Judah’s Inheritance

Judah's allotment is introduced at the edge of Edom, and its southern line is traced from the Salt Sea across the wilderness to the Brook of Egypt, while the eastern boundary is fixed by the Salt Sea.

N¹ow the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary: ²Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea, ³proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka. ⁴It proceeded to Azmon, joined the Brook of Egypt, and ended at the Sea. This was their southern border. ⁵The eastern border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern border is followed in detail from the Jordan past valleys, springs, and cities until it reaches the Great Sea, which also forms Judah's western edge. The territory is completed by this long border walk.

⁶The northern border started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, went up to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. ⁷Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to Gilgal, which faces the Ascent of Adummim south of the ravine. It continued along the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel. ⁸From there the border went up the Valley of Ben-hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusites (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. ⁹From the hilltop the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then bent around toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim). ¹⁰The border curled westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), went down to Beth-shemesh, and crossed to Timnah. ¹¹Then it went out to the northern slope of Ekron, curved toward Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went on to Jabneel, and ended at the Sea. ¹²And the western border was the coastline of the Great Sea.