Joshua 15:1

Children of Judah. It has been suggested that the section of the narrative beginning with this chapter might better begin with the last sentence of the previous chapter, giving the following reading: “And the land had rest from war, and the lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families extended to,” etc. Joshua allotted to Judah, Ephraim, and the half of Manasseh their inheritances before the removal of the camp from Gilgal. For some unstated reason the division of the remainder of the land was not completed immediately. Probably Judah and the sons of Joseph were aggressive and desired to take immediate possession of their inheritances, whereas the other tribes were more reluctant and fearful. On the other hand, Judah and Joseph were the two sons of Jacob on whom Reuben’s forfeited birthright devolved. Judah had the dominion given to him and Joseph the double portion, and this is probably the reason that these two tribes were first seated, Judah in the south and Joseph in the central part. Later, after the removal of the camp to Shiloh, portions of their lots were given to some of the remaining seven tribes. Also a more accurate and extensive survey was made of the remaining part of the land before the portions were assigned to the other seven tribes. The detailed arrangements in the first divisions were not arbitrary. Each tribe did not selfishly retain its lot when it was realized that other tribes had less. Several adjustments were later made.

Many of the cities of the Holy Land have long since been destroyed, with no visible remains by which to identify them. But many others retain their ancient names or recognizable characteristics. Enough of the latter can be identified to locate the tribal boundaries with a remarkable degree of precision. Archaeologists are constantly locating more cities and identifying ancient place names more precisely, thus throwing increasing light on the geography of Palestine. The first 12 verses of the chapter define the boundary of Judah.

Border of Edom. The verse reads literally, “to the border of Edom, the Wilderness of Zin, toward the dry country from the extreme limit of the south.” The territory of the tribe of Judah took in the most southern part of the land. It touched Edom in the southeast, and in the south bordered on the Wilderness of Zin. The southern border here given is identical with the southern border of Israel described in Num. 34:3-5.