection: Caleb's expulsion of the sons of Anak from Hebron and the hill country explains the presence and significance of place‑names like Anab in Judah's allotment. (Verbal link between the place‑name and earlier narrative about Anak/Anab.)
- Num.13:22 (thematic): The reconnaissance of the hill country (including Hebron) where the spies observed the Anakim provides background for towns like Anab/Anim — a thematic parallel about the hill‑country inhabitants and fortified towns encountered by Israel. (Contextual parallel to the region named in Josh.15:50.)
- Josh.21:11-14 (structural): The list of Levitical cities in Joshua 21 reiterates many place‑names in Judah's territory (including Eshtemoa/nearby towns), linking the allotment lists in ch.15 with the cities later assigned to the Levites.
Alternative generated candidates
- Anab, Eshtemoh, and Anim,
- Anab, Eshtemoa, and Anim.
Jos.15.51 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וגשן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחלן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וגלה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 15:50 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter — another entry in the chronological/listing sequence of towns allotted to Judah, showing the same enumerative/topographical cataloguing of settlements.
- Joshua 15:58 (structural): Concluding material for the list of Judean towns and villages; provides the broader structural context for v.51 as part of the comprehensive allotment record for the tribe of Judah.
- Judges 1:11-13 (thematic): Judges’ account of Judah’s military activity and occupation of Canaanite towns parallels Joshua’s emphasis on possession and settlement of towns in the same hill-country/Shephelah region (overlapping subject of conquest and habitation).
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-31 (structural): Genealogical/topographical listing of towns and settlements in southern Judah/Negeb that corresponds to Joshua’s municipal catalogue, reflecting later preservation and re‑use of the same toponyms and settlement patterns.
Alternative generated candidates
- Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities with their villages.
- Geshan, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities with their villages.
Jos.15.52 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ארב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ורומה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואשען: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:48-51 (structural): Immediate context: adjacent verses continue the same catalog of towns in the lowland and hill-country of the tribe of Judah, showing this verse is part of a contiguous toponymic list.
- Judges 1:8-15 (thematic): Early Judges preserves conquest and settlement traditions for Judah that parallel Joshua's allotment lists—overlapping place-names and the same pattern of listing towns taken and settled by Judahite clans.
- 1 Chronicles 4:27-32 (structural): Chronicles gives later genealogical/topographical lists of towns in the Shephelah and Judah (e.g., Zorah, Eshtaol, Zanoah) that correspond to the same regional catalogue found in Joshua 15.
- Nehemiah 11:29-30 (thematic): Post-exilic settlement list for Judah includes many of the same regionally associated towns (towns of the lowland/Shephelah), reflecting continuity in the identification and administration of these sites.
Alternative generated candidates
- Arab, Ramah, and Adithaim,
- Arab, Romah, and Asha'an.
Jos.15.53 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וינום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- תפוח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואפקה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15:52 (verbal): Immediate neighboring verse in the same catalog of towns in Judah — part of the continuous list that includes Beit‑Tappuah and Aphek.
- Josh.15:54 (verbal): Another adjacent entry in the same town‑list (Joshua 15), showing the same genre and geographic roster of Judah’s towns.
- Josh.15:1 (structural): Opens the section that defines the territorial boundaries and city lists of the tribe of Judah; Joshua 15:53 is an entry within this larger structural unit.
- Joshua 21:11–12 (thematic): List of Levitical cities located within the territory of Judah; thematically related as it reuses and highlights towns within Judah’s allotment (overlap with the settlements enumerated in Joshua 15).
- Judges 1:11–12 (thematic): Accounts of Judah’s conquests and settlement in the same southern hill country (Hebron/Debir area); thematically parallels Joshua’s lists by naming and situating towns in Judah’s territorial sphere.
Alternative generated candidates
- Gilah, Jattir, and Aphekah,
- Yanoam, Bet‑tappuah, and Aphekah.
Jos.15.54 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וחמטה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וקרית: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ארבע: NUM,card,f
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- חברון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וציער: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- תשע: NUM,card
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 14:15 (verbal): Identifies Kiriath‑arba as Hebron and relates the name Arba/Anakim—directly parallels the identification of Kiriath‑arba with Hebron in Josh 15:54.
- Genesis 23:2 (verbal): Earlier patriarchal reference that calls Sarah’s residence 'Kiriath‑arba, that is, Hebron,' showing the same equation of names used in Joshua 15:54.
- Numbers 13:22 (verbal): The spies visit Hebron (Kiriath‑arba) and report Anakim there (Ahiman, Sheshai, Talmai), echoing the same place-name and local tradition connected with Hebron.
- Judges 1:10 (thematic): Describes Judah’s attack on Hebron (Kiriath‑arba) and the taking of the city—parallels Joshua’s allotment list by treating Hebron/Kiriath‑arba as a significant town in Judah’s territory.
Alternative generated candidates
- Humtah and Kiriath‑arba (that is Hebron) and Zior—nine cities with their villages.
- Hemath, Kiriath‑arba (that is Hebron), and Zior—nine cities with their villages.
Jos.15.55 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- מעון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כרמל: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וזיף: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויוטה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 23:19-24 (verbal): Mentions the same Judahite localities (Maon, Ziph, Carmel) in the narrative of David’s flight and Saul’s pursuit — the identical place‑names appear in the context of the wilderness/stronghold of Maon and Saul encamping at Carmel.
- 1 Samuel 26:2 (verbal): Refers to David hiding in the wilderness of Ziph while Saul moves against him (Saul at Gibeah/Carmel/Ziph episodes) — repeats the Ziph/Carmel setting found in Joshua’s town list.
- Joshua 21:16 (structural): A parallel administrative/listing passage: the book of Joshua repeats the allotment/municipal rolls elsewhere when assigning Levitical cities from Judah, and Juttah (Yutta) appears again among the cities associated with Judah/Levitical distribution.
Alternative generated candidates
- Maon, Carmel, Ziph, and Juttah,
- Maon, Carmel, Ziph, and Juttah.
Jos.15.56 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויזרעאל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויקדעם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וזנוח: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21-63 (structural): Same extended city-list for the territory of Judah; Josh.15.56 is one entry in this continuous cataloguing of towns and villages.
- Judges 1:20-28 (thematic): An independent Israelite list of Judah/Simeon’s operations and settlements in the same southern lowland and hill-country — parallels in place‑names and the theme of conquest/occupation.
- 1 Chronicles 4:28-32 (structural): Post‑monarchic genealogical/topographical notice that preserves many of the same town‑names and settlement traditions for the Judean hill country.
- Nehemiah 11:29-30 (thematic): Post‑exilic list of towns associated with Judah; shows the continued identification and habitation of many settlements named in Joshua’s territorial catalogue.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jezreel, Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
- Yizreel, Jokdeam, and Zanoah.
Jos.15.57 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- הקין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גבעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותמנה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עשר: NUM,card,m,sg,cons
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21–62 (verbal): Part of the same extended town-list for the allotment of Judah — repeats place-names and the formulaic phrase 'cities and their villages.'
- Joshua 15:56–63 (structural): Immediate context/adjacent verses that continue and complete the catalogue of towns in Judah, showing the same genre and roster of settlements.
- Joshua 21:11–12 (structural): Lists cities from the territory of Judah allotted to the Levites; draws on the same territorial town-names and distribution schema.
- Judges 19–21 (thematic): Gibeah (a key place-name here) is elsewhere the setting of the Benjamite atrocity and civil conflict, linking the toponym to later narrative traditions.
- Judges 14 (allusion): Timnah appears as the locale of Samson's episode with the Philistine woman, showing the same place-name in a different narrative context.
Alternative generated candidates
- Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities with their villages.
- Keilah, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities with their villages.
Jos.15.58 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- חלחול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וגדור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15.57 (verbal): Immediate neighboring verse in the same city-list — part of the contiguous catalogue of towns in the allotment of Judah (continues the sequence of place-names).
- Josh.15.59 (structural): Following verse in the same chapter — completes the cluster of towns in this section of Judah’s territorial list (shows the same listing convention and geographic sweep).
- Josh.15.21 (thematic): Another subsection of Joshua 15 that enumerates towns of the Shephelah/lowland of Judah — parallels Josh 15:58 in function and genre as a topographical/city list for the tribal allotment.
- Judg.1.8 (thematic): An account of Judah’s capture of Jerusalem and related towns — thematically parallel as a conquest/settlement tradition that complements Joshua’s allotment lists of Judahite towns.
Alternative generated candidates
- Halhul, Beth‑zur, and Gedor,
- Halhul, Beth‑zur, and Geder.
Jos.15.59 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ומערת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- ענות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואלתקן: VERB,qal,inf
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- שש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21-62 (structural): This verse is part of the larger section listing the towns of the territory of Judah; the same catalogue contextually parallels and completes the city lists in these verses.
- Judges 1:10-15 (thematic): An earlier account of Judah’s conquest and settlement that contains overlapping place-names and the theme of towns allotted to Judah, paralleling Joshua’s municipal lists.
- Joshua 21:11-12 (thematic): The list of Levitical cities located within the territory of Judah echoes the municipal geography and names found in Joshua 15’s catalogue.
- 1 Chronicles 4:23-33 (thematic): A post‑exilic genealogical/topographical section that preserves traditions of towns and settlements in southern Judah, paralleling the identity and distribution of towns attested in Joshua 15.
Alternative generated candidates
- Maarath, Beth‑anoth, and Eltekon—six cities with their villages.
- Mareshah, Beth‑anoth, and Eltekon—six cities with their villages.
Jos.15.60 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- בעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- יערים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והרבה: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg,pref_vav
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- שתים: NUM,f,pl,abs
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 7:1 (verbal): References Kiriath‑jearim explicitly (men of Kiriath‑jearim) as the place where the ark was kept—same place name as Kiriath‑Baal/Kiriath‑jearim in Joshua's town list.
- 2 Samuel 6:2 (verbal): Speaks of ‘Baale of Judah/Baalah’ as the starting place for bringing up the ark to David—Baalah/Baale of Judah is the same site called Kiriath‑Baal (Kiriath‑jearim) in Joshua 15:60.
- 1 Chronicles 13:6 (verbal): Identifies the ark being brought from Baalah (Kiriath‑jearim), explicitly equating Baalah with Kiriath‑jearim and thus paralleling the place-name in Joshua's catalogue.
- Judges 1:21 (thematic): Like the closing verses of Joshua 15 (which list towns and note incomplete conquest), Judges 1:21 records an instance of an unexpelled Canaanite population (the Jebusites in Jerusalem), reflecting the theme of incomplete occupation of allotted towns.
Alternative generated candidates
- Kiriath‑baal (that is Kiriath‑jearim) and Rabbah—the towns are many and their villages.
- Kiriath‑baal (that is Kiriath‑jearim) and Rabbah—two cities with their villages.
Jos.15.61 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- במדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הערבה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- מדין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וסככה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:21-62 (structural): This verse is part of the larger catalogue of towns in the allotment of Judah; the surrounding verses list the same cluster of wilderness and lowland sites as part of the chapter-long city-register.
- Judges 1 (allusion): Judges 1 recounts the conquest and settlement of the land of Judah and provides a parallel tradition of territorial lists and city-conquests that correspond to the allotment material in Joshua 15.
- Numbers 13:26-27 (thematic): Numbers describes the spies’ reconnaissance and Israel’s presence at sites in the wilderness/Kadesh region; thematically linked to place-names and wilderness locales named in Joshua 15:61.
- Deuteronomy 1:19-46 (thematic): Moses’ retrospective account of Israel’s journey to the wilderness and Kadesh area echoes the geographic setting of the towns listed in Joshua 15:61 and situates these place-names within the broader wilderness tradition.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the wilderness: Beth‑arbah, Middin, and Secacah,
- In the wilderness: Beth‑arabah, Middin, and Secacah.
Jos.15.62 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- והנבשן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- ועיר: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,const
- המלח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ועין: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,const
- גדי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- שש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 15:1 (structural): Gives the territorial boundaries and introduction to Judah’s allotment; Josh 15:62 is part of this broader list of towns within Judah’s territory.
- Joshua 15:61 (verbal): An adjacent verse in the same chapter that continues the catalog of towns and their villages in the wilderness of Judah, using the same catalogue formula as v.62.
- Joshua 19:1-9 (thematic): Lists towns and villages allotted to the tribe of Simeon (within Judah’s territory); parallels Josh 15:62 as part of the biblical genre of tribal allotment and town‑lists.
- 1 Samuel 24:1-2 (allusion): Refers to En‑gedi as the wilderness refuge where David hid from Saul; connects to the place name En‑gedi mentioned in Josh 15:62.
Alternative generated candidates
- and Nibshan and the City of Salt and En‑gedi—six cities with their villages.
- And Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En‑gedi—six cities with their villages.
Jos.15.63 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואת: CONJ
- היבוסי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יושבי: PTC,qal,ptc,mp,cons
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יכלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- להורישם: VERB,hiph,infc+PRON,3,m,pl
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- היבוסי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
Parallels
- Judges 1:21 (verbal): Closely parallel report that the Jebusites were not driven out of Jerusalem and continued to live there; Judges attributes the problem to Benjamin rather than Judah, reflecting a variant tradition.
- Judges 1:8 (structural): An alternative tradition within Judges that Judah captured and struck Jerusalem, providing a contrasting account to Joshua/Judges 1:21 about the fate of the city.
- Judges 1:27-36 (thematic): A broader catalogue of failures to drive out various Canaanite groups; thematically parallels Joshua 15:63 as part of the pattern of incomplete conquest.
- 2 Samuel 5:6-9 (thematic): Narrative resolution to the earlier inability to take Jerusalem: David captures the Jebusite stronghold (Zion) and establishes it as his city, showing a later change in control.
- 1 Chronicles 11:4-9 (verbal): Parallel account to 2 Samuel 5:6-9 describing the conquest of the Jebusites and the taking of Jerusalem (the city of David), echoing the later resolution of Joshua's reported failure.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem the sons of Judah could not drive out; the Jebusites lived with the sons of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.
- But the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem the people of Judah were not able to drive out; the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.
And the lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah, by their families, came out to the border of Edom—the wilderness of Zin to the south, to the uttermost part of the Negev.
Their southern boundary was the Salt Sea, along the shore, from the tongue that turns southward.
It went out from the Negev to the ascent of Akrabbim, passed along to Zin and rose from the Negev to Kadesh‑barnea; passed along to Hezron, went up to Addar and encircled it.
It passed on to Ashmanah and came to the brook of Egypt; and the border's outlet was at the sea—this shall be your southern border. And the eastern border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan; and the border went up to the foothills on the north side, to the tongue of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. And the border went up to Beth‑hoglah, passed north of Beth‑arabah, and went up to the stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
It went up from the Valley of Achor to Debir, and northward it turned toward Gilgal before the ascent of Adummim (the way to the Negev to the valley); and the border passed on to the waters of En‑Shemesh, and its outlet was at En‑Rogel.
It went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the shoulder of the Jebusite on the west (that is Jerusalem); and the border went up to the head of the hill that looks toward the Valley of the Son of Hinnom on the west and to the valley opening into the Valley of Rephaim on the north.
From the head of the hill it turned to the spring of Nephtoah and went out to the cities of the hill of Ephron; and the border went to Baalah— that is Kiriath‑Jearim. And the border circled from Baalah westward to Mount Seir and passed to the shoulder of the hill of the wood on the north—this is Kislon—and descended to Beth‑Shemesh and passed by Timnah.
It went out to the shoulder of Ekron on the north, and circled to Shikkeron, passed to Mount Baalah and came out to Jabneel; and its outlets were to the sea. And the western boundary was the Great Sea; this was the border of the sons of Judah all around, by their families. And to Caleb son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the word of the LORD to Joshua: Kiriath‑Arba, the father of the Anakim, is Hebron. And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. And from there he went up against the inhabitants of Debir. Formerly Debir was called Kiriath‑sepher. And Caleb said, “He who strikes Kiriath‑sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.” And Othniel son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
When she came to him she urged him to ask her father a field; and she dismounted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What is it you want?”
She said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper spring and the lower spring.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah by their families.
The cities were at the outermost part of the tribe of Judah, toward the border of Edom in the Negev: Kabzeel, Eder and Jagur.
Kinah, Dimonah and Adadah.
Kadesh, Hazor and Jithnan.
Ziph, Telem and Baalath.
Hazor‑hadattah and Kirioth‑Hezron (that is Hazor).
Amam, Shema and Moladah.
Hazar‑gad, Heshmon and Beth‑pelet.
Hazar‑shual, Beersheba and its wells.
Baalah, Iim and Ezem.
Eltolad, Chesil and Hormah.
Ziklag, Madmannah and Sansannah.
Lebooth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon—nineteen cities and their villages.
In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah and Ashnah.
Zanoah, En‑gannim, Tappuah and Enam.
Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh and Azekah.
Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah and Gederothaim—fourteen cities and their villages.
Zanoah, Hadashah and Migdal‑gad.
Dilean, Mizpah and Joktheel.
Lachish, Bozkath and Eglon.
Chephrah, Mareshah and Kithlish. And with the commons: Gederoth, Beth‑dagon, Naamah and Makkedah—sixteen cities and their villages.
Libnah, Ether and Ashan.
Jiphtah, Ashnah and Nezib.
Keilah, Achzib and Mareshah—nine cities and their villages.
Ekron and its towns and its villages.
From Ekron to the sea all that is near Ashdod with its towns and its villages.
Ashdod with its towns and its villages; Gaza with its towns and its villages, to the brook of Egypt and the Great Sea and the border.
In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir and Socoh.
Dannah, Kiriath‑sepher (that is Debir).
Anab, Eshtemoh and Anim.
Goshen, Holon and Giloh—eleven cities and their villages.
Arab, Rimmon and Ashan.
Jiphtah, En‑tappuah and Aphekah.
Humtah and Kiriath‑arba (that is Hebron) and Zior—nine cities and their villages.
Maon, Carmel, Ziph and Juttah.
Zorah, Jephthah and Zanoah.
Kain, Gibeah and Timnah—ten cities and their villages.
Halhul, Beth‑zur and Gedor.
Maarat, Beth‑anoth and Eltekon—six cities and their villages.
Kiriath‑baal (that is Kiriath‑jearim) and the towns thereof—two cities and their villages.
In the wilderness: Beth‑arabah, Middin and Secacah. And Nibshan, the City of Salt and En‑Gedi—six cities and their villages.
As for the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not dislodge them; the Jebusites dwell with the sons of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.