Joshua 15-17 Inheritance

Thoughts

Joshua 15 Judah

Caleb

• Caleb receives Kiriath-arba (Hebron), named after Arba, the father of Anak
• he drives out Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak
• He promises his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever captures Debir
  • Othniel (Caleb’s nephew) captures it and marries Achsah
  • Achsah asks Caleb for water in addition to land

Region	Cities
Negev (South)	Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (Hazor), Amam, Shema, Moladah, Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, Baalah, Iim, Ezem, Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, Rimmon
Shephelah (Lowland)	Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim, Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, Makkedah, Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, Keilah, Achzib, Mareshah, Ekron with its towns and villages
Hill Country	Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (Debir), Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon, Giloh, Arab, Dumah, Eshan, Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, Humtah, Kiriath-arba (Hebron), Zior, Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, Cain, Gibeah, Timnah, Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth-anoth, Eltekon
Wilderness	Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, Nibshan, the City of Salt, En-gedi
Jerusalem (Jebusites)	Jebus (Jerusalem) – Not conquered by Judah (v. 63)

Joshua 16 Ephraim

Shared Boundary of Joseph’s Sons: Ephraim and Manasseh 

• Starts at the Jordan River near Jericho, east of the city
• Goes westward through the wilderness up into the hill country
• Passes through Bethel (Luz) and onto the territory of the Archites at Ataroth
• Continues westward rom Ataroth, down to the territory of the Japhletites
• Toward the land of Lower Beth-horon
• Ends at the Mediterranean Sea

Ephraim
Region	Central hill country of Canaan
Eastern Boundary	Ataroth-addar to Upper Beth-horon
Northern Turn	Boundary turns north to Micmethath
Eastern Extension	Then turns east to Taanath-shiloh and Janoah
Southeast Path	Down to Ataroth and Naarah
Eastern Endpoint	Reaches Jericho and ends at the Jordan River
Western Boundary	From Tappuah west to Wadi Kanah, ending at the Mediterranean Sea
Cities within Manasseh’s Land	Ephraim also received towns and villages located within Manasseh’s inheritance
Unconquered City	Gezer The Canaanites were not driven out but remained as forced labor

Joshua 17 Manasseh

Manasseh
Main Clans Receiving Land	Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, Shemida (
Special Case: Zelophehad’s Daughters	Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, Tirzah – granted land among their uncles
Border Landmarks	– Starts at Asher, goes to Micmethath near Shechem – East to Tappuah – South along Wadi Kanah to the Mediterranean Sea
Towns Within Issachar and Asher	– Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor, Endor, Taanach, Megiddo, and surrounding villages

The Manassites failed to drive out the Canaanites from these towns. When the Israelites became stronger, they had them do forced labor

Ephraim and Manasseh ( “the house of Joseph”) complain to Joshua “Why did we get only one portion? We are numerous!”

Joshua tells them to clear land in the forested hill country (land of the Perizzites and Rephaim). They say it isn’t enough, but Joshua encourages them.

Questions

Why do only some tribes get full chapters about their allotment?

Why did Ephraim get cities in Manasseh?

Why were Canaanites doing forced labor? Weren’t they supposed to be driven out?

Application

These chapters are very hard to read! They go on and on about cities we don’t know and boundaries that are hard to visualize. But I see God’s faithfulness through the text. Look at the land they had been promised after wandering for years. Also, they were given a generous inheritance, some tribes still complained. I wonder if I celebrate God’s provision or if I am always looking to the ‘next big thing’. These ‘boring’ chapters can help us see God’s provision and help us be grateful for what we have.