Bible Strands
Joshua 15:7
Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to Gilgal, which faces the Ascent of Adummim south of the ravine. It continued along the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the northern boundary route of Judah’s tribal inheritance during the land division narrative. The description traces a specific path from the Valley of Achor through several landmarks to En-rogel.
The words — הַ/גְּב֥וּל (ha./ge.Vul) = the/ border and וְ/עָלָ֨ה (ve./'a.Lah) = and/ it goes up. These terms frame the passage as a topographical survey rather than a theological declaration.
The thread — The landmark En-rogel reappears as a meeting point for messengers in 2 Samuel 17:17 and near Adonijah’s sacrifice in 1 Kings 1:9. The Valley of Achor links back to the judgment site in Joshua 7:26, while the surrounding verses in Joshua 15:6 and 15:8 confirm this segment belongs to the northern boundary.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of how ancient tribal borders functioned as fixed, observable markers rather than abstract claims. A reader must track the physical sequence of valleys, springs, and hills to understand how land division was documented and verified.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of En–shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at En–rogel:
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city.
- 1 Kings 1:9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.
- Joshua 7:26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
- Joshua 4:19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.
- Joshua 5:9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.
- Joshua 7:24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor.
- Joshua 10:38 Finally Joshua and all Israel with him turned toward Debir and fought against it.
- Joshua 10:43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
- Joshua 15:15 From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).
- Isaiah 65:10 Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me.