Chapter 41

18:2. But there remained seven tribes of the children of Israel, which as yet had not received their possessions.

18:3. And Josue said to them: How long are you indolent and slack, and go not in to possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers hath given you?

18:4. Choose of every tribe three men, that I may send them, and they may go and compass the land, and mark it out according to the number of each multitude: and bring back to me what they have marked out.

18:5. Divide to yourselves the land into seven parts: let Juda be in his bounds on the south side, and the house of Joseph on the north.

18:6. The land in the midst between these mark ye out into seven parts; and you shall come hither to me, that I may cast lots for you before the Lord your God.

The land in the midst between these mark ye out into seven parts... That is to say, the rest of the land, which is not already assigned to Juda or Joseph.

18:7. For the Levites have no part among you, but the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance. And Gad and Ruben, and the half tribe of Manasses have already received their possessions beyond the Jordan eastward: which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.

18:8. And when the men were risen up, to go to mark out the land, Josue commanded them saying: Go round the land and mark it out, and return to me: that I may cast lots for you before the Lord in Silo.

18:9. So they went and surveying it divided it into seven parts, writing them down in a book. And they returned to Josue, to the camp in Silo.

18:10. And he cast lots before the Lord in Silo, and divided the land to the children of Israel into seven parts.

18:11. And first came up the lot of the children of Benjamin by their families, to possess the land between the children of Juda, and the children of Joseph.

18:12. And their border northward was from the Jordan: going along by the side of Jericho on the north side, and thence going up westward to the mountains, and reaching to the wilderness of Bethaven,

18:13. And passing along southward by Luza, the same is Bethel, and it goeth down into Ataroth-addar to the mountain, that is on the south of the nether Beth-horon.

18:14. And it bendeth thence going round towards the sea, south of the mountain that looketh towards Beth-horon to the southwest: and the outgoings thereof are into Cariathbaal, which is called also Cariathiarim, a city of the children of Juda This is their coast towards the sea, westward.

18:15. But on the south side the border goeth out from part of Cariathiarim towards the sea, and cometh to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoa.

18:16. And it goeth down to that part of the mountain that looketh on the valley of the children of Ennom: and is over against the north quarter in the furthermost part of the valley of Raphaim, and it goeth down into Geennom (that is the valley of Ennom) by the side of the Jebusite to the south: and cometh to the fountain of Rogel,

18:17. Passing thence to the north, and going out to Ensemes, that is to say, the fountain of the sun:

18:18. And It passeth along to the hills that are over against the ascent of Adommim: and it goeth down to Abenboen, that is, the stone of Boen the son of Ruben: and it passeth on the north side to the champaign countries; and goeth down Into the plain,

18:19. And it passeth by Bethhagla northward: and the outgoings thereof are towards the north of the most salt sea at the south end of the Jordan.

18:20. Which is the border of it on the east side. This is the possession of the children of Benjamin by their borders round about, and their families.

18:21. And their cities were, Jericho and Bethhagla and Vale-Casis,

18:22. Betharaba and Samaraim and Bethel,

18:23. And Avim and Aphara and Ophera,

18:24. The town Emona and Ophni and Gabee: twelve cities, and their villages.

18:25. Gabam and Rama and Beroth,

18:26. And Mesphe, and Caphara, and Amosa,

18:27. And Recem, Jarephel, and Tharela,

18:28. And Sela, Eleph and Jebus, which is Jerusalem, Gabaath and Cariath: fourteen cities, and their villages. This is the possession of the children of Benjamin by their families.

Josue Chapter 19

The lots of the tribes of Simeon, Zabulon, Issachar, Aser, Nephtali and Dan. A city is given to Josue.

19:1. And the second lot came forth for the children of Simeon by their kindreds: and their inheritance was

19:2. In the midst of the possession of the children of Juda: Bersabee and Sabee and Molada,

19:3. And Hasersual, Bala and Asem,

19:4. And Eltholad, Bethul and Harma,

19:5. And Siceleg and Bethmarchaboth and Hasersusa,

19:6. And Bethlebaoth and Sarohen: thirteen cities, and their villages.

19:7. And Remmon and Athor and Asan: four cities, and their villages.

19:8. And all the villages round about these cities to Baalath Beer Ramath to the south quarter. This is the inheritance of the children of Simeon according to their kindreds,

19:9. In the possession and lot of the children of Juda: because it was too great, and therefore the children of Simeon had their possession in the midst of their inheritance.

19:10. And the third lot fell to the children of Zabulon by their kindreds: and the border of their possession was unto Sarid.

19:11. And It went up from the sea and from Merala, and came to Debbaseth: as far as the torrent, which is over against Jeconam.

19:12. And it returneth from Sarid eastward to the borders of Ceseleththabor: and it goeth out to Dabereth and ascendeth towards Japhie.

19:13. And it passeth along from thence to the east side of Gethhepher and Thacasin: and goeth out to Remmon, Amthar and Noa.

19:14. And it turneth about to the north of Hanathon: and the outgoings thereof are the valley of Jephtahel,

19:15. And Cateth and Naalol and Semeron and Jedala and Bethlehem: twelve cities and their villages.

19:16. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Zabulon by their kindreds, the cities and their villages.

19:17. The fourth lot came out to Issachar by their kindreds.

19:18. And his inheritance was Jezrael and Casaloth and Sunem,

19:19. And Hapharaim and Seon and Anaharath,

19:20. And Rabboth and Cesion, Abes,

19:21. And Rameth and Engannim and Enhadda and Bethpheses.

19:22. And the border thereof cometh to Thabor and Sehesima and Bethsames: and the outgoings thereof shall be at the Jordan: sixteen cities, and their villages.

19:23. This is the possession of the sons of Issachar by their kindreds, the cities and their villages.

19:24. And the fifth lot fell to the tribe of the children of Aser by their kindreds:

19:25. And their border was Halcath and Chali and Beten and Axaph,

19:26. And Elmelech and Amaad and Messal: and it reacheth to Carmel by the sea and Sihor and Labanath,

19:27. And it returneth towards the east to Bethdagon: and passeth along to Zabulon and to the valley of Jephthael towards the north to Bethemec and Nehiel. And it goeth out to the left side of Cabul,

19:28. And to Abaran and Rohob and Hamon and Cana, as far as the great Sidon.

19:29. And it returneth to Horma to the strong city of Tyre, and to Hosa: and the outgoings thereof shall be at the sea from the portion of Achziba:

19:30. And Amma and Aphec and Rohob: twenty-two cities, and their villages.

19:31. This is the possession of the children of Aser by their kindreds, and the cities and their villages.

19:32. The sixth lot came out to the sons of Nephtali by their families:

19:33. And the border began from Heleph and Elon to Saananim, and Adami, which is Neceb, and Jebnael even to Lecum:

19:34. And the border returneth westward to Azanotthabor, and goeth out from thence to Hucuca, and passeth along to Zabulon southward, and to Aser westward, and to Juda upon the Jordan towards the rising of the sun.

19:35. And the strong cities are Assedim, Ser, and Emath, and Reccath and Cenereth,

19:36. And Edema and Arama, Asor,

19:37. And Cedes and Edri, Enhasor,

19:38. And Jeron and Magdalel, Horem, and Bethanath and Bethsames: nineteen cities, and their villages.

19:39. This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Nephtali by their kindreds, the cities and their villages.

19:40. The seventh lot came out to the tribe of the children of Dan by their families:

19:41. And the border of their possession was Saraa and Esthaol, and Hirsemes, that is, the city of the sun,

19:42. Selebin and Aialon and Jethela,

19:43. Elon and Themna and Acron,

19:44. Elthece, Gebbethon and Balaath,

19:45. And Juda and Bane and Barach and Gethremmon:

19:46. And Mejarcon and Arecon, with the border that looketh towards Joppe,

19:47. And is terminated there. And the children of Dan went up and fought against Lesem, and took it: and they put it to the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt in it, calling the name of it Lesem Dan, by the name of Dan their father.

19:48. This is the possession of the tribe of the sons of Dan, by their kindreds, the cities and their villages.

19:49. And when he had made an end of dividing the land by lot to each one by their tribes, the children of Israel gave a possession to Josue the son of Nun in the midst of them,

19:50. According to the commandment of the Lord, the city which he asked for, Thamnath Saraa, in mount Ephraim: and he built up the city, and dwelt in it.

19:51. These are the possessions which Eleazar the priest, and Josue the son of Nun, and the princes of the families, and of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed by lot in Silo, before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, and they divided the land.

Josue Chapter 20

The cities of refuge are appointed for casual manslaughter.

20:1. And the Lord spoke to Josue, saying: Speak to children of Israel and say to them:

20:2. Appoint cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses:

20:3. That whosoever shall kill a person unawares may flee to them, and may escape the wrath of the kinsman, who is the avenger of blood.

20:4. And when he shall flee to one of these cities: he shall stand before the gate of the city, and shall speak to the ancients of that city, such things as prove him innocent: and so shall they receive him, and give him a place to dwell in.

20:5. And when the avenger of blood shall pursue him, they shall not deliver him into his hands, because he slew his neighbour unawares, and is not proved to have been his enemy two or three days before,

20:6. And he shall dwell in that city, till he stand before judgment to give an account of his fact, and till the death of the high priest, who shall be at that time: then shall the manslayer return, and go into his own city and house from whence he fled.

20:7. And they appointed Cedes in Galilee of mount Nephtali, and Sichem in mount Ephraim, and Cariath-Arbe, the same is Hebron in the mountain of Juda.

20:8. And beyond the Jordan to the east of Jericho, they appointed Bosor, which is upon the plain of the wilderness of the tribe of Ruben, and Ramoth in Galaad of the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in Basan of the tribe of Manasses.

20:9. These cities were appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the strangers, that dwelt among them, that whosoever had killed a person unawares might flee to them, and not die by the hand of the kinsman, coveting to revenge the blood that was shed, until he should stand before the people to lay open his cause.

Josue Chapter 21

Cities with their suburbs are assigned for the priests and Levites.

21:1. Then the princes of the families of Levi came to Eleazar the priest, and to Josue the son of Nun, and to the princes of the kindreds of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

21:2. And they spoke to them in Silo in the land of Chanaan, and said: The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, that cities should be given us to dwell in, and their suburbs to feed our cattle.

21:3. And the children of Israel gave out of their possessions according to the commandment of the Lord, cities and their suburbs.

21:4. And the lot came out for the family of Caath of the children of Aaron the priest out of the tribes of Juda, and of Simeon, and of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

21:5. And to the rest of the children of Caath, that is, to thee Levites, who remained, out of the tribes of Ephraim, and of Dan, and the half tribe of Manasses, ten cities.

21:6. And the lot came out to children of Gerson, that they should take of the tribes of Issachar and of Aser and of Nephtali, and of the half tribe of Manasses in Basan, thirteen cities.

21:7. And to the sons of Merari by their kindreds, of the tribes of Ruben and of Gad and of Zabulon, twelve cities.

21:8. And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities and their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, giving to every one by lot.

21:9. Of the tribes of the children of Juda and of Simeon Josue gave cities: whose names are these,

21:10. To the sons of Aaron, of the families of Caath of the race of Levi (for the first lot came out for them)

21:11. The city of Arbe the father of Enac, which is called Hebron, in the mountain of Juda, and the suburbs thereof round about.

21:12. But the fields and the villages thereof he had given to Caleb the son of Jephone for his possession.

21:13. He gave therefore to the children of Aaron the priest, Hebron a city of refuge, and the suburbs thereof, and Lebna with the suburbs thereof,

21:14. And Jether and Estemo,

21:15. And Holon, and Dabir,

21:16. And Ain, and Jeta, and Bethsames, with their suburbs: nine cities out of the two tribes, as hath been said.

21:17. And out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, Gabaon, and Gabae,

21:18. And Anathoth and Almon, with, their suburbs: four cities.

21:19. All the cities together of the children of Aaron the priest, were thirteen, with their suburbs,

21:20. And to the rest of the families of the children of Caath of the race of Levi was given this possession.

21:21. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Sichem one of the cities of refuge, with the suburbs thereof in mount Ephraim, and Gazer,

21:22. And Cibsaim, and Beth-horon, with their suburbs, four cities.

21:23. And of he tribe of Dan, Eltheco and Gabathon,

21:24. And Aialon and Gethremmon, with their suburbs, four cities.

21:25. And of the half tribe of Manasses, Thanac and Gethremmon, with their suburbs, two cities.

21:26. All the cities were ten, with their suburbs, which were given to the children of Caath, of the inferior degree.

21:27. To the children of Gerson also of the race of Levi out of the half tribe of Manasses, Gaulon in Basan, one of the cities of refuge, and Bosra, with their suburbs, two cities.

21:28. And of the tribe of Issachar, Cesion, and Dabereth,

21:29. And Jaramoth, and Engannim, with their suburbs, four cities.

21:30. And of the tribe of Aser, Masal and Abdon,

21:31. And Helcath, and Rohob, with their suburbs, four cities.

21:32. Of the tribe also of Nephtali, Cedes in Galilee, one of the cities of refuge: and Hammoth Dor, and Carthan, with their suburbs, three cities.

21:33. All the cities of the families of Gerson, were thirteen, with their suburbs.

21:34. And to the children of Merari, Levites of the inferior degree, by their families were given of the tribe of Zabulon, Jecnam and Cartha,

21:35. And Damna and Naalol, four cities with their suburbs.

21:36. Of the tribe of Ruben beyond the Jordan over against Jericho, Bosor in the wilderness, one of the cities of refuge, Misor and Jaser and Jethson and Mephaath, four cities with their suburbs.

Four cities... There are no more, though there be five names: for Misor is the same city as Bosor, which is to be observed in some other places, where the number of names exceeds the number of cities.

21:37. Of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Galaad, one of the cities of refuge, and Manaim and Hesebon and Jaser, four cities with their suburbs,

21:38. All the cities of the children of Merari by their families and kindreds, were twelve.

21:39. So all the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight,

21:40. With their suburbs, each distributed by the families.

21:41. And the Lord God gave to Israel all the land that he had sworn to give to their fathers: and they possessed it, and dwelt in it.

21:42. And he gave them peace from all nations round about: and none of their enemies durst stand against them, but were brought under their dominion.

21:43. Not so much as one word, which he had promised to perform unto them, was made void, but all came to pass.

Josue Chapter 22

The tribes of Ruben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasses return to their possessions. They build an altar by the side of the Jordan, which alarms the other tribes. An embassage is sent to them, to which they give a satisfactory answer.

22:1. At the same time Josue called the Rubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasses,

22:2. And said to them: You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: you have also obeyed me in all things,

22:3. Neither have you left your brethren this long time, until this present day, keeping the commandment of the Lord your God.

22:4. Therefore as the Lord your God hath given your brethren rest and peace, as he promised: return, and go to your dwellings, and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan:

22:5. Yet so that you observe attentively, and in work fulfil the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: that you love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, and keep all his commandments, and cleave to him, and serve him with all your heart, and with all your soul.

22:6. And Josue blessed them, and sent them away, and they returned to their dwellings.

22:7. Now to half the tribe of Manasses, Moses had given a possession in Basan: and therefore to the half that remained, Josue gave a lot among the rest of their brethren beyond the Jordan to the west. And when he sent them away to their dwellings and had blessed them,

22:8. He said to them: With much substance and riches, you return to your settlements, with silver and gold, brass and iron, and variety of raiment: divide the prey of your enemies with your brethren.

22:9. So the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses returned, and parted from the children of Israel in Silo, which is in Chanaan, to go into Galaad the land of their possession, which they had obtained according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

22:10. And when they were come to banks of the Jordan, in the land of Chanaan, they built an altar immensely great near the Jordan.

22:11. And when the children of Israel had heard of it, and certain messengers brought them an account that the children of Ruben, and of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses had built an altar in the land of Chanaan, upon the banks of the Jordan, over against the children of Israel:

22:12. They all assembled in Silo, to go up and fight against them.

22:13. And in the mean time they sent to them into the land of Galaad, Phinees the son of Eleazar the priest,

22:14. And ten princes with him, one of every tribe.

22:15. Who came to the children of Ruben, and of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses, into the land of Galaad, and said to them:

22:16. Thus saith all the people of the Lord: What meaneth this transgression? Why have you forsaken the Lord the God of Israel, building a sacrilegious altar, and revolting from the worship of him?

22:17. Is it a small thing to you that you sinned with Beelphegor, and the stain of that crime remaineth in us to this day? and many of the people perished.

22:18. And you have forsaken the Lord to day, and to morrow his wrath will rage against all Israel.

22:19. But if you think the land of your possession to be unclean, pass over to the land wherein is the tabernacle of the Lord, and dwell among us: only depart not from the Lord, and from our society, by building an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God.

22:20. Did not Achan the son of Zare transgress the commandment of the Lord, and his wrath lay upon all the people of Israel? And he was but one man, and would to God he alone had perished in his wickedness.

22:21. And the children of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half tribe of Manasses answered the princes of the embassage of Israel:

22:22. The Lord the most mighty God, the Lord the most mighty God, he knoweth, and Israel also shall understand: If with the design of transgression we have set up this altar, let him not save us, but punish us immediately:

22:23. And if we did it with that mind, that we might lay upon it holocausts, and sacrifice, and victims of peace offerings, let him require and judge:

22:24. And not rather with this thought and design, that we should say: To morrow your children will say to our children: What have you to do with the Lord the God of Israel?

22:25. The Lord hath put the river Jordan for a border between us and you, O ye children of Ruben, and ye children of Gad: and therefore you have no part in the Lord. And by this occasion your children shall turn away our children from the fear of the Lord. We therefore thought it best,

22:26. And said: Let us build us an altar, not for holocausts, nor to offer victims,

22:27. But for a testimony between us and you, and our posterity and yours, that we may serve the Lord, and that we may have a right to offer both holocausts, and victims and sacrifices of peace offerings: and that your children to morrow may not say to our children: You have no part in the Lord.

22:28. And if they will say so, they shall answer them: Behold the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for holocausts, nor for sacrifice, but for a testimony between us and you.

22:29. God keep us from any such wickedness that we should revolt from the Lord, and leave off following his steps, by building an altar to offer holocausts, and sacrifices, and victims, beside the altar of the Lord our God, which is erected before his tabernacle.

22:30. And when Phinees the priest, and the princes of the embassage, who were with him, had heard this, they were satisfied: and they admitted most willingly the words of the children of Ruben, and Gad, and of the half tribe of Manasses,

22:31. And Phinees the priest the son of Eleazar said to them: Now we know that the Lord is with us, because you are not guilty of this revolt, and you have delivered the children of Israel from the hand of the Lord.

22:32. And he returned with the princes from the children of Ruben and Gad, out of the land of Galaad, into the land of Chanaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.

22:33. And the saying pleased all that heard it. And the children of Israel praised God, and they no longer said that they would go up against them, and fight, and destroy the land of their possession.

22:34. And the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad called the altar which they had built, Our testimony, that the Lord is God,

Josue Chapter 23

Josue being old admonisheth the people to keep God's commandments: and to avoid marriages and all society with the Gentiles for fear of being brought to idolatry.

23:1. And when a long time was passed, after that the Lord had given peace to Israel, all the nations round about being subdued, and Josue being now old, and far advanced in years:

23:2. Josue called for all Israel, and for the elders, and for the princes, and for the judges, and for the masters, and said to them: I am old, and far advanced in years,

23:3. And you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you:

23:4. And now since he hath divided to you by lot all the land, from the east of the Jordan unto the great sea, ant many nations yet remain: