Joshua 15 8

Joshua 15:8 kjv

And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:

Joshua 15:8 nkjv

And the border went up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope of the Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem). The border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the Valley of Rephaim northward.

Joshua 15:8 niv

Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

Joshua 15:8 esv

Then the boundary goes up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

Joshua 15:8 nlt

The boundary then passed through the valley of Ben-Hinnom, along the southern slopes of the Jebusites, where the city of Jerusalem is located. Then it went west to the top of the mountain above the valley of Hinnom, and on up to the northern end of the valley of Rephaim.

Joshua 15 verses

Joshua 15 8 Meaning

Joshua 15:8 details a specific segment of the tribal boundary allocated to the tribe of Judah. It meticulously describes how the border extended northward from an unspecified southern point, passing along the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. It then specifically ascended to a geographical feature, the "shoulder" or slope, of the Jebusite city, which is clearly identified as Jerusalem, located to the south of this point. Finally, the boundary continued its ascent to the summit of the mountain situated directly west of the Valley of Hinnom, marking a clear geographical line for Judah's inheritance.

Joshua 15 8 Context

Joshua chapter 15 meticulously details the vast and diverse land allotted to the tribe of Judah, the largest and most prominent of the tribes, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. Verse 8 describes a key part of Judah's northern boundary, which Judah shared with the tribe of Benjamin (detailed in Joshua 18:11-28). This specific verse precisely maps the line around Jerusalem, a crucial city at the time, although it was still inhabited by the Jebusites. Historically, this period reflects the nascent stage of the Israelite conquest and settlement in Canaan, characterized by the partial occupation of territories and the continued presence of pre-Israelite inhabitants like the Jebusites in strongholds like Jerusalem. The geographical precision underscores the significance of land inheritance as central to God's covenant with Israel, laying the groundwork for the future political and spiritual significance of these locations.

Joshua 15 8 Word analysis

• and the border: Hebrew: וְעָלָה הַגְּבוּל (ve'alah hag'vul). "וְעָלָה" (ve'alah) means "and it went up" or "and it ascended," suggesting a rising path, following the contours of the land. "הַגְּבוּל" (hag'vul) is "the boundary," indicating a precise and defined demarcation. This highlights the careful, divinely ordained precision in the land distribution.
• went up: Hebrew: עָלָה (alah). This verb implies an upward progression, physically following terrain that inclines. It paints a vivid picture of the survey teams marking the land, rather than a straight, arbitrary line.
• by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom: Hebrew: גֵּי בֶן־הִנֹּם (Gei Ben-Hinnom). This identifies a deeply significant topographical feature. The "Valley of Hinnom" (or Gehinnom in later transliteration) became notorious as the location of the Topheth, where detestable acts of child sacrifice to Molech were practiced (2 Kgs 23:10, Jer 7:31). Its inclusion as a boundary marker establishes a place that, despite its future defilement, was part of God's granted land. The original term highlights a literal geographical location, not its later symbolic significance of judgment.
• to the shoulder of the Jebusite: Hebrew: אֶל כֶּתֶף הַיְבוּסִי (el ketef hayevusi). "כֶּתֶף" (ketef) translates as "shoulder" but in a geographical sense refers to a slope, side, or ridge of a hill or mountain. "הַיְבוּסִי" (hayevusi) refers to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the city later known as Jerusalem. This specifies that the border reached the slope associated with their stronghold, marking its extent near this powerful, unconquered city.
• on the south (that is, Jerusalem): This parenthetical explanation is a crucial clarifying remark for the original readers, indicating that "the Jebusite" territory referred to Jerusalem. It emphasizes the direct identification of the city, which would become the future capital of Israel but was then a formidable foreign enclave within Judah's assigned land.
• and the border went up to the top of the mountain: Hebrew: וְעָלָה הַגְּבוּל אֶל רֹאשׁ הָהָר (ve'alah hag'vul el rosh hahar). This signifies a further ascent, culminating at a high point. "רֹאשׁ הָהָר" (rosh hahar) means "the head/top of the mountain." It continues the detailed, precise description of the ascending boundary line.
• that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward: This precisely locates the aforementioned mountain summit relative to the valley. "Before" (אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי, asher al-p'nei) means "which is over against" or "that is situated opposite." This further clarifies the western trajectory of the boundary after encompassing the southern region. It ensures that the exact mountain, providing a landmark, is understood.

Joshua 15 8 Bonus section

The remarkable detail of Joshua's boundary descriptions, as exemplified in Joshua 15:8, reflects ancient Near Eastern practices of land deeds and ownership, validating the historical reliability of the text. However, it transcends a mere ancient property record by imbued theological significance. The choice of specific geographical markers, particularly "the Valley of the Son of Hinnom," is laden with prophetic foreshadowing. While initially just a physical landmark, its later association with ritual child sacrifice and subsequent divine judgment turns it into a potent symbol of spiritual defilement and consequences. Thus, a simple border description implicitly connects the faithfulness (or unfaithfulness) of God's people with the character of the land and their experience within it. The ongoing presence of the Jebusites in Jerusalem also highlights that divine promises often require human effort and sustained obedience for their full realization.

Joshua 15 8 Commentary

Joshua 15:8 provides an unembellished, yet profoundly significant, geographical description of Judah's northern border. It is more than a mere mapping exercise; it underscores God's meticulous fulfillment of His covenant promises by delineating precise land allotments. The inclusion of "the Valley of the Son of Hinnom" highlights its status as a recognized landmark, even if its future notorious association with pagan worship (Molech cult) and divine judgment (Gehenna) was yet to unfold. Similarly, mentioning "the shoulder of the Jebusite (Jerusalem)" marks a critical point of Judah's inheritance that remained unconquered, showcasing the tension between God's promise and the Israelites' incomplete obedience. The careful tracing of the boundary "going up" emphasizes the physical reality and specificity of their divine inheritance, grounding the abstract promise in tangible, surveyable terrain. This precise record served as legal deed, testimony, and a challenge to fully possess what God had granted.