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Israel’s Inheritance in Canaan

1 The Israelites received these portions that Eleazar the priest,Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes gave them in the land of Canaan.

2 Their inheritance was by lotas theLordcommanded through Moses for the nine and a half tribes,

3 because Moses had given the inheritance to the two and a half tribes beyond the Jordan.But he gave no inheritance among them to the Levites.

4 The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. No portion of the land was given to the Levites except cities to live in, along with pasturelands for their cattle and livestock.

5 So the Israelites did as theLordcommanded Moses,and they divided the land.

Caleb’s Inheritance

6 The descendants of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what theLordpromised Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.

7 I was 40 years old when Moses theLord’s servant sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land, and I brought back an honest report.

8 My brothers who went with me caused the people’s hearts to melt with fear, but I remained loyal to theLordmy God.

9 On that day Moses promised me: ‘The land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have remained loyal to theLordmy God.’

10 “As you see, theLordhas kept me alive these 45 years as He promised,since theLordspoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old.

11 I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasksis now as it was then.

12 Now give me this hill country theLordpromised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there,as well as large fortified cities.Perhaps theLordwill be with me and I will drive them out as theLordpromised.”

13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as an inheritance.

14 Therefore, Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day,because he remained loyal to theLord, the God of Israel.

15 Hebron’s name used to be Kiriath-arba; Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.After this, the land had rest from war.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/14-43d184eafc4444e3c2fcee4ab6edaee9.mp3?version_id=72—

Judah’s Inheritance

1 Now the allotment for the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clanswas in the southernmost region, south to the Wilderness of Zin and over to the border of Edom.

2 Their southern border began at the tip of the Dead Sea on the south bay

3 and went south of the Ascent of Akrabbim,proceeded to Zin, ascended to the south of Kadesh-barnea, passed Hezron, ascended to Addar, and turned to Karka.

4 It proceeded to Azmon and to the Brook of Egyptand so the border ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This is yoursouthern border.

5 Now the eastern border was along the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jordan.

The border on the north side was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.

6 It ascended to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and ascended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.

7 Then the border ascended to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to the Gilgal that is opposite the Ascent of Adummim, which is south of the ravine. The border proceeded to the waters of En-shemesh and ended at En-rogel.

8 From there the border ascended the Valley of Hinnom to the southern Jebusite slope (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

9 From the top of the hill the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, went to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then curved to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).

10 The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.

11 Then the border reached to the slope north of Ekron, curved to Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went to Jabneel, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.

12 Now the western border was the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.

This was the boundary of the descendants of Judah around their clans.

Caleb and Othniel

13 He gave Caleb son of Jephunneh the following portion among the descendants of Judah based on theLord’s instruction to Joshua: Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak).

14 Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak.

15 From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir whose name used to be Kiriath-sepher,

16 and Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Achsah as a wife to the one who strikes down and captures Kiriath-sepher.”

17 So Othnielson of Caleb’s brother, Kenaz, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as a wife.

18 When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want? ”

19 She replied, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me the springs of water also.” So he gave her the upper and lower springs.

Judah’s Cities

20 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans.

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

22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

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

26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,

27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,

28 Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah,

29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon — 29 cities in all, with their villages.

33 In the Judean foothills:Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah,Enam,

35 Jarmuth, Adullam,Socoh,Azekah,

36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim — 14 cities, with their villages;

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,

38 Dilan, Mizpeh, Jokthe-el,

39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,

41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah — 16 cities, with their villages;

42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

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

45 Ekron, with its towns and villages;

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

47 Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, to the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.

48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

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

50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh — 11 cities, with their villages;

52 Arab, Dumah,Eshan,

53 Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,

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

55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah — 10 cities, with their villages;

58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,

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

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

61 In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,

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

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/15-7cebe873c9e3a524380c723ac6c90ce7.mp3?version_id=72—

Joseph’s Inheritance

1 The allotment for the descendants of Josephwent from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wildernessascending from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.

2 From Bethel it went to Luz and proceeded to the border of the Archites by Ataroth.

3 It then descended 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.

4 So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph,received their inheritance.

Ephraim’s Inheritance

5 This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans:

The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addaron the east of Upper Beth-horon.

6 In the north the border went westward from Michmethath;it turned eastward from Taanath-shiloh and passed it east of Janoah.

7 From Janoah it descended to Ataroth and Naarah,and then reached Jericho and went to the Jordan.

8 From Tappuah the borderwent 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

9 the cities set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of the descendants of Manasseh — all these cities with their villages.

10 But, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer.So the Canaanites live in Ephraim to this day,but they are forced laborers.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/16-9b92b0bdf59416c7b5b459cce22a70b7.mp3?version_id=72—

West Manasseh’s Inheritance

1 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manassehas Joseph’s firstborn. Gilead and Bashan came to Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh and the father of Gilead, who was a man of war.

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.

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.

4 They came before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, “TheLordcommanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our male relatives.”So they gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with theLord’s instruction.

5 As a result, 10 tracts fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which are beyond the Jordan,

6 because Manasseh’s daughters received an inheritance among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of Manasseh’s sons.

7 The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem. It then went southward toward the inhabitants of En-tappuah.

8 The region of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself on Manasseh’s borderbelonged to the descendants of Ephraim.

9 From there the border descended 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.

10 Ephraim’s territory was to the south and Manasseh’s to the north, with the Sea as its border. Theyreached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean with its towns, Ibleam with its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor with its towns;the inhabitants of En-dor with its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach with its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo with its towns — the three cities ofNaphath.

12 The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they imposed forced labor on the Canaanites but did not drive them out completely.

Joseph’s Additional Inheritance

14 Joseph’s descendants said to Joshua, “Why did you give us only one tribal allotmentas an inheritance? We have many people, because theLordhas been blessing us greatly.”

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.”

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 towns and in the Jezreel Valley.”

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,

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.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/17-c84bdb8b2c06253151c101e480d48446.mp3?version_id=72—

Land Distribution at Shiloh

1 The entire Israelite community assembled at Shilohwhere it set up the tent of meeting there; the land had been subdued by them.

2 Seven tribes among the Israelites were left who had not divided up their inheritance.

3 So Joshua said to the Israelites, “How long will you delay going out to take possession of the land that theLord, the God of your fathers, gave you?

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 the purpose of their inheritance, and return to me.

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 theirterritory in the north.

6 When you have written a description of the seven portions of land and brought it to me, I will cast lotsfor you here in the presence of theLordour God.

7 But the Levites among you do not get a portion, because their inheritance is the priesthood of theLord.Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have taken their inheritance beyond the Jordan to the east, which Moses theLord’s servant gave them.”

8 As the men prepared to go, Joshua commanded themto 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 the presence of theLord.”

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.

10 Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh in the presence of theLordwhere he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.

Benjamin’s Inheritance

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.

12 Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, ascended to the slope of Jericho on the north, through the hill country westward, and ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

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.

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.

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.

16 The border descended to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. It ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the south Jebusite slope and downward to En-rogel.

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 Bohanson of Reuben.

18 Then it went north to the slope opposite the Jordan Valleyand proceeded into the valley.

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.

20 The Jordan formed the border on the east side.

This was the inheritance of Benjamin’s descendants, by their clans, according to its surrounding borders.

Benjamin’s Cities

21 These were the cities of the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants by their clans:

Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,

22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,

23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,

24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba — 12 cities, with their villages;

25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,

26 Mizpeh,Chephirah, Mozah,

27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,

28 Zela, Haeleph, Jebus(that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath— 14 cities, with their villages.

This was the inheritance for Benjamin’s descendants by their clans.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/18-595df46ce87401f13056a34ec1a8d106.mp3?version_id=72—

Simeon’s Inheritance

1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of his descendants by their clans, but their inheritance was within the portion of Judah’s descendants.

2 Their inheritance included:

Beer-sheba (or Sheba), Moladah,

3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,

4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,

6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen — 13 cities, with their villages;

7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan — four cities, with their villages;

8 and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the south).

This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon’s descendants by their clans.

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 for them. So Simeon’s descendants received an inheritance within Judah’s portion.

Zebulun’s Inheritance

10 The third lot came up for Zebulun’s descendants by their clans.

The territory of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid;

11 their border went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam.

12 From Sarid, it turned east toward the sunrise along the border of Chisloth-tabor, went to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.

13 From there, it went east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon, curving around to Neah.

14 The border then circled around Neah on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el,

15 along with Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem — 12 cities, with their villages.

16 This was the inheritance of Zebulun’s descendants by their clans, these cities, with their villages.

Issachar’s Inheritance

17 The fourth lot came out for the tribe of Issachar’s descendants by their clans.

18 Their territory went to Jezreel, and included Chesulloth, Shunem,

19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,

20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,

21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Beth-pazzez.

22 The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan — 16 cities, with their villages.

23 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar’s descendants by their clans, the cities, with their villages.

Asher’s Inheritance

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher’s descendants by their clans.

25 Their boundary included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,

26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal and reached westward to Carmel and Shihor-libnath.

27 It turned eastward to Beth-dagon, passed Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, north toward Beth-emek and Neiel, and went north to Cabul,

28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Great Sidon.

29 The boundary then turned to Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre; it turned back to Hosah and ended at the sea, including Mahalab, Achzib,

30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob — 22 cities, with their villages.

31 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Asher’s descendants by their clans, these cities with their villages.

Naphtali’s Inheritance

32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali’s descendants by their clans.

33 Their boundary went from Heleph and from the oak in Zaanannim, including Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan.

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 Judahat the Jordan on the east.

35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,

36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,

38 Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh — 19 cities, with their villages.

39 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants by their clans, the cities with their villages.

Dan’s Inheritance

40 The seventh lot came out for the Danite tribe by its clans.

41 The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh,

42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon,Ithlah,

43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,

45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,

46 Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the territory facing Joppa.

47 When the territory of the Danites 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 aftertheir ancestor Dan.

48 This was the inheritance of the Danite tribe by its clans, these cities with their villages.

Joshua’s Inheritance

49 When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them.

50 By theLord’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.

51 These were the portions that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed to the Israelite tribes by lot at Shiloh in theLord’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting.So they finished dividing up the land.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/19-341bdb8fcdad07937a9d4a39b3f63ed6.mp3?version_id=72—

Cities of Refuge

1 Then theLordspoke to Joshua,

2 “Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

3 so that a person who kills someone unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

4 When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case beforethe elders of that city, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.

5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him, for he killed his neighbor accidentally and did not hate him beforehand.

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 own city from which he fled.”

7 So they designated Kedesh in the hill country of Naphtali in Galilee,Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.

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.

9 These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them,so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the assembly.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/20-f5beba90725b783de4e7a3460b57324e.mp3?version_id=72—

Cities of the Levites

1 The heads of the Levite families approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes.

2 At Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, they told them, “TheLordcommanded through Moses that we be given cities to live in, with their pasturelands for our livestock.”

3 So the Israelites, by theLord’s command, gave the Levites these cities with their pasturelands from their inheritance.

4 The lot came out for the Kohathite clans: The Levites who were the descendants of Aaron the priest received 13 cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

5 The remaining descendants of Kohathreceived 10 cities by lot from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

6 Gershon’s descendants received 13 cities by lot from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and half the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 Merari’s descendants received 12 cities for their clans from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

8 The Israelites gave these cities with their pasturelands around them to the Levites by lot, as theLordhad commanded through Moses.

Cities of Aaron’s Descendants

9 The Israelites gave these cities by name from the tribes of the descendants of Judah and Simeon

10 to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because they received the first lot.

11 They gave them Kiriath-arba(that is, Hebron) with its surrounding pasturelands in the hill country of Judah. Arba was the father of Anak.

12 But they gave the fields and villages of the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13 They gave to the descendants of Aaron the priest:

Hebron, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands, Libnah with its pasturelands,

14 Jattir with its pasturelands, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands,

15 Holon with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands,

16 Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands — nine cities from these two tribes.

17 From the tribe of Benjamin they gave:

Gibeon with its pasturelands, Geba with its pasturelands,

18 Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands — four cities.

19 All 13 cities with their pasturelands were for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

Cities of Kohath’s Other Descendants

20 The allotted cities to the remaining clans of Kohath’s descendants, who were Levites, came from the tribe of Ephraim.

21 The Israelites gave them:

Shechem,the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands,

22 Kibzaim with its pasturelands, and Beth-horon with its pasturelands — four cities.

23 From the tribe of Dan they gave:

Elteke with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands,

24 Aijalon with its pasturelands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands — four cities.

25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they gave:

Taanach with its pasturelands and Gath-rimmonwith its pasturelands — two cities.

26 All 10 cities with their pasturelands were for the clans of Kohath’s other descendants.

Cities of Gershon’s Descendants

27 From half the tribe of Manasseh, they gave to the descendants of Gershon,who were one of the Levite clans:

Golan, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands in Bashan, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands — two cities.

28 From the tribe of Issachar they gave:

Kishion with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands,

29 Jarmuth with its pasturelands, and En-gannim with its pasturelands — four cities.

30 From the tribe of Asher they gave:

Mishal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands,

31 Helkath with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands — four cities.

32 From the tribe of Naphtali they gave:

Kedesh in Galilee, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands, Hammoth-dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands — three cities.

33 All 13 cities with their pasturelands were for the Gershonites by their clans.

Cities of Merari’s Descendants

34 From the tribe of Zebulun, they gave to the clans of the descendants of Merari,who were the remaining Levites:

Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands,

35 Dimnah with its pasturelands, and Nahalal with its pasturelands — four cities.

36 From the tribe of Reuben they gave:

Bezerwith its pasturelands, Jahzahwith its pasturelands,

37 Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands — four cities.

38 From the tribe of Gad they gave:

Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands, Mahanaim with its pasturelands,

39 Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands — four cities in all.

40 All 12 cities were allotted to the clans of Merari’s descendants, the remaining Levite clans.

41 Within the Israelite possession there were 48 cities in all with their pasturelands for the Levites.

42 Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.

The Lord’s Promises Fulfilled

43 So theLordgave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.

44 TheLordgave them rest on every side according to all He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies were able to stand against them, for theLordhanded over all their enemies to them.

45 None of the good promises theLordhad made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/21-28899d9e9276000cfe9284033991aa4b.mp3?version_id=72—

Eastern Tribes Return Home

1 Joshua summoned the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh

2 and told them, “You have done everything Moses theLord’s servant commanded youand have obeyed me in everything I commanded you.

3 You have not deserted your brothers even once this whole time but have carried out the requirement of the command of theLordyour God.

4 Now that He has given your brothers rest, just as He promised them, return to your homes in your own land that Moses theLord’s servant gave you across the Jordan.

5 Only carefully obey the command and instruction that Moses theLord’s servant gave you: to love theLordyour God, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, remain faithfulto Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.”

6 Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way,and they went to their homes.

7 Moses had given territory to half the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, but Joshua had given territory to the other half,with their brothers, on the west side of the Jordan.When Joshua sent them to their homes and blessed them,

8 he said, “Return to your homes with great wealth: a huge number of cattle, and silver, gold, bronze, iron, and a large quantity of clothing. Share the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.”

Eastern Tribes Build an Altar

9 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to return to their own land of Gilead,which they took possession of according to theLord’s command through Moses.

10 When they came to the region ofthe Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh built a large, impressive altar there by the Jordan.

11 Then the Israelites heard it said, “Look, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan at the region ofthe Jordan, on the Israelite side.”

12 When the Israelites heard this, the entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them.

Explanation of the Altar

13 The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead.

14 They sent 10 leaders with him — one family leader for each tribe of Israel. All of them were heads of their families among the clans of Israel.

15 They went to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and told them,

16 “This is what theLord’s entire community says: ‘What is this treachery you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from theLordand building an altar for yourselves, so that you are in rebellion against theLordtoday?

17 Wasn’t the sin of Peor,which brought a plague on theLord’s community, enough for us, so that we have not cleansed ourselves from it even to this day,

18 and now, you would turn away from theLord? If you rebel against theLordtoday, tomorrow He will be angry with the entire community of Israel.

19 But if the land you possess is defiled, cross over to the land theLordpossesses where theLord’s tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But don’t rebel against theLordor against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of theLordour God.

20 Wasn’t Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath on the entire community of Israel? He was not the only one who perished because of his sin.’ ”

21 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the Israelite clans,

22 “Yahweh is the God of gods! Yahweh is the God of gods!He knows,and may Israel also know. Do not spare us today, if it was in rebellion or treachery against theLord

23 that we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from Him. May theLordHimself hold us accountable if we intended to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it.

24 We actually did this from a specific concern that in the future your descendants might say to our descendants, ‘What relationship do you have with theLord, the God of Israel?

25 For theLordhas made the Jordan a border between us and you descendants of Reuben and Gad. You have no share in theLord! ’ So your descendants may cause our descendants to stop fearing theLord.

26 “Therefore we said: Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offering or sacrifice.

27 Instead, it is to be a witness between us and you,and between the generations after us, so that we may carry out the worship of theLordin His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings.Then in the future, your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no share in theLord! ’

28 We thought that if they said this to us or to our generations in the future, we would reply: Look at the replica of theLord’s altar that our fathers made, not for burnt offering or sacrifice, but as a witness between us and you.

29 We would never rebel against theLordor turn away from Him today by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of theLordour God, which is in front of His tabernacle.”

Conflict Resolved

30 When Phinehas the priest and the community leaders, the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him, heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased.

31 Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that theLordis among us, because you have not committed this treachery against Him.As a result, you have delivered the Israelites from theLord’s power.”

32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders returned from the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report to them.

33 The Israelites were pleased with the report, and they praised God.They spoke no more about going to war against them to ravage the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived.

34 So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar: Itis a witness between us that theLordis God.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/22-7207264796df43b3f5592aa3a59f73ac.mp3?version_id=72—

Joshua’s Farewell Address

1 A long time after theLordhad given Israel rest from all the enemies around them,Joshua was old, getting on in years.

2 So Joshua summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers,and said to them, “I am old, getting on in years,

3 and you have seen for yourselves everything theLordyour God did to all these nations on your account, because it was theLordyour God who was fighting for you.

4 See, I have allotted these remaining nations to you as an inheritance for your tribes,including all the nations I have destroyed, from the Jordan westward to the Mediterranean Sea.

5 TheLordyour God will force them back on your account and drive them out before you so that you can take possession of their land,as theLordyour God promised you.

6 “Be very strongand continue obeying all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you do not turn from it to the right or left

7 and so that you do not associate with these nations remaining among you. Do not call on the names of their gods or make an oath to them;do not worship them or bow down to them.

8 Instead, remain faithful to theLordyour God, as you have done to this day.

9 “TheLordhas driven out great and powerful nations before you,and no one is able to stand against you to this day.

10 One of you routed a thousandbecause theLordyour God was fighting for you, as He promised.

11 So be very diligent to love theLordyour God for your own well-being.

12 For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations remaining among you,and if you intermarry or associate with themand they with you,

13 know for certain that theLordyour God will not continue to drive these nations out before you. They will become a snare and a trap for you,a scourge for your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you disappear from this good land theLordyour God has given you.

14 “I am now going the way of all the earth,and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises theLordyour God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.

15 Since every good thing theLordyour God promised you has come about, so He will bring on you every bad thing until He has annihilated you from this good land theLordyour God has given you.

16 If you break the covenant of theLordyour God, which He commanded you, and go and worship other gods, and bow down to them, theLord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly disappear from this good land He has given you.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOS/23-1e5ec7e1bfe901773151fee04a1451a4.mp3?version_id=72—