Now the lot of the children of Juda by their kindreds was this: From the frontier of Edom, to the desert of Sin southward, and to the uttermost part of the south coast.
View Full Timeline →
2 Its beginning was from the top of the most salt sea, and from the bay thereof, that looketh to the south.
3 And it goeth out towards the ascent of the Scorpion, and passeth on to Sina: and ascendeth into Cadesbarne, and reacheth into Esron, going up to Addar, and compassing Carcaa.
View Full Timeline →
4 And from thence passing along into Asemona, and reaching the torrent of Egypt: and the bounds thereof shall be the great sea, this shall be the limit of the south coast.
5 But on the east side the beginning shall be the most salt sea even to the end of the Jordan: and towards the north, from the bay of the sea unto the same river Jordan.
View Full Timeline →
6 And the border goeth up into Beth-Hagla, and passeth by the north into Beth-Araba: going up to the stone of Boen the son of Ruben.
7 And reaching as far as the borders of Debara from the valley of Achor, and so northward looking towards Galgal, which is opposite to the ascent of Adommin, on the south side of the torrent: and the border passeth the waters that are called the fountain of the sun: and the goings out thereof shall be at the fountain Rogel.
8 And it goeth up by the valley of the son of Ennom on the side of the Jebusite towards the south, the same is Jerusalem: and thence ascending to the top of the mountain, which is over against Geennom to the west in the end of the valley of Raphaim, northward.
9 And it passeth on from the top of the mountain to the fountain of the water of Nephtoa: and reacheth to the towns of mount Ephron: and it bendeth towards Baala, which is Cariathiarim, that is to say, the city of the woods.
10 And it compasseth from Baala westward unto mount Seir: and passeth by the side of mount Jarim to the north into Cheslon: and goeth down into Bethsames, and passeth into Thamna.
11 And it reacheth northward to a part of Accaron at the side: and bendeth to Sechrona, and passeth mount Baala: and cometh into Jebneel, and is bounded westward with the great sea.
12 These are the borders round about of the children of Juda in their kindreds.
13 But to Caleb the son of Jephone he gave a portion in the midst of the children of Juda, as the Lord had commanded him: Cariath-Arbe the father of Enac. which is Hebron.
View Full Timeline →
14 And Caleb destroyed out of it the three sons of Ehac, Sesai and Ahiman. and Tholmai of the race of Enac.
View Full Timeline →
15 And going up from thence he came to the inhabitants of Dabir, which before was called Cariath-Sepher, that is to say, the city of letters.
16 And Caleb said: He that shall smite Cariath-Sepher, and take it, I will give him Axa my daughter to wife.
View Full Timeline →
17 And Othoniel the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Axa his daughter to wife.
18 And as they were going together, she was moved by her husband to ask a field of her father, and she sighed as she sat on her ass. And Caleb said to her: What aileth thee?
19 But she answered: Give me a blessing: thou hast given me a southern and dry land, give me also a land that is watered. And Caleb gave her the upper and the nether watery ground.
20 This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Juda by their kindreds.
21 And the cities from the uttermost parts of the children of Juda by the borders of Edom to the south, were Cabseel and Eder and Jagur,
22 And Cina and Dimona and Adada,
23 And Cades and Asor and Jethnam,
24 Ziph and Telem and Baloth,
25 New Asor and Carioth, Hesron, which is Asor.
26 Amam, Sama and Molada,
27 And Asergadda and Hassemon and Bethphelet,
28 And Hasersual and Bersabee and Baziothia,
29 And Baala and Jim and Esem,
30 And Eltholad and Cesil and Harma,
31 And Siceleg and Medemena and Sensenna,
32 Lebaoth and Selim and Aen and Remmon: all the cities twenty-nine, and their villages.
33 But in the plains: Estaol and Sarea and Asena,
34 And Zanoe and Engannim and Taphua and Enaim,
35 And Jerimoth and Adullam, Socho and Azeca,
36 And Saraim and Adithaim and Gedera and Gederothaim: fourteen cities, and their villages.
37 Sanan and Hadassa and Magdalgad,
38 Delean and Masepha and Jecthel,
39 Lachis and Bascath and Eglon,
40 Chebbon and Leheman and Cethlis,
41 And Gideroth and Bethdagon and Naama and Maceda: sixteen cities, and their villages.
42 Labana and Ether and Asan,
43 Jephtha and Esna and Nesib,
44 And Ceila and Achzib and Maresa: nine cities, and their villages.
45 Accaron with the towns and villages thereof.
46 From Accaron even to the sea: all places that lie towards Azotus and the villages thereof.
47 Azotus with its towns and villages. Gaza with its towns and villages, even to the torrent of Egypt, and the great sea that is the border thereof.
48 And in the mountain Samir and Jether and Socoth,
49 And Danna and Cariath-senna, this is Dabir:
50 Anab and Istemo and Anim,
51 Gosen and Olon and Gilo: eleven cities and their villages.
52 Arab and Ruma and Esaan,
53 And Janum and Beththaphua and Apheca,
54 Athmatha and Cariath-Arbe, this is Hebron and Sior: nine cities and their villages.
55 Maon and Carmel and Ziph and Jota,
56 Jezrael and Jucadam and Zanoe,
57 Accain, Gabaa and Thamna: ten cities and their villages.
58 Halhul, and Bessur, and Gedor,
59 Mareth, and Bethanoth, and Eltecon: six cities and their villages.
60 Cariathbaal, the same is Cariathiarim, the city of woods, and Arebba: two cities and their villages.
61 In the desert Betharaba, Meddin and Sachacha,
62 And Nebsan, and the city of salt, and Engaddi: six cities and their villages.
63 But the children of Juda could not destroy the Jebusite that dwelt in Jerusalem: and the Jebusite dwelt with the children of Juda in Jerusalem until this present day.
View Full Timeline →
Origen
“"The boundaries of Judah," it says, "were made according to their people from the borders of Edom and from the wilderness of Zin to the west." Therefore, the borders of Judah are next to the borders of Edom. But Edom, as we have already often said, means "earthly things." Therefore, the regions of Judah come just after earthly things. But it also says, "from the wilderness of Zin." Zin means "temptations." Therefore, the regions of the inheritance of Judah come after temptations.”
Origen
“But also we must go up the ascent of the hills of Akrabbim, which means "scorpions." Thus it is necessary for us to pass over and even tread down scorpions, about which the Savior says, "Behold, I have given you the authority to tread over serpents and scorpions." Whoever therefore wishes and longs to enter into the inheritance of the tribe of Judah must go up these ascents and tread down and escape from scorpions that stand in the way. For this reason, I think that the Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel making this journey, "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of scorpions."”
Origen
“Everyone, therefore, who wants to enter into the portion of the children of Judah must first pass through the Salt Sea. That is to say, he must surmount the waves and billows of this life and escape from all things in this world that, by virtue of their own uncertainty and hazardousness, are compared with the waves of the sea. Then he may be able to reach the land of Judah and to approach the fountain of the sun. But what is the fountain of the sun, or of which sun? Of that sun, of course, about which it is written, "But for the ones fearing my name, the sun of righteousness will arise." Therefore you will find the fountain of this sun in the land of Judah, if you move away from the Salt Sea. Which fountain? That one of which Jesus said, "The water that I give will become a fountain of water leaping up into eternal life within the person who drinks from it." Therefore, when you have found the kind of fountain of this sun that we have described, you will also find its city.”
Origen
“First, therefore, let us investigate why Caleb received the capital city, the capital of Anak, the one first called a capital among all the rest in the land of promise. Anak means "vain humility" or "vain reply." Therefore, Caleb received the capital of "vain humility." It is certain that there are two humilities. One is laudable, about which the Savior said, "Learn from me because I am meek and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls." And about this humility it is said, "Everyone who humbles himself will be exalted," and elsewhere, "Therefore, be humbled under the almighty hand of God." But there is also another humility, guilty of sins, just as that which Scripture speaks of concerning illicit sexual union: "He humbled her." This is written concerning Ammon, that he "humbled" Tamar his sister. For it is vain humility that sinks down on account of sin. Therefore, Caleb seized or destroyed the capital city of vain humility and destroyed the three sons of Anak, who were sons of vain humility, and, after he had destroyed them, he occupied the city and did the things that are written later.”
Origen
“But who are those sons of vain humility whom Caleb drove out? First Sheshai, which is interpreted "outside me," that is, "outside the holy," because the son of vain humility is outside the holy, and indeed outside God. And another is Ahiman, which means "my brother outside counsel" just as if we said, "brother without counsel." For it is certain all brothers who are born from vain humility are outside counsel. Third is Talmai, which means "precipice" or "suspension." This indicates that there is nothing stable in him, but all things are unsettled and rushing headlong into great danger.”
Origen
“But now Caleb went up against that City of Letters and said, "I shall give Achsah my daughter for a wife to whoever demolishes the City of Letters and gains possession of it. And Othniel the son of Kenaz seized it." Moreover, Othniel, who received the City of Letters, is interpreted "the reply of God." But "the reply of God" can be said "he to whom God replies," that is, he to whom God reveals secrets and discloses hidden things. That one, therefore, is the younger brother of Caleb, the one who is able to take the City of Letters of the old covenant, and to demolish the "killing letter."”
Origen
“But let us understand these verses spiritually, claiming the parable of the Gospel, which says concerning the weeds, "Let them grow up together, lest perhaps when you wish to pluck up the weeds, you also pluck up the wheat with them." Therefore, as the weeds are permitted in the Gospel to grow up together with the wheat, in the same manner even here in Jerusalem—that is, in the church—there are certain Jebusites who lead an ignoble and degenerate life, and who are perverse not only in their faith but in their actions and in every manner of living. For while the church is on earth, it is not possible to cleanse it to such purity that neither an ungodly person nor any sinner seems to reside in it, where everyone is holy and blessed and no blot of sin is found in them. But just as it is said concerning the weeds, "lest perhaps plucking up the weeds, at the same time you may also pluck up the wheat with them," so it can also be said of those in whom there are either doubtful or secret sins. For we are not saying that those who are clearly and plainly sinful should not be expelled from the church.”