1   Now follow the possessions which the Israelites acquired in the land of Canaan, as Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes allotted them. 2   They were assigned by lot, following the Lord's command given through Moses, to the nine and a half tribes. 3   To two and a half tribes Moses had given patrimonies beyond the Jordan; but he gave none to the Levites as he did to the others. 4   The tribe of Joseph formed the two tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were given no share in the land, only cities to dwell in, with their common land for flocks and herds. 5   So the Israelites, following the Lord's command given to Moses, assigned the land.

6   Now the tribe of Judah had come to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, ‘You remember what the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me at Kadesh-barnea. 7   I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from there to explore the land, and I brought back an honest report. 8   The others who went with me discouraged the people, but I loyally carried out the purpose of the Lord my God. 9   Moses swore an oath that day and said, “The land on which you have set foot shall be your patrimony and your sons' after you as a possession for ever; for you have loyally carried out the purpose of the Lord my God.” 10   Well, the Lord has spared my life as he promised; it is now forty-five years since he made this promise to Moses, at the time when Israel was journeying in the wilderness. 11   Today I am eighty-five years old. I am still as strong as I was on the day when Moses sent me out; I am as fit now for war as I was then and am ready to take the field again. 12   Give me today this hill-country which the Lord then promised me. You heard on that day that the Anakim were there and their cities were large and well fortified. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I shall

The division of the land among the tribes dispossess them as he promised.’ 13   Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron for his patrimony, 14   and that is why Hebron remains to this day in the patrimony of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite. It is because he loyally carried out the purpose of the Lord the God of Israel. 15   Formerly the name of Hebron was Kiriath-arba. This Arba was the chief man of the Anakim. And the land was at peace.

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