Territory and Towns of Benjamin
Joshua 18:11-28
Jos.18.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- גורל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מטה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- בנימן: NOUN,m,sg,proper
- למשפחתם: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs,PRON,3,pl
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- גבול: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- גורלם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,pl
- בין: PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ובין: CONJ+PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 26:52-56 (verbal): Commands that the land be apportioned to the tribes “by lot,” the same method referenced in Joshua for determining tribal allotments (procedural parallel).
- Joshua 14:1-4 (structural): Describes the formal assembly at Shiloh and the casting of lots to distribute the land among the tribes—this sets the immediate legal/ceremonial context for the allotment in Joshua 18.
- Joshua 17:14-18 (thematic): Records disputes and boundary issues involving Joseph’s portion (Ephraim/Manasseh) and requests for additional territory—relates to Benjamin’s allotment being located between Judah and Joseph.
- Judges 1:21 (thematic): Notes the territorial relationship and contention between Benjamin and Judah (and the situation of Jerusalem), illustrating the contested border region alluded to by Joshua’s statement that Benjamin’s lot lay between Judah and Joseph.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the lot for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin went up by their families; and the boundary of their lot lay between the people of Judah and the people of Joseph.
- And the lot went up for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, by their families; and the border of their lot lay between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
Jos.18.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לפאת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צפונה: ADV
- מן: PREP
- הירדן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- כתף: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יריחו: NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- מצפון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- בהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- ימה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- תצאתיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- מדברה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- און: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:6 (verbal): Uses the same allotment-formula — mentions the side/approach to Jericho and the ascent into the hill-country — echoing the boundary language found in Joshua 18:12.
- Joshua 18:13 (structural): Immediate continuation of Benjamin’s territorial description; verses 12–17 form a single boundary sequence, so v.13 directly parallels and completes the same border schematic.
- Numbers 34:8-9 (thematic): Numbers sets out the principal border-language for the land (references to the Jordan, north/south markers and territorial endpoints), providing the canonical terminology and framework reflected in Joshua’s tribal boundaries.
- Ezekiel 47:13-20 (thematic): Ezekiel’s later, idealized redivision of the land employs similar boundary-defining vocabulary (Jordan, sea, compass endpoints) and reflects the same concern for precise territorial limits as Joshua 18:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- Their border ran northward from the Jordan; it went up to the shoulder of Jericho on the north, and ascended to the hill on the west; its outlets were from the wilderness to Beth-aven.
- And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; the border went up to the shoulder of Jericho on the north, and ascended to the hill that is before Beth‑aven; and the outlets of the border were at the wilderness of Beth‑aven.
Jos.18.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועבר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משם: PREP
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לוזה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- כתף: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לוזה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגבה: ADV
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- עטרות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אדר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מנגב: PREP
- לבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cns
- חרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תחתון: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 28:19 (verbal): Explicitly identifies the same place: Jacob names the city Luz 'Bethel' (Luz → Bethel), matching Joshua’s parenthetical identification of Luz as Bethel.
- Judges 1:22-26 (verbal): Narrates the capture/renaming of Luz/Bethel by the house of Joseph, directly engaging the same place-name and its early Israelite conquest history.
- 1 Kings 12:28-29 (thematic): Later northern-kingdom history highlights Bethel as a major cultic site (Jeroboam’s altar), showing the enduring religious/political significance of the locality named in Joshua 18:13.
- Numbers 34:1-12 (structural): Both passages provide territorial/topographical boundary descriptions for the land; Numbers gives a broader national boundary scheme comparable in genre and function to Joshua’s tribal allotment notice.
Alternative generated candidates
- From there the border turned to Luz and to the shoulder of Luz on the south, which is Bethel; and the border went down to Ataroth-addar on the hill that is on the south of Lower Beth-horon.
- And the border passed from there to Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Beth‑el; and the border went down from there to Ataroth and to Adar, to the hill that faces the valley of Ben‑Hinnom, south of the Jebusites.
Jos.18.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ונסב: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,pl
- לפאת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ים: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- נגבה: ADV
- מן: PREP
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגבה: ADV
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- תצאתיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אל: NEG
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- בעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- יערים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עיר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- פאת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ים: NOUN,m,sg,cs
Parallels
- Joshua 10:10-11 (verbal): Mentions Beth‑Horon (the ascent of Beth‑Horon) and military movements in that same locality, echoing the place-name and topographical reference in Josh 18:14.
- 1 Samuel 7:1-2 (allusion): Refers to Kiriath‑jearim as the town where the ark remained after the Philistine period; the same place (Kiriath‑Baal/Kiriath‑jearim) appears in Josh 18:14.
- 2 Samuel 6:2 (verbal): Speaks of Baale‑Judah (another name/identification of Kiriath‑Baal/Kiriath‑jearim) in the context of moving the ark—connects the same settlement named in Josh 18:14.
- Numbers 34:4 (structural): Provides a formulaic description of a territorial 'west' border ('this shall be your west border'/'pate‑yam'), paralleling the boundary‑language and directional clause used in Josh 18:14.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it described the boundary and turned toward the side of the western sea from the hill that lies before Lower Beth-horon, and its outlets were to Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the people of Judah—this is the side toward the west.
- And it turned from the hill and went around to the western side from the ridge that is before Beth‑horon to the south; and its outlets were to Kiriath‑baal, that is Kiriath‑jearim, the city of the sons of Judah—this was the west side.
Jos.18.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ופאת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- נגבה: ADV
- מקצה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- יערים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ימה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- מעין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- נפתוח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 18:14-17 (structural): Immediate context — the surrounding verses continue the formal description of the allotment of Benjamin, using the same place-names (Kiriath‑jearim, Nephtoah) and the same boundary‑language.
- 1 Chronicles 13:6 (allusion): Names Kiriath‑jearim as the location where the ark was placed in the house of Abinadab; links the same town used as a territorial landmark in Joshua's boundary list.
- 1 Samuel 7:1 (allusion): Reports that the men of Kiriath‑jearim took custody of the ark after its return from the Philistines—another biblical reference to the same settlement cited by Joshua as a border point.
- Numbers 34:4 (thematic): Part of an independent boundary description for Israel’s land; parallels Joshua’s technique of delineating territory by named landmarks, springs, and compass directions.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the western side ran from the end of Kiriath-jearim; and the border went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.
- And the west side went from the end of Kiriath‑jearim; and the border went out to the spring of Nephtoah.
Jos.18.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- קצה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- גי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בעמק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רפאים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- צפונה: ADV
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- גי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- כתף: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- היבוסי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- נגבה: ADV
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עין: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- רגל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15:8 (verbal): Uses the same geographic markers (Valley of Ben‑Hinnom/Valley of Rephaim and En Rogel) in describing Judah’s southern/near‑Jerusalem boundary—verbal overlap in place‑names and boundary language.
- Judges 1:21 (thematic): Mentions the Jebusites dwelling in Jerusalem and Israelites’ failure to drive them out—connects with Joshua 18:16’s reference to the ‘shoulder of the Jebusite’ (Jerusalem) as a boundary marker.
- 2 Sam.5:18–19 (thematic): Refers to the Valley of Rephaim in the narrative of David’s battles—links the same topographical feature named in Joshua 18:16 and its strategic/location significance near Jerusalem.
- Jer.19:2 (verbal): Jeremiah is commanded to go to the Valley of Ben‑Hinnom (Ge‑Hinnom); the verse preserves the same place‑name used in Joshua 18:16, now with later prophetic/ritual associations.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the border went down to the end of the hill that lies before the valley of Ben-hinnom toward the north, and the valley of Ben-hinnom went down to the shoulder of the Jebusite on the west; and the border went down to En-rogel.
- And the border went down to the edge of the hill that looks over the Valley of Ben‑Hinnom, which is in the Valley of Rephaim, northward; the Valley of Ben‑Hinnom went down to the side of the Jebusite on the west and reached En‑rogel.
Jos.18.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מצפון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עין: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- שמש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- גלילות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נכח: PREP
- מעלה: VERB,qal,ptcp,m,sg
- אדמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אבן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בהן: PREP+PRON,3,f,pl
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ראובן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 15:7 (structural): Uses the same landmarks—'the ascent of Adummim' and the 'stone of Bohan'—in the delimitation of Judah's border, showing these features as shared territorial reference points.
- Joshua 18:16 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same chapter; the adjacent verse continues the same boundary description and repeats place‑names (Gibeah, ascent of Adummim) that Joshua 18:17 mentions.
- 1 Samuel 10:26 (thematic): Gibeah is later identified as Saul's town in Benjamin; connects the Gibeah named in the boundary list with narratives centered on Benjaminite sites.
- 1 Samuel 7:12 (thematic): The setting up/naming of a stone (Ebenezer) as a memorial or territorial marker parallels the mention of the 'stone of Bohan' as a fixed landmark in boundary descriptions.
Alternative generated candidates
- It turned northward and went out to En-shemesh and proceeded to Geliloth, which is on the ascent of Adummim; and it descended to the stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
- And it turned from the north and went out to En‑shemesh; and it went out to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim; and it descended to the stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
Jos.18.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועבר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- כתף: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מול: PREP
- הערבה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- צפונה: ADV
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הערבתה: NOUN,f,sg,def,poss3,f
Parallels
- Joshua 15:5 (verbal): Another tribal boundary description that uses the term 'Arabah' (the Jordan/Dead Sea valley) and describes descending to the Arabah—closely parallel vocabulary and function (setting an allotment border).
- Joshua 18:17 (structural): Immediate neighbouring verse in the same passage; continues the sequential boundary description for Benjamin and uses the same topographical terms and directional movement (rise and descent toward the Arabah).
- Numbers 34:3-4 (thematic): Part of the allotment/border instructions for the land of Canaan; defines territorial limits along the southern and eastern edges that include the Jordan valley/Arabah, paralleling the geographical concern and border-delineation vocabulary in Joshua 18:18.
- Ezekiel 47:8 (thematic): Prophetic description of water running 'down into the Arabah' (the valley/Dead Sea region). While not a boundary text, it uses the same geographic term and depicts movement 'down into the Arabah', echoing the directional language of Joshua 18:18.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it passed on to the shoulder that looks toward the wilderness, on the north, and descended to the Arabah.
- And it passed to the side opposite the Arabah on the north; and the Arabah formed the descent.
Jos.18.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועבר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- כתף: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חגלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צפונה: ADV
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- תצאות: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- הגבול: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- לשון: NOUN,f,sg,constr
- ים: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- המלח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- צפונה: ADV
- אל: NEG
- קצה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הירדן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- נגבה: ADV
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- גבול: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- נגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.15:5 (verbal): Nearly identical wording: Beth‑hoglah and the north bay of the Salt Sea (Dead Sea) are cited as the southern boundary — the same geographic phrase repeated for Judah’s border.
- Josh.15:1-12 (structural): Broader description of Judah’s allotment that contains the same southern boundary markers (Beth‑hoglah, the Salt Sea); provides the fuller context for the repeated boundary language.
- Num.34:3-5 (thematic): Mosaic boundary instructions specifying southern limits toward the Salt Sea; Joshua’s lists implement and reflect these earlier boundary traditions.
- Josh.18:11-28 (structural): The surrounding passage giving the full boundary and town list for Benjamin — 18:19 is part of this contiguous description of Benjamin’s allotment and repeats the same geographic reference points.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the border passed on to the shoulder of Beth-hoglah on the north, and the going out of the border was to the tongue of the Dead Sea on the north to the end of the Jordan to the south—this is the limit of the south.
- And the border went to the side of Beth‑hoglah on the north; and the outlets of the border were at the tongue of the Salt Sea on the north—to the end of the Jordan to the west. This is the southern border.
Jos.18.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והירדן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- יגבל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- לפאת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קדמה: ADV
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- נחלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- בנימן: NOUN,m,sg,proper
- לגבולתיה: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRS,3,f,sg
- סביב: ADV
- למשפחתם: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs,PRON,3,pl
Parallels
- Josh.18:11 (verbal): Same allotment section — specifies the boundary beginning “from the Jordan” and describes the eastern limit of Benjamin’s territory (close verbal and topical parallel).
- Josh.18:28 (structural): Concluding summary of the Benjamin allotment — repeats that these cities and borders constitute the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families (structural parallel within the chapter).
- Numbers 34:13-15 (thematic): Numbers gives the general procedure and boundaries for dividing the land among the tribes (including use of the Jordan as a boundary) — parallels the theme of tribal inheritance and border delimitation.
- Judges 1:21 (thematic): Describes Benjamin’s failure to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem despite Jerusalem lying within Benjamin’s territory — thematically connected to the allotment and the reality of possession within Benjamin’s borders.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the Jordan formed its eastern border; this was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by their borders, around their families.
- And the Jordan bounded it on the east side; this was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin with its borders round about, by their families.
Jos.18.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הערים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- למטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- בנימן: NOUN,m,sg,proper
- למשפחותיהם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+3,m,pl
- יריחו: NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- חגלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועמק: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קציץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 18:11-28 (structural): The broader allotment section listing the towns of the tribe of Benjamin; v.21 is one line in this sequence of city-names assigned to Benjamin.
- Joshua 6:25 (thematic): Jericho appears earlier in the conquest narrative (Rahab spared and the city destroyed); Joshua 18:21 places Jericho among Benjamin’s settled towns after the conquest.
- Joshua 21:22-26 (structural): Lists Levitical cities within Benjamin’s territory (e.g., Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth), showing overlap and settlement patterns among the towns named in Joshua 18.
- Judges 1:21 (thematic): Discusses Benjamin’s settlement and the incomplete removal of neighbouring peoples (the Jebusites in Jerusalem), reflecting the same milieu of tribal city-allocations and occupation recorded in Joshua 18.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the cities of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin by their families were: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz;
- And the cities of the tribe of Benjamin, for their families, were: Jericho, Beth‑hoglah, and the valley of Ketziz;
Jos.18.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- הערבה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- וצמרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- אל: NEG
Parallels
- Josh.18:21-28 (structural): The verse is part of this contiguous list of towns in the allotment of Benjamin; the surrounding verses enumerate the same cluster of Benjamite settlements.
- Judges 1:22-26 (thematic): Describes military actions concerning Bethel (בית־אל), a town on the Benjamin/Ephraim border that appears in Joshua's town list.
- Gen.28:19 (allusion): Jacob names the site Bethel (בית־אל, 'House of God'); the Genesis account provides the foundational tradition for the place-name found in Joshua 18:22.
- 1 Kgs.12:29 (thematic): Reports Jeroboam's establishment of a shrine at Bethel, showing the later religious and political significance of the Bethel listed among Benjamin's towns.
Alternative generated candidates
- and Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, and Bethel;
- Beth‑arabah, Zemaraim, and Bethel;
Jos.18.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והעוים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- והפרה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ועפרה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 18:21-28 (structural): Immediate context — verse 23 is part of this contiguous enumeration of towns allotted to the tribe of Benjamin.
- Judges 6:11 (verbal): Mentions Ophrah (עפרה) as Gideon's hometown; the same place-name appears in Joshua 18:23, showing a verbal/topographical link.
- Judges 1:21-26 (thematic): Gives an account of Benjamin's territory and towns after the conquest, thematically parallel to Joshua's listing of Benjamite towns.
- 1 Chronicles 8:12-14 (structural): Part of the genealogical/topographical material for the tribe of Benjamin that overlaps with Joshua's town-listing tradition, reflecting alternative listings of Benjaminite settlements.
Alternative generated candidates
- and Avvim, Parah, and Ophrah;
- Avvim, Parah, and Ophrah;
Jos.18.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכפר: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- העמנה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- והעפני: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- וגבע: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- שתים: NUM,f,pl,abs
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 18:21-28 (structural): The verse is part of this larger catalogue of towns in the allotment of Benjamin; the surrounding verses contain the full list of the twelve towns and their villages.
- Joshua 21:17-19 (verbal): Joshua’s list of Benjamin towns is echoed in the list of Levitical cities given within Benjamin, which repeats several of the same place-names.
- Judges 1:21-26 (thematic): A post‑conquest account of Benjaminite territory that mentions many of the same settlements (e.g., Gibeah/Geba) and treats the tribal possession and failure to drive out inhabitants—parallel material to Joshua’s territorial lists.
- 1 Chronicles 8:29-40 (thematic): The Chronicler’s genealogy and associated localities for the tribe of Benjamin preserve many of the same place‑names (such as Gibeah and Geba), reflecting the same territorial traditions found in Joshua 18.
Alternative generated candidates
- and the village of Geba and Ahijah and Gibeon—twelve cities with their villages;
- Chephar‑haammonai, Ophni, and Gibeon—twelve cities with their villages;
Jos.18.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גבעון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והרמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ובארות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Josh.18.26 (structural): Immediately continues the same catalogue of towns allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (same list/context of settlement).
- Josh.9:3-27 (verbal): Gibeon appears prominently in the narrative of the Gibeonites who make a treaty with Israel — the same city named in Joshua 18:25.
- Josh.10:1-15 (thematic): Records the episode in which Gibeon seeks Israel’s help against Canaanite kings and Israel fights on Gibeon’s behalf (contextual significance of Gibeon among Benjaminite towns).
- Josh.21:17 (allusion): Gibeon is listed among the Levitical cities/settlements later in the book, connecting its municipal identity to the allocation of sacred cities within Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- and Gibeon, Ramah, and Beeroth;
- Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, and Mizpeh;
Jos.18.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והמצפה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- והכפירה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def
- והמצה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Josh 18:23–28 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter listing the towns of the tribe of Benjamin; v.26 is part of this contiguous municipal catalogue (Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah).
- Josh 21:17–19 (structural): Lists cities in the territory of Benjamin assigned to the Levites (including Gibeon, Geba, Mizpah/Chephirah/Mozah area), echoing the same place‑names and territorial arrangement.
- 1 Chron 8:29–31 (verbal): A genealogical/topographical summary that repeats the Benjamite town names (Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, Mizpah, Chephirah, Mozah), effectively preserving the same place‑list as Joshua.
- 1 Chron 9:35–36 (verbal): Post‑exilic listing of inhabitants/places in Benjamin/Jerusalem that repeats many of the same towns (including Mizpah/Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah), reflecting the same toponymic tradition.
Alternative generated candidates
- and Mizpah, Chephirah, and Mozah;
- Chephirah, Mozah, and Rekem;
Jos.18.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ורקם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וירפאל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותראלה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Josh.18:21-28 (structural): Immediate parallel: same verse group listing the towns allotted to the tribe of Benjamin; 18:27 is one entry in this contiguous list.
- Josh.18:1-10 (thematic): The broader context of the allotment of the remaining land to the tribes (including Benjamin); 18:27 belongs to this larger thematic section describing distribution procedures and results.
- Judges 1:21-26 (thematic): Describes Israel’s incomplete conquest and settlement in the territory of Benjamin and neighboring areas — thematically parallel to the town-listing and settlement material in Joshua 18.
- 1 Chronicles 8:1-40 (structural): Genealogical and territorial material concerning the tribe of Benjamin that parallels Joshua’s list of Benjamite towns and clan settlements (the Chronicler preserves related names and locales).
- Nehemiah 11:31-36 (thematic): Postexilic list of towns and villages inhabited by the tribe of Benjamin/settlers around Jerusalem; echoes the territorial arrangement and place-names found in Joshua 18.
Alternative generated candidates
- and Rekem, Irpeel, and Taralah;
- Irpeel, Taralah, and Zelah;
Jos.18.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וצלע: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- האלף: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והיבוסי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גבעת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ארבע: NUM,card,f
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- וחצריהן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,pl
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- נחלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- בנימן: NOUN,m,sg,proper
- למשפחתם: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs,PRON,3,pl
Parallels
- Judges 1:21 (verbal): States that the Jebusites (that is, the inhabitants of Jerusalem) remained in Jerusalem with the tribe of Benjamin — directly parallels Joshua’s identification of the Jebusite city as Jerusalem within Benjamin’s territory.
- Judges 20:1-2 (thematic): Refers to Gibeah of Benjamin as the setting for the crime that provoked the Israelite civil war; connects to Joshua’s listing of Gibeah among Benjamin’s towns, showing its later narrative significance.
- 1 Chronicles 8:1-12 (structural): Contains genealogical and territorial material for the tribe of Benjamin (clans and towns), paralleling Joshua’s allotment list and situating the same settlements within Benjamin’s tribal structure.
- 1 Chronicles 9:35-44 (structural): Post-exilic catalogue of inhabitants and places associated with Benjamin (including towns tied to Jerusalem/Gibeah), corresponding to the towns named in Joshua’s description of Benjamin’s inheritance.
Alternative generated candidates
- and Zelah, Eleph, and the Jebusite—this is Jerusalem; Gibeah of God, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron)—fourteen cities with their villages: this was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by their families.
- Zelah, Eleph, and Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah—fourteen cities with their villages; this was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by their families.
And the lot for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin went up by their families; and the border of their portion lay between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.
Their border on the north was from the Jordan; the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up to the hill that is before Bethel; and its goings forth were at the wilderness of Beth‑aven.
From there the border passed to Luz, to the side of Luz (which is Bethel); and the border went down to Ataroth and to the hill that looks toward the lower Beth‑horon. And the border turned toward the western sea on the south, and its goings out were at Kiriath‑baal (that is Kiriath‑jearim), a city of the sons of Judah; this is the sea border. And the south border was from the end of Kiriath‑jearim; the border went out to the sea, and its outgoings were at the spring of Nephtoah. And the border went down to the brow of the hill that looks toward the valley of Ben‑Hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim northward; and the valley of Ben‑Hinnom descended to the side of the Jebusite on the south and went down to En‑rogel. And the border turned northward and went out to En‑shemesh; it passed to the Gilgaloth that are over against Maale‑Adumim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. And it passed to the side that faces the Arabah on the north, and went down into the Arabah. And the border passed to the side of Beth‑hoglah northward; and the outgoings of the border were to the tongue of the Salt Sea northward to the end of the Jordan on the south—this is the southern border. And the Jordan bounded it on the east; this is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin according to their borders, round about, by their families. And the lowland cities of the tribe of Benjamin by their families were: Jericho, Beth‑hoglah, and the valley of Keziz. And Beth‑arabah, Zemaraim, and Bethel;
and Avim, Parah, and Ophrah;
and Chephar‑ammoni, Ophni, and Gibeon—twelve cities with their villages.
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth;
and Mizpah, and Chephirah, and Mozah;
and Rekem, Ir‑peel, and Taralah;
and Zelah, Haeleph, and Jebus (that is Jerusalem), Gibeah, Kiriath‑arba (that is Hebron)—fourteen cities with their villages: this is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by their families.