This passage, while mapping out territory, highlights a crucial point: Jerusalem, the future heart of Israel, is described as belonging to the "Jebusite" but situated on the border of Judah's lot. This subtle detail foreshadows the ongoing struggle for the city, which wouldn't be fully secured until David's time, pointing to God's sovereign timing even within the assigned lands.
Then the boundary goes up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is detailing the precise boundaries of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah, the largest and most prominent tribe. It describes a specific landmark, the Valley of Hinnom, which bordered the ancient city of Jebus (later known as Jerusalem) that the Israelites had not yet fully conquered. This section lays out the geographical inheritance, establishing the physical claim of Judah to their ancestral lands in the promised territory.
This specific valley, mentioned in the boundary description, carries a name that would later become synonymous with eternal judgment. What was its history, and why does it echo so powerfully?
The verse pinpoints a boundary using the "Valley of the Son of Hinnom." This wasn't just any valley; it was a place with a deeply disturbing history.
A Place of Abomination
In ancient times, this valley, also known as Topheth, was the site of horrific idolatrous practices. Parents would sacrifice their children by fire to the god Molech. Later, King Josiah defiled the valley to put an end to these abominations, turning it into a refuse dump.
Echoes in Eternity
Because of its association with such intense sin and defilement, the name of this valley, "Ge-Hinnom" in Hebrew, became the source for the New Testament term "Gehenna." This is the word Jesus often used for hell, a place of fire and judgment. It’s a stark reminder of how sin’s consequences can reverberate through history.
The boundaries of Judah's inheritance brush up against two ancient peoples: the Jebusites and the Rephaim. What does this tell us about the land and God's promises?
As the boundary lines are drawn, they touch upon the territories of the Jebusites (who held Jerusalem) and the Rephaim (often called giants).
The Stubborn Jebusites
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Jerusalem, though part of the land promised to Israel, was still largely in the hands of the Jebusites when the land was divided. The verse states the boundary goes "unto the south side of the Jebusite." This highlights that the full inheritance wasn't immediately secured by conquest. It would take David's military prowess later to fully claim Jerusalem.
Echoes of the Giants
The boundary also goes up "at the end of the Valley of Rephaim." The Rephaim were a fearsome group, known for their size and strength, and they had occupied significant territory. Their presence in the land, even as Israel moved in, reminds us that God's promises often involve confronting and overcoming strongholds. The land was promised, but its full possession required faith and action.
Understand the original words
Ge-ben-Hinnom · Hebrew Noun (Proper)
Literally 'Valley of the Son of Lamentation' or 'Valley of Hinnom'; later associated with Gehenna, it was the site of pagan sacrifices and subsequently used as a place of refuse and burning, serving as a symbol of judgment.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Noun (Proper)
Historically the city of the Jebusites before being conquered by David; it became the capital of Israel and the site of the Temple, representing the dwelling place of God’s presence among His people.
Rephaim · Hebrew Noun (Proper)
A term referring to a group of giants or legendary warriors described as living in the land of Canaan; their presence symbolized the formidable obstacles the Israelites faced when inheriting the Promised Land.
This verse describes the precise boundary of Judah's inheritance, highlighting Jerusalem's location on the edge of this territory. The proximity to the Jebusite-held city and the notorious Valley of Hinnom underscores the complex geopolitical and spiritual landscape the Israelites inherited.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites enter the Promised Land
Following their exodus from Egypt and 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of Canaan.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Joshua leads the Israelites in a series of military campaigns to defeat the Canaanite peoples and claim the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.
c. 1375 BC
Land Division by Lot
After the conquest, the land is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel by casting lots, a process guided by God.
c. 1375 BC— this verse
Border of Judah Defined
The boundary lines for the tribe of Judah are drawn, marking their inheritance within the newly conquered land. This includes significant geographical features and cities.
c. 1050 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
King David conquers the city of Jerusalem, which was then inhabited by the Jebusites, and establishes it as the capital of his united kingdom.
c. 900s BC
Moloch Worship in Hinnom Valley
The Valley of Hinnom, located near Jerusalem, becomes a site for abhorrent child sacrifice to the idol Moloch, a practice later condemned and defiled by King Josiah.
This passage connects to Joshua 15:8 through the Valley of Hinnom, which became known as Gehenna, a symbol of hell in the New Testament, highlighting how a physical place can acquire deep spiritual significance.
2 Samuel 5:18This verse describes David confronting the Philistines in the Valley of Rephaim, the 'Valley of the Giants' mentioned in Joshua 15:8, showing how this specific geographical location was a site of significant conflict and military importance.
1 Kings 11:7This passage records Solomon building high places for pagan worship in the Valley of Hinnom, directly linking the location from Joshua 15:8 to the nation's later descent into idolatry and its consequences.
Jeremiah 7:31The prophet Jeremiah condemns the horrific practices of child sacrifice to Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom, underscoring the extreme desecration of this area that was part of Judah's allotted inheritance.
Joshua 18:16This verse describes the boundary going down from Jerusalem, indicating a change in direction from the ascent mentioned in Joshua 15:8 and illustrating the complex territorial lines around the city.
calvinJoshua 15:1-13: "This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast."
And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:
Et egreditur versus meridiem Maale-acrabim, et illinc transit in Sin: progredien…
clarkeJoshua 15:8: "And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:"
The valley of the son of Hinnom - Who Hinnom was is not known, nor why this was called his valley. It was situated on the east of Jerusalem; and is often mentioned in Scripture. The image of the idol Molech a…
This passage, while mapping out territory, highlights a crucial point: Jerusalem, the future heart of Israel, is described as belonging to the "Jebusite" but situated on the border of Judah's lot. This subtle detail foreshadows the ongoing struggle for the city, which wouldn't be fully secured until David's time, pointing to God's sovereign timing even within the assigned lands.
This passage is detailing the precise boundaries of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah, the largest and most prominent tribe. It describes a specific landmark, the Valley of Hinnom, which bordered the ancient city of Jebus (later known as Jerusalem) that the Israelites had not yet fully conquered. This section lays out the geographical inheritance, establishing the physical claim of Judah to their ancestral lands in the promised territory.
This passage is detailing the precise boundaries of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah, the largest and most prominent tribe. It describes a specific landmark, the Valley of Hinnom, which bordered the ancient city of Jebus (later known as Jerusalem) that the Israelites had not yet fully conquered. This section lays out the geographical inheritance, establishing the physical claim of Judah to their ancestral lands in the promised territory.
"Then the boundary goes up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at th…" — This passage, while mapping out territory, highlights a crucial point: Jerusalem, the future heart of Israel, is described as belonging to the "Jebusite" but situated on the border of Judah's lot.…
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Last reviewed October 2026
