Bible Strands
Joshua 18:16
Then it went down to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of Ben-hinnom at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim and ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the southern slope of the Jebusites and downward to En-rogel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua records the southern boundary of the tribe of Benjamin as it moves from the Waters of Nephtoah toward the southern edge of the allotted land. The description traces a specific descent from the Waters of Nephtoah to the foot of a hill facing the Valley of Ben-hinnom, then down the Valley of Hinnom to En-rogel.
The words — The text uses יָרַד (ya.Rad) for "went down" and גְּבֻל (ge.Vul) for "border," highlighting the physical descent of the territorial line. It also notes the border reaching קְצֵה הָר (ke.Tzeh Har), "the end of the mountain," and descends toward פְּנֵי (pe.Nei), "the face," of the Jebusites' slope.
The thread — This route passes the Valley of Ben-hinnom, which 2 Kings 23:10 identifies as the location of Topheth and Isaiah 30:33 describes as prepared for burning. The Ascent of Adummim, mentioned in the adjacent Joshua 15:7, serves as a recurring landmark for Judah's northern border.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition of how precise geographic markers establish tribal inheritance and political order. It requires the reader to track the boundary's downward trajectory without assuming later theological associations are present in the original description.
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 came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to En–rogel,
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 23:10 He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.
- 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.
- Isaiah 30:33 For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.
- Joshua 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.
- Joshua 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Judges 1:8 Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
- Judges 1:21 The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.
- Judges 19:10 But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
- 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.