Joshua 18:15-28

Jos 18:15

And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:

Nephtoah was located about 3 miles (5 KM) northeast of Jerusalem and about 5 miles (8 KM) east of Kirjath-jearim. 

Jos 18:16

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,

The valley of Hinnom was located south of Jerusalem.  The valley of the giants is Rephaim which was located west of the valley of Hinnom which was in both Judah and Benjamin.  Jebusi is Jerusalem and En-rogel was a spring that was east of the valley of Hinnom and south of Jerusalem.

Jos 18:17

And was drawn from the north, and went forth to En-shemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,

En-shemesh was about 3 miles east of Jerusalem and En-rogel.  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: (Joshua 15:7)  Geliloth was Gilgal and it was about 14 miles (23 KM) east from En-shemesh.  Bohan might have been a descendant of Reuben because he is not listed anywhere in Scripture as a direct son.  It might have been a marker separating the tribes of Judah and Benjamin but the meaning of the stone is unknown.

Jos 18:18

And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:

The Arabah was the rift valley in which the Jordan and the Dead Sea lie, from the Sea of Galilee which is north of it.  It extends from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee.

Jos 18:19

And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.

Beth-hoglah was just north of the northern tip of the Dead Sea and was about 6 miles (10 KM) southeast of Jericho.  The Jordan River flowed into the Dead Sea at the northern point of it and that was the south coast or border.

Jos 18:20

And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.

Jordan was the eastern border of the tribe of Benjamin which was given according to their families.

Jos 18:21

Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz,

These were the cities which were the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin.  Jericho which was kept the way Joshua left it and was not to be rebuilt under penalty.  Beth-hoglah was about 6 miles (10 KM) southeast of Jericho at the northern tip of the Dead Sea.  The location of the valley of Kezziz is unknown.

Jos 18:22

And Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el,

Beth-arabah was in the wilderness but its exact location was unknown.  Zemaraim was 20 miles (32 KM) northwest of Beth-hoglah.  Beth-el was about 1 mile (1.6 KM) northeast of Zemaraim.

Jos 18:23

And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,

Avim otherwise known as Aiath was located 10 miles (16 KM) north of Jerusalem.  Parah was about 7 miles (11 KM) northeast of Jerusalem.  Ophrah was located about 13 miles (21 KM) northeast of Jerusalem.

Jos 18:24

And Chephar-haammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:

Chephar-haammonai was located about 3 miles (5 KM) northwest of Ophrah.  Ophni is otherwise known as Gophna which was 5 miles (8 KM) northwest of Beth-el.  Gaba was located about 5 miles (8 KM) northeast of Jerusalem.  These twelve cities were also accompanied by surrounding villages and suburbs.

Jos 18:25

Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,

Gibeon was 6 miles (10 KM) northeast of Jerusalem.  Ramah was located about 3 miles (5 KM) east of Gibeon.  Beeroth was a close neighbor just south of Gibeon.

Jos 18:26

And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,

Mizpeh was about 3 miles (5 KM) northeast of Gibeon.  Chephirah was located about 5 miles (8 KM) southwest of Gibeon.  Mozah was possibly located around Emmaus which was 18 miles (29 KM) west of Jerusalem.

Jos 18:27

And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,

Taralah was located about 2 miles (3 KM) east of Gibeon.  Rekem and Irpeel are not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture and their locations are unknown.

Jos 18:28

And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.