Study Desk

In the past that city was called Kiriath Arba. It was named for the greatest man among the Anakites—a man named Arba. After this there was peace in the land.

Acsah went to live with Othniel. Othniel told Acsah to ask her father Caleb for some more land. Acsah went to her father. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What do you want?"

But the Israelites grew strong. When this happened, they forced the Canaanites to work for them. But they did not force them to leave that land.

Joshua answered them, "If you have too many people, go up to the wooded area in the hill country and clear that land for a place to live. That land now belongs to the Perizzites and the Rephaites. But if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go take that land."

The people of Joseph said, "It is true that the hill country of Ephraim is not large enough for us. But the Canaanites living there have powerful weapons—they have iron chariots! And they control Jezreel Valley, Beth Shean, and all the small towns in that area."

Joshua threw lots for them in front of the Lord at Shiloh. In this way Joshua divided the land and gave each tribe its part of the land.

The tribe of Benjamin was given the land that was between the areas of Judah and Joseph. Each family in the tribe of Benjamin got its land. This is the land that was chosen for Benjamin:

There it turned north, went to En Shemesh, and then continued on to Geliloth. (Geliloth is near the Adummim Pass in the mountains.) The border went down to the Great Stone that was named for Bohan, the son of Reuben.

If someone chases you and follows you to that city, the leaders of the city must not give you up. They must protect you because you came to them for safety after killing someone by accident—you were not angry and did not plan to kill the person. It was something that just happened.

So the Israelites obeyed this command from the Lord and gave the Levites these towns and the land around them for their animals:

They gave them Kiriath Arba. (This is Hebron. It was named for a man named Arba. Arba was the father of Anak.) They also gave them some land near the town for their animals.

Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh. They also gave them some of the land near these towns for their animals. These two tribes gave them nine towns.

Anathoth, and Almon. They gave them these four towns and some of the land near the towns for their animals.

In all, they gave 13 towns to the priests. (All priests were descendants of Aaron.) They also gave them some land near each town for their animals.

Kibzaim, and Beth Horon. In all, Ephraim gave them four towns and some land around each town for their animals.

Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon. In all, Dan gave them four towns and some land around each town for their animals.

Half the tribe of Manasseh gave them Taanach and Gath Rimmon. In all, this half of Manasseh gave them two towns and some land around each town for their animals.

In all, the rest of the people from the Kohath family groups got ten towns and some land around each town for their animals.

The Gershon family groups were also from the tribe of Levi. They got these towns: Half the tribe of Manasseh gave them Golan in Bashan. (Golan was a city of safety.) Manasseh also gave them Be Eshtarah. In all, this half of Manasseh gave them two towns and some land around each town for their animals.

Jarmuth, and En Gannim. In all, Issachar gave them four towns and some land around each town for their animals.