Joshua 15:2
New International Version
Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea,

New Living Translation
The southern boundary began at the south bay of the Dead Sea,

English Standard Version
And their south boundary ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.

Berean Standard Bible
Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea,

King James Bible
And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:

New King James Version
And their southern border began at the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.

New American Standard Bible
Their southern border was from the lower end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that turns to the south.

NASB 1995
Their south border was from the lower end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that turns to the south.

NASB 1977
And their south border was from the lower end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that turns to the south.

Legacy Standard Bible
And their south border was from the lower end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that turns to the south.

Amplified Bible
Their southern border was from the lower end of the Salt (Dead) Sea, from the bay that turns southward.

Christian Standard Bible
Their southern border began at the tip of the Dead Sea on the south bay

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Their southern border began at the tip of the Dead Sea on the south bay

American Standard Version
And their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looketh southward;

Contemporary English Version
Judah's southern border started at the south end of the Dead Sea.

English Revised Version
And their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looked southward:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The southern border starts from the south end of the Dead Sea

Good News Translation
This southern border ran from the south end of the Dead Sea,

International Standard Version
then from the southern end of the Dead Sea, that is, from the bay that orients toward the Negev,

Majority Standard Bible
Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea,

NET Bible
Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea,

New Heart English Bible
Their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looks southward;

Webster's Bible Translation
And their south border was from the shore of the salt-sea, from the bay that looketh southward:

World English Bible
Their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looks southward;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and to them the south border is at the extremity of the Salt Sea, from the bay which is looking southward;

Young's Literal Translation
and to them the south border is at the extremity of the salt sea, from the bay which is looking southward;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the south bound shall be to them from the extremity of the salt sea from the tongue turning south.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Its beginning was from the top of the most salt sea, and from the bay thereof, that looketh to the south.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Its beginning was from the summit of the very salty sea, and from its bay, which looks toward the south.

New American Bible
Their southern boundary ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the tongue of land that faces the Negeb,

New Revised Standard Version
And their south boundary ran from the end of the Dead Sea, from the bay that faces southward;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And their south border was from the southern end of the Salt Sea, and from thence went up to the bay that faces southward;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And their border was from the south of the end of the Sea of Salt and went up from there to the isthmus of the side to the south
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looked southward.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And their borders were from the south as far as a part of the salt sea from the high country that extends southward.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judah's Inheritance
1Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary: 2Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea, 3proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka.…

Cross References
Numbers 34:3-5
Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, / cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, / where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea.

Deuteronomy 34:1-4
Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which faces Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead as far as Dan, / all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, / the Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho (the City of Palms) all the way to Zoar. ...

Genesis 15:18
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—

Exodus 23:31
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

Ezekiel 47:13-20
This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions. / You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance. / This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, ...

Numbers 34:12
Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”

1 Kings 4:21
And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

2 Chronicles 9:26
He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.

Genesis 13:14-15
After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, / for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever.

Genesis 28:13-14
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

Genesis 50:24
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Acts 7:5
He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.

Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

Hebrews 11:9-10
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.


Treasury of Scripture

And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looks southward:

the salt sea

Joshua 3:16
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Genesis 14:3
All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.

Numbers 34:3
Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:

bay [heb] tongue

Isaiah 11:15
And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

Jump to Previous
Bay Border Boundary End Inlet Looks Part Ran Salt Salt-Sea Sea Shore South Southern Southward Started Tongue Turns Uttermost
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Bay Border Boundary End Inlet Looks Part Ran Salt Salt-Sea Sea Shore South Southern Southward Started Tongue Turns Uttermost
Joshua 15
1. The borders of the lot of Judah
13. Caleb's portion and conquest
16. Othniel, for his valour, marries Achsah, Caleb's daughter
18. She obtains a blessing of her father
21. The cities of Judah
63. The Jebusites unconquered














Their southern border
This phrase refers to the delineation of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. In the Hebrew text, the word for "border" is "גְּבוּל" (gevul), which signifies a boundary or limit. This demarcation is significant as it establishes the physical and spiritual inheritance of the tribe. The southern border is a critical aspect of the land division, symbolizing God's promise and faithfulness in giving the Israelites a land of their own. It also represents the order and structure God desires for His people, ensuring each tribe has its designated portion.

started at the bay
The Hebrew word for "bay" is "לִשְׁפִּי" (lishpi), which can also mean a tongue or a gulf. This indicates a specific geographical feature that serves as a natural landmark for the boundary. The use of natural landmarks in defining borders underscores the practical and divine wisdom in the allocation of the land. It reflects God's intimate knowledge of the land He created and His provision for His people, using the natural world to guide and protect them.

of the Salt Sea
The Salt Sea, known today as the Dead Sea, is a significant geographical feature in the region. Its Hebrew name, "יָם הַמֶּלַח" (Yam HaMelach), literally means "Sea of Salt." This body of water is one of the saltiest in the world, and its mention here highlights the unique and challenging environment of the southern border. The Salt Sea serves as a reminder of the harsh realities of life and the need for reliance on God for sustenance and survival. It also symbolizes the boundary between life and death, as the Dead Sea is devoid of life, contrasting with the life-giving land promised to the Israelites.

from the southern tip
The phrase "southern tip" refers to the extremity or end point of the border. In Hebrew, the word "קָצֶה" (qatseh) is used, meaning end or extremity. This precise description emphasizes the completeness and thoroughness of God's provision. The southern tip marks the beginning of the boundary, signifying a starting point for the tribe of Judah's inheritance. It serves as a reminder of the journey the Israelites have undertaken, from slavery in Egypt to the fulfillment of God's promise in the Promised Land. This starting point is not just a physical location but a spiritual milestone, representing new beginnings and the faithfulness of God in leading His people to their inheritance.

(2) Their south border.--The southern boundary of Judah is thus described by Conder (Bible Handbook, p. 257):--"The south boundary of Judah is described from east to west, and became afterwards that of Simeon (see Joshua 19:1). Although the points mentioned along the border are not all certainly known, there is no doubt that the great mountain wall which extends from the Dead Sea to the water-shed south of Rehoboth (Er-Ruheibeh) formed the natural and recognised boundary of Palestine, while the river of Egypt (Joshua 15:4) is generally supposed to be the present Wady-el'-Arish, the northern boundary between Syria and Egypt. The north branch of this valley ( Wady-el-Abiad) rises near 'Abdeh (Ebodah), south of Rehoboth, and thus carries on the boundary from the mountain rampart. A new identification of importance may be here mentioned, namely, Hezron (Joshua 15:3), the next point to Kadesh-barnea on the west side. Kadesh has been shown to lie probably in the neighbourhood of Wady-el-Yemen, and immediately west of that valley is the mountain called Hadireh, a name radically identical with Hezron."

Verse 2. - The shore of the salt sea. Literally, the extremity, i.e., the south extremity. From the bay. Literally, tongue (so margin). The LXX. translates by λοφία, ridge. The whole southern portion of the sea is cut off from the rest by a peninsula near Kerak, the ancient Kit of Moab. It is called the Lisan. Whoever was the writer of the Book of Joshua, these details prove him to have had an accurate acquaintance with the geography of Palestine. He was no priestly inventor of fables attached to the temple at Jerusalem. Canon Tristram gives a vivid description of the neighbourhood in his 'Land of Israel,' ch. 15. The ridge of Jebel Usdum - one large mass of rock salt - on the west of this "tongue" of water, the salt marsh of the Sebkha on the southwest, with its treeless waste - "not a plant or a leaf could be seen save just under the hills" - and its mirage like that of Sahara, the barren outline of the Lisan itself, to the eastward rising to an elevation of from five to six hundred feet, and the fertile oasis of the Ghor-es-Safieh at the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, give an unique character to this remarkable region.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Their
לָהֶם֙ (lā·hem)
Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

southern
נֶ֔גֶב (ne·ḡeḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5045: South country, the Negeb, south

border
גְּב֣וּל (gə·ḇūl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

started
וַיְהִ֤י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

at the bay
הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן (hal·lā·šōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 3956: The tongue

on
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the southern
נֶֽגְבָּה׃ (neḡ·bāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5045: South country, the Negeb, south

tip
מִקְצֵ֖ה (miq·ṣêh)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7097: End, extremity

of the Salt Sea,
יָ֣ם (yām)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin


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OT History: Joshua 15:2 Their south border was from the uttermost (Josh. Jos)
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