The southern border of the land for the tribe of Judah was described, starting at the Salt Sea, proceeding through towns and areas such as Kadeshbarnea, Hezron, Adar, Karkaa, and reaching the river of Egypt. The western border was the Great Sea.
The eastern border was the Salt Sea up to the end of the Jordan, and the northern border included places such as Bethhogla, Betharabah, the Stone of Bohan, the Valley of Achor, Gilgal, Enshemesh, and Enrogel.
Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, drove out the three sons of Anak from Hebron and conquered Debir, offering his daughter, Achsah, in marriage to whoever would take it. Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, took Debir and married Achsah. She later asked Caleb for additional land with water springs, which he granted.
The inheritance of the tribe of Judah included various cities, grouped by geographic regions, such as those in the valleys, mountains, and wilderness. Not all Canaanites were driven out of certain areas, leaving some to live among the Israelites.
Portions for the tribe of Joseph's descendants, Ephraim and Manasseh, were divided. Ephraim's inheritance included several cities, but they did not remove the Canaanites from Gezer, forcing them to live among the tribe as laborers.
The daughters of Zelophehad from Manasseh claimed their inheritance, as commanded by the Lord. Manasseh's territory included additional cities, and like Ephraim, they also failed to drive out some Canaanites entirely.
Joshua urged the children of Joseph to clear the wooded mountain areas and drive out the Canaanites, even though they possessed iron chariots.
The tabernacle was set up in Shiloh after the land was subdued. Joshua instructed representatives from the remaining seven tribes without inheritance to survey the land for division by lot.
The Levites did not receive a specific land inheritance, as their portion was the priesthood. Other tribes, including Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh, had already received their portions east of the Jordan.
The allocations for remaining tribes such as Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan were described in detail, including cities and borders for each tribe’s inheritance.
A special inheritance was given to Joshua by the Israelites as the leader — the city of Timnathserah in the mountains of Ephraim. The land distribution process concluded.
Cities of Refuge were established for anyone who accidentally killed someone to seek protection from avengers, including places like Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron.
The Levites received specific cities and their surrounding land from various tribes, which included cities designated as refuges. A total of 48 cities were given to them, fulfilling the Lord's promises.
The Israelites experienced rest as the Lord gave them the promised land, and all His promises to them were fulfilled.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, who had settled east of the Jordan, built an altar which initially caused alarm among the other tribes. Upon investigation, it was clarified that the altar was a witness to unity with the other tribes and not for sacrifices, avoiding conflict.
Joshua, now old, gathered Israel and reminded them of God’s faithfulness, warning them against turning to other gods or alliances with neighboring nations. He urged them to remain faithful to the covenant.
Joshua gathered the tribes at Shechem, recounting Israel’s history from Abraham to their current possession of the land. He urged them to reaffirm their commitment to serve the Lord exclusively.
The people reaffirmed their covenant with the Lord, and Joshua set a stone as a witness to this commitment. After these events, Joshua died at the age of 110 and was buried in Timnathserah.
Israel remained faithful to the Lord during Joshua’s leadership and the elders who outlived him. Joseph’s bones, brought from Egypt, were buried in Shechem, and Eleazar, son of Aaron, also died and was buried in Ephraim.