Joshua 18:12
New International Version
On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the wilderness of Beth Aven.

New Living Translation
The northern boundary of Benjamin’s land began at the Jordan River, went north of the slope of Jericho, then west through the hill country and the wilderness of Beth-aven.

English Standard Version
On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan. Then the boundary goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill country westward, and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Berean Standard Bible
On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

King James Bible
And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.

New King James Version
Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the mountains westward; it ended at the Wilderness of Beth Aven.

New American Standard Bible
Their border on the north side was from the Jordan, then the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward, and it ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

NASB 1995
Their border on the north side was from the Jordan, then the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward, and it ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

NASB 1977
And their border on the north side was from the Jordan, then the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward; and it ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Legacy Standard Bible
And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; then the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north and went up through the hill country westward, and it ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Amplified Bible
On the north side their border began at the Jordan, then it went up the slope of Jericho on the north, and up through the hill country westward, and it ended at the Beth-aven wilderness.

Christian Standard Bible
Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, ascended to the slope of Jericho on the north, through the hill country westward, and ended at the wilderness around Beth-aven.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, ascended to the slope of Jericho on the north, through the hill country westward, and ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

American Standard Version
And their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Contemporary English Version
Benjamin's northern border started at the Jordan River and went up the ridge north of Jericho, then on west into the hill country as far as the Beth-Aven Desert.

English Revised Version
And their border on the north quarter was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Their northern border starts at the Jordan, goes up the slope north of Jericho, west through the mountains, and ends at the desert of Beth Aven.

Good News Translation
On the north their border began at the Jordan and then went up the slope north of Jericho and westward through the hill country as far as the desert of Bethaven.

International Standard Version
Their border started on the north side at the Jordan River, proceeded to the slope of Jericho on the north, then westward through the hill country, and terminated at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Majority Standard Bible
On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

NET Bible
Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho on the north, ascended westward to the hill country, and extended to the desert of Beth Aven.

New Heart English Bible
Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward. It ended at the wilderness of Beth Aven.

Webster's Bible Translation
And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the limits of it were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

World English Bible
Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward. It ended at the wilderness of Beth Aven.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the border is for them at the north side from the Jordan, and the border has gone up to the side of Jericho on the north, and gone up through the hill-country westward, and its outgoings have been at the wilderness of Beth-Aven;

Young's Literal Translation
And the border is to them at the north side from the Jordan, and the border hath gone up unto the side of Jericho on the north, and gone up through the hill-country westward, and its outgoings have been at the wilderness of Beth-Aven;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the bound will be to them to the north side from Jordan; and the bound went up to the side of Jericho from the north, and went up into the mountain to the sea; and its goings-out were from the desert of the House of Vanity.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And their border northward was from the Jordan: going along by the side of Jericho on the north side, and thence going up westward to the mountains, and reaching to the wilderness of Bethaven,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And their border toward the north was from the Jordan, continuing on, near the side of Jericho in the northern region, and from there, ascending toward the west to the mountains, and extending to the wilderness of Bethaven.

New American Bible
Their northern boundary began at the Jordan and went over the northern flank of Jericho, up westward into the mountains, until it reached the wilderness of Beth-aven.

New Revised Standard Version
On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan; then the boundary goes up to the slope of Jericho on the north, then up through the hill country westward; and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountain westward; and the extreme limits thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And their border was for the side of the north from the Jordan and the border went up to the side of Yerikho of the north and went up into the mountain to the west and its limits were to the wilderness of Bayth Awan
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And their borders were northward: the borders shall go up from Jordan behind Jericho northward, and shall go up to the mountain westward, and the issue of it shall be Baethon of Mabdara.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Benjamin's Inheritance
11The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph: 12On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13From there the border crossed over to the southern slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth-addar on the hill south of Lower Beth-horon.…

Cross References
Numbers 34:7-9
Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor, / and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad, / continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

Ezekiel 47:15-17
This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, / Berothah, and Sibraim (which is on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. / So the border will run from the Sea to Hazar-enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the territory of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary.

Judges 1:34-36
The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to come down into the plain. / And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor. / And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and beyond.

Genesis 49:13
Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon.

Deuteronomy 3:25-27
Please let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that pleasant hill country as well as Lebanon!” / But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter. / Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west and north and south and east. See the land with your own eyes, for you will not cross this Jordan.

1 Chronicles 5:23
Now the people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous. They settled in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon (that is, Senir, also known as Mount Hermon).

1 Kings 4:24
For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides.

2 Samuel 24:2-4
So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.” / But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” / Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to register the troops of Israel.

Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:

Jeremiah 31:38-40
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when this city will be rebuilt for Me, from the tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. / The measuring line will once again stretch out straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn toward Goah. / The whole valley of the dead bodies and ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron Valley, to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east, will be holy to the LORD. It will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

Matthew 4:13-16
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, / to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: / “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— ...

Luke 4:14-15
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region. / He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.

John 4:3-5
He left Judea and returned to Galilee. / Now He had to pass through Samaria. / So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:19
by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.

Jericho

Joshua 2:1
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Joshua 3:16
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Joshua 6:1
Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

the wilderness

Joshua 7:2
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

Hosea 4:15
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

Hosea 5:8
Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.

Jump to Previous
Aven Beth Bethaven Beth-Aven Beth-A'ven Border Boundary Country Ended Ending Ends Headed Hill Hill-Country Jericho Jordan Limits Mountains North Northern Passed Quarter Shoulder Side Slope Thereof Waste West Westward Wilderness
Jump to Next
Aven Beth Bethaven Beth-Aven Beth-A'ven Border Boundary Country Ended Ending Ends Headed Hill Hill-Country Jericho Jordan Limits Mountains North Northern Passed Quarter Shoulder Side Slope Thereof Waste West Westward Wilderness
Joshua 18
1. The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh
2. The remainder of the land is described, and divided into seven parts
10. Joshua distributes it by lot
11. The lot and border of Benjamin
21. Their cities














On the north side their border began at the Jordan
The Jordan River is a significant geographical and spiritual landmark in the Bible. It served as a boundary for the tribes of Israel and was the site of several key biblical events, such as the crossing by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership (Joshua 3-4) and the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17). The river symbolizes transition and new beginnings, marking the entry into the Promised Land.

went up past the northern slope of Jericho
Jericho is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and was the first city conquered by the Israelites in the Promised Land (Joshua 6). The northern slope indicates the specific geographical area that the border traversed, highlighting the strategic importance of Jericho as a gateway city. The city's fall demonstrated God's power and faithfulness to His promises.

headed west through the hill country
The hill country refers to the central mountainous region of Canaan, known for its rugged terrain and strategic military advantage. This area was significant for its fertile land and natural fortifications. The hill country is often associated with the tribe of Ephraim and later became the heartland of the Kingdom of Israel.

and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven
Beth-aven, meaning "house of wickedness," was located near Bethel, a significant religious site. The wilderness of Beth-aven represents a desolate area, often associated with idolatry and false worship (Hosea 4:15). This location serves as a reminder of the spiritual battles faced by the Israelites and the need for faithfulness to God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jordan River
A significant geographical landmark in Israel, often symbolizing transition and new beginnings, as it was the crossing point into the Promised Land.

2. Jericho
An ancient city known for its fortified walls and the miraculous victory God gave to the Israelites under Joshua's leadership.

3. Hill Country
This refers to the elevated region west of Jericho, which was part of the land allocated to the tribes of Israel.

4. Wilderness of Beth-aven
A desolate area that served as a boundary marker. "Beth-aven" means "house of wickedness," indicating a place of idolatry or false worship.

5. Tribal Allotments
The division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in Fulfillment
The detailed description of the land boundaries underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs. We can trust God to fulfill His promises in our lives.

Significance of Boundaries
Just as the Israelites had specific boundaries, God sets spiritual and moral boundaries for our lives. Recognizing and respecting these boundaries leads to blessing and protection.

Transition and New Beginnings
The Jordan River symbolizes transitions. In our spiritual journey, we often face transitions that require faith and obedience to God's leading.

Overcoming Obstacles
The mention of Jericho reminds us that God can overcome any obstacle in our path when we trust and obey Him.

Avoiding Idolatry
The reference to Beth-aven serves as a warning against idolatry and false worship. We must guard our hearts against anything that takes the place of God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On the north
צָפ֖וֹנָה (ṣā·p̄ō·w·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

side
לִפְאַ֥ת (lip̄·’aṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6285: Mouth, direction, region, extremity

their border
הַגְּב֛וּל (hag·gə·ḇūl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

began
וַיְהִ֨י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

at
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the Jordan,
הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (hay·yar·dên)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine

went up
וְעָלָ֣ה (wə·‘ā·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

past
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the northern
מִצָּפ֗וֹן (miṣ·ṣā·p̄ō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

slope
כֶּ֨תֶף (ke·ṯep̄)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3802: The shoulder, side-piece, lateral projection of anything

of Jericho,
יְרִיח֜וֹ (yə·rî·ḥōw)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3405: Jericho -- a city in the Jordan Valley captured by Joshua

headed
וְעָלָ֤ה (wə·‘ā·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

west
יָ֔מָּה (yām·māh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

through the hill country,
בָהָר֙ (ḇā·hār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

and came out
וְהָיוּ֙ (wə·hā·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

at the wilderness
מִדְבַּ֖רָה (miḏ·ba·rāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

of Beth-aven.
אָֽוֶן׃ (’ā·wen)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1007: Beth-aven -- between


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OT History: Joshua 18:12 Their border on the north quarter was (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 18:11
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