Allotment for Judah^(A)

15 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom,^(B) to the Desert of Zin^(C) in the extreme south.^(D)

These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

¹³ In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb^(AK) son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba^(AL), that is, Hebron.^(AM) (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)^{(AN) 14} From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites^(AO)—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai,^(AP) the sons of Anak.^{(AQ) 15} From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). ¹⁶ And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah^(AR) in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” ¹⁷ Othniel^(AS) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.

¹⁸ One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him^[b] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

¹⁹ She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev,^(AT) give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.^(AU)

²⁰ This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans:

²¹ The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev^(AV) toward the boundary of Edom were:

³³ In the western foothills:

⁴⁸ In the hill country:

⁶¹ In the wilderness:^(DQ)

⁶³ Judah could not^(DT) dislodge the Jebusites^(DU), who were living in Jerusalem;^(DV) to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.^(DW)

⁶ After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots^(A) for you in the presence of the Lord our God.

Allotment for Simeon^(A)

19 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah.^(B)

The Gibeonite Deception

9 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country,^(A) in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea^(B) as far as Lebanon^(C) (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites,^(D) Hivites^(E) and Jebusites)^(F)— ² they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

³ However, when the people of Gibeon^(G) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,^{(H) 4} they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded^[a] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. ⁵ They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. ⁶ Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal^(I) and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country;^(J) make a treaty^(K) with us.”

⁷ The Israelites said to the Hivites,^(L) “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty^(M) with you?”

⁸ “We are your servants,^(N)” they said to Joshua.

But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

⁹ They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country^(O) because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports^(P) of him: all that he did in Egypt,^{(Q) 10} and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon,^(R) and Og king of Bashan,^(S) who reigned in Ashtaroth.^{(T) 11} And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ ¹² This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. ¹³ And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

¹⁴ The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire^(U) of the Lord. ¹⁵ Then Joshua made a treaty of peace^(V) with them to let them live,^(W) and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

¹⁶ Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near^(X) them. ¹⁷ So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth^(Y) and Kiriath Jearim.^{(Z) 18} But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath^(AA) to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled^(AB) against the leaders, ¹⁹ but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. ²⁰ This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath^(AC) we swore to them.” ²¹ They continued, “Let them live,^(AD) but let them be woodcutters and water carriers^(AE) in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

²² Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way^(AF) from you,’ while actually you live near^(AG) us? ²³ You are now under a curse:^(AH) You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

²⁴ They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told^(AI) how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. ²⁵ We are now in your hands.^(AJ) Do to us whatever seems good and right^(AK) to you.”

²⁶ So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. ²⁷ That day he made the Gibeonites^(AL) woodcutters and water carriers^(AM) for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose.^(AN) And that is what they are to this day.