Joshua 18:11-28

Joshua 18:11-28

[11] And the lot  of the tribe  of the children  of Benjamin  came up  according to their families:  and the coast  of their lot  came forth  between the children  of Judah  and the children  of Joseph.  [12] And their border  on the north  side  was from Jordan;  and the border  went up  to the side  of Jericho  on the north  side, and went up  through the mountains  westward;  and the goings out  thereof were at the wilderness  of Bethaven.  [13] And the border  went over  from thence toward Luz,  to the side  of Luz,  which is Bethel,  southward;  and the border  descended  to Atarothadar,  near the hill  that lieth on the south side  of the nether  Bethhoron.  [14] And the border  was drawn  thence, and compassed  the corner  of the sea  southward,  from the hill  that lieth before  Bethhoron  southward;  and the goings out  thereof were at Kirjathbaal,  which is Kirjathjearim,  a city  of the children  of Judah:  this was the west  quarter.  [15] And the south  quarter  was from the end  of Kirjathjearim,  and the border  went out  on the west,  and went out  to the well  of waters  of Nephtoah:  [16] And the border  came down  to the end  of the mountain  that lieth before  the valley  of the son  of Hinnom,  and which is in the valley  of the giants  on the north,  and descended  to the valley  of Hinnom,  to the side  of Jebusi  on the south,  and descended  to Enrogel,  [17] And was drawn  from the north,  and went forth  to Enshemesh,  and went forth  toward Geliloth,  which is over against  the going up  of Adummim,  and descended  to the stone  of Bohan  the son  of Reuben,  [18] And passed along  toward the side  over against  Arabah  northward,  and went down  unto Arabah:  [19] And the border  passed along  to the side  of Bethhoglah  northward:  and the outgoings  of the border  were at the north  bay  of the salt  sea  at the south  end  of Jordan:  this was the south  coast.  [20] And Jordan  was the border  of it on the east  side.  This was the inheritance  of the children  of Benjamin,  by the coasts  thereof round about,  according to their families.  [21] Now the cities  of the tribe  of the children  of Benjamin  according to their families  were Jericho,  and Bethhoglah,  and the valley  of Keziz,  [22] And Betharabah,  and Zemaraim,  and Bethel,  [23] And Avim,  and Parah,  and Ophrah,  [24] And Chepharhaammonai,  and Ophni,  and Gaba;  twelve  cities  with their villages:  [25] Gibeon,  and Ramah,  and Beeroth,  [26] And Mizpeh,  and Chephirah,  and Mozah,  [27] And Rekem,  and Irpeel,  and Taralah,  [28] And Zelah,  Eleph,  and Jebusi,  which is Jerusalem,  Gibeath,  and Kirjath;  fourteen  cities  with their villages.  This is the inheritance  of the children  of Benjamin  according to their families. 

What does Joshua 18:11-28 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Benjamin shared its territorial boundaries ( Joshua 18:11-20) with Judah on the south and Ephraim on the north. On the east the Jordan River formed Benjamin"s border. On the west, about half way to the Mediterranean Sea, Israel"s leaders drew a border separating Benjamin from Dan.
The towns of Benjamin ( Joshua 18:21-28) fell into two groups. Twelve towns stood in the eastern part of the territory ( Joshua 18:21-24) and14in the western ( Joshua 18:25-28).