Judah receives the allotted boundaries from the war in Canaan, but not all.
Joshua 15: The Allotment for Judah
1 The allotment for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans reached southward to the boundary of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin at the farthest south.
2 And their south boundary ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.
3 It goes out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh-barnea, along by Hezron, up to Addar, turns about to Karka,
4 passes along to Azmon, goes out by the Brook of Egypt, and comes to its end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary.
5 And the east boundary is the Salt Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.
6 And the boundary goes up to Beth-hoglah and passes along north of Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
7 And the boundary goes up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. And the boundary passes along to the waters of En-shemesh and ends at En-rogel.
8 Then the boundary goes up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
9 Then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the boundary bends around to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).
10 And the boundary circles west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passes along to the northern shoulder of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and goes down to Beth-shemesh and passes along by Timnah.
11 The boundary goes out to the shoulder of the hill north of Ekron, then the boundary bends around to Shikkeron and passes along to Mount Baalah and goes out to Jabneel. Then the boundary comes to an end at the sea.
12 And the west boundary was the Great Sea with its coastline. This is the boundary around the people of Judah according to their clans.
13 According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).
14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak.
15 And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.
16 And Caleb said, "Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife."
17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
18 When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?"
19 She said to him, "Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water." And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans.
21 The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme south, toward the boundary of Edom, were 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, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,
30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.
33 And in the lowland, Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.
37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,
38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,
41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen 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 its villages;
46 from Ekron to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.
47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the Brook of Egypt, and the Great Sea with its coastline.
48 And in the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
49 Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),
50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven 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: ten 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 Engedi: six cities with their villages.
63 But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
Things to think about…
Note that Judah’s land allotment covers most of southern Israel, from the Nile in Egypt, Josh 15:4 to the Dead Sea, vs 2 even along the Mediterranean Sea including Gaza and other Philistine towns like Ashdod, vs 47. Judah of course was the largest tribe and clearly took the ‘lion’s’ share – pun intended. Note the final verse- Josh 15:63 that the “Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out,”. But we read earlier that Jerusalem was taken, Josh 10:23; 12: 10. But the writer is writing long afterwards and the city was again lost. We know that David would eventually re-take the city, but at the time of writing this was not the case. What happened here? Clearly Jerusalem was a stronghold for the Jebusites, but the Lord had promised victory. What about areas in our lives where there are fleshly strongholds but the Lord commands victory and obedience. We know the Spirit is willing when the flesh is weak. Where there are strongholds of pride and rebellion personally and even in the church let’s encourage one another to hand them over with a spirit of restoration, love and gentleness.
Caleb offers his daughter Achsah to anyone who could take the town of Debir, Josh 15:16. Othniel, Caleb’s nephew would take the town, vs17. But note that Caleb’s daughter Achsah was no wall flower. She had a faith and a boldness like her father. She goes to her father and asks for more, in this case springs of water, vss 18, 19. Negeb is a very dry place in Southern Israel and these springs of water would have been vital for her family’s survival in this area. She was smart and bold. Her request is proceeded by “Give me a blessing”, vs 19. We can come to our loving Saviour who is called the Water of Life and ask the same request. What blessing are you asking for that is vital for the survival of your family, the church and the extension of Christ’s kingdom?
Many of the cities listed in this chapter, Josh 15 we have no clue about. They are just names on a page. But they testify to the historical record that these towns existed. Often the only record of a town or an individual is found in the scriptures. Many times the world has been skeptical of the integrity of the biblical record until one day an archaeologist digs up an inscription or a seal that records that person or place. One of the most significant finds was the ‘Pilate Inscription’ found in Caesarea Maritima in 1961 that confirmed the person and title of Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea. Never despise the endless genealogies or lists of names in the bible. They all serve a purpose.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell Groups on break over the Easter holidays.
Prayer Points
1. Good Friday and Easter Sunday messages.
2. Wedding and baptisms on the 18th April.
3. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
4. New families as they settle into church.
5. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
6. Getting drawings into council.
7. Sunday’s message – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Recharge Youth ministry starting to grow.
2. More visitors to church on Sunday.
3. We praise God for the rain but pray for those affected by potential flooding in Sydney and surrounding areas.
4. Praise the Lord for the Kids@church ministry. Thankyou Maddison.
5. Praise and worship – pray for continued growth and blessing.
6. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Wedding and baptisms coming up 18th April at Church and Colleges Crossing. See Jay if you haven’t been baptized, but would like to be.
2. Good Friday service 2nd April 9:00am and Easter Sunday service 4th April 9:30am.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
