Reference: Judah, Tribe of
Easton
Judah and his three surviving sons went down with Jacob into Egypt (Ge 46:12; Ex 1:2). At the time of the Exodus, when we meet with the family of Judah again, they have increased to the number of 74,000 males (Nu 1:26-27). Its number increased in the wilderness (Nu 26:22). Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, represented the tribe as one of the spies (). This tribe marched at the van on the east of the tabernacle (Nu 2:3-9; 10:14), its standard, as is supposed, being a lion's whelp. Under Caleb, during the wars of conquest, they conquered that portion of the country which was afterwards assigned to them as their inheritance. This was the only case in which any tribe had its inheritance thus determined (Jos 14:6-15; 15:13-19).
The inheritance of the tribe of Judah was at first fully one-third of the whole country west of Jordan, in all about 2,300 square miles (Jos 15). But there was a second distribution, when Simeon received an allotment, about 1,000 square miles, out of the portion of Judah (Jos 19:9). That which remained to Judah was still very large in proportion to the inheritance of the other tribes. The boundaries of the territory are described in Jos 15:20-63.
This territory given to Judah was divided into four sections. (1.) The south (Heb negeb), the undulating pasture-ground between the hills and the desert to the south (Jos 15:21.) This extent of pasture-land became famous as the favourite camping-ground of the old patriarchs. (2.) The "valley" (Jos 15:33) or lowland (Heb shephelah), a broad strip lying between the central highlands and the Mediterranean. This tract was the garden as well as the granary of the tribe. (3.) The "hill-country," or the mountains of Judah, an elevated plateau stretching from below Hebron northward to Jerusalem. "The towns and villages were generally perched on the tops of hills or on rocky slopes. The resources of the soil were great. The country was rich in corn, wine, oil, and fruit; and the daring shepherds were able to lead their flocks far out over the neighbouring plains and through the mountains." The number of towns in this district was thirty-eight (Jos 15:48-60). (4.) The "wilderness," the sunken district next the Dead Sea (Jos 15:61), "averaging 10 miles in breadth, a wild, barren, uninhabitable region, fit only to afford scanty pasturage for sheep and goats, and a secure home for leopards, bears, wild goats, and outlaws" (1Sa 17:34; 22:1; Mr 1:13). It was divided into the "wilderness of En-gedi" (1Sa 24:1), the "wilderness of Judah" (Jg 1:16; Mt 3:1), between the Hebron mountain range and the Dead Sea, the "wilderness of Maon" (1Sa 23:24). It contained only six cities.
Nine of the cities of Judah were assigned to the priests (Jos 21:9-19).
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And sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah, (and Er and Onan die in the land of Canaan.) And sons of Pharez are Hezron and Hamul.
Of the sons of Judah -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host -- their numbered ones, for the tribe of Judah, are four and seventy thousand and six hundred.
And those encamping eastward towards the sun-rising, are of the standard of the camp of Judah, by their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Judah is Nahshon, son of Amminadab; and his host, and their numbered ones, are four and seventy thousand and six hundred. read more. And those encamping by him are of the tribe of Issachar; and the prince of the sons of Issachar is Nethaneel son of Zuar; and his host, and its numbered ones, are four and fifty thousand and four hundred. The tribe of Zebulun; and the prince of the sons of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon; and his host, and its numbered ones, are seven and fifty thousand and four hundred; all those numbered of the camp of Judah are a hundred thousand, and eighty thousand, and six thousand, and four hundred, by their hosts; they journey first.
And the standard of the camp of the sons of Judah journeyeth in the first place, by their hosts, and over its host is Nahshon son of Amminadab.
These are families of Judah, by their numbered ones, six and seventy thousand and five hundred.
And the sons of Judah come nigh unto Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenezzite saith unto him, 'Thou hast known the word that Jehovah hath spoken unto Moses the man of God, concerning me and concerning thee in Kadesh-Barnea: a son of forty years am I in Moses, servant of Jehovah, sending me from Kadesh-Barnea, to spy the land, and I bring him back word as with my heart; read more. and my brethren who have gone up with me have caused the heart of the people to melt, and I have been fully after Jehovah my God; and Moses sweareth in that day, saying, If not -- the land on which thy foot hath trodden, to thee it is for inheritance, and to thy sons -- to the age, for thou hast been fully after Jehovah my God. And, now, lo, Jehovah hath kept me alive, as He hath spoken, these forty and five years, since Jehovah spake this word unto Moses, when Israel went in the wilderness; and now, lo, I am to-day a son of five and eighty years; yet am I to-day strong as in the day of Moses' sending me; as my power then, so is my power now, for battle, and to go out, and to come in. And now, give to me this hill-country, of which Jehovah spake in that day, for thou didst hear in that day, for Anakim are there, and cities, great, fenced; if so be Jehovah is with me, then I have dispossessed them, as Jehovah hath spoken.' And Joshua blesseth him, and giveth Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance, therefore hath Hebron been to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenezzite for an inheritance unto this day, because that he was fully after Jehovah, God of Israel; and the name of Hebron formerly is Kirjath-Arba (he is the great man among the Anakim); and the land hath rest from war.
And to Caleb son of Jephunneh hath he given a portion in the midst of the sons of Judah, according to the command of Jehovah to Joshua, even the city of Arba, father of Anak -- it is Hebron. And Caleb is dispossessing thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, children of Anak, read more. and he goeth up thence unto the inhabitants of Debir; and the name of Debir formerly is Kirjath-Sepher. And Caleb saith, 'He who smiteth Kirjath-Sephar, and hath captured it -- I have given to him Achsah my daughter for a wife.' And Othniel son of Kenaz, brother of Caleb, doth capture it, and he giveth to him Achsah his daughter for a wife. And it cometh to pass, in her coming in, that she persuadeth him to ask from her father a field, and she lighteth from off the ass, and Caleb saith to her, 'What -- to thee?' And she saith, 'Give to me a blessing; when the land of the south thou hast given me, then thou hast given to me springs of waters;' and he giveth to her the upper springs and the lower springs. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah, for their families. And the cities at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah are unto the border of Edom in the south, Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
And the cities at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah are unto the border of Edom in the south, Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, and Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, read more. and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, and Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, Hezron, (it is Hazor,) Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, and Hazar-Gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-Palet, and Hazar-Shual, and Beer-Sheba, and Bizjothjah, Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, and Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah, and Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon; all the cities are twenty and nine, and their villages. In the low country: Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
In the low country: Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah, and Zanoah, and En-Gannim, Tappuah, and Enam, read more. Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah, and Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities and their villages. Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-Gad, and Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, and Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, and Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities and their villages. Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, and Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities and their villages. Ekron and its towns and its villages, from Ekron and westward, all that are by the side of Ashdod, and their villages. Ashdod, its towns and its villages, Gaza, its towns and its villages, unto the brook of Egypt, and the great sea, and its border. And in the hill-country: Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
And in the hill-country: Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, and Dannah, and Kirjath-Sannah (it is Debir)
and Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities and their villages.
and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities and their villages. Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
and Janum, and Beth-Tappuah, and Aphekah, and Humtah, and Kirjath-Arba (it is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities and their villages.
and Humtah, and Kirjath-Arba (it is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities and their villages. Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
and Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities and their villages.
Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities and their villages. Halhul, Beth-Zur, and Gedor,
Halhul, Beth-Zur, and Gedor, and Maarath, and Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon; six cities and their villages.
and Maarath, and Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon; six cities and their villages. Kirjath-Baal (it is Kirjath-Jearim), and Rabbah; two cities and their villages.
Kirjath-Baal (it is Kirjath-Jearim), and Rabbah; two cities and their villages. In the wilderness: Beth-Arabah, Middin, and Secacah,
In the wilderness: Beth-Arabah, Middin, and Secacah, and Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-Gedi; six cities and their villages. read more. As to the Jebusites, inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah have not been able to dispossess them, and the Jebusite dwelleth with the sons of Judah in Jerusalem unto this day.
out of the portion of the sons of Judah is the inheritance of the sons of Simeon, for the portion of the sons of Judah hath been too much for them, and the sons of Simeon inherit in the midst of their inheritance.
And they give out of the tribe of the sons of Judah, and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, these cities which are called by name; and they are for the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathite, of the sons of Levi, for theirs hath been the first lot; read more. and they give to them the city of Arba father of Anak (it is Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, and its suburbs round about it; and the field of the city and its villages they have given to Caleb son of Jephunneh for his possession. And to the sons of Aaron the priest they have given the city of refuge for the man-slayer, Hebron and its suburbs, and Libnah and its suburbs, and Jattir and its suburbs, and Eshtemoa and its suburbs, and Holon and its suburbs, and Debir and its suburbs, and Ain and its suburbs, and Juttah and its suburbs, Beth-Shemesh and its suburbs; nine cities out of these two tribes. And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon and its suburbs, Geba and its suburbs, Anathoth and its suburbs, and Almon and its suburbs -- four cities; all the cities of the sons of Aaron the priests, are thirteen cities and their suburbs.
And the sons of the Kenite, father-in-law of Moses, have gone up out of the city of palms with the sons of Judah to the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad, and they go and dwell with the people.
And David saith unto Saul, 'A shepherd hath thy servant been to his father among the sheep, and the lion hath come -- and the bear -- and hath taken away a sheep out of the drove,
And David goeth thence, and is escaped unto the cave of Adullam, and his brethren hear, and all the house of his father, and go down unto him thither;
And they rise and go to Ziph before Saul, and David and his men are in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain, at the south of the desolate place.
And it cometh to pass when Saul hath turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, 'Lo, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.'
And in those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
and he was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by the Adversary, and he was with the beasts, and the messengers were ministering to him.