Joshua 19-22

1The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Simeon: Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah

2and included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,

3Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,

4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

5Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,

6Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities, along with their villages.

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

8and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Simeon.

9The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the territory of Judah, because the share for Judah’s descendants was too large for them. So the Simeonites received an inheritance within Judah’s portion.

10The third lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Zebulun: The border of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid.

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

12From Sarid it turned eastward along the border of Chisloth-tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia.

13From there it crossed eastward to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon and curved around toward Neah.

14Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el.

15It also included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, along with their villages.

16This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Zebulun, including these cities and their villages.

17The fourth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Issachar:

18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,

19Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,

20Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,

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

22The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen cities, along with their villages.

23This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Issachar, including these cities and their villages.

24The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:

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

26Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west the border touched Carmel and Shihor-libnath,

27then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.

28It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.

29The border then turned back toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah, and came out at the Sea in the region of Achzib,

30Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.

31This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Asher, including these cities and their villages.

32The sixth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Naphtali:

33Their border started at Heleph and the great tree of Zaanannim, passing Adami-nekeb and Jabneel as far as Lakkum and ending at the Jordan.

34Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and ran from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun on the south side, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east.

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

36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

37Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,

38Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh. There were nineteen cities, along with their villages.

39This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Naphtali, including these cities and their villages.

40The seventh lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Dan:

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

42Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,

43Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,

45Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,

46Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa.

47(Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.)

48This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Dan, including these cities and their villages.

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

50as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the city of Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, as he requested. He rebuilt the city and settled in it.

51These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.

1Then the LORD said to Joshua,

2“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

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

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

5Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.

6He 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 manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”

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

8And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

9These 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 by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

1Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel

2at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said to them, “The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, together with pasturelands for our livestock.”

3So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

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

5The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten cities by lot from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

6The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7And the descendants of Merari received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

8So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these cities, together with their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

9From the tribes of Judah and Simeon, they designated these cities by name

10to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them:

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

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

13So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah,

14Jattir, Eshtemoa,

15Holon, Debir,

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

17And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,

18Anathoth, and Almon—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

19In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

20The remaining Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted these cities: From the tribe of Ephraim

21they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Gezer,

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

23From the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon,

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

25And from the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Taanach and Gath-rimmon—two cities, together with their pasturelands.

26In all, ten cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

27This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands.

28From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kishion, Daberath,

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

30From the tribe of Asher they were given Mishal, Abdon,

31Helkath, and Rehob—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

32And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.

33In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the Gershonite clans.

34This is what the Merarite clan (the rest of the Levites) were given: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Jokneam, Kartah,

35Dimnah, and Nahalal—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

36From the tribe of Reuben they were given Bezer, Jahaz,

37Kedemoth, and Mephaath—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

38And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,

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

40In all, twelve cities were allotted to the clans of Merari, the remaining Levite clans.

41For the Levites, then, there were forty-eight cities in all, together with their pasturelands, within the territory of the Israelites.

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

43Thus the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled in it.

44And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

45Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.

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

2and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.

3All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God.

4And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as He promised them, you may return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan.

5But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

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

7(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers.) When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them,

8saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

9So the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to return to their own land of Gilead, which they had acquired according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

10And when they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.

11Then the Israelites received the report: “Behold, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the border of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side.”

12And when they heard this, the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them.

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

14With him they sent ten chiefs—one family leader from each tribe of Israel, each the head of a family among the clans of Israel.

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

16“This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?

17Was not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day? It even brought a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.

18And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.

19If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean, then cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession, where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.

20Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”

21Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel:

22“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.

23If we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from Him and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice peace offerings on it, may the LORD Himself hold us accountable.

24But in fact we have done this for fear that in the future your descendants might say to ours, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?

25For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.

26That is why we said, ‘Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.

27Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.’ Then in the future, your descendants cannot say to ours, ‘You have no share in the LORD!’

28Therefore we said, ‘If they ever say this to us or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the altar of the LORD that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’

29Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from Him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God, which stands before His tabernacle.”

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

31Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against Him. Consequently, you have delivered the Israelites from the hand of the LORD.”

32Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, together with the other leaders, returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead.

33The Israelites were satisfied with the report, and they blessed God and spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived.

34So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar Witness, for they said, “It is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”