Joshua 15

“This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the…” Naming Edom and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:” The line’s distinctive content terms include border, looketh, salt. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto…” Naming Adar and Hezron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the…” Naming Jordan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the…” Naming Beth and Bohan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before…” Naming Achor and Adummim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem…” Naming Hinnom and Jebusite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the…” Naming Baalah and Ephron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which…” Naming Baalah and Beth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to…” Naming Baalah and Ekron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of Judah round…” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the…” Naming Anak and Arba keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher.” Naming Debir and Kirjath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.” Naming Achsah and Caleb keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.” Naming Achsah and Caleb keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her…” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and…” Naming Eder and Edom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,” Naming Adadah and Dimonah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,” Naming Hazor and Ithnan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,” Naming Bealoth and Telem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,” Naming Hazor and Hadattah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,” Naming Amam and Moladah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-palet,” Naming Beth and Hazar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjothjah,” Naming Beer and Bizjothjah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,” Naming Azem and Baalah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,” Naming Chesil and Eltolad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,” Naming Madmannah and Sansannah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,” Naming Ashnah and Eshtaol keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,” Naming Enam and Tappuah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,” Naming Adullam and Azekah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:” Naming Adithaim and Gederah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad,” Naming Hadashah and Migdal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,” Naming Dilean and Joktheel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,” Naming Bozkath and Eglon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,” Naming Cabbon and Kithlish keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:” Naming Beth and Gederoth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,” Naming Ashan and Ether keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,” Naming Ashnah and Jiphtah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:” The number nine makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Ekron, with her towns and her villages:” Naming Ekron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:” Naming Ashdod and Ekron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great…” Naming Ashdod and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,” Naming Jattir and Shamir keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir,” Naming Dannah and Debir keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,” Naming Anab and Anim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:” Naming Giloh and Goshen keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,” Naming Arab and Dumah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah,” Naming Aphekah and Beth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:” The number nine makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,” Naming Carmel and Juttah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,” Naming Jezreel and Jokdeam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor,” Naming Beth and Gedor keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Kirjath-baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah,” Naming Beth and Middin keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages.” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites…” Naming Jebusites and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.