Joshua 14

¹  Now these are the territories which the sons of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the households of the tribes of the sons of Israel apportioned to them for an inheritance, ²  by the lot of their inheritance, as the LORD commanded through Moses, for the nine tribes and the half-tribe. ³  For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but he did not give an inheritance to the Levites among them. ⁴  For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to live in, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their property. ⁵  Thus the sons of Israel did just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they divided the land. ⁶  Then the sons of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know the word which the LORD spoke to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadeshbarnea. ⁷  "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart. ⁸  "Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the LORD my God fully. ⁹  "So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God fully.' ¹⁰  "Now behold, the LORD has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. ¹¹  " I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. ¹²  "Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken." ¹³  So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. ¹⁴  Therefore, Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite until this day, because he followed the LORD God of Israel fully. ¹⁵  Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba; for Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. Then the land had rest from war.

Joshua 15

¹  Now the lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families reached the border of Edom, southward to the wilderness of Zin at the extreme south. ²  Their south border was from the lower end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that turns to the south. ³  Then it proceeded southward to the ascent of Akrabbim and continued to Zin, then went up by the south of Kadeshbarnea and continued to Hezron, and went up to Addar and turned about to Karka. ⁴  It continued to Azmon and proceeded to the brook of Egypt, and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your south border. ⁵  The east border was the Salt Sea, as far as the mouth of the Jordan. And the border of the north side was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. ⁶  Then the border went up to Bethhoglah, and continued on the north of Beth-arabah, and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. ⁷  The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and turned northward toward Gilgal which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south of the valley; and the border continued to the waters of En-shemesh and it ended at En-rogel. ⁸  Then the border went up the valley of Ben-hinnom to the slope of the Jebusite on the south (that is, Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain which is before the valley of Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the valley of Rephaim toward the north. ⁹  From the top of the mountain the border curved to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah and proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, then the border curved to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim). ¹⁰  The border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and continued to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is, Chesalon), and went down to Beth-shemesh and continued through Timnah. ¹¹  The border proceeded to the side of Ekron northward. Then the border curved to Shikkeron and continued to Mount Baalah and proceeded to Jabneel, and the border ended at the sea. ¹²  The west border was at the Great Sea, even its coastline. This is the border around the sons of Judah according to their families. ¹³  Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the command of the LORD to Joshua, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron). ¹⁴  Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak. ¹⁵  Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher. ¹⁶  And Caleb said, "The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as a wife." ¹⁷  Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife. ¹⁸  It came about that when she came to him, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she alighted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?" ¹⁹  Then she said, "Give me a blessing; since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water." So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. ²⁰  This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families. ²¹  Now the cities at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah toward the border of Edom in the south were Kabzeel and Eder and Jagur, ²²  and Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah, ²³  and Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan, ²⁴  Ziph and Telem and Bealoth, ²⁵  and Hazor-hadattah and Keriothhezron (that is, Hazor), ²⁶  Amam and Shema and Moladah, ²⁷  and Hazar-gaddah and Heshmon and Beth-pelet, ²⁸  and Hazar-shual and Beersheba and Biziothiah, ²⁹  Baalah and Iim and Ezem, ³⁰  and Eltolad and Chesil and Hormah, ³¹  and Ziklag and Madmannah and Sansannah, ³²  and Lebaoth and Shilhim and Ain and Rimmon; in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages. ³³  In the lowland: Eshtaol and Zorah and Ashnah, ³⁴  and Zanoah and En-gannim, Tappuah and Enam, ³⁵  Jarmuth and Adullam, Socoh and Azekah, ³⁶  and Shaaraim and Adithaim and Gederah and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages. ³⁷  Zenan and Hadashah and Migdal-gad, ³⁸  and Dilean and Mizpeh and Joktheel, ³⁹  Lachish and Bozkath and Eglon, ⁴⁰  and Cabbon and Lahmas and Chitlish, ⁴¹  and Gederoth, Beth-dagon and Naamah and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages. ⁴²  Libnah and Ether and Ashan, ⁴³  and Iphtah and Ashnah and Nezib, ⁴⁴  and Keilah and Achzib and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages. ⁴⁵  Ekron, with its towns and its villages; ⁴⁶  from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages. ⁴⁷  Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; as far as the brook of Egypt and the Great Sea, even its coastline. ⁴⁸  In the hill country: Shamir and Jattir and Socoh, ⁴⁹  and Dannah and Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir), ⁵⁰  and Anab and Eshtemoh and Anim, ⁵¹  and Goshen and Holon and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages. ⁵²  Arab and Dumah and Eshan, ⁵³  and Janum and Beth-tappuah and Aphekah, ⁵⁴  and Humtah and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages. ⁵⁵  Maon, Carmel and Ziph and Juttah, ⁵⁶  and Jezreel and Jokdeam and Zanoah, ⁵⁷  Kain, Gibeah and Timnah; ten cities with their villages. ⁵⁸  Halhul, Beth-zur and Gedor, ⁵⁹  and Maarath and Beth-anoth and Eltekon; six cities with their villages. ⁶⁰  Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages. ⁶¹  In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin and Secacah, ⁶²  and Nibshan and the City of Salt and Engedi; six cities with their villages. ⁶³  Now as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem until this day.

Luke 1

¹  Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, ²  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, ³  it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; ⁴  so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. ⁵  In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶  They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. ⁷  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. ⁸  Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, ⁹  according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰  And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. ¹¹  And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. ¹²  Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. ¹³  But the angel said to him, " Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. ¹⁴  "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵  "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. ¹⁶  "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. ¹⁷  "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." ¹⁸  Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years." ¹⁹  The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰  "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." ²¹  The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. ²²  But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. ²³  When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. ²⁴  After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, ²⁵  "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men." ²⁶  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷  to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸  And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." ²⁹  But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. ³⁰  The angel said to her, " Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. ³¹  "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. ³²  "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; ³³  and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." ³⁴  Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" ³⁵  The angel answered and said to her, " The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. ³⁶  "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. ³⁷  "For nothing will be impossible with God." ³⁸  And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. ³⁹  Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, ⁴⁰  and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²  And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³  "And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? ⁴⁴  "For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵  "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." ⁴⁶  And Mary said: " My soul exalts the Lord, ⁴⁷  And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. ⁴⁸  "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. ⁴⁹  "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. ⁵⁰  " AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. ⁵¹  " He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. ⁵²  "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. ⁵³  " HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. ⁵⁴  "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, ⁵⁵  As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." ⁵⁶  And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. ⁵⁷  Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸  Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. ⁵⁹  And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. ⁶⁰  But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John." ⁶¹  And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." ⁶²  And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. ⁶³  And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, " His name is John." And they were all astonished. ⁶⁴  And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. ⁶⁵  Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶  All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. ⁶⁷  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: ⁶⁸  " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, ⁶⁹  And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant- - ⁷⁰  As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- ⁷¹  Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; ⁷²  To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, ⁷³  The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, ⁷⁴  To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, ⁷⁵  In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. ⁷⁶  "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; ⁷⁷  To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, ⁷⁸  Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, ⁷⁹  TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." ⁸⁰  And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.