16: Judah’s lands (Josh 15:1 – 63)

The borderlines and towns of Judah’s territory were described.

👉 Read Joshua 15:1 - 63

Q1. For the Judahite land, the southern border started from the southern tip of the (             ), went to (              ) in the wilderness of Zin, extended to the Stream of Egypt, and ended at the sea (2 – 4). The eastern border was the (             ) (5). The Northern border started north of the (           ) and ended at the sea (5 – 11). The western border was the (         ) (12).

For the Judahite land, the southern border started from the south tip of the ( Salt Sea ), went to ( Kadesh Barnea ) in the wilderness of Zin, extended to the Stream of Egypt, and ended at the sea (2 – 4). The eastern border was the ( Salt Sea ) (5). The Northern border started north of the ( Salt Sea ) and ended at the sea (5 – 11). The western border was the ( sea )(12).

Q2. Caleb drove out from there three (            ). (         ) captured Kiriath Sepher and married Caleb’s daughter (             ). And she asked her father and got (                   ).

Caleb drove out from there three ( Anikites ). ( Othniel ) captured Kiriath Sepher and married Caleb’s daughter ( Achsah ). And she asked her father and got ( two springs ).

The author addresses that Caleb defeated the giant Anakites. 

Othniel would become the first judge, later in the Book of Judges.

Interestingly, Caleb's personal story is included here. 

Q3. How many towns were assigned to Judah in total?

29+14+16+9+11+9+6+2+6=102 or 105 (if you count three towns in verses 45 – 47)

Interestingly, the author didn’t count three Philistine towns: Ekron, Ashdod, and Gaza. 

Q4. What towns did they not capture, though they were assigned to Judah? (45-47, 63)

Ekron, Ashdod, Gaza.

The Jebusites

The three cities of Ekron, Ashdod, and Gaza are listed as part of the territory allocated to Judah, but they were not fully controlled or conquered by the Israelites. The author of Joshua likely did not "count" these cities in the same way as others because they remained Philistine strongholds, reflecting the incomplete nature of Israel's conquest of the land.

Jerusalem was originally a Jebusite city. The Jebusites were a Canaanite tribe that inhabited the city before it was taken over by the Israelites. 

Jerusalem is located on the border between the tribal territories of Judah and Benjamin. The territory around Jerusalem was indeed allocated to both Judah and Benjamin.

Thus, while Jerusalem was partly in Judah's territory, it was not fully controlled by Judah until David's conquest, which then firmly established its association with the tribe.

While Othniel and Achsah secured their portion through courage and faith, those in the clan who were allocated the Philistine towns failed to capture their lands. Therefore, they were compelled to share the lands that belonged to other clans.

Courageous victory and faithless retreat coexisted within the one tribe. It is the same for in our church. 

Be a man of faith and courage, so that you can encourage others, rather than the opposite: losing the spiritual battle and becoming a burden to them.