1
וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּ כָּל עֲדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה וַיַּשְׁכִּ֥ינוּ שָׁ֖ם אֶת אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְהָאָ֥רֶץ נִכְבְּשָׁ֖ה לִפְנֵיהֶֽם
And the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there, and the land was subdued before them.
The wayyiqtol chain opens a new narrative unit at Shiloh, shifting from the conquest narrative's battle notices to an administrative scene; the closing disjunctive clause ('and the land was subdued before them') summarizes the preceding conquest as accomplished backdrop, justifying the survey that follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּassembledconj וַ + Niphal wayyiqtol 3mp · קָהַל (H6950)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main-clause predicate)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the whole congregation's assembling opens the chapter's sceneקָהַל (H6950) 'to assemble, convene'; Niphal here reflexive/passive in sense, 'gathered themselves' — the whole community convening as one body at Shiloh.
כָּלall/whole ofN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct head modifying עֲדַת (quantifier of the construct chain)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, whole, every'; construct governing עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'the whole congregation of the sons of Israel.'
עֲדַ֤תcongregation ofN f sg constr · עֵדָה (H5712)Genitive completing כָּל (construct chain); subject of וַיִּקָּהֲלוּעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation, assembly', from יָעַד 'to appoint, meet'; the organized worshiping/political community of Israel.
בְּנֵֽיsons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct, 'sons/children of', identifying the nation by descent.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive of the construct chain (national eponym)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel', Jacob's covenant name; here the national collective, the whole congregation.
שִׁלֹ֔הat Shilohproper noun · שִׁלֹה (H7887)Adverbial accusative of place (locative, unmarked)שִׁלֹה (H7887) 'Shiloh', a hill-country site in Ephraim's territory; becomes the tent-shrine's first fixed home in the land — later Eli's sanctuary (1 Sam 1-4) and the object of Jeremiah's warning after its ruin (Jer 7:12-14).
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֥ינוּand they set upconj וַ + Hiphil wayyiqtol 3mp · שָׁכַן (H7931)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main-clause predicate)→ Wayyiqtol, causative: foregrounded narrative advance — they caused the Tent to take up residence thereשָׁכַן (H7931) 'to dwell, settle'; Hiphil causative, 'caused to dwell, set up' — the same root behind מִשְׁכָּן 'tabernacle', literally 'the dwelling-place.'
שָׁ֖םthereadverb · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial complement of place (resumptive, referring to Shiloh)שָׁם (H8033) 'there'; resumes שִׁלֹה, locating the Tent's installation.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking the definite direct object אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד; untranslated in English.
אֹ֣הֶלtent ofN m sg constr · אֹהֶל (H168)Construct chain (genitival); direct object of וַיַּשְׁכִּינוּאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; construct with מוֹעֵד, the standard designation for the wilderness sanctuary.
מוֹעֵ֑דof meetingN m sg abs · מוֹעֵד (H4150)Genitive completing construct chain (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד)מוֹעֵד (H4150) 'appointed time/place, meeting'; אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד 'Tent of Meeting', the mobile sanctuary now installed at Shiloh — its first fixed home in the land.
וְהָאָ֥רֶץand the landconj וְ + art + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Subject of נִכְבְּשָׁה (fronted for topic shift, disjunctive clause)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, earth'; with article, the land of Canaan now under Israelite control.
נִכְבְּשָׁ֖הwas subduedNiphal perf 3fs · כָּבַשׁ (H3533)Predicate verb (disjunctive/circumstantial clause: waw + subject + verb)→ Perfective (Niphal passive): a completed state — the land now lies subdued, framing the survey that follows as administrative rather than militaryכָּבַשׁ (H3533) 'to subdue, subjugate'; Niphal passive, 'was subdued, brought into subjection' — summarizing the conquest narrative (chs. 1-12) as accomplished fact before the allotment proceeds.
לִפְנֵיהֶֽםbefore themprep לְ + N c pl constr + 3mp suff · פָּנִים (H6440)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial, 'in their presence/subjection')פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; with לְ and suffix, 'before them' — idiomatic for subjugation before Israel.
2
וַיִּוָּֽתְרוּ֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא חָלְק֖וּ אֶת נַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם שִׁבְעָ֖ה שְׁבָטִֽים
And there remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes that had not yet divided their inheritance.
A circumstantial wayyiqtol notice interrupts the narrative to state the outstanding problem — seven tribes without land — that motivates Joshua's rebuke and the survey commission in the verses that follow.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וַיִּוָּֽתְרוּ֙and there remainedconj וַ + Niphal wayyiqtol 3mp · יָתַר (H3498)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main-clause predicate)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, marking the unresolved gap in the land's distributionיָתַר (H3498) 'to remain, be left over'; Niphal, 'remained, were left' — signals incomplete business after Judah's and Joseph's allotments (chs. 15-17).
בִּבְנֵ֣יamong the sons ofprep בְּ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Adverbial prepositional phrase (partitive, locating the remaining tribes)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; with בְּ, 'among the sons/people of' — partitive, since only seven of the twelve tribes still lack land.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing the prepositional constructיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); see v.1.
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun (introduces relative clause modifying שִׁבְעָה שְׁבָטִים)אֲשֶׁר (H834), the all-purpose Hebrew relative particle, 'who, which, that'.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates חָלְקוּלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
חָלְק֖וּhad dividedQal perf 3cp · חָלַק (H2505)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective, negated: a completed act that has not occurred — the standing gap in land-divisionחָלַק (H2505) 'to divide, apportion'; of formally receiving tribal inheritance — the same verb that will recur as the survey's goal (v.5, cf. חֵלֶק 'portion').
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object of חָלְקוּ)אֵת (H853); marks נַחֲלָתָם as the definite direct object.
נַֽחֲלָתָ֑םtheir inheritanceN f sg constr + 3mp suff · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Direct object of חָלְקוּנַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance, possession'; the tribal land-portion, the chapter's key term.
שִׁבְעָ֖הsevencardinal numeral m sg abs · שִׁבְעָה (H7651)Numeral modifying שְׁבָטִים (subject of וַיִּוָּתְרוּ)שִׁבְעָה (H7651) 'seven'; counts the still-landless tribes, matching the 'seven portions' surveyed in vv.5-9.
שְׁבָטִֽיםtribesN m pl abs · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Subject of וַיִּוָּתְרוּ (in agreement with שִׁבְעָה)שֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe, rod, staff'; here 'tribes' — the seven not yet allotted.
3
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ אֶל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַד אָ֨נָה֙ אַתֶּ֣ם מִתְרַפִּ֔ים לָבוֹא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֶת הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ נָתַ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶֽם
And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, How long will you keep being slack about going in to possess the land that YHWH the God of your fathers has given you?
Joshua's speech opens with the accusatory idiom 'how long,' framing the seven tribes' inaction as culpable negligence rather than mere delay; the Hitpael participle מִתְרַפִּים casts their slackness as a persisting posture, and the relative clause grounds the rebuke in YHWH's already-completed gift of the land through the fathers.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he saidconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main-clause predicate, introduces direct speech)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, introducing Joshua's rebukeאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the standard verb introducing direct discourse.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַJoshuaproper noun · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶריְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091) 'Joshua', son of Nun, Moses' successor; here speaking as covenant administrator at Shiloh.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addressee of וַיֹּאמֶראֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; introduces the addressee of direct speech.
בְּנֵ֣יsons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival); object of prep אֶלבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct 'sons of', i.e. the people of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing the construct chainיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); see v.1.
עַדhow (long)prep · עַד (H5704)Forms the idiom עַד אָנָה 'how long' with the following adverbעַד (H5704) 'until, as far as'; combines with אָנָה to form the rhetorical idiom 'how long'.
אָ֨נָה֙(how long)interrogative adverb · אָנָה (H575)Interrogative adverb completing עַד אָנָה, 'how long' (fronted, rhetorical accusation)אָנָה (H575) 'where, whither'; with עַד forms עַד אָנָה 'how long', a stock idiom of impatient rebuke (cf. Exod 16:28; Num 14:11).
אַתֶּ֣םyouindependent pronoun 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject (independent pronoun, emphatic)אַתֶּם (H859) 2mp independent pronoun; emphatic, fronted for accusatory force — 'you (of all people)'.
מִתְרַפִּ֔יםbeing slackHitpael ptc mp · רָפָה (H7503)Predicate participle (main clause, durative rebuke)→ Participle, Hitpael reflexive-iterative: an ongoing, self-indulgent slackness — not a single lapse but a persisting postureרָפָה (H7503) 'to slacken, relax, be idle'; Hitpael 'to show oneself slack, to loiter, be negligent' — the chapter's key accusatory term for the seven tribes' inertia.
לָבוֹא֙to go inprep לְ + Qal inf constr · בּוֹא (H935)Infinitive construct expressing purpose/complement of מִתְרַפִּים→ Infinitive construct: the purposive/complementary action being neglectedבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, go in, enter'; with לְ, purposive infinitive, 'to go in [and possess]'.
לָרֶ֣שֶׁתto possessprep לְ + Qal inf constr · יָרַשׁ (H3423)Infinitive construct in series with לָבוֹא (purpose)→ Infinitive construct: the ultimate purposive act — taking possessionיָרַשׁ (H3423) 'to possess, inherit, dispossess'; the verb of covenant land-possession running through Joshua.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object of לָרֶשֶׁת)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking הָאָרֶץ as the definite direct object of לָרֶשֶׁת.
הָאָ֔רֶץthe landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of לָרֶשֶׁתאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, earth'; with article, the land of Canaan promised to the fathers.
אֲשֶׁר֙that/whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun (introduces relative clause modifying הָאָרֶץ)אֲשֶׁר (H834); see v.2.
נָתַ֣ןhas givenQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act — YHWH's gift of the land already accomplished, underscoring the tribes' inexcusable delayנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; Qal perfect, the standing fact of the divine land-grant to the fathers, now devolving on their descendants.
לָכֶ֔םto youprep לְ + 2mp suff · לIndirect object of נָתַןלְ + 2mp suffix, 'to you'; the recipients of YHWH's gift.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of נָתַןיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God; subject of the gift-verb, grounding the land-grant in divine promise.
אֱלֹהֵ֥יGod ofN m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה (construct chain, genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430); construct 'God of', in apposition to יְהוָה, identifying him specifically as the ancestral covenant God.
אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶֽםyour fathersN m pl constr + 2mp suff · אָב (H1)Genitive completing the construct chain (אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם)אָב (H1) 'father'; plural with 2mp suffix, 'your fathers' — the patriarchs to whom the land was originally promised, invoked to press the tribes' obligation.
4
הָב֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה אֲנָשִׁ֖ים לַשָּׁ֑בֶט וְאֶשְׁלָחֵ֗ם וְיָקֻ֜מוּ וְיִֽתְהַלְּכ֥וּ בָאָ֛רֶץ וְיִכְתְּב֥וּ אוֹתָ֛הּ לְפִ֥י נַֽחֲלָתָ֖ם וְיָבֹ֥אוּ אֵלָֽי
Give for yourselves three men per tribe, that I may send them; and let them arise and walk through the land and write it up according to their inheritances, and come to me.
Joshua's rebuke pivots directly into command: an imperative (הָבוּ) launches a chain of purposive/volitional yiqtols (send, arise, walk, write, come) that lays out the survey commission step by step, climaxing in the notice of a written record — a rare glimpse of Israelite administrative literacy.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
הָב֥וּGive!Qal impv 2mp · יָהַב (H3051)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause)→ Imperative: direct command opening the commissionיָהַב (H3051) 'to give, provide'; imperative, used for issuing a directive, 'provide, appoint'.
לָכֶ֛םfor yourselvesprep לְ + 2mp suff · לEthical dative (reflexive benefit) with הָבוּלְ + 2mp suffix, 'for yourselves'; ethical dative reinforcing the tribes' own responsibility to provide the surveyors.
שְׁלֹשָׁ֥הthreecardinal numeral m sg abs · שָׁלוֹשׁ (H7969)Numeral modifying אֲנָשִׁים (direct object of הָבוּ)שָׁלוֹשׁ (H7969) 'three'; the fixed number of surveyors to be provided per tribe.
אֲנָשִׁ֖יםmenN m pl abs · אִישׁ (H376)Direct object of הָבוּאִישׁ (H376) 'man'; plural, the surveyors to be appointed by each tribe.
לַשָּׁ֑בֶטper tribeprep לְ + art + N m sg abs · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Distributive adverbial phrase ('for/per the tribe')שֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe'; with לְ, distributive sense, 'per tribe' — three men from each of the seven landless tribes, twenty-one in all.
וְאֶשְׁלָחֵ֗םthat I may send themconj וְ + Qal yiqtol 1cs + 3mp suff · שָׁלַח (H7971)Cohortative-toned yiqtol expressing purpose/result ('so that I may send them')→ Yiqtol/volitional: purposive — Joshua's intended action contingent on the tribes' provision of menשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send'; with 1cs + 3mp suffix, 'and I will send them' — Joshua's own commissioning act, following the tribes' provision of surveyors.
וְיָקֻ֜מוּand let them ariseconj וְ + Qal yiqtol (jussive) 3mp · קוּם (H6965)Jussive-toned yiqtol continuing the commission chain (volitional)→ Jussive/volitional: the surveyors' commissioned action — 'let them arise'קוּם (H6965) 'to arise, stand up'; here inceptive, 'set out' — opening the sequence of commissioned actions (arise, walk, write, come).
וְיִֽתְהַלְּכ֥וּand walk throughconj וְ + Hitpael yiqtol 3mp · הָלַךְ (H1980)Volitional yiqtol continuing the commission chain→ Hitpael yiqtol, iterative-volitional: 'walk to and fro, traverse repeatedly' — the survey's on-the-ground reconnaissanceהָלַךְ (H1980) 'to walk, go'; Hitpael, iterative/reflexive, 'walk to and fro, range over' — describes methodical traversal of the land for survey purposes.
בָאָ֛רֶץthrough the landprep בְּ + art + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, extent of the traversal)אֶרֶץ (H776); see v.1; the land yet to be divided among the seven tribes.
וְיִכְתְּב֥וּand write it downconj וְ + Qal yiqtol 3mp · כָּתַב (H3789)Volitional yiqtol continuing the commission chain→ Yiqtol/volitional: the survey's documentary outcome — a written record of the landכָּתַב (H3789) 'to write'; the chapter's rare notice of Israelite administrative literacy — the surveyors produce a written cadaster of the land.
אוֹתָ֛הּitobj marker + 3fs suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וְיִכְתְּבוּ (resuming הָאָרֶץ)אֵת (H853) + 3fs suffix, 'it' — referring back to הָאָרֶץ 'the land' (feminine).
לְפִ֥יaccording toprep לְ + N m sg constr · פֶּה (H6310)Adverbial prepositional phrase (manner/standard: 'according to')פֶּה (H6310) 'mouth'; idiomatic construct with לְ, 'according to, in proportion to' — the writing is organized by tribal inheritance.
נַֽחֲלָתָ֖םtheir inheritanceN f sg constr + 3mp suff · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Genitive completing לְפִי (construct chain)נַחֲלָה (H5159); see v.2; the record is organized tribe-by-tribe portion.
וְיָבֹ֥אוּand comeconj וְ + Qal yiqtol 3mp · בּוֹא (H935)Volitional yiqtol concluding the commission chain→ Yiqtol/volitional: the surveyors' return, completing the commissioned sequenceבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'; here 'return, come back' — closing the arise-walk-write-come chain of this verse.
אֵלָֽיto meprep אֶל + 1cs suff · אֶל (H413)Adverbial prepositional phrase (goal, complement of וְיָבֹאוּ)אֶל (H413) + 1cs suffix, 'to me' — Joshua as the survey's destination and administrator.
5
וְהִֽתְחַלְּק֥וּ אֹתָ֖הּ לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה חֲלָקִ֑ים יְהוּדָ֞ה יַעֲמֹ֤ד עַל גְּבוּלוֹ֙ מִנֶּ֔גֶב וּבֵ֥ית יוֹסֵ֛ף יַעַמְד֥וּ עַל גְּבוּלָ֖ם מִצָּפֽוֹן
And they shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall stand on his border in the south, and the house of Joseph shall stand on their border in the north.
The commission's writing instructions pause to set the survey's spatial frame: Judah's already-fixed southern border and Joseph's already-fixed northern border bracket the yet-undivided middle, showing the seven portions lie between two allotments already settled in chs. 15-17.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וְהִֽתְחַלְּק֥וּand they shall divideconj וְ + Hitpael weqatal 3cp · חָלַק (H2505)Weqatal continuing the directive chain (predicate)→ Weqatal, Hitpael reflexive: 'let it be divided' — continuing Joshua's commissioning instructions with a reflexive/reciprocal nuanceחָלַק (H2505) 'to divide'; Hitpael reflexive-reciprocal, 'divide themselves/be divided' — the land parcels itself out among the seven tribes via the coming lot.
אֹתָ֖הּitobj marker + 3fs suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וְהִתְחַלְּקוּ (referring to הָאָרֶץ)אֵת (H853) + 3fs suffix, referring to 'the land'.
לְשִׁבְעָ֣הinto sevenprep לְ + cardinal numeral m sg abs · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Adverbial prepositional phrase (result/distribution, modifying חֲלָקִים)שֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven'; with לְ, 'into seven' — matching the seven still-landless tribes of v.2.
חֲלָקִ֑יםportionsN m pl abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Complement of לְשִׁבְעָה (result of division)חֵלֶק (H2506) 'portion, share'; cognate to חָלַק — the seven tracts to be surveyed and allotted by lot.
יְהוּדָ֞הJudahproper noun · יְהוּדָה (H3063)Subject of יַעֲמֹד (fronted for contrast)יְהוּדָה (H3063) 'Judah'; already allotted its territory in ch. 15, cited here as a fixed southern boundary-marker for the seven portions.
יַעֲמֹ֤דshall standQal yiqtol 3ms · עָמַד (H5975)Predicate verb (main clause, gnomic/durative)→ Yiqtol, durative/gnomic: describes Judah's fixed, standing border as an ongoing state, not a new eventעָמַד (H5975) 'to stand'; of a border, 'stand, remain fixed' — Judah's territory as an already-settled boundary bracketing the survey.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, complement of יַעֲמֹד)עַל (H5921) 'on, upon'; here marking the border as Judah's fixed limit.
גְּבוּלוֹ֙his borderN m sg constr + 3ms suff · גְּבוּל (H1366)Object of prep עַלגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border, territory'; with 3ms suffix, Judah's own border, delimiting the southern edge of the seven-portion survey area.
מִנֶּ֔גֶבin the southprep מִן + N m sg abs · נֶגֶב (H5045)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, specifying direction)נֶגֶב (H5045) 'south, Negev'; with מִן, 'on the south side' — locating Judah's border relative to the survey area.
וּבֵ֥יתand the house ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · בַּיִת (H1004)Construct chain (genitival); subject of יַעַמְדוּבַּיִת (H1004) 'house'; construct 'house of', i.e. the collective descendants/tribal group of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh).
יוֹסֵ֛ףJosephproper noun · יוֹסֵף (H3130)Genitive completing the construct chain (בֵּית יוֹסֵף)יוֹסֵף (H3130) 'Joseph'; here designating the combined Ephraim-Manasseh territory already allotted in chs. 16-17, the northern counterpart to Judah.
יַעַמְד֥וּshall standQal yiqtol 3mp · עָמַד (H5975)Predicate verb (main clause, gnomic/durative)→ Yiqtol, durative/gnomic: Joseph's fixed, standing northern border, parallel to Judah's in the southעָמַד (H5975); see above; agrees in plural with the collective בֵּית יוֹסֵף.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, complement of יַעַמְדוּ)עַל (H5921); see above.
גְּבוּלָ֖םtheir borderN m sg constr + 3mp suff · גְּבוּל (H1366)Object of prep עַלגְּבוּל (H1366); with 3mp suffix, the house of Joseph's own northern border.
מִצָּפֽוֹןin the northprep מִן + N f sg abs · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, specifying direction)צָפוֹן (H6828) 'north'; with מִן, 'on the north side' — Joseph's border bracketing the seven portions from the north, mirroring Judah's from the south.
6
וְאַתֶּ֞ם תִּכְתְּב֤וּ אֶת הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה חֲלָקִ֔ים וַֽהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם אֵלַ֖י הֵ֑נָּה וְיָרִ֨יתִי לָכֶ֤ם גּוֹרָל֙ פֹּ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ
And you shall write the land in seven portions and bring it here to me, and I will cast the lot for you here before YHWH our God.
The fronted, emphatic אַתֶּם shifts address back to the tribes' own duty ('you shall write'), while Joshua reserves the climactic sacral act — casting the lot before YHWH — for himself; the written cadaster is the indispensable precondition for the lot, tying administrative record-keeping directly to divine allotment.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וְאַתֶּ֞םand youconj וְ + independent pronoun 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject (independent pronoun, fronted for emphasis/contrast)אַתֶּם (H859); fronted and emphatic, contrasting the addressed tribes' own duty to write with Joshua's own role in casting the lot.
תִּכְתְּב֤וּyou shall writeQal yiqtol 2mp · כָּתַב (H3789)Predicate verb (main clause, directive yiqtol)→ Yiqtol, directive/imperatival force: the tribes' commanded duty to produce the written surveyכָּתַב (H3789); see v.4; the tribes themselves (via their appointed men) are to produce the written record.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object of תִּכְתְּבוּ)אֵת (H853); marks הָאָרֶץ as the direct object of תִּכְתְּבוּ.
הָאָ֨רֶץ֙the landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of תִּכְתְּבוּאֶרֶץ (H776); see above.
שִׁבְעָ֣הsevencardinal numeral m sg abs · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Numeral modifying חֲלָקִים (adverbial accusative of manner, 'in seven portions')שֶׁבַע (H7651); see v.5.
חֲלָקִ֔יםportionsN m pl abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Adverbial accusative describing the manner of the writing ('in seven portions')חֵלֶק (H2506); see v.5.
וַֽהֲבֵאתֶ֥םand bringconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 2mp · בּוֹא (H935)Weqatal continuing the directive chain (predicate)→ Weqatal, Hiphil causative: the commanded next act — bringing the written recordבּוֹא (H935); Hiphil causative, 'bring, cause to come' — the completed survey document is to be delivered to Joshua.
אֵלַ֖יto meprep אֶל + 1cs suff · אֶל (H413)Adverbial prepositional phrase (goal, complement of וַהֲבֵאתֶם)אֶל (H413) + 1cs suffix; see v.4.
הֵ֑נָּהhereadverb · הֵנָּה (H2008)Adverbial complement of place, reinforcing אֵלַיהֵנָּה (H2008) 'here, hither'; reinforces the directional 'to me' — bring it here, to Joshua's location.
וְיָרִ֨יתִיand I will castconj וְ + Qal weqatal 1cs · יָרָה (H3384)Weqatal continuing the directive chain (predicate, Joshua's own commissioned act)→ Weqatal: the culminating, decisive act following the written survey — casting the sacred lotיָרָה (H3384) 'to throw, cast'; here of casting lots, 'I will cast [a lot]' — the survey's written record feeds directly into this sacred procedure that finalizes each tribe's portion.
לָכֶ֤םfor youprep לְ + 2mp suff · לIndirect object/beneficiary of וְיָרִיתִילְ + 2mp suffix, 'for you' — the lot is cast on the tribes' behalf.
גּוֹרָל֙a lotN m sg abs · גּוֹרָל (H1486)Direct object of וְיָרִיתִיגּוֹרָל (H1486) 'lot'; the mechanism of sacred, YHWH-directed allotment, distinguishing this apportionment from mere human decision (cf. Prov 16:33).
פֹּ֔הhereadverb · פֹּה (H6311)Adverbial complement of placeפֹּה (H6311) 'here'; locates the lot-casting at Shiloh, before the newly installed Tent of Meeting.
לִפְנֵ֖יbeforeprep לְ + N c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, 'in the presence of')פָּנִים (H6440); see v.1; idiomatic 'before, in the presence of' YHWH — the lot-casting is a sacral, not merely administrative, act.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing לִפְנֵי (construct)יְהוָה (H3068); see v.3.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּour GodN m pl constr + 1cp suff · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה (construct chain, genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) + 1cp suffix, 'our God'; Joshua includes himself with the nation before the covenant God who directs the lot.
7
כִּ֠י אֵֽין חֵ֤לֶק לַלְוִיִּם֙ בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֔ם כִּֽי כְהֻנַּ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה נַחֲלָת֑וֹ וְגָ֡ד וּרְאוּבֵ֡ן וַחֲצִי֩ שֵׁ֨בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה לָקְח֣וּ נַחֲלָתָ֗ם מֵעֵ֤בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִזְרָ֔חָה אֲשֶׁר֙ נָתַ֣ן לָהֶ֔ם מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֥בֶד יְהוָֽה
For the Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of YHWH is their inheritance; and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have taken their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of YHWH gave them.
A double-כִּי parenthesis interrupts Joshua's second-person directive speech to explain why the survey covers only seven, not nine or twelve, tribes: Levi is excluded because the priesthood itself is its inheritance, and Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh are excluded because Moses already settled them east of the Jordan. Both perfective clauses (לָקְחוּ, נָתַן) report accomplished, prior fact, marking the whole verse as backgrounded explanation rather than the narrative's or directive's main line.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
כִּ֠יforconjunction · כִּי (H3588)Subordinating/explanatory conjunction, opens the parenthetical asideכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; introduces the explanatory parenthesis clarifying why only seven tribes remain to be surveyed.
אֵֽיןthere is notnegative existential particle · אַיִן (H369)Negates the existential clause (predicate, 'there is no portion')אַיִן (H369) 'there is not, nothing'; negates existence — 'the Levites have no portion.'
חֵ֤לֶקportionN m sg abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Subject of the existential negation (אֵין חֵלֶק, 'no portion [exists]')חֵלֶק (H2506); see v.5; here the land-portion the Levites explicitly lack.
לַלְוִיִּם֙for the Levitesprep לְ + art + gentilic N m pl abs · לֵוִי (H3881)Adverbial prepositional phrase (possession, 'belonging to the Levites')לֵוִי (H3881) 'Levite'; gentilic of the tribe of Levi, set apart for priestly/cultic service rather than territorial inheritance (cf. Num 18:20; Deut 18:1-2).
בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֔םin your midstprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 2mp suff · קֶרֶב (H7130)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, 'among you')קֶרֶב (H7130) 'midst, inward part'; with בְּ and suffix, 'among you' — the Levites live dispersed among the other tribes rather than holding a contiguous territory.
כִּֽיforconjunction · כִּי (H3588)Subordinating/explanatory conjunction, grounds the preceding negationכִּי (H3588); introduces the reason the Levites lack a portion — their inheritance is the priesthood itself.
כְהֻנַּ֥תpriesthood ofN f sg constr · כְּהֻנָּה (H3550)Construct chain (genitival); subject/predicate nominative of the clauseכְּהֻנָּה (H3550) 'priesthood'; construct 'priesthood of', the Levites' unique cultic office standing in place of land.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing the construct chain (כְּהֻנַּת יְהוָה)יְהוָה (H3068); see above; the priesthood is specifically service to YHWH.
נַחֲלָת֑וֹis his inheritanceN f sg constr + 3ms suff · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Predicate nominative (nominal clause: 'the priesthood of YHWH [is] his inheritance')נַחֲלָה (H5159); see v.2; here metaphorical — the priestly office itself substitutes for a land-inheritance, the 3ms suffix referring back to Levi distributively.
וְגָ֡דand Gadconj וְ + proper noun · גָּד (H1410)First member of compound subject of לָקְחוּגָּד (H1410) 'Gad'; one of the two-and-a-half Transjordan tribes already settled by Moses (Num 32).
וּרְאוּבֵ֡ןand Reubenconj וְ + proper noun · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Second member of compound subject of לָקְחוּרְאוּבֵן (H7205) 'Reuben'; the firstborn tribe, likewise settled in Transjordan (Num 32).
וַחֲצִי֩and half ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · חֵצִי (H2677)Construct chain (genitival); third member of compound subjectחֵצִי (H2677) 'half'; construct 'half of', qualifying שֵׁבֶט הַמְנַשֶּׁה — only half of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan, the other half west (ch. 17).
שֵׁ֨בֶטthe tribe ofN m sg constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct chain (genitival), completing וַחֲצִישֵׁבֶט (H7626); see v.2.
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֜הManassehart + proper noun · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive completing the construct chain (שֵׁבֶט הַמְנַשֶּׁה)מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519) 'Manasseh'; with article (unusual for a proper noun, common with this tribal name), Joseph's elder son whose tribe split between Transjordan and Cisjordan territories.
לָקְח֣וּhave takenQal perf 3cp · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (main clause of the parenthetical aside)→ Perfective: a completed act prior to the narrative's present — these tribes' inheritance already settled by Moses before the Cisjordan conquest even beganלָקַח (H3947) 'to take, receive'; perfect, marking their inheritance as already accomplished fact, contrasting with the seven tribes still 'slack' (v.3).
נַחֲלָתָ֗םtheir inheritanceN f sg constr + 3mp suff · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Direct object of לָקְחוּנַחֲלָה (H5159); see v.2.
מֵעֵ֤בֶרfrom the region acrossprep מִן + N m sg abs · עֵבֶר (H5676)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, source/location)עֵבֶר (H5676) 'side, region across'; with מִן, 'from the other side of' — standard designation for Transjordan.
לַיַּרְדֵּן֙the Jordanprep לְ + art + proper noun · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Genitive completing עֵבֶר (idiomatic construct phrase 'beyond the Jordan')יַרְדֵּן (H3383) 'Jordan'; the river forming the eastern boundary of Cisjordan Israel.
מִזְרָ֔חָהeastwardN m sg abs + directional he · מִזְרָח (H4217)Adverbial accusative of direction ('eastward')מִזְרָח (H4217) 'east, sunrise'; with directional ־ָה suffix, 'eastward' — specifying the Transjordan tribes' location relative to the Jordan.
אֲשֶׁר֙whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun (introduces relative clause modifying נַחֲלָתָם)אֲשֶׁר (H834); see v.2.
נָתַ֣ןgaveQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act — Moses' land-grant, already historical by the time of Joshua's speechנָתַן (H5414); see v.3; here Moses (not YHWH directly) is the grammatical subject, though acting as YHWH's servant/agent.
לָהֶ֔םto themprep לְ + 3mp suff · לIndirect object of נָתַןלְ + 3mp suffix, 'to them' — Gad, Reuben, and half-Manasseh.
מֹשֶׁ֖הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of נָתַןמֹשֶׁה (H4872) 'Moses'; Israel's first leader, who allotted the Transjordan territory before his death (Num 32; Deut 3:12-17).
עֶ֥בֶדservant ofN m sg constr · עֶבֶד (H5650)Apposition to מֹשֶׁה (construct chain, genitival, honorific title)עֶבֶד (H5650) 'servant'; construct 'servant of', the standing honorific title for Moses throughout Joshua (cf. 1:1, 13; 14:7), underscoring his authority as YHWH's agent even in this earlier land-grant.
יְהוָֽהYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing the construct chain (עֶבֶד יְהוָה)יְהוָה (H3068); see above.
8
וַיָּקֻ֥מוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיְצַ֣ו יְהוֹשֻׁ֡עַ אֶת הַהֹלְכִים֩ לִכְתֹּ֨ב אֶת הָאָ֜רֶץ לֵאמֹ֗ר לְ֠כוּ וְהִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ בָאָ֜רֶץ וְכִתְב֤וּ אוֹתָהּ֙ וְשׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלַ֔י וּ֠פֹה אַשְׁלִ֨יךְ לָכֶ֥ם גּוֹרָ֛ל לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּשִׁלֹֽה
And the men arose and went; and Joshua commanded those who went to write the land, saying, Go and walk through the land and write it, and return to me, and here I will cast the lot for you before YHWH in Shiloh.
The parenthetical aside of v.7 closes and the wayyiqtol chain resumes the main narrative line: the men's departure is reported, then Joshua's charge to them is quoted almost verbatim from vv.4 and 6 (walk, write, return, cast the lot before YHWH) — a formulaic command-repeated-as-narrated-execution pattern typical of Hebrew narrative, confirming the commission is now actually underway.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
וַיָּקֻ֥מוּand they aroseconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · קוּם (H6965)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main-clause predicate)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the commissioned men's departure begins the survey's executionקוּם (H6965); see v.4; here narrating the actual fulfillment of the earlier jussive וְיָקֻמוּ.
הָאֲנָשִׁ֖יםthe menart + N m pl abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject of וַיָּקֻמוּאִישׁ (H376); see v.4; the twenty-one surveyors (three per tribe) now appointed and acting.
וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּand wentconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · הָלַךְ/יָלַךְ (H3212)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main-clause predicate)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — their setting outהָלַךְ/יָלַךְ (H3212) 'to go, walk'; narrates the men's departure to begin the land-survey.
וַיְצַ֣וand he commandedconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms · צָוָה (H6680)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main-clause predicate)→ Wayyiqtol, Piel: foregrounded narrative advance — Joshua's authoritative charge to the departing menצָוָה (H6680) 'to command'; Piel, Joshua's formal charge to the surveyors, echoing his role throughout the book as covenant administrator.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֡עַJoshuaproper noun · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of וַיְצַויְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091); see v.3.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object of וַיְצַו)אֵת (H853); marks הַהֹלְכִים as the direct object of וַיְצַו.
הַהֹלְכִים֩those who wentart + Qal ptc mp · הָלַךְ (H1980)Substantival participle, direct object of וַיְצַו→ Participle: characterizes the men by their ongoing action, 'the ones going/departing'הָלַךְ (H1980); see above; the participle substantivizes the verb, 'those going' = the appointed surveyors already in motion.
לִכְתֹּ֨בto writeprep לְ + Qal inf constr · כָּתַב (H3789)Infinitive construct expressing the purpose/content of the command→ Infinitive construct: the purposive content of Joshua's charge — the writing task itselfכָּתַב (H3789); see v.4; the specific charge given to the departing surveyors.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object of לִכְתֹּב)אֵת (H853); marks הָאָרֶץ as the object of לִכְתֹּב.
הָאָ֜רֶץthe landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of לִכְתֹּבאֶרֶץ (H776); see v.1.
לֵאמֹ֗רsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct introducing direct quotation→ Infinitive construct: standard formula introducing direct speechאָמַר (H559); see v.3; the standard quotative frame introducing Joshua's actual words to the men.
לְ֠כוּGo!Qal impv 2mp · הָלַךְ/יָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (imperative, direct quotation)→ Imperative: direct command opening Joshua's charge, echoing the earlier jussive/weqatal commission of vv.4 and 6הָלַךְ/יָלַךְ (H3212); see above; imperative repeating the commission verbally as the men are actually sent out.
וְהִתְהַלְּכ֨וּand walk throughconj וְ + Hitpael impv 2mp · הָלַךְ (H1980)Imperative continuing Joshua's charge (coordinate command)→ Imperative, Hitpael iterative: 'walk to and fro, traverse' — echoing v.4's וְיִתְהַלְּכוּ almost verbatim, now as direct commandהָלַךְ (H1980); see v.4; the Hitpael again denotes methodical traversal for the survey.
בָאָ֜רֶץthrough the landprep בְּ + art + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, extent)אֶרֶץ (H776); see v.1.
וְכִתְב֤וּand writeconj וְ + Qal impv 2mp · כָּתַב (H3789)Imperative continuing Joshua's charge (coordinate command)→ Imperative: repeats vv.4/6's writing command directly to the departing menכָּתַב (H3789); see v.4.
אוֹתָהּ֙itobj marker + 3fs suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וְכִתְבוּ (referring to הָאָרֶץ)אֵת (H853) + 3fs suffix; see v.4.
וְשׁ֣וּבוּand returnconj וְ + Qal impv 2mp · שׁוּב (H7725)Imperative continuing Joshua's charge (coordinate command)→ Imperative: the closing command, echoing v.4's וְיָבֹאוּ with שׁוּב instead of בּוֹא — 'come back'שׁוּב (H7725) 'to return, turn back'; here replacing v.4's בּוֹא, functionally equivalent — completing the go-walk-write-return cycle.
אֵלַ֔יto meprep אֶל + 1cs suff · אֶל (H413)Adverbial prepositional phrase (goal, complement of וְשׁוּבוּ)אֶל (H413) + 1cs suffix; see v.4.
וּ֠פֹהand hereconj וְ + adverb · פֹּה (H6311)Adverbial complement of place, fronted for emphasisפֹּה (H6311); see v.6; fronted, 'and here' — anticipating the lot-casting at Shiloh.
אַשְׁלִ֨יךְI will castHiphil yiqtol 1cs · שָׁלַךְ (H7993)Predicate verb (main clause, Joshua's promised future act)→ Yiqtol, Hiphil: future/imperfective — Joshua's promised act of casting the lot upon their returnשָׁלַךְ (H7993) 'to throw, cast'; Hiphil causative, of casting lots — synonymous here with יָרָה of v.6 (both idiomatic for 'cast a lot').
לָכֶ֥םfor youprep לְ + 2mp suff · לIndirect object/beneficiary of אַשְׁלִיךְלְ + 2mp suffix, 'for you'; see v.6.
גּוֹרָ֛לa lotN m sg abs · גּוֹרָל (H1486)Direct object of אַשְׁלִיךְגּוֹרָל (H1486); see v.6.
לִפְנֵ֥יbeforeprep לְ + N c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, 'in the presence of')פָּנִים (H6440); see v.1.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing לִפְנֵי (construct)יְהוָה (H3068); see v.3.
בְּשִׁלֹֽהin Shilohprep בְּ + proper noun · שִׁלֹה (H7887)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, closing the chapter's introductory unit at the sanctuary site)שִׁלֹה (H7887); see v.1; the chapter's frame closes as it opened — at Shiloh, before the Tent of Meeting.
9
וַיֵּלְכ֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ בָאָ֔רֶץ וַיִּכְתְּב֧וּהָ לֶֽעָרִ֛ים לְשִׁבְעָ֥ה חֲלָקִ֖ים עַל סֵ֑פֶר וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶל הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה שִׁלֹֽה
So the men went and passed through the land, and wrote it down by cities in seven portions in a document, and came to Joshua at the camp, at Shiloh.
A tight chain of wayyiqtol verbs (go, cross, write, come) narrates the men's compliance and completion of the survey; the notice that they 'wrote' the land in a book is a rare concrete detail of Israelite administrative literacy, and it caps the commissioning scene (vv.1-9) before the lot-casting proper begins in v.10.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וַיֵּלְכ֤וּand they wentconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · יָלַךְ (H3212)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the surveying party's departureיָלַךְ (H3212), the wayyiqtol/jussive stem-form of הָלַךְ (H1980) 'to go, walk'; opens the men's expedition across the land.
הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙the menart + N m pl abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject of וַיֵּלְכוּאִישׁ (H376) 'man'; here the delegation of representative men (three per tribe, v.4) commissioned to survey the land.
וַיַּעַבְר֣וּand they passed throughconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · עָבַר (H5674)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the traversal of the landעָבַר (H5674) 'to pass over, through, by'; describes the men's on-foot circuit of the whole territory prior to writing it up.
בָאָ֔רֶץthrough the landprep בְּ + art + N (c) sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial, object of traversal)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, earth'; the not-yet-allotted territory of the remaining seven tribes.
וַיִּכְתְּב֧וּהָand they wrote it (down)conj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp + 3fs suff · כָּתַב (H3789)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb, with pronominal object 'it' = the land)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the act of written record-keepingכָּתַב (H3789) 'to write'; a striking notice of literacy applied to administrative land-survey — the men produce a written register (סֵפֶר), not merely an oral report.
לֶֽעָרִ֛יםby citiesprep לְ + art + N f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Adverbial prepositional phrase (manner/norm — organizing principle of the record)עִיר (H5892) 'city, town'; the survey was catalogued city-by-city, the basic unit of the land register.
לְשִׁבְעָ֥הinto sevenprep לְ + cardinal number m sg abs · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Adverbial prepositional phrase (distributive — number of portions)שֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven'; matching the seven tribes still awaiting an allotment (cf. v.2).
חֲלָקִ֖יםportionsN m pl abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Object of preposition לְ (with לְשִׁבְעָה, 'into seven portions')חֵלֶק (H2506) 'portion, share, allotment'; from חָלַק 'to divide' — the same root underlying later 'divisions' (מַחְלְקֹתָם, v.10).
עַלin/uponprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (locative — medium of record)עַל (H5921) 'upon, on, in'; here marking the medium — 'in/on a document'.
סֵ֑פֶרa documentN m sg abs · סֵפֶר (H5612)Object of preposition עַל (locative complement)סֵפֶר (H5612) 'document, scroll, book'; the chapter's rare, concrete glimpse of Israelite administrative literacy — the survey is committed to a written register brought back to Joshua.
וַיָּבֹ֧אוּand they cameconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · בּוֹא (H935)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the delegation's returnבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter, go'; the men complete the circuit and report back.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (spatial — goal)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks the destination of the return, Joshua.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַJoshuaproper noun · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Object of preposition אֶליְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091) 'YHWH is salvation'; Moses' successor, presiding over the survey and the casting of lots.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (spatial — goal)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; second goal-phrase, specifying the location within the camp.
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖הthe campart + N (c) sg abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Object of preposition אֶל, in apposition with שִׁלֹהמַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp, encampment'; Israel's staging base, here located at Shiloh.
שִׁלֹֽהShilohproper noun · שִׁלֹה (H7887)Appositive to הַמַּחֲנֶה (place name specifying the camp's location)שִׁלֹה (H7887) Shiloh, in the hill country of Ephraim; the sanctuary site housing the Tent of Meeting (v.1) and the chapter's operational center for the land division.
10
וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֩ לָהֶ֨ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַ גּוֹרָ֛ל בְּשִׁלֹ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיְחַלֶּק שָׁ֨ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַ אֶת הָאָ֛רֶץ לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כְּמַחְלְקֹתָֽם
Then Joshua cast the lot for them at Shiloh before YHWH, and there Joshua divided the land to the sons of Israel according to their divisions.
The double 'Joshua...Joshua' and the phrase 'before YHWH' frame the lot as both an act of Joshua's leadership and a divinely-overseen, not humanly-manipulated, procedure; this verse is the narrative hinge from commissioning to actual allotment, launching the tribe-by-tribe border lists that follow (vv.11ff.).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֩and he castconj וַ + Hiphil wayyiqtol 3ms · שָׁלַךְ (H7993)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the decisive act of castingשָׁלַךְ (H7993) 'to throw, cast'; Hiphil 'to cast, throw down' — here of casting the lot, the mechanism (under divine oversight) determining each tribe's inheritance.
לָהֶ֨םfor themprep לְ + 3mp suff · לְIndirect object (dative of advantage)The preposition לְ with pronominal suffix 'for them', referring to the seven remaining tribes awaiting allotment.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַJoshuaproper noun · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of וַיַּשְׁלֵךְיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091); Joshua personally administers the lot, exercising his commissioned authority (cf. Num 34:17).
גּוֹרָ֛לa lotN m sg abs · גּוֹרָל (H1486)Direct object of וַיַּשְׁלֵךְגּוֹרָל (H1486) 'lot, portion determined by lot'; the sacral mechanism (cf. Prov 16:33) by which the land is impartially and divinely apportioned.
בְּשִׁלֹ֖הat Shilohprep בְּ + proper noun · שִׁלֹה (H7887)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial)שִׁלֹה (H7887); the lot-casting takes place at Shiloh, before the Tent of Meeting recently pitched there (v.1).
לִפְנֵ֣יbeforeprep לְ + N (c) pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial/theological — in the presence of)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי idiomatically 'before, in the presence of' — the lot is cast in YHWH's presence, underscoring its divinely-sanctioned impartiality.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of preposition לִפְנֵייְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God; his presence guarantees the lot is not mere chance but divine allotment.
וַיְחַלֶּקand he dividedconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms · חָלַק (H2505)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the resulting act of distributionחָלַק (H2505) Piel 'to divide, apportion, distribute'; same root as חֵלֶק 'portion' (v.9) — Joshua's dividing act completes the lot's outcome.
שָׁ֨םthereadverb · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial modifier (spatial)שָׁם (H8033) 'there'; resumes the locale just named, Shiloh.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַJoshuaproper noun · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of וַיְחַלֶּקיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091); resumptive subject, emphasizing Joshua's personal execution of the division.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת/אֶת (H853), nota accusativi marking הָאָרֶץ as the definite direct object; untranslated in English.
הָאָ֛רֶץthe landart + N (c) sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of וַיְחַלֶּקאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; the surveyed territory of the seven remaining tribes, now formally distributed.
לִבְנֵ֥יto the sons ofprep לְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Indirect object (dative — recipients of the division)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct 'sons of' introducing the recipient nation.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement in construct chain בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵליִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the covenant nation as a whole, receiving its ancestral inheritance tribe by tribe.
כְּמַחְלְקֹתָֽםaccording to their divisionsprep כְּ + N f pl constr + 3mp suff · מַחֲלֹקֶת (H4256)Adverbial prepositional phrase (norm/standard — manner of distribution)מַחֲלֹקֶת (H4256) 'division, class, course'; from the same root חלק as חֵלֶק/וַיְחַלֶּק — the land is apportioned according to Israel's existing tribal/clan divisions, not arbitrarily.
11
וַיַּ֗עַל גּוֹרַ֛ל מַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי בִנְיָמִ֖ן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם וַיֵּצֵא֙ גְּב֣וּל גּֽוֹרָלָ֔ם בֵּ֚ין בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבֵ֖ין בְּנֵ֥י יוֹסֵֽף
The lot of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the border of their lot went out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.
Benjamin is the first of the seven remaining tribes named, positioned literarily as well as geographically between Judah and Joseph; the note anticipates the detailed border list (vv.12-20) and quietly sets up Jerusalem's later placement on this very border (v.28).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וַיַּ֗עַלand it came upconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · עָלָה (H5927)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the lot's outcome for Benjaminעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up, come up'; idiomatic of a lot 'coming up' — being drawn/falling to a particular tribe.
גּוֹרַ֛לthe lot ofN m sg constr · גּוֹרָל (H1486)Subject of וַיַּעַלגּוֹרָל (H1486) 'lot'; construct before מַטֵּה, 'the lot of the tribe of...'.
מַטֵּ֥הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive in construct chain (specifying whose lot)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'tribe, staff'; construct before בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive in construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; 'sons of Benjamin' = the tribe of Benjamin.
בִנְיָמִ֖ןBenjaminproper noun · בִּנְיָמִן (H1144)Genitive complement in construct chainבִּנְיָמִן (H1144) 'son of the right hand/south'; Rachel's second son, whose tribe's territory becomes the buffer strip between Judah and Joseph — and, later, the seam on which Jerusalem sits (v.28).
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑םaccording to their familiesprep לְ + N f pl constr + 3mp suff · מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940)Adverbial prepositional phrase (norm — distribution basis)מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940) 'clan, family'; the lot is allotted at the sub-tribal, clan level, echoing the census/allotment procedure of Numbers 26.
וַיֵּצֵא֙and it went outconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb, launching the border description)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the boundary's course begins to be tracedיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; the standard verb opening border-tour formulas throughout Joshua 15-19, describing the boundary line's path.
גְּב֣וּלthe border ofN m sg constr · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וַיֵּצֵאגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border, territory'; construct before גּוֹרָלָם, 'the border of their lot'.
גּֽוֹרָלָ֔םtheir lotN m sg constr + 3mp suff · גּוֹרָל (H1486)Genitive complement in construct chainגּוֹרָל (H1486) 'lot'; the territorial allotment just drawn for Benjamin in the preceding clause.
בֵּ֚יןbetweenprep · בֵּין (H996)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial)בֵּין (H996) 'between'; opens a correlative בֵּין...וּבֵין construction locating Benjamin's border between Judah and Joseph.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive in construct chain (object of בֵּין)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; 'sons of Judah' = the tribe of Judah, Benjamin's southern/western neighbor.
יְהוּדָ֔הJudahproper noun · יְהוּדָה (H3063)Genitive complement in construct chainיְהוּדָה (H3063); the great southern tribe whose northern border (ch.15) meets Benjamin's here.
וּבֵ֖יןand betweenconj וְ + prep · בֵּין (H996)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial, second term of correlative)בֵּין (H996) 'between', repeated with וְ for the correlative 'between X and between Y' construction.
בְּנֵ֥יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive in construct chain (object of וּבֵין)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; 'sons of Joseph' = the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, Benjamin's northern neighbor.
יוֹסֵֽףJosephproper noun · יוֹסֵף (H3130)Genitive complement in construct chainיוֹסֵף (H3130); here standing for the Joseph tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh), whose southern border Benjamin's lot abuts — Benjamin is thus wedged as a buffer between the two dominant houses of Judah and Joseph.
12
וַיְהִ֨י לָהֶ֧ם הַגְּב֛וּל לִפְאַ֥ת צָפ֖וֹנָה מִן הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְעָלָ֣ה הַגְּבוּל֩ אֶל כֶּ֨תֶף יְרִיח֜וֹ מִצָּפ֗וֹן וְעָלָ֤ה בָהָר֙ יָ֔מָּה והיה וְהָיוּ֙ תֹּֽצְאֹתָ֔יו מִדְבַּ֖רָה בֵּ֥ית אָֽוֶן
And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the shoulder of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward; and its extremities were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
The verse shifts from the wayyiqtol narrative frame (vv.9-11) into the weqatal chain typical of Joshua's border-survey style (as in chs.15-19), tracing a continuous line north-to-west; it also preserves a genuine Kethiv/Qere pair (והיה/וְהָיוּ) where the tradition reads a plural verb agreeing with the plural תֹּצְאֹתָיו, a recurring feature of this chapter's border formulas (cf. vv.14, 19).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וַיְהִ֨יand it wasconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb, existential)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — introducing the border descriptionהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; existential/copular verb opening the detailed border-tour, 'and [the border] was to them...'.
לָהֶ֧םto themprep לְ + 3mp suff · לְIndirect object (possessive — 'belonging to them')The preposition לְ with pronominal suffix, marking possession: the border belongs to Benjamin ('their border').
הַגְּב֛וּלthe borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וַיְהִיגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border, boundary'; the subject of the whole descriptive tour that follows.
לִפְאַ֥תon the side/edge ofprep לְ + N f sg constr · פֵּאָה (H6285)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — designates the compass side)פֵּאָה (H6285) 'side, edge, quarter'; introduces the compass-direction framing standard to Joshua's border lists.
צָפ֖וֹנָהnorthwardN f sg abs + directional ה · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial accusative of direction (with ה-locale)צָפוֹן (H6828) 'north'; with the directive/locative ה-suffix, 'toward the north' — specifies the border's starting orientation.
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — starting point)מִן (H4480) 'from'; marks the border's starting point at the Jordan.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ןthe Jordanart + proper noun · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Object of preposition מִןיַרְדֵּן (H3383) the Jordan River; Benjamin's border begins at the river, the eastern boundary shared with the transjordan tribes' orientation point.
וְעָלָ֣הand it went upconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · עָלָה (H5927)Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain (predicate)→ Weqatal: describing the fixed, permanent course of the boundaryעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up, ascend'; the weqatal (sequential perfect) form standard to these border-tour chains, tracing the line's continued ascent.
הַגְּבוּל֩the borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וְעָלָהגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'; resumed as subject of the next verb in the chain.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — goal)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks the next waypoint.
כֶּ֨תֶףthe shoulder ofN f sg constr · כָּתֵף (H3802)Object of preposition אֶל, head of construct chainכָּתֵף (H3802) 'shoulder'; figuratively of a hillside/ridge slope — the same term used for the Judah-Benjamin border description in ch.15.
יְרִיח֜וֹof Jerichoproper noun · יְרִיחוֹ (H3405)Genitive complement in construct chainיְרִיחוֹ (H3405) Jericho, the fallen city near the Jordan (ch.6); the border skirts its northern shoulder/ridge.
מִצָּפ֗וֹןon the northprep מִן + N f sg abs · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — specifying which side of Jericho)צָפוֹן (H6828) 'north'; specifies that the border passes Jericho's shoulder on its north side.
וְעָלָ֤הand it went upconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · עָלָה (H5927)Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain (predicate)→ Weqatal: describing the fixed, permanent course of the boundaryעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up'; second ascent verb in the chain, now through the hill country.
בָהָר֙through the hill countryprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · הַר (H2022)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — path)הַר (H2022) 'mountain, hill country'; the central Benjaminite highland ridge.
יָ֔מָּהwestwardN m sg abs + directional ה · יָם (H3220)Adverbial accusative of direction (with ה-locale)יָם (H3220) 'sea'; idiomatically 'west' (the Mediterranean lying west), with the directive ה-suffix 'westward' — the border's ascent through the hills bends toward the west.
והיה[Kethiv, unpointed]conj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · הָיָה (H1961) — Kethiv (written form)Kethiv (written form), superseded by the following Qere→ Kethiv, superseded reading — see following Qere וְהָיוּהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; the Kethiv (consonantal text) here is singular/unpointed, but tradition reads the following plural Qere וְהָיוּ instead — a recurring MT phenomenon in this chapter's border-lists (cf. vv. 14, 19).
וְהָיוּ֙and they were/will beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · הָיָה (H1961) — Qere (read form)Weqatal, predicate verb (main clause) — the form actually read, agreeing with the plural תֹּצְאֹתָיו→ Weqatal: continuing the boundary-description chainהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; the Qere (tradition's actual reading) is plural, correctly agreeing with the following plural subject תֹּצְאֹתָיו 'its terminations/extremities' — the border's outer limits reach the wilderness of Beth-aven.
תֹּֽצְאֹתָ֔יוits terminationsN f pl constr + 3ms suff · תּוֹצָאָה (H8444)Subject of וְהָיוּתּוֹצָאָה (H8444) 'outgoing, extremity, termination'; plural, 'its outer limits' — from יָצָא 'to go out', the technical term marking a border segment's terminal point in these survey lists.
מִדְבַּ֖רָהat/to the wilderness ofN m sg constr + directional ה · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Predicate complement of וְהָיוּ (locative)מִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, wasteland'; with directive ה, 'to/at the wilderness of', construct before בֵּית אָוֶן.
בֵּ֥יתBeth-proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית אָוֶן (H1007)Genitive in construct chain (place name, first element)בֵּית (H1004 'house of') bound to אָוֶן — together בֵּית אָוֶן 'house of iniquity/trouble', a site east of Bethel in the wilderness fringe.
אָֽוֶן-avenproper noun (construct element) · בֵּית אָוֶן (H1007)Genitive complement in construct chain (place name, second element)אָוֶן (H205) 'trouble, iniquity, wickedness'; second element of the toponym בֵּית אָוֶן 'house of iniquity', the border's north-side terminus — possibly the same locale later associated with idolatrous Bethel (Hos 4:15; 10:5, 'Beth-aven' as a polemical pun on Bethel).
13
וְעָבַר֩ מִשָּׁ֨ם הַגְּב֜וּל ל֗וּזָה אֶל כֶּ֤תֶף ל֨וּזָה֙ נֶ֔גְבָּה הִ֖יא בֵּֽית אֵ֑ל וְיָרַ֤ד הַגְּבוּל֙ עַטְר֣וֹת אַדָּ֔ר עַל הָהָ֕ר אֲשֶׁ֛ר מִנֶּ֥גֶב לְבֵית חֹר֖וֹן תַּחְתּֽוֹן
And the border passed from there to Luz, to the shoulder of Luz southward — that is, Bethel — and the border went down to Ataroth-addar, by the hill that is south of Lower Beth-horon.
The verse continues the weqatal chain and supplies an explanatory 'that is' gloss identifying the archaic name Luz with the better-known Bethel, a device Joshua's border lists use elsewhere for clarity; the border then descends toward the Beth-horon pass, a strategically vital route later fought over (cf. Josh 10:10-11).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וְעָבַר֩and it passed overconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · עָבַר (H5674)Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain (predicate)→ Weqatal: describing the fixed, permanent course of the boundaryעָבַר (H5674) 'to pass over, through, along'; continues the border-tracing chain from v.12.
מִשָּׁ֨םfrom thereprep מִן + adverb · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — resumes prior point)שָׁם (H8033) 'there'; with מִן, 'from there' — resumes the border's course from the wilderness of Beth-aven just named.
הַגְּב֜וּלthe borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וְעָבַרגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'; subject continuing across the verse chain.
ל֗וּזָהto Luzproper noun + directional ה · לוּז (H3870)Adverbial accusative of direction (goal, with ה-locale)לוּז (H3870) Luz, the older Canaanite name of the site later called Bethel (cf. Gen 28:19); the directive ה marks 'to/toward Luz'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — goal)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; introduces the next waypoint phrase.
כֶּ֤תֶףthe shoulder ofN f sg constr · כָּתֵף (H3802)Object of preposition אֶל, head of construct chainכָּתֵף (H3802) 'shoulder'; the ridge/slope of Luz.
ל֨וּזָה֙of Luzproper noun + directional ה · לוּז (H3870)Genitive complement in construct chainלוּז (H3870); repeated for precision — 'the shoulder of Luz' (the directive ה is vestigial/frozen here, common in place names).
נֶ֔גְבָּהsouthwardN m sg abs + directional ה · נֶגֶב (H5045)Adverbial accusative of direction (with ה-locale)נֶגֶב (H5045) 'south, Negev'; with directive ה, 'southward' — orienting the border's continued path past Luz.
הִ֖יאthat isindependent personal pronoun 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Copular pronoun, identifying apposition ('that is, Bethel')הִיא (H1931) 3fs pronoun 'she/it'; used idiomatically as 'that is' to gloss an older place name with its current one — Luz = Bethel.
בֵּֽיתBeth-proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית־אֵל (H1008)Predicate nominative (identifying apposition with לוּזָה)בֵּית (H1004, 'house of') + אֵל, together בֵּית־אֵל 'house of God', the sanctuary town renamed from Luz by Jacob (Gen 28:19; 35:6-7).
אֵ֑ל-elproper noun (construct element) · בֵּית־אֵל (H1008)Second element of the place name (in apposition)אֵל (H410, combined here in H1008) 'God'; second element completing בֵּית־אֵל 'Bethel', identifying Luz for the reader.
וְיָרַ֤דand it went downconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain (predicate)→ Weqatal: describing the fixed, permanent course of the boundaryיָרַד (H3381) 'to go down, descend'; the border now descends from the Bethel ridge.
הַגְּבוּל֙the borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וְיָרַדגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'; subject resumed for the descent.
עַטְר֣וֹתAtaroth-proper noun (construct element) · עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר (H5853)Adverbial accusative of direction (goal, first element of place name)עַטְרוֹת ('crowns') combined with אַדָּר, together עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר 'Ataroth-addar', a town also mentioned on the Ephraim/Judah border list (Josh 16:5) — one of several shared border points between Ephraim, Benjamin and Judah.
אַדָּ֔ר-addarproper noun (construct element) · עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר (H5853)Second element of the place nameאַדָּר ('noble, majestic') second element of עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר 'Ataroth-addar'.
עַלby/nearprep · עַל (H5921)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial)עַל (H5921) 'upon, by, near'; introduces the next locational reference point.
הָהָ֕רthe hillart + N m sg abs · הַר (H2022)Object of preposition עַלהַר (H2022) 'mountain, hill'; the specific ridge south of Lower Beth-horon, further defined by the following relative clause.
אֲשֶׁ֛רwhich/thatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun, introducing an adjectival clause modifying הָהָראֲשֶׁר (H834) invariable relative particle 'who, which, that'; introduces the qualifying clause locating the hill.
מִנֶּ֥גֶבsouth ofprep מִן + N m sg abs · נֶגֶב (H5045)Predicate of relative clause (spatial — locates the hill)נֶגֶב (H5045) 'south'; with מִן, 'to the south of' — positions the hill relative to Lower Beth-horon.
לְבֵיתof Beth-prep לְ + proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית חוֹרוֹן (H1032)Object of preposition מִנֶּגֶב, first element of place nameבֵּית (H1004, 'house of') combined with חוֹרוֹן, together בֵּית חוֹרוֹן 'Beth-horon', a strategic pass-town on the Ephraim-Benjamin border (cf. Josh 16:3,5), here specified as the 'lower' (תַּחְתּוֹן) of two Beth-horons.
חֹר֖וֹן-horonproper noun (construct element) · בֵּית חוֹרוֹן (H1032)Second element of the place nameחוֹרוֹן (possibly related to a Canaanite deity Horon); second element completing בֵּית חוֹרוֹן.
תַּחְתּֽוֹןloweradjective m sg abs · תַּחְתּוֹן (H8481)Attributive adjective modifying בֵּית חוֹרוֹןתַּחְתּוֹן (H8481) 'lower'; distinguishes Lower Beth-horon from Upper Beth-horon (בֵּית חוֹרוֹן הָעֶלְיוֹן, cf. Josh 16:5), the two towns guarding the ascent/descent of the strategic pass.
14
וְתָאַ֣ר הַגְּבוּל֩ וְנָסַ֨ב לִפְאַת יָ֜ם נֶ֗גְבָּה מִן הָהָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עַל פְּנֵ֥י בֵית חֹרוֹן֮ נֶגְבָּה֒ והיה וְהָי֣וּ תֹֽצְאֹתָ֗יו אֶל קִרְיַת בַּ֨עַל֙ הִ֚יא קִרְיַ֣ת יְעָרִ֔ים עִ֖יר בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה זֹ֖את פְּאַת יָֽם
Then the border turned and curved around to the west side, southward from the hill that faces Beth-horon southward, and its extremities were at Kiriath-baal — that is, Kiriath-jearim, a city of the sons of Judah. This is the west side.
The pairing of תָּאַר and the Niphal וְנָסַב ('turns itself about') vividly marks a sharp pivot in the boundary's direction; the verse closes the western leg with the standard summary formula ('this is the west side'), and repeats the Kethiv/Qere pattern of v.12 (והיה/וְהָיוּ) at the segment's terminus.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
וְתָאַ֣רand it turned/bentconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · תָּאַר (H8388)Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain (predicate)→ Weqatal: describing the fixed, permanent course of the boundaryתָּאַר (H8388) 'to turn, bend, mark out (a boundary line)'; a technical border-survey verb describing a change of direction.
הַגְּבוּל֩the borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וְתָאַר and וְנָסַבגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'; subject of the compound turning-and-circling motion.
וְנָסַ֨בand it turned itself aboutconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · סָבַב (H5437)Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain (predicate, reflexive/passive nuance)→ Weqatal, Niphal: 'turns itself about' — a reflexive-passive nuance marking the border's circling courseסָבַב (H5437) 'to turn, go around, encircle'; Niphal here (וְנָסַב, not the more common Qal) gives a reflexive/middle nuance — the border 'turns itself about', reinforcing תָּאַר's sense of a sharp directional change as the line pivots toward the west side.
לִפְאַתto the side ofprep לְ + N f sg constr · פֵּאָה (H6285)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — designates the compass side)פֵּאָה (H6285) 'side, quarter'; introduces the new compass-side heading, as in v.12.
יָ֜םwestN m sg abs · יָם (H3220)Genitive complement in construct chain (compass direction)יָם (H3220) 'sea', idiomatically 'west'; 'the west side' — the border now runs along Benjamin's western flank.
נֶ֗גְבָּהsouthwardN m sg abs + directional ה · נֶגֶב (H5045)Adverbial accusative of direction (with ה-locale)נֶגֶב (H5045) 'south'; with directive ה, further specifying the westward-then-southward turn of the border.
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — starting point)מִן (H4480) 'from'; marks the starting point of this southward stretch.
הָהָר֙the hillart + N m sg abs · הַר (H2022)Object of preposition מִןהַר (H2022) 'mountain, hill'; the same hill mentioned in v.13, now the reference point for the western leg.
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhich/thatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun, introducing an adjectival clause modifying הָהָראֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; introduces the clause locating the hill opposite Beth-horon.
עַלin front of/facingprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase within relative clause (spatial)עַל (H5921) 'upon'; with פְּנֵי, idiomatic 'facing, in front of'.
פְּנֵ֥יthe face ofN (c) pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Object of preposition עַל (idiom עַל־פְּנֵי 'facing')פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; construct with עַל forming the idiom 'facing, opposite'.
בֵיתBeth-proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית חוֹרוֹן (H1032)Genitive complement, first element of place nameבֵּית (H1004) + חוֹרוֹן, together בֵּית חוֹרוֹן 'Beth-horon' — the same landmark as v.13, now viewed from the west.
חֹרוֹן֮-horonproper noun (construct element) · בֵּית חוֹרוֹן (H1032)Second element of the place nameחוֹרוֹן (H1032); completes בֵּית חוֹרוֹן.
נֶגְבָּה֒southwardN m sg abs + directional ה · נֶגֶב (H5045)Adverbial accusative of direction (with ה-locale)נֶגֶב (H5045) 'south'; second occurrence, re-confirming the southward orientation relative to Beth-horon.
והיה[Kethiv, unpointed]conj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · הָיָה (H1961) — Kethiv (written form)Kethiv (written form), superseded by the following Qere→ Kethiv, superseded reading — see following Qere וְהָי֣וּהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; as in v.12, the Kethiv is singular/unpointed but tradition reads the plural Qere וְהָיוּ instead, agreeing with the plural תֹצְאֹתָיו — the same recurring MT phenomenon in this chapter's border-lists.
וְהָי֣וּand they were/will beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · הָיָה (H1961) — Qere (read form)Weqatal, predicate verb (main clause) — the form actually read, agreeing with the plural תֹצְאֹתָיו→ Weqatal: continuing the boundary-description chainהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; the Qere's plural form correctly agrees with the plural subject תֹצְאֹתָיו 'its terminations', reaching Kiriath-baal/Kiriath-jearim.
תֹֽצְאֹתָ֗יוits terminationsN f pl constr + 3ms suff · תּוֹצָאָה (H8444)Subject of וְהָיוּתּוֹצָאָה (H8444) 'outgoing, extremity'; plural, marking this leg's terminal point, as in v.12.
אֶלat/toprep · אֶל (H413)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — goal)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; introduces the terminus place name.
קִרְיַתKiriath-proper noun (construct element) · קִרְיַת בַּעַל (H7154)Object of preposition אֶל, first element of place nameקִרְיַת ('city of') + בַּעַל, together קִרְיַת בַּעַל 'city of Baal', an alternate name for Kiriath-jearim.
בַּ֨עַל֙-baalproper noun (construct element) · קִרְיַת בַּעַל (H7154)Second element of the place nameבַּעַל (H1168) 'lord, master' (also the Canaanite storm-god's name); second element of קִרְיַת בַּעַל, likely reflecting the town's Canaanite cultic past.
הִ֚יאthat isindependent personal pronoun 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Copular pronoun, identifying apposition ('that is, Kiriath-jearim')הִיא (H1931); as in v.13, glosses an alternate name with the standard one.
קִרְיַ֣תKiriath-proper noun (construct element) · קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (H7157)Predicate nominative (identifying apposition), first element of place nameקִרְיַת ('city of') + יְעָרִים, together קִרְיַת יְעָרִים 'city of forests/Kiriath-jearim', one of the Gibeonite league cities (Josh 9:17) and later resting place of the ark (1 Sam 7:1-2).
יְעָרִ֔ים-jearimproper noun (construct element) · קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (H7157)Second element of the place nameיְעָרִים ('forests, woods'); second element completing קִרְיַת יְעָרִים.
עִ֖ירa city ofN f sg constr · עִיר (H5892)Apposition to קִרְיַת יְעָרִים, head of construct chainעִיר (H5892) 'city'; identifies Kiriath-jearim's tribal affiliation as construct head before בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive in construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; 'sons of Judah'.
יְהוּדָ֑הJudahproper noun · יְהוּדָה (H3063)Genitive complement in construct chainיְהוּדָה (H3063); notably Kiriath-jearim, though on/near Benjamin's border, is here identified as belonging to Judah (cf. Josh 15:60) — a boundary town whose tribal ownership the text takes care to clarify.
זֹ֖אתthisdemonstrative pronoun f sg · זֹאת (H2063)Subject of an implied copular clause (summary statement)זֹאת (H2063) 'this'; demonstrative summarizing formula closing the western-side description, as elsewhere in Joshua's border lists ('this is the X side').
פְּאַתthe side ofN f sg constr · פֵּאָה (H6285)Predicate nominative in summary clauseפֵּאָה (H6285) 'side'; construct before יָם, forming the closing formula.
יָֽםthe westN m sg abs · יָם (H3220)Genitive complement in construct chain (compass direction)יָם (H3220) 'sea', idiomatically 'west'; closes the verse with the standard summary formula, 'this is the west side'.
15
וּפְאַת נֶ֕גְבָּה מִקְצֵ֖ה קִרְיַ֣ת יְעָרִ֑ים וְיָצָ֤א הַגְּבוּל֙ יָ֔מָּה וְיָצָ֕א אֶל מַעְיַ֖ן מֵ֥י נֶפְתּֽוֹחַ
And the south side was from the edge of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went out westward, and went out to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah.
The verse pivots from the west-side conclusion (v.14) to the south side, using Kiriath-jearim as the shared corner point; the doubled וְיָצָא ('and it went out') marks two successive waypoints (westward, then to the spring of Nephtoah), continuing the terse survey style through v.20.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וּפְאַתand the side ofconj וְ + N f sg constr · פֵּאָה (H6285)Subject/topic, opening the south-side descriptionפֵּאָה (H6285) 'side, quarter'; opens the description of the south side, paralleling the west-side formula of v.14.
נֶ֕גְבָּהsouthward/southN m sg abs + directional ה · נֶגֶב (H5045)Genitive complement in construct chain (compass direction)נֶגֶב (H5045) 'south'; 'the south side', continuing directly from the west-side conclusion of v.14.
מִקְצֵ֖הfrom the edge ofprep מִן + N (c) sg constr · קָצֶה (H7097)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — starting point)קָצֶה (H7097) 'end, edge, extremity'; marks the starting point of the south-side border, at Kiriath-jearim's edge.
קִרְיַ֣תKiriath-proper noun (construct element) · קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (H7157)Genitive complement in construct chain, first element of place nameקִרְיַת ('city of') + יְעָרִים, together 'Kiriath-jearim', reprised from v.14 as the pivot point between the west and south sides.
יְעָרִ֑ים-jearimproper noun (construct element) · קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (H7157)Second element of the place nameיְעָרִים ('forests, woods'); completes קִרְיַת יְעָרִים.
וְיָצָ֤אand it went outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain (predicate)→ Weqatal: describing the fixed, permanent course of the boundaryיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; standard border-tracing verb, resumed for the southern leg.
הַגְּבוּל֙the borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of both occurrences of וְיָצָאגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'; subject of the southern-leg description.
יָ֔מָּהwestwardN m sg abs + directional ה · יָם (H3220)Adverbial accusative of direction (with ה-locale)יָם (H3220) 'sea', idiomatically 'west'; with directive ה, 'westward' — the south-side border first runs west from Kiriath-jearim.
וְיָצָ֕אand it went outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain (predicate)→ Weqatal: describing the fixed, permanent course of the boundaryיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; repeated for the next waypoint, the spring of Nephtoah.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Adverbial prepositional phrase (spatial — goal)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; introduces the terminal waypoint.
מַעְיַ֖ןthe spring ofN m sg constr · מַעְיָן (H4599)Object of preposition אֶל, head of construct chainמַעְיָן (H4599) 'spring, fountain'; from עַיִן 'eye/spring' — a water source marking the border's endpoint here.
מֵ֥יthe waters ofN m pl constr · מַיִם (H4325)Genitive in construct chainמַיִם (H4325) 'water(s)'; construct before נֶפְתּוֹחַ, 'the Waters of Nephtoah'.
נֶפְתּֽוֹחַNephtoahproper noun · נֶפְתּוֹחַ (H5318)Genitive complement in construct chainנֶפְתּוֹחַ (H5318), 'opening'; usually identified with ʿAin Lifta/Lifta spring northwest of Jerusalem, marking the southern border's western terminus near the Judah-Benjamin seam.
16
וְיָרַ֨ד הַגְּב֜וּל אֶל קְצֵ֣ה הָהָ֗ר אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל פְּנֵי֙ גֵּ֣י בֶן הִנֹּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֛ר בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִ֖ים צָפ֑וֹנָה וְיָרַד֩ גֵּ֨י הִנֹּ֜ם אֶל כֶּ֤תֶף הַיְבוּסִי֙ נֶ֔גְבָּה וְיָרַ֖ד עֵ֥ין רֹגֵֽל
And the border went down to the edge of the hill that faces the Valley of Ben-hinnom, which is in the Valley of Rephaim, northward; and it went down the Valley of Hinnom to the shoulder of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En-rogel.
This verse retraces, in the opposite direction, the same Hinnom-valley/Jebusite-shoulder/En-rogel landmarks used to describe Judah's northern border in 15:7-9 — the two border descriptions meet at exactly this line, so that Jerusalem sits precisely on the seam between the tribes rather than clearly inside either.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
וְיָרַ֨דwent downconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause of the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's descending course from the hilltop toward the Hinnom valley, tracing the Jerusalem rimיָרַד (H3381) 'to go down, descend'; the chapter's most frequent border-verb, tracking the line's elevation change from ridge to valley.
הַגְּב֜וּלthe borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וְיָרַדגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border, boundary, territory'; the recurring subject of this border-tour's verbs.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Governs קְצֵה הָהָר (directional prepositional phrase)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; directional preposition marking the border's destination.
קְצֵ֣הedge ofN c sg constr · קָצֶה (H7097)Construct head governing הָהָר (genitival chain, object of אֶל)קָצֶה (H7097) 'end, edge, extremity'; construct with הָהָר, 'the edge of the hill'.
הָהָ֗רthe hillart + N m sg abs · הַר (H2022)Genitive completing קְצֵה (construct chain)הַר (H2022) 'hill, mountain'; the ridge overlooking the Hinnom valley, identified by tradition with the southwestern hill of Jerusalem.
אֲשֶׁר֙whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun (introduces relative clause modifying הָהָר, 'which faces the Valley of Ben-Hinnom')אֲשֶׁר (H834), the all-purpose Hebrew relative particle, 'who, which, that'.
עַלfacingprep · עַל (H5921)Head of prepositional phrase modifying הָהָר ('facing...')עַל (H5921) 'upon, over, facing'; here spatially, 'facing, opposite'.
פְּנֵי֙face ofN c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Construct chain completing עַל פְּנֵי, 'facing' (idiomatic)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; עַל פְּנֵי idiomatic for 'facing, in front of'.
גֵּ֣יvalley ofN c sg constr · גַּיְא (H1516)Construct head, object of עַל פְּנֵי (governing בֶן הִנֹּם)גַּיְא (H1516) 'valley, ravine'; construct with בֶּן הִנֹּם, the Valley of (the son of) Hinnom — later Gehenna.
בֶןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival, part of the place name גֵּי בֶן הִנֹּם)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; here part of the fixed toponym גֵּי בֶן הִנֹּם 'Valley of the son of Hinnom' (Gehenna), the ravine southwest of Jerusalem.
הִנֹּ֔םHinnomproper noun · הִנֹּם (H2011)Genitive completing the construct chain (personal/place name)הִנֹּם (H2011), the eponym of the valley south of Jerusalem later associated with child sacrifice (2 Kgs 23:10) and, by NT times, with Gehenna/hell.
אֲשֶׁ֛רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun (introduces a second relative clause, 'which is in the Valley of Rephaim')אֲשֶׁר (H834); see above — introduces the clause locating the valley within the Valley of Rephaim.
בְּעֵ֥מֶקin the valley ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · עֵמֶק (H6010)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, 'in the Valley of Rephaim')עֵמֶק (H6010) 'valley, lowland'; here the Valley of Rephaim, a plain southwest of Jerusalem (cf. 15:8; 2 Sam 5:18).
רְפָאִ֖יםRephaimproper noun · רְפָאִים (H7497)Genitive completing construct chain (place name)רְפָאִים (H7497) 'Rephaim', a valley/plain southwest of Jerusalem, elsewhere the site of Davidic battles against the Philistines (2 Sam 5:18-25); same root as the legendary Rephaim/'giants' (Deut 2:11).
צָפ֑וֹנָהnorthwardN f sg abs + directional ה · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial accusative of direction ('northward')צָפוֹן (H6828) 'north'; with the directional ה-suffix, 'northward' — orients the preceding valley notice relative to the border line.
וְיָרַד֩and it went downconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause, continuing the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's descending course down the Hinnom valley toward the Jebusite shoulderיָרַד (H3381); see above — the border's second 'descent' in this verse, now down the Hinnom ravine itself.
גֵּ֨יvalley ofN c sg constr · גַּיְא (H1516)Construct head, object of וְיָרַד (adverbial accusative of path, 'down the Valley of Hinnom')גַּיְא (H1516); see above — here the object of the border's descent, 'went down [through] the Valley of Hinnom'.
הִנֹּ֜םHinnomproper noun · הִנֹּם (H2011)Genitive completing construct chain (place name)הִנֹּם (H2011); see above.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Governs כֶּתֶף הַיְבוּסִי (directional prepositional phrase)אֶל (H413); directional preposition marking the border's next point, the Jebusite's shoulder.
כֶּ֤תֶףshoulder ofN f sg constr · כָּתֵף (H3802)Construct head governing הַיְבוּסִי (genitival chain, object of אֶל)כָּתֵף (H3802) 'shoulder'; used topographically throughout this border-tour for a ridge or slope, as at vv.12-13, 18-19.
הַיְבוּסִי֙the Jebusiteart + gentilic noun · יְבוּסִי (H2983)Genitive completing construct chain (gentilic as place-reference)יְבוּסִי (H2983) 'Jebusite', the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Jerusalem; here the gentilic stands for their territory/stronghold, anticipating the identification of Jerusalem with the Jebusite city in v.28.
נֶ֔גְבָּהsouthwardN m sg abs + directional ה · נֶגֶב (H5045)Adverbial accusative of direction ('southward')נֶגֶב (H5045) 'south, Negev'; with directional ה, 'southward' — orienting the Jebusite shoulder relative to the border.
וְיָרַ֖דand went downconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause, continuing the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's final descent in this verse, down to the spring at En-rogelיָרַד (H3381); see above — the third and final 'went down' of v.16, completing the descent to En-rogel.
עֵ֥יןEn-proper noun (construct-form toponym) · עֵין רֹגֵל (H5883)Construct head of the place name (object of וְיָרַד)עַיִן (root of H5883) 'spring, eye'; here the first element of the compound place name עֵין רֹגֵל 'En-rogel', a spring near the confluence of the Hinnom and Kidron valleys southeast of Jerusalem (cf. 2 Sam 17:17; 1 Kgs 1:9).
רֹגֵֽלRogelproper noun · רֹגֵל (H5883)Second element of the compound place name עֵין רֹגֵלרֹגֵל (H5883), traditionally connected to רֶגֶל 'foot' (a spring worked by treading?); together with עֵין, 'En-rogel', a well-known landmark spring.
17
וְתָאַ֣ר מִצָּפ֗וֹן וְיָצָא֙ עֵ֣ין שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ וְיָצָא֙ אֶל גְּלִיל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר נֹ֖כַח מַעֲלֵ֣ה אֲדֻמִּ֑ים וְיָרַ֕ד אֶ֥בֶן בֹּ֖הַן בֶּן רְאוּבֵֽן
And it bent from the north and went out to En-shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, and went down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
The Stone of Bohan son of Reuben, also cited at 15:6 as a point on Judah's border, is a rare instance of a boundary marker named for an individual rather than a place — its precise identity is otherwise unknown.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וְתָאַ֣רand it bentconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · תָּאַר (H8388)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause of the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's turning course from the Jerusalem rim northwardתָּאַר (H8388) 'to turn, bend, mark out'; used of a border's directional change, here pivoting the line away from the Jebusite/En-rogel area toward the north.
מִצָּפ֗וֹןfrom the northprep מִן + N f sg abs · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial prepositional phrase (source of direction)צָפוֹן (H6828) 'north'; with מִן, 'from the north' — marks the border's turning point.
וְיָצָא֙and went outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause, continuing the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's outward extension to the spring En-shemeshיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; here of the border line 'going out' to/reaching a landmark, recurring throughout this survey (cf. v.15).
עֵ֣יןEn-proper noun (construct-form toponym) · עֵין שֶׁמֶשׁ (H5885)Construct head of the place name (object of וְיָצָא)עַיִן (root of H5885) 'spring'; first element of עֵין שֶׁמֶשׁ 'En-shemesh', 'Spring of the Sun', on the road east of Jerusalem toward Jericho.
שֶׁ֔מֶשׁShemeshproper noun · שֶׁמֶשׁ (H5885)Second element of the compound place name עֵין שֶׁמֶשׁשֶׁמֶשׁ (H5885 root, 'sun'); together with עֵין, 'En-shemesh', a known spring also marking Judah's border at 15:7.
וְיָצָא֙and went outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause, continuing the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's second outward extension, reaching toward Geliloth and the ascent of Adummimיָצָא (H3318); see above — a second 'went out,' now toward Geliloth.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Governs גְּלִילוֹת (directional prepositional phrase)אֶל (H413); directional preposition marking the border's next point.
גְּלִיל֔וֹתGelilothproper noun · גְּלִילוֹת (H1553)Object of אֶלגְּלִילוֹת (H1553) 'circles, regions' (plural of גָּלִיל); a landmark on the descent toward the Jordan valley, likely the same site as Gilgal near this border in 15:7.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun (introduces relative clause modifying גְּלִילוֹת)אֲשֶׁר (H834); see v.16 — introduces the clause locating Geliloth relative to the ascent of Adummim.
נֹ֖כַחoppositeprep · נֹכַח (H5227)Head of prepositional phrase modifying גְּלִילוֹת ('opposite the ascent of Adummim')נֹכַח (H5227) 'opposite, in front of'; from a root meaning 'straight, in front'.
מַעֲלֵ֣הascent ofN m sg constr · מַעֲלֶה (H4608)Construct head governing אֲדֻמִּים (genitival chain, object of נֹכַח)מַעֲלֶה (H4608) 'ascent, rising path'; from עָלָה 'to go up' — the steep road climbing from the Jordan valley toward Jerusalem (cf. Luke 10:30's setting).
אֲדֻמִּ֑יםAdummimproper noun · אֲדֻמִּים (H131)Genitive completing construct chain (place name)אֲדֻמִּים (H131) 'red (places)', likely referring to reddish rock/soil along the steep Jericho-Jerusalem ascent; also named at 15:7.
וְיָרַ֕דand went downconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause, continuing the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's descent to the Stone of Bohan, the final landmark before turning to the Arabahיָרַד (H3381); see v.16 — the border's descent to a fixed marker stone.
אֶ֥בֶןstone ofN f sg constr · אֶבֶן (H68)Construct head governing בֹּהַן (genitival chain, object of וְיָרַד)אֶבֶן (H68) 'stone'; construct with בֹּהַן, a named boundary stone also marking Judah's northern border (15:6).
בֹּ֖הַןBohanproper noun · בֹּהַן (H932)Genitive completing construct chain (personal name)בֹּהַן (H932) 'Bohan', a Reubenite otherwise unattested; a rare border marker named for a person rather than a place, likely commemorating a notable individual or event.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival, part of the name 'Bohan son of Reuben')בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; identifies Bohan by tribal descent.
רְאוּבֵֽןReubenproper noun · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive completing construct chain (tribal eponym)רְאוּבֵן (H7205) 'Reuben', Jacob's firstborn and eponym of the Transjordanian tribe; the stone's Reubenite association ties this Cisjordan boundary marker to the tribe settled across the Jordan.
18
וְעָבַ֛ר אֶל כֶּ֥תֶף מוּל הָֽעֲרָבָ֖ה צָפ֑וֹנָה וְיָרַ֖ד הָעֲרָבָֽתָה
And it passed to the shoulder facing the Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah.
A terse transitional verse: the border now leaves the Jerusalem highlands and drops toward the Arabah, setting up the Jordan-valley landmarks of v.19.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְעָבַ֛רand it passedconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · עָבַר (H5674)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause of the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's onward passage toward the shoulder facing the Arabahעָבַר (H5674) 'to pass over, through'; a common border-verb marking transition from one landmark to the next.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Governs כֶּתֶף מוּל הָעֲרָבָה (directional prepositional phrase)אֶל (H413); directional preposition marking the border's next point.
כֶּ֥תֶףshoulderN f sg constr · כָּתֵף (H3802)Construct head, object of אֶל (its genitive is supplied by the following מוּל-phrase)כָּתֵף (H3802) 'shoulder'; see v.16 — again the topographic term for a ridge slope, here 'facing the Arabah'.
מוּלfacingprep · מוּל (H4136)Head of prepositional phrase modifying כֶּתֶף ('facing the Arabah')מוּל (H4136) 'in front of, opposite, facing'.
הָֽעֲרָבָ֖הthe Arabahart + N f sg abs · עֲרָבָה (H6160)Object of the preposition מוּלעֲרָבָה (H6160) 'desert plain, steppe'; here the Jordan Rift Valley plain, into which the border now descends.
צָפ֑וֹנָהnorthwardN f sg abs + directional ה · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial accusative of direction ('northward')צָפוֹן (H6828); see v.16 — 'northward,' orienting the shoulder relative to the border.
וְיָרַ֖דand went downconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause, continuing the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's final descent into the Arabah floor itselfיָרַד (H3381); see v.16 — the border's descent completing the transition from highlands to rift valley.
הָעֲרָבָֽתָהto the Arabahart + N f sg abs + directional ה · עֲרָבָה (H6160)Adverbial accusative of direction, object-complement of וְיָרַדעֲרָבָה (H6160); see above — with directional ה, 'to/into the Arabah,' the goal of the border's descent.
19
וְעָבַ֨ר הַגְּב֜וּל אֶל כֶּ֣תֶף בֵּית חָגְלָה֮ צָפוֹנָה֒ והיה וְהָי֣וּ תצאותיו תֹּצְא֣וֹת הַגְּב֗וּל אֶל לְשׁ֤וֹן יָם הַמֶּ֨לַח֙ צָפ֔וֹנָה אֶל קְצֵ֥ה הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן נֶ֑גְבָּה זֶ֖ה גְּב֥וּל נֶֽגֶב
And the border passed to the shoulder of Beth-hoglah northward, and the terminations of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This is the south border.
Contains two Kethiv/Qere pairs: unpointed והיה before the Qere וְהָיוּ (plural, agreeing with the following plural subject), and unpointed תצאותיו ('its terminations,' with suffix) before the Qere תֹּצְאוֹת (bare construct 'terminations of'), a genuine wording difference. The closing גְּבוּל נֶגֶב formula marks the end of the whole southern-border unit begun in v.15.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
וְעָבַ֨רand it passedconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · עָבַר (H5674)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause of the boundary description)→ Weqatal continuing the boundary-survey chain: the border's passage to the shoulder of Beth-hoglahעָבַר (H5674); see v.18 — the border's passage to the next landmark.
הַגְּב֜וּלthe borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וְעָבַרגְּבוּל (H1366); see v.16.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Governs כֶּתֶף בֵּית חָגְלָה (directional prepositional phrase)אֶל (H413); directional preposition marking the border's next point.
כֶּ֣תֶףshoulder ofN f sg constr · כָּתֵף (H3802)Construct head governing בֵּית חָגְלָה (genitival chain, object of אֶל)כָּתֵף (H3802); see v.16 — the ridge/slope by Beth-hoglah.
בֵּיתBeth-proper noun (construct-form toponym) · בֵּית חָגְלָה (H1031)Construct head of the place name (genitive completing כֶּתֶף)בַּיִת (root of H1031) 'house'; first element of בֵּית חָגְלָה 'Beth-hoglah', 'house of the partridge', a town in the Jordan valley assigned to Benjamin though earlier listed on Judah's border too (15:6).
חָגְלָה֮Hoglahproper noun · חָגְלָה (H1031)Second element of the compound place name בֵּית חָגְלָהחָגְלָה (H1031), traditionally 'partridge'; together with בֵּית, 'Beth-hoglah'.
צָפוֹנָה֒northwardN f sg abs + directional ה · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial accusative of direction ('northward')צָפוֹן (H6828); see v.16 — orienting Beth-hoglah's shoulder relative to the border.
והיה[Kethiv, unpointed — see Qere]Kethiv (unpointed) conj ו + Qal weqatal 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Kethiv (written form), superseded by the following Qere→ Weqatal (as written): would continue the boundary-description chain, but the reading tradition replaces this singular Kethiv with the plural Qere that followsKethiv והיה, the unpointed consonantal form of the verb 'to be', written as if singular; the Masoretic scribes flag it as not to be read, directing the reader instead to the following pointed plural Qere וְהָיוּ, which agrees with the plural subject תֹּצְאוֹת. Cf. the identical Kethiv/Qere pattern at vv.12 and 14.
וְהָי֣וּand wereQere: conj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, weqatal (main clause), agreeing with the plural Qere subject תֹּצְאוֹת→ Weqatal: the border's terminations reaching, in a completed state, their end point at the Salt Sea and the Jordanהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become, happen'; Qere plural וְהָיוּ, the form actually read, agreeing with the plural noun תֹּצְאוֹת that follows — 'and [the terminations] were'.
תצאותיו[Kethiv, unpointed — see Qere]Kethiv (unpointed) N f pl constr + 3ms suff · תּוֹצָאָה (H8444)Kethiv (written form, 'its terminations' with 3ms suffix), superseded by the following QereKethiv תצאותיו, unpointed, reads as 'its terminations' with a 3ms possessive suffix (referring back to הַגְּבוּל 'the border'). This is a genuine wording difference from the Qere, not merely a pointing variant: the Qere drops the suffix and instead makes the word a bare construct governed by הַגְּבוּל that follows it.
תֹּצְא֣וֹתterminations ofQere: N f pl constr · תּוֹצָאָה (H8444)Construct head, subject of וְהָיוּ (governing הַגְּבוּל, 'the terminations of the border')תּוֹצָאָה (H8444) 'outgoing, extremity, termination', from יָצָא 'to go out'; the standard term for a border's terminal point, recurring in vv.12, 14. Qere form, bare plural construct (no suffix), read in place of the Kethiv's suffixed form.
הַגְּב֗וּלthe borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Genitive completing the construct chain (Qere reading), 'the terminations of the border'גְּבוּל (H1366); see v.16 — here the genitive completing the Qere's bare-construct תֹּצְאוֹת.
אֶלto/atprep · אֶל (H413)Governs לְשׁוֹן יָם הַמֶּלַח (locative prepositional phrase)אֶל (H413); here locating the border's end point at the Dead Sea's northern bay.
לְשׁ֤וֹןtongue/bay ofN c sg constr · לָשׁוֹן (H3956)Construct head governing יָם הַמֶּלַח (genitival chain, object of אֶל)לָשׁוֹן (H3956) 'tongue'; used topographically for a projecting inlet or bay of a sea, here the Salt Sea's northern bay near the Jordan's mouth (cf. 15:5).
יָםsea ofN m sg constr · יָם (H3220)Construct chain (genitival, completing לְשׁוֹן, governing הַמֶּלַח)יָם (H3220) 'sea'; construct with הַמֶּלַח, 'the Salt Sea' — the Dead Sea.
הַמֶּ֨לַח֙the saltart + N m sg abs · מֶלַח (H4417)Genitive completing construct chain (יָם הַמֶּלַח, 'the Salt Sea')מֶלַח (H4417) 'salt'; יָם הַמֶּלַח 'the Salt Sea', the standard OT name for the Dead Sea.
צָפ֔וֹנָהnorthwardN f sg abs + directional ה · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial accusative of direction ('at the north [bay]')צָפוֹן (H6828); see v.16 — specifying the Salt Sea's northern bay as the border's terminus.
אֶלto/atprep · אֶל (H413)Governs קְצֵה הַיַּרְדֵּן (locative prepositional phrase, second terminus of the border)אֶל (H413); locating the border's second terminus at the Jordan's south end.
קְצֵ֥הend ofN c sg constr · קָצֶה (H7097)Construct head governing הַיַּרְדֵּן (genitival chain, object of אֶל)קָצֶה (H7097); see v.16 — here 'the end/mouth of the Jordan' where it flows into the Salt Sea.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ןthe Jordanart + proper noun · הַיַּרְדֵּן (H3383)Genitive completing construct chain (place name)יַרְדֵּן (H3383) 'Jordan', the river bounding the tribal allotments on the east; here its southern mouth at the Dead Sea.
נֶ֑גְבָּהsouthwardN m sg abs + directional ה · נֶגֶב (H5045)Adverbial accusative of direction ('at the south [end]')נֶגֶב (H5045); see v.16 — specifying the Jordan's south end as the border's second terminus.
זֶ֖הthisdemonstrative pronoun m sg · זֶה (H2088)Subject/predicate of the nominal summary clause ('this is the south border')זֶה (H2088) 'this'; opens the standard nominal-clause formula summarizing the preceding border description.
גְּב֥וּלborder ofN m sg constr · גְּבוּל (H1366)Predicate noun, construct head governing נֶגֶבגְּבוּל (H1366); see v.16 — predicate of the summary formula, 'the south border'.
נֶֽגֶבsouthN m sg abs · נֶגֶב (H5045)Genitive completing the construct chain (גְּבוּל נֶגֶב, 'the south border')נֶגֶב (H5045); see above — here as the geographic term, completing the formula that closes the whole southern-border unit (vv.15-19).
20
וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֥ן יִגְבֹּל אֹת֖וֹ לִפְאַת קֵ֑דְמָה זֹ֡את נַחֲלַת֩ בְּנֵ֨י בִנְיָמִ֧ן לִגְבֽוּלֹתֶ֛יהָ סָבִ֖יב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם
And the Jordan borders it on the east side. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, by its borders all around, according to their families.
This verse closes the border description opened in v.11 with the standard inheritance-summary formula ('this is the inheritance... by its borders all around, according to their families'), pivoting the chapter from border-tour to city-register (vv.21-28).
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֥ןand the Jordanconj וְ + art + proper noun · הַיַּרְדֵּן (H3383)Subject of יִגְבֹּליַרְדֵּן (H3383); see v.19 — here the Jordan's course, not its terminus, functions as Benjamin's eastern boundary.
יִגְבֹּלbordersQal yiqtol 3ms · גָּבַל (H1379)Predicate verb (main clause, describing the fourth/eastern side)→ Yiqtol: a generalizing/durative present, stating the Jordan's ongoing function as Benjamin's eastern boundary rather than a one-time survey eventגָּבַל (H1379) 'to border, set a boundary'; denominative from גְּבוּל, uniquely describing the Jordan itself as the bordering agent (rather than a verb of motion like the preceding vv.).
אֹת֖וֹitobj marker + 3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker + pronominal object (referring to Benjamin's territory)אֵת (H853) with 3ms suffix, 'it' — marks Benjamin's territory as the object bordered by the Jordan.
לִפְאַתat the side ofprep לְ + N f sg constr · פֵּאָה (H6285)Adverbial prepositional phrase (locative, naming the fourth side of the territory)פֵּאָה (H6285) 'side, edge, corner'; construct with קֵדְמָה, 'at the east side' — completing the four-sided border description begun in v.12.
קֵ֑דְמָהeastwardN m sg abs + directional ה · קֶדֶם (H6924)Genitive completing construct chain (לִפְאַת קֵדְמָה, 'the east side')קֶדֶם (H6924) 'east, front, antiquity'; with directional ה, 'eastward' — the fourth compass side, completing north (v.12), west (vv.14-15/17-18) and south (v.19).
זֹ֡אתthisdemonstrative pronoun f sg · זֹאת (H2063)Subject of the nominal summary clause ('this is the inheritance...')זֹאת (H2063) 'this'; opens the chapter's closing inheritance-summary formula for Benjamin, matching the pattern used for the other tribal allotments.
נַחֲלַת֩inheritance ofN f sg constr · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Predicate noun, construct head governing בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִןנַחֲלָה (H5159); see v.2 — the tribal land-portion, here formally named as Benjamin's.
בְּנֵ֨יsons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121); see v.1 — 'sons of', identifying the tribe by descent.
בִנְיָמִ֧ןBenjaminproper noun · בִּנְיָמִן (H1144)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal eponym)בִּנְיָמִן (H1144) 'Benjamin', 'son of the right hand/south', Jacob's youngest son and eponym of the tribe whose territory this chapter delineates.
לִגְבֽוּלֹתֶ֛יהָby its bordersprep לְ + N f pl constr + 3fs suff · גְּבוּלָה (H1367)Adverbial prepositional phrase (manner, 'according to its borders')גְּבוּלָה (H1367) 'border, territory' (feminine form of גְּבוּל); with plural suffix, 'its borders' — summarizing the whole four-sided circuit just described.
סָבִ֖יבall aroundN c sg abs (adverbial) · סָבִיב (H5439)Adverbial accusative of manner, modifying לִגְבוּלֹתֶיהָסָבִיב (H5439) 'around, surrounding'; emphasizes the border's completeness as a closed circuit.
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽםaccording to their familiesprep לְ + N f pl constr + 3mp suff · מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940)Adverbial prepositional phrase (distributive, closing the inheritance formula)מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940) 'clan, family'; the standard closing phrase of the tribal-inheritance formula, distributing the land among Benjamin's constituent clans.
21
וְהָי֣וּ הֶֽעָרִ֗ים לְמַטֵּ֛ה בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן לְמִשְׁפְּחֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם יְרִיח֥וֹ וּבֵית חָגְלָ֖ה וְעֵ֥מֶק קְצִֽיץ
And the cities for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin according to their families were: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, and Emek-keziz,
Opens the eastern city-district (vv.21-24, twelve cities); Jericho, already prominent in chs. 2-6, and Beth-hoglah, already named as a border point in v.19, anchor the district in territory just crossed by the border tour.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְהָי֣וּand wereconj וְ + Qal perf 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause, opening the city register)→ Perfective: a settled, standing state — the cities that belong to Benjamin's tribe, introducing the register as an established listהָיָה (H1961); see v.19 — here perfect (not weqatal), opening the shift from border-tour narration to the static list-genre of the city register.
הֶֽעָרִ֗יםthe citiesart + N f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Subject of וְהָיוּעִיר (H5892) 'city, town'; heads the register that occupies the rest of the chapter, standard in the MT city-list genre (cf. ch. 15).
לְמַטֵּ֛הfor the tribe ofprep לְ + N m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Adverbial prepositional phrase (possessive, 'belonging to the tribe of')מַטֶּה (H4294) 'tribe, staff'; see v.7 — assigns the following city list to Benjamin's tribe.
בְּנֵ֥יsons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121); see v.1.
בִנְיָמִ֖ןBenjaminproper noun · בִּנְיָמִן (H1144)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal eponym)בִּנְיָמִן (H1144); see v.20.
לְמִשְׁפְּחֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑םaccording to their familiesprep לְ + N f pl constr + 3mp suff · מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940)Adverbial prepositional phrase (distributive)מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940); see v.20 — here introducing rather than closing a formula, as the register itself begins.
יְרִיח֥וֹJerichoproper noun · יְרִיחוֹ (H3405)List item (place name heading the eastern district)יְרִיחוֹ (H3405) 'Jericho', the 'city of palms,' famous from the conquest narrative of ch. 6; heads Benjamin's eastern city list, marking the district's northern anchor near the Jordan crossing.
וּבֵיתand Beth-conj וְ + proper noun (construct-form toponym) · בֵּית חָגְלָה (H1031)List item (coordinated place name)בַּיִת (root of H1031); see v.19 — Beth-hoglah, just crossed as a border landmark, is now itself listed as one of Benjamin's cities.
חָגְלָ֖הHoglahproper noun · חָגְלָה (H1031)Second element of the compound place name בֵּית חָגְלָהחָגְלָה (H1031); see v.19.
וְעֵ֥מֶקand valley ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · עֵמֶק (H6010)List item, construct head governing קְצִיץ (coordinated place name)עֵמֶק (H6010); see v.16 — here 'valley of Keziz', a location otherwise unidentified in the Jordan valley near Jericho.
קְצִֽיץKezizproper noun · קְצִיץ (H7104)Genitive completing construct chain (place name)קְצִיץ (H7104) 'Keziz'; site otherwise unattested/uncertain, known only from this list.
22
וּבֵ֧ית הָֽעֲרָבָ֛ה וּצְמָרַ֖יִם וּבֵֽית אֵֽל
Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, and Bethel,
Beth-arabah was also claimed for Judah in 15:61, another instance (alongside Jerusalem in v.28) of overlapping tribal registers along the Judah-Benjamin seam; Bethel here stands in some tension with 16:2 and 18:13, which place Bethel/Luz on or near Ephraim's border — the town evidently sat close enough to the seam to be listed variously.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וּבֵ֧יתand Beth-conj וְ + proper noun (construct-form toponym) · בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה (H1026)List item (coordinated place name)בַּיִת (root of H1026) 'house'; first element of בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה 'Beth-arabah', 'house of the Arabah', a Jordan-valley town also claimed for Judah at 15:61 — another instance of overlapping tribal registers on the seam.
הָֽעֲרָבָ֛הArabahproper noun · עֲרָבָה (H1026)Second element of the compound place name בֵּית הָעֲרָבָהעֲרָבָה (H1026); see v.18 — here the second element of the compound toponym Beth-arabah.
וּצְמָרַ֖יִםand Zemaraimconj וְ + proper noun · צְמָרַיִם (H6787)List item (coordinated place name)צְמָרַיִם (H6787) 'Zemaraim', a dual-form toponym; a Benjaminite town later the site of a battle-mountain named for it (2 Chr 13:4).
וּבֵֽיתand Beth-conj וְ + proper noun (construct-form toponym) · בֵּית אֵל (H1008)List item (coordinated place name)בַּיִת (root of H1008) 'house'; first element of בֵּית אֵל 'Bethel/Beth-el', 'house of God'.
אֵֽלElproper noun · אֵל (H1008)Second element of the compound place name בֵּית אֵלאֵל (H410 root, 'God/deity'); together with בֵּית, 'Bethel', the famous patriarchal sanctuary site (Gen 28:19; 35:1-15) — its inclusion here in Benjamin's list stands in some tension with 16:1-2 and 18:13, which locate it nearer Ephraim's border, reflecting the same border-seam ambiguity seen with Jerusalem in v.28.
23
וְהָעַוִּ֥ים וְהַפָּרָ֖ה וְעָפְרָֽה
Avvim, Parah, and Ophrah,
A bare three-item list with no further elaboration; all three sites are otherwise sparsely attested, typical of the register's more obscure entries.
Word-by-word analysis· 3 words
וְהָעַוִּ֥יםand the Avvimconj וְ + art + proper noun · עַוִּים (H5761)List item (coordinated place name)עַוִּים (H5761) 'Avvim', a plural-form toponym (possibly 'ruins'); site otherwise unattested/uncertain, distinct from the Avvim people of Deut 2:23.
וְהַפָּרָ֖הand the Parahconj וְ + art + proper noun · פָּרָה (H6511)List item (coordinated place name)פָּרָה (H6511) 'Parah' ('heifer'); commonly identified with modern Khirbet Farah northeast of Jerusalem, near a spring in the Wadi Qelt system.
וְעָפְרָֽהand Ophrahconj וְ + proper noun · עָפְרָה (H6084)List item (coordinated place name)עָפְרָה (H6084) 'Ophrah' ('fawn'); a Benjaminite town, likely the 'Ephron/Ephraim' region referenced near Bethel in 2 Chr 13:19 and possibly related to the Ophrah of 1 Sam 13:17.
24
וּכְפַ֧ר העמני הָֽעַמֹּנָ֛ה וְהָֽעָפְנִ֖י וָגָ֑בַע עָרִ֥ים שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן
Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba — twelve cities with their villages.
Contains a Kethiv/Qere pair, unpointed העמני before the pointed הָעַמֹּנָה, both representing the toponym Chephar-ammoni/Chephar-haammonai. The stated tally 'twelve' matches an exact count of the names given across vv.21-24 (3+3+3+3=12), unlike Judah's Negev register in ch. 15 where the stated count famously overruns the list — Benjamin's eastern district is internally consistent.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וּכְפַ֧רand Chephar-conj וְ + proper noun (construct-form toponym) · כְּפַר הָעַמֹּנָה (H3726)List item (coordinated place name)כְּפָר (root of H3726) 'village'; first element of the compound toponym Chephar-ammoni, 'village of the Ammonites' — perhaps recalling an early Ammonite settlement in the area.
העמני[Kethiv, unpointed — see Qere]Kethiv (unpointed) proper noun · העמניKethiv (written form), superseded by the following QereKethiv העמני, the unpointed consonantal form of the toponym's second element. Both Kethiv and the following Qere הָעַמֹּנָה represent the same place, Chephar-ammoni/Chephar-haammonai ('village of the Ammonite(s)'); the tradition and ancient versions vary slightly on the exact form of the gentilic ending.
הָֽעַמֹּנָ֛הChephar-ammoniQere: proper noun · הָעַמֹּנָה (H3726)Second element of the compound place name כְּפַר הָעַמֹּנָה, object of the registerעַמּוֹנִי/עַמֹּנָה (root H5984-adjacent) 'Ammonite'; with the article, 'the Ammonite(ess)' — the Qere reading, the form actually read, completing 'Chephar-haammonah/Chephar-ammoni', a Benjaminite town of unknown precise location east of Bethel.
וְהָֽעָפְנִ֖יand Ophniconj וְ + art + proper noun · עָפְנִי (H6078)List item (coordinated place name)עָפְנִי (H6078) 'Ophni'; commonly identified with Gophna (modern Jifna), a town north of Bethel known from later Second Temple sources.
וָגָ֑בַעand Gebaconj וְ + proper noun · גֶּבַע (H1387)List item (coordinated place name), closing the eastern-district rosterגֶּבַע (H1387) 'Geba', 'hill'; a Levitical city (21:17) and significant Benjaminite site in the Saul narratives (1 Sam 13-14), near the pass opposite Michmash.
עָרִ֥יםcitiesN f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Head noun of tally constructעִיר (H5892) 'city, town'; heads the district's formulaic closing tally, matching the standard MT city-register closing formula (cf. ch. 15).
שְׁתֵּיםtwocardinal numeral f dual abs · שְׁתַּיִם (H8147)Numeral in apposition to עָרִיםשְׁתַּיִם (H8147) 'two'; with עֶשְׂרֵה, 'twelve' — the closing tally of the eastern district. The count matches an exact enumeration of the names in vv.21-24 (3+3+3+3=12).
עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה-teennumeral (teens element) f sg abs · עֶשְׂרֵה (H6240)Numeral in apposition to עָרִים, completing שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה 'twelve'עֶשְׂרֵה (H6240), the feminine teens-forming element ('-teen'); with שְׁתַּיִם, 'twelve'.
וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽןand their villagesconj וְ + N c pl constr + 3fp suff · חָצֵר (H2691)Coordinate noun closing the tally formulaחָצֵר (H2691) 'settlement, village, courtyard'; standard closing element of the MT city-register formula, 'cities... and their villages' — the unwalled satellite settlements dependent on each listed city.
25
גִּבְע֥וֹן וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה וּבְאֵרֽוֹת
Gibeon, Ramah, and Beeroth,
Opens the western district (vv.25-28, fourteen cities); Gibeon, famous for the treaty of ch. 9, heads the list, and Ramah and Beeroth (one of the Gibeonite league's own cities, 9:17) place this district in the central Benjaminite plateau north of Jerusalem.
Word-by-word analysis· 3 words
גִּבְע֥וֹןGibeonproper noun · גִּבְעוֹן (H1391)List item (place name heading the western district)גִּבְעוֹן (H1391) 'Gibeon', 'hill place'; the great city whose league tricked Israel into a treaty (ch. 9) and whose deliverance prompted Joshua's long-day battle (ch. 10); heads the western city list.
וְהָֽרָמָ֖הand the Ramahconj וְ + art + proper noun · רָמָה (H7414)List item (coordinated place name)רָמָה (H7414) 'Ramah', 'height'; a Benjaminite town later Deborah's judgment seat (Judg 4:5) and, if identified with Ramathaim, Samuel's hometown (1 Sam 1:1; 7:17).
וּבְאֵרֽוֹתand Beerothconj וְ + proper noun · בְּאֵרוֹת (H881)List item (coordinated place name)בְּאֵרוֹת (H881) 'wells' (plural of בְּאֵר); one of the four cities of the Gibeonite league (9:17), later the hometown of two of David's mighty men (2 Sam 4:2-3; 23:37).
26
וְהַמִּצְפֶּ֥ה וְהַכְּפִירָ֖ה וְהַמֹּצָֽה
Mizpeh, Chephirah, and Mozah,
Mizpeh becomes a significant assembly site later in Israel's history (Judg 20-21; 1 Sam 7, 10); Chephirah is another of the Gibeonite league's cities (9:17).
Word-by-word analysis· 3 words
וְהַמִּצְפֶּ֥הand the Mizpehconj וְ + art + proper noun · מִצְפֶּה (H4708)List item (coordinated place name)מִצְפֶּה (H4708) 'watchtower, lookout point'; the Benjaminite Mizpeh becomes a major assembly and judgment site later in Israel's history (Judg 20-21; 1 Sam 7:5-16; 10:17).
וְהַכְּפִירָ֖הand the Chephirahconj וְ + art + proper noun · כְּפִירָה (H3716)List item (coordinated place name)כְּפִירָה (H3716) 'young lion' or 'village'; another of the four Gibeonite-league cities (9:17).
וְהַמֹּצָֽהand the Mozahconj וְ + art + proper noun · מֹצָה (H4681)List item (coordinated place name)מֹצָה (H4681) 'Mozah', from יָצָא 'to go out' (a 'source' or 'spring'); commonly located near modern Qalunya/Motza west of Jerusalem.
27
וְרֶ֥קֶם וְיִרְפְּאֵ֖ל וְתַרְאֲלָֽה
Rekem, Irpeel, and Taralah,
Three otherwise-obscure sites; none is securely located, typical of the register's less prominent entries just before its climactic close in v.28.
Word-by-word analysis· 3 words
וְרֶ֥קֶםand Rekemconj וְ + proper noun · רֶקֶם (H7552)List item (coordinated place name)רֶקֶם (H7552) 'Rekem', 'embroidery/variegation'; site otherwise unattested/uncertain — the same name is borne by a Midianite king killed in Num 31:8, but no connection to this town is evident.
וְיִרְפְּאֵ֖לand Irpeelconj וְ + proper noun · יִרְפְּאֵל (H3416)List item (coordinated place name)יִרְפְּאֵל (H3416) 'Irpeel', probably 'God heals'; site otherwise unattested/uncertain.
וְתַרְאֲלָֽהand Taralahconj וְ + proper noun · תַּרְאֲלָה (H8634)List item (coordinated place name), closing this trio before the district's climactic final verseתַּרְאֲלָה (H8634) 'Taralah'; site otherwise unattested/uncertain, known only from this list.
28
וְצֵלַ֡ע הָאֶ֜לֶף וְהַיְבוּסִ֨י הִ֤יא יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ גִּבְעַ֣ת קִרְיַ֔ת עָרִ֥ים אַרְבַּֽע עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה וְחַצְרֵיהֶ֑ן זֹ֛את נַֽחֲלַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי בִנְיָמִ֖ן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם
Zela, Haeleph, and the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kiriath — fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, according to their families.
The chapter's theological and geographic centerpiece: 'the Jebusite, that is Jerusalem' is here counted among Benjamin's fourteen cities, in direct tension with 15:63, which names Judah as the tribe unable to dispossess the Jebusites from Jerusalem. Both statements stand as original MT text; the tension is not a scribal error but a direct consequence of Jerusalem sitting exactly on the Judah-Benjamin border drawn in vv.16-17 — the city could be listed with either tribe depending on which side's perspective the writer takes, and in practice it remained unconquered by either until David (2 Sam 5:6-9).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וְצֵלַ֡עand Zelaconj וְ + proper noun · צֵלַע (H6762)List item (place name opening the register's climactic final verse)צֵלַע (H6762) 'Zela', 'rib, side'; the burial place of Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam 21:14), otherwise unlocated with certainty.
הָאֶ֜לֶףHaelephproper noun · הָאֶלֶף (H507)List item (coordinated place name)אֶלֶף (H507) 'thousand' or 'clan-unit', with article; site otherwise unattested/uncertain, known only from this list.
וְהַיְבוּסִ֨יand the Jebusiteconj וְ + art + gentilic noun · יְבוּסִי (H2983)List item (gentilic standing for the city itself, resumed and identified by the following clause)יְבוּסִי (H2983); see v.16 — here the gentilic itself stands as the city's list-entry, immediately glossed by the next two words as Jerusalem. This is the chapter's theological and geographic centerpiece: the Jebusite city is here counted among Benjamin's cities, in direct tension with 15:63, which names Judah as the tribe that could not dispossess the Jebusites from Jerusalem — both statements are original MT, reflecting Jerusalem's position exactly on the Judah-Benjamin border traced in vv.16-17.
הִ֤יאthat isindependent pronoun 3fs (identifying) · הִיא (H1931)Copula-like identifying pronoun ('that is, Jerusalem'), resuming הַיְבוּסִיהוּא/הִיא (H1931), used idiomatically as 'that is' to gloss one name with another — the same construction used for קִרְיַת בַּעַל הִיא קִרְיַת יְעָרִים in v.14, here explicitly identifying 'the Jebusite' with 'Jerusalem'.
יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙Jerusalemproper noun · יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389)Predicate noun completing the identifying clause הִיא יְרוּשָׁלִַםיְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389) 'Jerusalem'; the future capital, here explicitly named as a Jebusite city counted in Benjamin's register — the chapter's climactic and most theologically loaded moment, since the city would remain unconquered by Israel until David took it from the Jebusites centuries later (2 Sam 5:6-9).
גִּבְעַ֣תGibeathproper noun · גִּבְעַת (H1394)List item (coordinated place name)גִּבְעַת (H1394) 'hill of' (construct-form toponym); likely Gibeah of Benjamin/Gibeah of Saul, prominent in Judg 19-20 and as Saul's capital (1 Sam 10:26; 11:4).
קִרְיַ֔תKiriathproper noun (construct-form toponym) · קִרְיַת (H7157)List item, closing the fourteen-city rosterקִרְיַת (H7157) 'city of' (construct form, elsewhere completed as קִרְיַת יְעָרִים 'Kiriath-jearim', already located in vv.14-15); here it stands alone as the register's final list item, likely an abbreviated reference back to that same town or a short form of a related name.
עָרִ֥יםcitiesN f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Head noun of tally constructעִיר (H5892); see v.24 — heads the western district's closing tally, 'fourteen cities'.
אַרְבַּֽעfourcardinal numeral f sg abs · אַרְבַּע (H702)Numeral in apposition to עָרִיםאַרְבַּע (H702) 'four'; with עֶשְׂרֵה, 'fourteen' — the closing tally of the western district, matching a plain count of the names in vv.25-28 (3+3+3+5=14).
עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה-teennumeral (teens element) f sg abs · עֶשְׂרֵה (H6240)Numeral in apposition to עָרִים, completing אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה 'fourteen'עֶשְׂרֵה (H6240); see v.24 — the feminine teens-forming element; with אַרְבַּע, 'fourteen'.
וְחַצְרֵיהֶ֑ןand their villagesconj וְ + N c pl constr + 3fp suff · חָצֵר (H2691)Coordinate noun closing the tally formulaחָצֵר (H2691); see v.24 — closes the western district's tally, completing the standard MT city-register formula.
זֹ֛אתthisdemonstrative pronoun f sg · זֹאת (H2063)Subject of the nominal summary clause, closing the whole chapter ('this is the inheritance...')זֹאת (H2063); see v.20 — opens the chapter's final inheritance-summary formula, sealing Benjamin's entire allotment.
נַֽחֲלַ֥תinheritance ofN f sg constr · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Predicate noun, construct head governing בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִןנַחֲלָה (H5159); see v.20 — closes the chapter with the same formula that closed the border-tour, now sealing the whole allotment including the city register.
בְּנֵֽיsons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121); see v.1.
בִנְיָמִ֖ןBenjaminproper noun · בִּנְיָמִן (H1144)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal eponym)בִּנְיָמִן (H1144); see v.20 — the tribe whose full allotment, border and city register alike, closes with this final naming.
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽםaccording to their familiesprep לְ + N f pl constr + 3mp suff · מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940)Adverbial prepositional phrase (distributive), closing formula for both the chapter and the entire Benjamin allotmentמִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940); see v.20 — the chapter's final word, closing the tribal-inheritance formula and, with it, the whole Benjamin allotment account.